Recipe Sifter

Oven-braised pheasant in a white wine and stock sauce with peeled grapes stirred in at the end. A classic European game bird dish with an elegant, fruity finish.

Low-fat apple oat crisp with applesauce in the filling and a whole wheat oat topping with just a tablespoon of margarine. Only 85 calories per serving.

Mung dal with black mustard seeds, turmeric, and ginger, finished with a hot ghee tadka of sputtering mustard seeds and green chile. A traditional Indian lentil dish with bright, bold tempering.

Chicken breasts pan-seared and finished in a Languedoc-style walnut and garlic aillade, with a tangy yogurt-lemon marinade for tenderness. Rustic French main with deep nutty richness.

Omaha-style flank steak marinated overnight in soy sauce, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire, dry mustard, and garlic, then grilled hot and sliced on the diagonal.

Homemade beef jerky from flank steak marinated in honey, soy, garlic, and lemon, then oven-dried for chewy strips with a touch of sweetness. Use tamari to make it gluten-free.

Tzatziki (satziki) Greek yogurt dip with cucumber, garlic, dill, olive oil, and lemon juice. Thick and creamy with strained yogurt. Serve with pita, grilled meats, or gyros.

An authentic Dutch cheesecake made with grated Gouda cheese instead of cream cheese, lightened with beaten egg whites and studded with golden raisins. Baked in a shortbread tart crust with lemon.

Deep-dish apple pie with a single top crust hiding a heap of brown sugar and cinnamon-spiced apples. Old-fashioned simplicity served with cream or hard sauce, just the way grandmother made it.

Old-fashioned raspberry fruit jellies, homemade candy made from fresh fruit juice boiled with sugar, set with gelatine and rolled in fine sugar. Soft, jewel-bright squares with a real fruit tang.

Nancy's apple bread with chopped fresh apples folded into a buttery batter, layered with a crumb topping through the middle and on top. A tender, cake-like loaf with a streusel surprise inside.

Grilled shark steaks with a soy-orange-ketchup marinade, basted on the grill until the meat flakes. Swordfish or salmon steaks work as substitutes.

Grape leaves stuffed with ground lamb, rice, pine nuts, mint, parsley, cinnamon, and allspice, simmered in olive oil and lemon juice. A hearty meat-filled dolma served at room temperature.

Grilled summer squash halves brushed with lemon, rosemary, and margarine, then charred over medium-hot coals until tender. A low-calorie, diabetic-friendly side for any cookout.

Classic lemon squares with a shortbread base and a tart-sweet lemon curd topping baked on a pre-baked crust. Powdered sugar dusted. Twelve squares per batch.

Quick broiled tuna casserole with deviled-egg flavor, hard-boiled eggs, and a crispy cornflake-Parmesan topping. A 30-minute weeknight pantry main with retro charm.