Recipe Sifter

Louisiana gumbo built on a classic roux with okra, bell pepper, celery, onion, tomatoes, and your choice of shrimp, chicken, or crawfish. A Creole one-pot served over rice.

Osso bucco alla Milanese: cross-cut veal shanks braised low in white wine with vegetables and herbs, finished with classic lemon-parsley-garlic gremolata.

A simple slow cooker recipe for a beef casserole made with mushrooms, veal stock and mixed herbs.

Braided yeast bread filled with buttery sauteed onions, Parmesan, sesame seeds, and paprika. A showstopping homemade loaf with a soft, pillowy crumb and savory golden crust.

Set-it-and-forget-it veal stroganoff in the slow cooker. Flour-dusted veal cubes braise with potatoes, mushrooms, and beef stock until fall-apart tender, then get a rich swirl of sour cream right before serving. Hearty comfort food with zero babysitting.

This is my best soup for a cold winter day, hearty and delicious. Actually it's great anytime of year.

Cream of peanut soup from Colonial Williamsburg's Kings Arms Tavern: a velvety blend of peanut butter, chicken broth, sauteed celery and onion, finished with cream and chopped peanuts. Southern tavern classic.

German sauerbraten marinated four days in spiced vinegar, then slow-braised fork-tender in a sweet-sour gravy thickened with crushed gingersnaps. The classic sweet-and-sour pot roast, here with a lean bison twist.

Creamy Southwestern grilled cactus soup with nopalitos, jicama, broccoli, corn, and melted cheese in a roux-thickened broth. A bold, one-of-a-kind bowl.

BLT corn chowder puts bacon, lettuce, and tomato into a creamy potato and corn soup. Made with skim milk and Canadian bacon, it's lighter than it looks and ready in 35 minutes.

This recipe is my husband's specialty, good for any fresh fish. I prefer halibut but whatever your pleasure. Goes great with homemade mashed potatoes.

Swedish bread soup made from stale bread, onions, and stock, strained into a smooth, nutmeg-scented broth and topped with grated cheese. Simple Scandinavian comfort food.

Corn tortillas stuffed with sharp cheddar and smothered in a beefy chili bean sauce, then baked until bubbly. These cheesy chili enchiladas bring bold Tex-Mex flavor to your dinner table in under an hour.

Classic German sauerbraten braises rump roast in a 4-day vinegar marinade, then simmers in gravy thickened with crushed gingersnaps and sour cream. Tangy, rich, fall-apart tender.

Creamy sour cream and corn casserole topped with crumbled bacon, baked until bubbly. A smoky, garlicky side dish that goes with just about everything on the table.

English-cut short ribs braised low and slow in a tangy sweet sour sauce of brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar and garlic. Fall-off-the-bone Sunday supper.