Recipe Sifter

Crawfish tails simmered in a creamy shrimp soup sauce with sauteed onions, garlic, bell pepper, celery, and white wine. Ladle this Cajun-style goodness over rice or pasta.

Velvety mushroom barley soup with a clever trick: half the barley gets pureed with sauteed mushrooms for extra body. Lightened up with skim evaporated milk and a splash of dry vermouth.

Creamy Mexican corn soup pureed smooth, seasoned with cumin and green chilies, enriched with melted pepper jack cheese. Served over chicken and tomatoes with crispy fried tortilla squares.

Rice con queso: a layered Mexican-American casserole of brown rice, black beans, ricotta, Monterey Jack, and cheddar with green chilies. A vegetarian pantry dinner that bakes in 30 minutes flat.

Roast fillet of beef: a whole tenderloin studded with garlic and marinated in soy, port, and thyme, then roasted and rested for a tender, rosy centerpiece. An elegant make-ahead roast for holidays.

Classic escargots bourguignonne baked in their shells with garlic-herb butter, shallots, parsley, and a splash of white wine. The iconic French appetizer done right.

Pan-fried red snapper fillets in a brown butter sauce with garlic, lemon juice, and parsley. Restaurant-quality fish dinner ready in under 25 minutes.

Note: 15 bean mixtures are available packaged in supermarkets and health food stores. If you prefer, make your own by combining equal amounts of dried blackeyed peas, red kidney beans, white kidney beans (cannellini), green lentils, split peas, black beans, yellow split peas, navy beans, cranberry (Roman, shell, or shell out) beans, great Northern beans, pinto beans, small white limas, red lentils, cow peas (field peas), and pink beans. Avoid using beans such as garbanzos and large lima beans, as these take longer to cook than other varities.

Breaded chicken breasts stuffed with spinach and feta cheese, baked golden and topped with a lemony mushroom-caper wine sauce. A Greek-inspired dinner that's worth the extra step.

Broiled chicken breasts baked in a tangy pineapple-Dijon sauce with Worcestershire, rosemary, and lemon slices. Sweet, savory, and on the table in one hour.

Beef and Noodles with Sour Cream and Paprika recipe

Amazing sauce! It takes a bit longer than any other recipe i have ever tried but it is WELL worth it!

Crispy Cuban-style fritters made from soaked black-eyed peas blended with garlic into a thick batter, fried golden, and finished with a squeeze of fresh lime. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and seriously addictive.

Spiced red lentil veggie burgers with Cajun seasoning, garlic, and fresh herbs. Cook lentils until they break down, mix with breadcrumbs, then grill or pan-fry until crispy.

A robust beef and pork chili from legendary chef Pierre Franey with coarse-ground meat, kidney beans, chile caribe, and a rich tomato-beef broth. Ready in 40 minutes.

From McCall's Great American recipe card collection, Our Italian Heritage 5e, a baked meatball lasagna.