Recipe Sifter

Curry-spiced chicken simmered with whole tomatoes, green pepper, and plump raisins for a sweet-savory weeknight dinner. Served over rice and ready in under an hour.

Italian-style lamb chops marinated in red wine, oregano, thyme, soy sauce, and lemon juice, then broiled to medium-rare. Tender rib chops with a savory-herbal crust and rosy pink center.

Blue cheese and cream cheese fettuccine with shrimp, white wine, garlic, and scallions. Baked in a casserole dish then tossed with pasta for a rich, tangy sauce.

Tuna pate blended with butter, lemon juice, and Tabasco, folded with minced shrimp, pimentos, and capers. A rich seafood spread that chills 24 hours and unmolds for serving.

Chicken tagine with pine nut couscous braises chicken thighs in a fragrant Moroccan spice blend with dried apricots and prunes, served over couscous scented with lemon zest and toasted pine nuts. A dinner-party-worthy North African main.

Tomato, artichoke, and feta salad tosses marinated red onion and feta with canned artichoke hearts and ripe tomatoes in a red wine and herb vinaigrette. Classic Mediterranean summer side.

Tabouleh is a traditional Lebanese parsley salad with fine bulgur, scallions, mint, ripe tomatoes, and a sharp lemon-olive oil dressing. Bright, herbaceous, and built around parsley, not grain.

Gluten-free rice crust quiche filled with ham, cheddar, and Swiss cheese in a savory egg custard. A clever way to use leftover rice for a crispy, golden pie crust.

Delicate sole fillets rolled around a buttery crab, chive, and parsley filling, baked in a creamy wine sauce and topped with melted Swiss cheese. Elegant seafood in 40 minutes.

Individual mushroom souffles built on a Parmesan bechamel with sauteed mushrooms, shallots, and a hint of mace. Baked in ramekins and served straight from the oven.

Greek stuffed grape leaves (dolmades) filled with ground lamb, pine nuts, fresh mint, parsley, and lemon juice, then baked in water until tender. A classic Mediterranean appetizer.

Turkey primavera with browned turkey tenderloin cubes in a hearty tomato-beef broth sauce with mushrooms, green peppers, and herbs. Served over fettuccine or spaghetti with Parmesan.

Rich baked casserole of lump crab and shrimp with Italian breadcrumbs, mushrooms, hard-boiled eggs, and a creamy mayo-evaporated milk base. A 30-minute showstopper.

Baked chicken liver pate with brandy, sage, thyme, and cream, molded in juice cans and rolled in fresh parsley. A make-ahead appetizer that freezes well for up to 3 weeks.

Stuffed cabbage rolls with brown rice, dillseed, marjoram, paprika, onions, and herbs wrapped in blanched cabbage leaves and braised in tomato-vermouth sauce. A vegetarian German Kohlrouladen.

Seared sea bass baked in a slow-simmered Greek tomato sauce with garlic, onions, white wine, rosemary, and bay leaves. Feeds eight and fills the kitchen with Mediterranean aromas.