Recipe Sifter

Stuffed polenta with meat sauce: two layers of Parmesan polenta sandwiching a meaty tomato-basil sauce and mozzarella, baked hot until bubbly. A lighter Italian alternative to lasagna.

Herbed focaccia, a crisp Italian flatbread with a touch of cornmeal, brushed with warm garlic-herb olive oil and showered with kosher salt. Thin and crackly, it's made for open sandwiches and freezes well.

Vegan black bean chili with corn, zucchini, beer, and a cornmeal thickener. Hearty meatless one-pot dinner that feeds 16 with bold Tex-Mex flavor.

Hearty pork and beef chili simmered low with cocoa powder, cinnamon, cumin, and chili powder for deep, earthy heat. Pinto beans and cornmeal thicken the pot. Serve with sour cream, Parmesan, and chopped onions for a bold weeknight dinner.

Corn tamale casserole layered with blended corn-cornmeal masa, green chiles, and cheddar cheese, baked under foil. Served with a warm oregano-stewed tomato sauce.

Vegan eggplant lasagna with cornmeal-crusted oven-fried eggplant, tofu ricotta filling, and tomato sauce. No pasta, no dairy, all the layered comfort of classic lasagna.

Roasted vegetable pizza topped with caramelized onions, zucchini, tomatoes, and garlic on homemade whole grain dough. This vegetarian pizza is packed with Mediterranean flavor.

Pizza on the grill with a homemade whole-wheat crust, creamy garlic-tomato sauce, and crumbled gorgonzola. Hot-grilled two-stage crust method delivers smoky char and crisp bottoms.

Ground beef, tomatoes, green olives, and cottage cheese baked in a cornmeal batter until set and golden. All the tamale flavor without the husks or the fuss.

A loaded tamale pie with ground beef, bacon, corn, and green chiles in a cornmeal crust, topped with a melted Monterey Jack and egg layer. Tex-Mex comfort baked in a pie pan.

Cornbread chili is a one-skillet tamale-pie cousin: ground beef simmered with cumin, oregano, and tomato concasse, then crowned with a buttermilk cornmeal crust and baked golden.

Focaccia condita made with durum flour and a slow-rise biga, topped with fresh tomatoes, oregano, capers, and olive oil. Crisp, chewy Italian flatbread baked at high heat.

Fried chicken breasts rubbed in ancho peppers: chicken slathered in a rich ancho chile paste, then dredged in a chili-spiked cornmeal coating for a shatteringly crisp, Southwestern-spiced crust. A bold twist on classic fried chicken.

Individual party pizzas on homemade dough with Italian sausage, pepperoni, artichoke hearts, and mozzarella. Pre-baked 7-inch crusts topped and finished in the oven.

Pepper corn pasta: semolina and cornmeal fresh pasta with black pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano, and garlic worked into the dough. A golden, spicy homemade noodle for bold sauces.

Simple, but scrumptious snacks that are perfect when on the go. Try different toppings to add some variety.