Recipe Sifter

Iceberg lettuce wedges drizzled with sweet-tangy poppy seed dressing emulsified with onion juice, mustard, and oil. A retro steakhouse-style salad ready in 15 minutes.

Asian-style roasted pork tenderloin marinated in soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, and molasses. Sliced thin, sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds, served with sharp homemade hot mustard sauce.

Crock pot lemonade chicken: chicken browned and slow-cooked in a sweet-tangy glaze of frozen lemonade concentrate, brown sugar, ketchup and vinegar, then thickened into a glossy gravy and served over rice. An easy set-and-forget dinner.

Mom's German meatballs: hearty egg-sized meatballs seasoned with celery seed, mustard seed, and garlic water, rolled in flour and pan-browned. Old-world German-American home cooking.

Slow cooker one-dish meal with ground beef, bacon, smoked sausage, and four kinds of beans in a sweet-smoky ketchup and honey sauce. A hearty crowd-feeder for 10.

Slow cooker tangy barbecue beef sandwiches with chuck roast braised in a vinegar-spiked sauce until fork-tender, then shredded and piled on buns.

Greek baked rabbit (lagos kounelli fournou) marinated for days in red wine and herbs, then slow-braised in a tomato-wine sauce warmed with allspice. A rustic, fall-off-the-bone game dish from the Greek countryside.

Ginger-glazed ribs baked low and slow in a Dutch oven with a sweet-tangy sauce of brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and Italian dressing mix. Basted every 30 minutes for sticky, fall-off-the-bone results.

Sichuan cashew chicken stir-fried with velveted chicken, toasted cashews, bamboo shoots, and green peppers in a soybean paste and rice wine sauce. Restaurant-style Chinese at home.

Homemade tomato catsup from fresh tomato pulp with cinnamon, paprika, vinegar, and mustard. Slow-cooked until thick for a rich, old-fashioned ketchup you can't get from a bottle.

Grilled flank steak brushed with a homemade chili-honey barbecue sauce made from tomato sauce, vinegar, and garlic. Slice thin across the grain to serve.

Vegan Black Forest cake with whole wheat pastry flour, applesauce, and a kirsch syrup. Cashew-tofu icing replaces dairy whipped cream. Three layers of chocolate cake, cherries, and creamy frosting.

German-style hot potato salad with bacon, vinegar and sugar in a tangy sweet-sour dressing. Warm side dish that pairs with pork, sausage and grilled meats.

Zesty pot roast: a 4-pound beef chuck braised low in tomato soup, water, and vinegar for hours, then finished with applesauce stirred into the sauce. A vintage Americana take on Sunday pot roast.

Poached salmon steaks simmered in a fragrant bay-dill-peppercorn broth, served with a cool yogurt cucumber sauce. Light, elegant, and ready in 30 minutes.

Steamed ground turkey dumplings (shu mai) with ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and scallions in wonton wrappers. Served with a tangy fish sauce, vinegar, and chili dipping sauce. Makes 40 bite-sized gems.