Recipe Sifter

Mushroom wild rice pilaf with butter-sauteed mushrooms, chopped pecans, lemon juice, and parsley. A nutty, earthy side dish cooked in beef bouillon.

Swordfish marinade with soy sauce, orange juice, tomato paste, garlic, and lemon. A savory-citrus blend that caramelizes beautifully on the grill.

Sauteed sea scallops with snow peas, celery, white wine, lemon juice, and dill. A light, elegant seafood dinner ready in 25 minutes.

Vegetarian tamale pie with a golden cornmeal crust wrapped top and bottom around a spiced bean-and-barley filling loaded with corn, ripe olives, and sweet red pepper. A hearty meatless main baked until the cheese bubbles.

Pasta con il tonno is the classic Italian pantry pasta with canned tuna, garlic, dried chili, and tomato. A 40-minute weeknight dinner from the cupboard.

Beef soup with liver balls: short ribs simmered into a rich, skimmed broth with carrots and tomatoes, then dropped with tender liver dumplings seasoned with marjoram and mace. Old-world comfort in a bowl.

Chili taco salad: spicy chicken chili with kidney beans and chickpeas piled on tortilla chips with lettuce, tomato, jack cheese, sour cream, olives, and jalapenos.

Tangy bleu cheese spread blended with cream cheese, white wine, and Worcestershire. Served with sliced California dried figs and crackers for an elegant cheese plate appetizer.

Mashed sweet potatoes blended with roasted bananas, orange juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. A naturally creamy, butter-free holiday side that skips the marshmallow fluff.

Irish lamb stew with red potatoes, pearl onions, and a splash of Irish ale. Slow-simmered with thyme and bay until the lamb is fork-tender. A St. Patrick's Day classic.

Fresh red onion salsa with ripe tomatoes, cilantro, and parsley. A no-cook chunky salsa that's bright, herbaceous, and ready in 10 minutes flat.

Low Country seafood boil reimagined as an oven-bag bake, with shrimp, smoked turkey sausage, whole potatoes, corn on the cob, and onion in savory broth. All the Carolina coast flavor, none of the pot wrestling.

French potato salad with crispy bacon, shallots, red wine vinegar, and olive oil tossed with warm new potatoes. No mayo, just a tangy vinaigrette that soaks right in.

Chuck's New England clam chowder layers tender chopped clams, potatoes, and celery into a silky roux-thickened half-and-half broth finished with a splash of sherry. Classic Yankee comfort in a bowl.

Grilled tuna and roasted pepper sandwiches: meaty grilled tuna layered with sweet roasted peppers, capers, and parsley salad on focaccia. A Mediterranean pan bagnat style picnic sandwich that only gets better after chilling.

Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with ricotta, prosciutto, Parmesan, and fresh basil, baked in a garlic-anchovy cream sauce. An Italian dinner party dish in 45 minutes.