Recipe Sifter

European-style apple cake presses a rum-spiked shortbread base into a sheet pan, then tops it with grated tart apples, raisins, nuts, and cinnamon sugar. A sliceable, freezable bar-style cake.

For a bread machine. I've done these both 'full fat' and 'reduced fat'. It's hard to tell the difference, so we go reduced, including using light (Neufchatel) cream cheese. I've tried ALL the fat free cream cheeses and NONE of them work.

Dense, moist pound cake loaded with Granny Smith apples, flaked coconut, and chopped pecans. No mixer needed. Bake in a tube pan for 80 minutes of pure comfort.

A unique applesauce cake baked directly in sterilized canning jars, creating shelf-stable gifts that can be sealed and stored at room temperature.

Linguine tossed with artichoke hearts, capers, Parmesan, and prosciutto in a buttery lemon-garlic sauce. A 35-minute Italian pasta that feels special.

A surprising vintage side dish: sliced cucumbers and Spanish onions layered with chili sauce and butter, baked until meltingly tender. Prove that cucumbers aren't just for salads.

Egg-free lemon muffins made with silken tofu, applesauce, whole wheat flour, and wheat germ. Bright lemon zest and a cinnamon dusting on top. Makes 24 wholesome muffins in 30 minutes.

Crunchy twice-baked biscotti packed with roasted almonds and hazelnuts, scented with vanilla, anise, and almond extract. A big-batch Italian cookie that keeps for weeks and begs to be dunked.

Vegetarian black bean tart in a crispy olive oil cornmeal crust with cumin-spiced tofu filling and roasted garlic. A savory, rustic showstopper for dinner or brunch.

Hearty broccoli ham hot dish layered with rice, homemade white sauce, and buttered breadcrumbs. A Midwestern casserole classic that uses up leftover ham.

Classic banana oat bread with buttermilk tang and crunchy walnuts throughout. Dense, moist, and sturdy enough to slice thick for the best banana bread toast.

A basic, delicious cookie that will satisfy the tastes of butterscotch-lovers everywhere.

Canterbury jumbles: chewy, generously loaded drop cookies with shredded coconut, macadamia nuts, raisins, and semi-sweet chocolate chips. The everything-but-the-kitchen-sink cookie that lives up to its name.

Banana walnut Bundt cake with whole wheat flour and a bright orange glaze, made in the microwave. A tropical holiday showstopper that comes together in under 35 minutes.

Classic chewy oatmeal cookies loaded with raisins, walnuts, and a hint of cinnamon. Brown sugar and butter-flavored shortening keep them soft and bendy long after they cool.

Spice-dusted chicken breasts slow-cooked on a bed of sweet potatoes in a creamy orange and mushroom sauce. A hands-off Crock-Pot dinner that fills the house with warmth.