Recipe Sifter

Lamb ring filled with creamy spinach bakes a tomato-spiked ground lamb meatloaf in a ring mold, then fills the center with sour cream and cream cheese spinach. A retro centerpiece dinner for four.

Grilled butterflied leg of lamb rubbed with crushed rosemary and marinated in red Burgundy wine, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. No mint, just herbs and smoke over mesquite charcoal.

Leg of lamb Nicoise marinates butterflied lamb in a Provencal paste of anchovy, garlic, rosemary, thyme, and red wine vinegar. Broiled or grilled to a juicy pink center for a Mediterranean dinner.

Lemon thyme fish steaks marinate in soy sauce, white wine, lemon zest, and thyme, then cook in the microwave in 5 minutes flat. Healthy weeknight fish dinner with no oven needed.

Lemon chicken in puff pastry shells with chicken gravy, thyme, and mixed vegetables. A retro comfort-food main course that turns pantry staples into a dressed-up chicken pot pie in under 40 minutes.

Grilled lemon herb chicken basted with chicken broth, lemon juice, basil, and thyme. A no-fat marinade keeps the chicken juicy and herb-bright. Works on the grill or under the broiler.

This is a tangy marinade, containing equal amounts of lemon juice and oil, and is good for rich meats like chicken thighs. It can be used for chicken breasts too, but their skin should be on for additional protection during grilling or broiling. Thyme gives this marinade a flavor loved in France, but you can substitute oregano for an Italian or Greek accent, or mint or cilantro for a Lebanese touch.

Split pea soup brightened with lemon zest and juice, loaded with carrots, potatoes, bacon, and Canadian bacon. A hearty, make-ahead soup with an unexpected citrus lift.

Lentil tomato casserole simmers brown lentils with onion, carrots, herbs, and tomatoes, then bakes with a sherry-spiked white sauce and bread crumbs. A hearty vegetarian main dish.

Light vegetarian lasagna with a from-scratch tomato herb sauce simmered two hours, layered with part-skim ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan. No meat, no oil in the sauce, still deeply satisfying.

Sopa de lima, a Yucatan-style lime soup with poached chicken, fresh lime juice and zest, cilantro, tomatoes, and crispy fried tortilla wedges. A bright, tangy Mexican chicken soup.

Sauteed calves liver with avocado slices in a brown butter, lemon, and white wine sauce with thyme and parsley. An elegant, retro main course ready in 30 minutes.

Loaded black bean soup pureed silky-smooth with smoky ham hock, sherry, lemon, and a finish of sour cream and fresh dill. Steakhouse-style classic that elevates the humble bean.

Loaded chicken soup with two whole chickens simmered for rich stock, then bulked out with potatoes, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, herbs, and broken spaghetti. A nearly stew-thick bowl that freezes well.

Lobster with curry sauce from Bon Appetit: poached lobster medallions served over a silky reduction of tomato, Calvados, white wine, and warm curry spices. A dinner-party centerpiece with French technique.

Traditional Irish stew with cubed lamb, potatoes, carrots, and onions simmered slowly with a bouquet garni of bay, thyme, and rosemary. The simple cottage-kitchen recipe that defines Irish home cooking.