Recipe Sifter

Low-calorie baked macaroni and cheese made with skim milk, cottage cheese instead of cheddar, dill, and parsley. Topped with breadcrumbs and paprika for a crispy finish.

Macaroni meal-in-a-casserole with corn macaroni, diced ham, cheddar, peas, and olives in a creamy mustard-spiked bechamel. Retro one-pan dinner for busy weeknights.

Master Chef stewed chicken braises a whole bird with fire-roasted bell peppers, tomatoes, red wine, raisins, and olives for a Spanish-Portuguese sweet-and-savory stew. Finished with a flour-thickened gravy.

Eastern European meat patties with slow-braised veal, mushrooms, and dill wrapped in a buttery sour cream dough and baked golden. A hand-held pastry stuffed with ground meat filling.

Scandinavian-style meatball cakes made from ground veal and pork with cream and eggs, served alongside beer rice cooked in French onion soup. A hearty, pub-inspired dinner.

Mexican style pizza trades marinara for a chili-spiked bean sauce, piled on homemade yeast crust with mozzarella and cheddar. Half pizza, half nachos, all flavor.

Creamy mild cheddar soup with grated carrots, parsnip, celery, and onion in a beef consommé base, finished with melted cheese and milk. A homestyle bowl of cheesy comfort, ready in 45 minutes.

Minced lamb fondue rolls seasoned ground lamb with scallions and breadcrumbs into walnut-sized balls that get speared and deep-fried at the table. Served with a creamy sherry-mushroom sauce for dipping.

Lighter chicken and rice casserole made with skim milk, defatted broth, and reduced-calorie mayo. Topped with toasted almonds and baked until bubbly. All the comfort, less the guilt.

Creamy mushroom potato chowder with a butter-flour roux base, fresh mushrooms, carrots, celery, half-and-half, and Parmesan. A thick, hearty vegetarian chowder from scratch.

Vegetarian mushroom stroganoff with a roux-based vegetable stock sauce, Dijon mustard, and sour cream. A meatless take on the Russian classic that's rich, creamy, and ready in under an hour.

Mushroom turnovers in a cream cheese pastry with a sauteed mushroom-cream filling and optional sherry. An elegant make-ahead appetizer that freezes well before baking.

Mussel and saffron soup with fresh mussels steamed in white wine, simmered in a leek, garlic, and fenugreek broth tinted golden with saffron and finished with cream.

Curried chicken simmered with tomatoes, green peppers, and raisins in a savory broth. Served over rice, this weeknight curry comes together with pre-cooked chicken.

New England chuck roast slow-cooked with carrots, onions, celery, and cabbage wedges, served with a homemade horseradish gravy from the pot broth.

New England clam chowder made entirely in the microwave with bacon, canned clams, potatoes, onion, and milk thickened with flour. A creamy, classic chowder ready in about 25 minutes.