Recipe Sifter

Lentil lasagna layers red lentils, broccoli, mushrooms and corn with no-boil spinach noodles, finished with a vegan cheeze sauce of soy milk, nutritional yeast and turmeric. Dairy-free, hearty and weeknight-friendly.

Smoked sausage and lentil gumbo with a dark roux, celery, onion, carrots, and cayenne. A hearty, protein-packed Cajun-style soup where lentils stand in for okra with rich, smoky depth.

Hearty German sour cream soup with bacon, cabbage, barley, rice, and vegetables in a tangy bechamel-enriched broth with caraway and vinegar. A cold-weather classic.

Crawfish etouffee the easy way: the Cajun holy trinity simmered with crawfish tails, cream of mushroom soup, and tomatoes with green chiles, then ladled over rice. A weeknight shortcut to Louisiana comfort, no roux required.

Cheesy chicken spaghetti casserole with poached chicken breasts, melted Velveeta, cream of mushroom, and tender pasta baked into a Southern church-supper crowd-pleaser. Feeds a small army.

Grand Marnier apricot stuffing with turkey sausage, slivered apples, and thyme. Dried apricots soaked in orange liqueur give this holiday dressing a boozy, fruity sweetness.

Bacon and bean soup simmers slivered bacon with kidney beans, carrots, celery and turnip in a thyme-scented beef broth. A hearty winter soup that tastes even better the next day.

Chinese-style chicken in plum sauce with fresh ginger, sherry, carrots, and celery. Bite-sized chicken simmered in a glossy, sweet-tangy plum gravy thickened with cornstarch.

Classic Oysters Rockefeller baked on the half shell under a buttery spinach topping spiked with Pernod and anchovy, layered with crisp bacon and a browned breadcrumb crust. The New Orleans appetizer, done right at home.

Low-calorie potato salad with red potatoes, fresh dill, celery, and light ranch dressing. No mayo, no guilt, and ready in 15 minutes with pre-cooked potatoes.

Beef and root vegetable soup made the slow way: a from-scratch stock from meaty soup bones, then simmered with shank meat, barley, turnip, parsnip, and tomato. Hearty, deeply savory, and better the next day.

Ouisie's black bean soup with toasted cumin, thyme, carrots, celery, and chili flakes, half-pureed for body. Topped with sour cream, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.

Spinach and potato soup with crispy bacon, white wine, herbs, and a finish of milk and chorizo. Hearty, herb-flecked weeknight bowl ready in an hour.

Yellow split pea soup simmered with a ham bone, carrots, celery, and thyme for 3 hours until thick and smoky. A hearty, old-fashioned soup that turns a leftover ham bone into a full meal.

French-style pork medallions braised in a classic brown sauce with mustard butter, capers and a bouquet garni. Restaurant-technique dinner served with glazed turnips and potatoes.

Home-style vegetable soup loaded with zucchini, carrots, chickpeas, spinach, mushrooms, and pasta in a tomato broth with Italian herbs. A filling one-pot meal.