Recipe Sifter

Lemon chiffon cake with bright lemon juice, fresh zest, and a cloud-light crumb leavened by stiff-beaten egg whites. The vintage springtime cake that's still impossible to beat.

Peppered seafood sausage: fresh fish, shrimp, jalapeños, and cilantro ground together, stuffed into hog casings, and gently poached. A Southwestern take on fish sausage, bound with egg whites and brightened by cumin and lemon.

Chilled shrimp and artichoke hearts tossed with lemon, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh mint, and parsley in the style of San Benedetto. A bright, elegant Italian appetizer served at room temperature.

Grilled tuna and roasted pepper sandwiches: meaty grilled tuna layered with sweet roasted peppers, capers, and parsley salad on focaccia. A Mediterranean pan bagnat style picnic sandwich that only gets better after chilling.

Steamed salmon or trout fillets topped with a from-scratch hollandaise sauce built on a crushed peppercorn and white wine vinegar reduction. Classic French technique with rich, buttery results.

Sauteed carrots with sliced almonds, apple juice, and lemon. Tender-crisp, lightly golden, and naturally sweet. A quick side dish ready in 20 minutes. Dairy-free and kosher-friendly.

Roll-and-cut butter crisp cookies with lemon zest and a splash of kirsch cherry liqueur. A 1986 cookie contest winner that ages two days for better flavor and keeps for six weeks at room temperature.

Italian bean and pasta salad with anasazi beans, spinach spaghetti, fresh vegetables, and a lemon-herb dressing. A no-cook, protein-packed side that improves as it chills.

Chilled shrimp salad tossed with fresh dill, cucumber, celery, and a tangy dressing of mayo, sour cream, Dijon, and anchovy paste. Serve it on lettuce or stuffed into hollowed tomatoes for a gorgeous lunch.

Pineapple chiffon cake layered with chocolate cookies and a light-as-air gelatin mousse. A no-bake, low-calorie dessert with bright tropical flavor and lemon zing.

Sweet and sour borscht: a hearty Eastern European beet soup with crumbled sausage, cabbage, and carrots, balanced with lemon juice and sugar. Serve hot or chilled with sour cream and dill.

Lemon and white chocolate mousse parfaits layered with fresh strawberries in tall glasses. An elegant make-ahead dinner party dessert built from lemon curd mousse and creamy white chocolate mousse.

Shrimp ceviche marinates briefly boiled shrimp in orange juice, lemon juice, ketchup, and hot sauce with thinly sliced onion. Bright, tangy, and chilled for hours before serving.

Rich venison and mushroom stew braises marinated game low and slow into a dark, glossy gravy, then crowns it with crisp lemon-parsley forcemeat balls. A deeply savory, make-ahead wild-game casserole.

Canned salmon spread with mayo, pimentos, dill, horseradish, and tarragon vinegar. A no-cook party appetizer ready in 10 minutes. Serve on brown bread or crackers.

Downhome cafe banana bread with four ripe bananas, butter, and a touch of lemon juice for brightness. A classic, tender loaf with simple pantry ingredients and old-fashioned flavor.