Recipe Sifter

A hearty, full-scale borsch loaded with beef, bacon, kielbasa, beets, cabbage, potatoes, and navy beans. This is the real deal: slow-simmered, sweet-sour balanced, and crowned with sour cream. Feeds 10.

Slow-simmered Brazilian black bean soup with cumin, coriander, orange juice, and a splash of dry sherry. Partially pureed for velvety thickness and topped with a cool dollop of sour cream.

Retro shrimp or tuna mousse made with cream cheese, tomato soup, and gelatin. A no-bake molded seafood spread with bell peppers, celery, and Worcestershire for cocktail parties.

Low-calorie broccoli soup blended smooth with carrots, celery, and herbs, studded with whole broccoli buds and elbow macaroni. Creamy comfort without the cream.

Low-fat roasted vegetable stock made with caramelized onions, carrots, leeks, and celery. This vegetarian brown stock adds deep, savory flavor to soups, risottos, and sauces without a drop of meat.

A silky blended soup of brown rice, fresh asparagus, and aromatic vegetables in chicken broth, brightened with soy sauce, parsley, and a dash of hot pepper sauce. Light, clean, and spring-ready.

It's a very interesting way to make soup in egg shells and it's also fun to eat it from the shells too.

Italian-seasoned chicken breasts slow-cooked in tomato soup and red wine, then finished with rice right in the crockpot. A hands-off weeknight dinner that serves 4 with zero fuss.

This is a hearty sweet and sour meat soup that can be used as a main dish.

Caribbean shrimp and black bean salad tossed in a salsa-honey vinaigrette with celery, red onion, and cilantro. A no-cook, make-ahead summer salad ready after a two-hour chill to let the flavors marry.

A loaded spaghetti sauce simmered uncovered for 6+ hours with ground sirloin, porterhouse steak, leeks, mushrooms, peppers, and a heap of herbs. Thick, meaty, and worth every minute of the wait.

Velvety carrot bisque built on a base of crispy bacon, mushrooms, scallions, and fresh thyme, simmered in chicken broth and finished with heavy cream. Silky, savory, and deeply warming.

A light and refreshing salad is a great side dish at your Thanksgiving dinner!

Hearty slow cooker meatball soup with potatoes, corn, carrots, and a rich cheddar cheese finish. Dump it all in the crock pot and come home to a cheesy, beefy bowl.

Tender crepes stuffed with cheddar, broccoli, and tuna, then microwaved until the cheese melts into a gooey blanket. A quick, protein-packed meal that turns pantry staples into something surprisingly elegant.

A rich, velvety Chesapeake-style oyster bisque simmered with bay leaf, finished with cream and a splash of dry sherry. Serves 24 for elegant entertaining.