Recipe Sifter

Microwave lamb stew delivers tender, herb-scented lamb with carrots and potatoes in a thickened gravy, all from the microwave. Faster than a stovetop braise, with the clean, comforting flavor of a classic lamb stew.

Crab and spinach quiche loaded with Swiss and Parmesan in a flaky crust, kissed with nutmeg. Makes two full pies, so there's plenty for brunch guests and leftovers.

Pressure cooker pot roast braises beef in red wine and stock until fork-tender, finished with a pan gravy from the drippings. Sunday dinner shortened from hours to under an hour.

Buttermilk whoopie pies: pillowy chocolate cake cookies sandwiched around fluffy marshmallow buttercream. The classic New England diner dessert, soft, sweet, and snack-cake delicious.

Classic pecan sandies are tender shortbread-style butter cookies loaded with chopped pecans and dusted with powdered sugar. A 6-ingredient holiday favorite that melts on the tongue.

Chicken and dumplings casserole layered with chicken breasts, onion, celery, carrots, and sage in broth, topped with hand-rolled dumpling balls. One-dish oven dinner.

Venison steak braised in Burgundy wine with tomatoes, Worcestershire, Tabasco, and a bouquet garni, finished with sauteed mushrooms. A rich Southern wild game stew served over wild rice.

Lemon-lime cookies with fresh citrus zest and juice, egg yolks, and butter, pressed thin and baked until crisp with a generous sugar sprinkle. Make-ahead dough keeps up to a month frozen.

Old-school dark fruitcake soaked overnight in brandy and orange liqueur with figs, apricots, currants, walnuts, and pecans. Makes four loaves; ages beautifully.

Slow Cooker Zucchini Bread: a hands-off crockpot version of the classic cinnamon-spiced zucchini loaf with chopped nuts. No oven required, ready in 2 to 3 hours on high.

Traditional Italian fig cookies (cucidati) with a sweet filling of dried figs, raisins, walnuts, and cinnamon wrapped in a buttery dough. A classic holiday cookie from Italian-American bakeries.

Tender bay scallops in a light thyme-nutmeg cream sauce tossed with pasta shells and finished with fresh parsley and lemon zest. Elegant enough for date night, easy enough for a weeknight.

Chewy date and nut bar cookies with a crisp edge, baked thin on a sheet pan and dusted with powdered sugar. Simple, old-fashioned, and only 6 ingredients.

Peanut butter crunchies are soft peanut butter cookies rolled in crushed wheat flakes before baking for a crackly, toasty-crunchy exterior. A retro lunchbox classic with a textural twist.

Savory German cabbage muffins with grated cabbage, celery seed, and onion flakes. Tender, slightly sweet, and unexpectedly hearty. A bread-basket alternative for soups and stews.

Classic French country pate with veal, pork, chicken livers, and duck breast marinated in white wine and baked in a terrine. A two-day charcuterie project worth the wait.