Recipe Sifter

Herb nut rolls: soft yeast dinner rolls studded with pine nuts and fresh herbs, stuffed with a cream cheese chive filling, brushed with egg white and Parmesan. A bakery favorite at home.

Italian mushroom piccante with sliced white mushrooms simmered in tomato, basil, parsley, capers, and a tangy white wine vinegar finish. A versatile antipasto served hot or at room temperature.

Thirty cloves of garlic, white wine, cinnamon, and cumin transform beef stew into a Greek stifado that smells like a Mediterranean kitchen. Topped with crumbled feta and crunchy walnuts for the finish.

Turkey gumbo built from a leftover carcass with a dark roux, okra, smoked sausage, bacon, and Cajun spices. A rich, hearty way to use your holiday turkey.

Baked falafel balls loaded with sesame seeds, fresh parsley, and whole wheat flour for nutty flavor and extra fiber, with way less oil than traditional fried versions.

Easy clam dip stirs canned clams into a creamy base of cream cheese and mayonnaise, brightened with onion, garlic, and Worcestershire. A no-cook, 10-minute appetizer for crudites or chips.

Lamb spinach pocket sandwiches with broiled herbed lamb patties stuffed with hard-cooked egg and olives, tucked into pita with fresh cucumber.

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.

This juice contains camu camu - a South American berry that contains the highest concentration of vitamin C on the planet. It is available in powder form, but if you can't find it, just add more lemon to the juice. Carrots are packed with beta-carotene, that turns into vitamin A in the body and can help enhance immunity. The ginger is anti-viral, the garlic and oregano are anti-bacterial, and the turmeric is antimicrobial (an agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth). Meanwhile the celery and parsley are anti-inflammatory, and add a shot of blood-purifying chlorophyll as well.

Spaghetti aglio e olio with a twist: 12 cloves of garlic (half sliced golden, half raw and minced) tossed with olive oil, chicken broth, and parsley. Bold and simple.

Sicilian-style swordfish involtini: swordfish rolled around a toasted pine nut and parsley filling, braised in tomato sauce with white wine and chili flakes. Bright, briny, and weeknight-fast.

Penne with chunky eggplant tomato sauce, garlic, red pepper flakes, and fresh parsley. A simple, hearty Italian pasta ready in 45 minutes with no cream or cheese needed.

Duck gumbo simmers deboned duck in a dark butter roux with okra, tomatoes, and the Cajun holy trinity for a rich bayou stew. Ladle over rice for a Louisiana cold-weather classic.

I love this salad, simple and easy, a good accompaniment for a meat dish.

Lemon butter glazed chicken breasts lightly floured, sauteed in butter, then simmered in lemon juice and chicken broth. The pan sauce reduces into a syrupy glaze.

Light pasta with sauteed baby artichoke hearts, garlic, lemon, and fresh Italian parsley in a brothy sauce. A low-calorie Italian dish ready in just 15 minutes.