Recipe Sifter

Italian osso buco with veal shanks braised in white wine, French onion soup, tomato, and lemon, served with potatoes and carrots. Northern Italian comfort with melt-off-the-bone tenderness.

Pasticcio di Maccheroni, the Greek baked pasta casserole layered with spiced ground beef, macaroni, grated cheese, and a rich béchamel crown.

Oven-braised beef stew with red wine, mushrooms, tomatoes, and rosemary. The beef browns at high heat first, then slow-cooks in a rich, saucy broth until fork-tender.

Salmon steaks coated in mayo and flour-dill mixture, browned, then baked on a bed of rice cooked with vegetables and bouillon: complete one-dish meal ready in 45 minutes.

Chewy brown sugar brownies loaded with grated carrots, chopped raisins, and a walnut topping. Not your typical brownie, but the 4.8-star rating speaks for itself.

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.

Spezzatino di vitello: cubed veal braised in Burgundy wine with smoky bacon, shallots, mushrooms, and tiny white onions. This traditional Italian veal stew is rustic elegance in a bowl.

Baked vegetarian samosas with a homemade whole wheat crust and a curried spinach, carrot, and scallion filling glazed with tamari. No deep frying needed. Equally good served hot from the oven or cold for lunch.

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.

Roasted Cornish hens brushed with olive oil, parsley, and thyme, served with pan-gravy mushrooms, glazed carrots, and Brussels sprouts. A rustic Sunday dinner plate, scaled small.

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.

Soft honey carrot cookies with shredded carrots, nutmeg, and real honey for natural sweetness. Shaped into 1-inch balls for a tender, cake-like bite.

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.

Vegetarian shao mai dumplings with hand-rolled hot-water dough and two filling options: mashed tofu or minced water chestnut and mushroom. Bamboo steamer classic, freezer-friendly.