Recipe Sifter

The reputation of fruitcake has been tarnished but store bought and candied fruitcakes. Using dried instead of candied fruit demonstrates what fruitcake is supposed to be.

Sulu's Lemon Chicken features breasts marinated in sake, soy sauce, and fresh lemon slices, then egg-dipped and pan-fried to golden. Simmered in the citrusy marinade for a tangy, savory finish.

Baked catfish fillets in white wine with sliced mushrooms, topped with a silky butter-lemon cream sauce and a shower of Parmesan. Creole-inspired elegance on the table in 45 minutes.

Mint and yogurt bread with fresh mint leaves, plain yogurt, lemon zest, and honey. Made with a bread machine or hand-shaped into two loaves. Soft, fragrant, and lightly tangy.

Classic German Lebkuchen: spiced honey bars with almonds and candied citrus peel, glazed with lemon icing and dotted with cherries. Centuries-old Nuremberg Christmas tradition.

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.

Fried apple pies are hand-held Southern hand pies with spiced apple filling tucked into a homemade dough, deep-fried golden and dusted with powdered sugar. Served warm with vanilla ice cream.

A buttery ginger pound cake baked in a ring mold, splashed with rum, and crowned with a garland of poached pears, candied orange peel, and grapes glazed in apple jelly. A showpiece holiday dessert.

Try this neat treat that is perfect for Christmas and is sure to bring family and friends together.

Kaesekuchen, traditional German cheesecake: a light cottage cheese and sour cream filling with lemon, vanilla, and raisins, baked on a buttery shortcrust base and topped with almonds. Lighter than the American style.

Lemon macaroon pie with coconut, fresh lemon juice, and almond extract in a from-scratch butter crust. Topped with vanilla whipped cream and lemon slices.

Mediterranean semolina olive oil cake with lemon zest, almond extract, and cinnamon sugar topping. Moist Italian-inspired torte drizzled with honey and toasted almonds, perfect for brunch or elegant dessert.

Old-fashioned Pennsylvania steamed pudding with mashed carrots, suet, molasses, raisins, currants, and warm spices. Three hours of steaming yields a dense, spiced holiday treat.

Classic veal piccata with lightly floured cutlets seared in butter and olive oil, finished with a bright lemon-caper pan sauce. A timeless Italian-American favorite that comes together faster than you can set the table.

Pfeffernuesse (German pepper nut cookies) are tiny round spice cookies flavored with cinnamon, allspice, clove, nutmeg, and mace, finished with a drop of brandy before baking. A traditional Christmas cookie from Germany.

German oven pancake (Dutch baby) with a dramatic puffed shell, golden edges, and a fruit-filled center. Made with skim milk and egg substitute for a lighter version of the classic.