Recipe Sifter

Hot and sour celery soup with tofu, sunchokes, and jicama in a ginger-spiked broth thickened with cornstarch. A low-fat, high-fiber twist on the Chinese classic.

Cajun crab in a rich Swiss cheese and cream sauce with mushrooms, scallions, and dry vermouth, spiked with cayenne. Serve in patty shells or scooped up with crusty French bread.

Southern-style okra stewed with Rotel tomatoes and green chilies, bacon drippings, bell pepper, celery, and chili powder. A smoky, spicy side dish that freezes well.

Ground beef casserole with rice, cream of mushroom and chicken soups, soy sauce, and crispy chow mein noodles on top. A retro Asian-inspired one-dish dinner baked in layers.

Cross rib roast braised with vegetables, black olives, tomatoes, red wine, and a bouquet garni for 2 hours until fork-tender. The strained pan juices make a self-thickening gravy with no extra steps.

Molded vegetable salad sets crunchy cabbage, carrots, and celery in tangy orange diet gelatin with celery seed. A retro low-calorie potluck classic.

Red wine pot roast braised low and slow with 24 cloves of garlic, carrots, celery, and thyme. Fork-tender beef with a rich, butter-finished pan sauce strained from the vegetables.

Bouillabaisse, the Provencal seafood stew: mussels and red snapper simmered in a saffron-perfumed broth with white wine, garlic, and herbs. Ladled over toasted French bread, French coast in a bowl.

Pateles are Puerto Rican green banana tamales: grated green banana and potato dough wrapped around achiote-spiced pork in banana leaves, then boiled until tender. Holiday tradition across the Caribbean and beyond.

Pasta e fagioli (pasta fazool) with red kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, and vegetables simmered into a thick, hearty Italian soup. Vegetarian comfort food made from dried beans.

Cajun-style crawfish and corn soup built on a flamed brandy shell stock and a medium-brown roux. Rich, spicy, and loaded with sweet corn straight off the cob.

Thick meaty spaghetti sauce simmers ground beef, bell pepper, celery, garlic and mushrooms with three forms of tomato. Slow-cooked 2 to 3 hours into a deep, batch-friendly Italian-American gravy.

Chicken casserole with tarragon, slivered almonds, and a golden parmesan breadcrumb top. Poached chicken breast gets folded with sautéed celery, carrots, and onion in a tangy sour cream and white wine sauce, then baked until bubbly.

Shrimp and cashew stir-fry tosses tender shrimp with toasted cashews, mushrooms, spinach and snow peas in a soy-garlic glaze. A 30-minute Chinese-American dinner over brown rice.

A hearty vegetable soup with black beans, okra, zucchini, and crushed tomatoes braised in red wine with cumin, ginger, and cayenne. Served over brown rice for a filling vegan meal.

Chicken tarragon salad tosses shredded chicken with halved red grapes, celery, walnuts, and a tarragon-poppy seed yogurt dressing over spring greens. Light lunch in 10 minutes.