Recipe Sifter

Basic gumbo loaded with chicken, andouille sausage, and shrimp in a deep brown roux-thickened broth, simmered with the trinity, tomatoes, and Cajun seasoning. A hearty Louisiana-style one-pot for a hungry crowd.

Ricotta pesto gnocchi with semolina flour, served in a roasted garlic broth and garnished with basil, tomato, Parmesan, and pine nuts. A chef-level Italian pasta course.

Cheese pasties, hand-held British turnovers stuffed with sharp cheddar and diced root vegetables (turnip, carrot, leek, celery) in a flaky butter shortcrust, warmed with mace and cayenne. Crimped, baked golden, and even better the next day.

Slightly creamy without being rich, the flavour was well balanced. I love using crock-pot, because it's easy and so convenient. Therefore this recipe has certainly won me over :)

Savory chicken pie with a buttery herb stuffing crust, a thick mushroom-and-gravy filling with peas and celery, and a lattice of melted Colby cheese on top. Ready in one hour.

A massive-batch New England clam chowder with sharp cheddar cheese, potatoes, celery, and 30 cans of minced clams. Feeds 60 people. Built for church suppers, family reunions, and community cookouts.

Crabmeat supreme casserole with two pounds of crab in a buttery sherry cream sauce with mushrooms, pimentos, and a cracker crumb topping. An elegant make-ahead dish.

Beer and cheese soup blends sharp cheddar with a bottle of ale, mirepoix, mustard, Tabasco, and Worcestershire. A Wisconsin tavern classic with a velvety bite of malty heat.

Turkey giblet gravy with white wine, Madeira, and mirepoix, deglazed with roasting pan drippings. A make-ahead Thanksgiving gravy with deep, layered flavor that freezes for months.

Creamy potato chowder loaded with smoky bacon, skin-on new potatoes and celery, thickened to a velvety spoonful and finished with a splash of dry sherry. A hearty one-pot chowder for cold nights.

Herbed beef and vegetable stew braises chunks of beef in tomato, white wine, and Italian herbs, then finishes with carrots, mushrooms, green beans, and celery. A classic Sunday Dutch oven dinner.

Hearty lentil soup with frankfurters, bacon, leeks, and carrots thickened with a browned flour roux and a splash of vinegar. A German-style one-pot meal ready in 90 minutes.

Mash-up casserole layering chili beans, green chiles, pimento olives, and roasted red peppers under a fluffy egg-and-cheese custard. New Orleans muffaletta meets Tex-Mex chiles rellenos.

Mushroom soup concentrate is a homemade replacement for canned condensed mushroom soup, built from fresh mushrooms, butter, onion, celery and broth. Use it in casseroles or thin with milk for a quick bowl.

Classic New England clam chowder with bacon, potatoes, and canned clams in a creamy milk-based broth. Thick, hearty, and ready in 40 minutes on the stovetop.

German-style potato salad with a warm beer dressing, crispy bacon, mustard, and Tabasco. No mayo, served warm with a tangy, malty kick from the beer-butter roux.