Recipe Sifter

Pasta e fagioli with sweet Italian sausage, white beans, Roma tomatoes, white wine, and fusilli. A hearty Italian pasta and bean dish loaded with herbs and Parmesan.

Lighter broccoli cheddar soup made with low-fat yogurt, reduced-fat cheddar, and low-salt chicken broth. Pureed smooth and creamy without the heavy cream.

Spinach lasagne with sauteed mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic, and fresh wilted spinach folded into a three-cheese filling. A vegetarian Italian lasagna with no jarred sauce needed.

Pasta and kidney bean soup is a quick Italian pasta e fagioli style soup with rosamarina (orzo), canned tomatoes, red kidney beans, oregano, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.

Fresh tomato salsa with jalapeño, garlic, cilantro, and lime. Basically classic pico de gallo with a sharp Mexican kick, ready blender-free in about 15 minutes.

Halibut steaks Marengo with a rich tomato-mushroom sauce, Greek olives, and a parsley-garlic-lemon gremolata. A classic French-inspired fish dish thickened with beurre manie.

Grilled vegetable garden burgers with marinated eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, Bermuda onion, and tomato layered into whole wheat pita. A vegan, herb-laced summer sandwich for cookouts.

Vegetarian supreme pizza on whole wheat crust loaded with steamed spinach, zucchini, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and fresh tomatoes. No cheese, all vegetables.

Homemade vegan sausage (soysage) made from soybeans, kombu, oats, gluten flour, and classic sausage spices like sage, fennel, and cayenne. Steamed until firm and sliceable.

Louisiana courtbouillon of redfish, the classic Cajun fish stew. Whole redfish or red snapper steaks simmered in a brown roux, holy trinity, tomatoes, herbs, and white wine. Spooned over rice, this is bayou comfort food.

Lentil pasta soup with orzo, Italian green beans, tomatoes, and four dried herbs in a chicken broth base. A hearty one-pot soup finished with vinegar and croutons.

Hearty kabocha squash chowder with smoky bacon, sweet bell pepper, and fresh thyme. Chunks of golden squash thicken the broth as they soften. Topped with smoked almonds for crunch.

Pedernales River chili made Texas-style with coarse ground beef, lard, ground chile, and no beans. A bold, no-frills LBJ-era recipe simmered low for an hour.

Hearty three-bean chili con carne with lean beef, roasted peppers, and warm spices for crowd-pleasing game day dinners that serve 12 from one pot.

Mexican ancho chile sauce with tomatoes, cumin and oregano. Smoky dried chile sauce simmered until thick, ready in 75 minutes.

Hearty vegetarian chili with meatless crumbles, dried apricots, and warm spices, simmered in beer and tomato sauce for a sweet-savory twist on classic chili.