Recipe Sifter

Moroccan-spiced grilled flank steak marinated overnight in cumin, ginger, turmeric, chili powder, lemon juice, and olive oil. Sliced thin and served with heated marinade.

Rabbit with sweet Italian sausage braised in a tomato-and-wine sauce with peppers, garlic, and a bright lift of orange. Lean rabbit browns in the sausage fat for deep, rustic Italian flavor over pasta or rice.

Smoked ham and cheese stuffed mushrooms pack mushroom caps with a wine-deglazed ham, garlic, and breadcrumb filling, then broil under melted Monterey Jack for a savory two-bite party appetizer.

Pasta shells stuffed with crumbled feta, black olives, red pepper, and walnuts. A Mediterranean-style finger food appetizer ready in 15 minutes.

Chilled Mediterranean grilled vegetable soup with charred bell peppers, zucchini, red onion, vine-ripened tomatoes, basil, and red wine vinegar. A smoky, no-cook summer soup served cold.

A hearty one-skillet supper of ground beef simmered with bulgur wheat, tomatoes, and oregano, finished with Parmesan and parsley. The cracked wheat soaks up the savory broth for a wholesome, budget-friendly dinner.

Hunter's minestrone with cubed beef, kidney beans, pasta shells, and red wine simmered for four hours in three stages. A hearty, meaty Italian soup built for cold weather.

New Orleans-style red beans simmered with smoked ham hocks, kielbasa, the holy trinity, and a kick of Tabasco. Thick, smoky, and good enough to make on a Monday or any day.

Chicken Ya-Hah simmers chicken breast with jalapenos, water chestnuts, Szechwan chili sauce, curry, cumin, and red wine in tomato sauce. A spicy fusion stew over cornbread or rice.

Grilled herbed steak marinated overnight in a tomato juice, basil, and oregano blend, served over tender foil-packet onions with a tangy pan sauce.

Howard Karten's salsa is a Mediterranean-leaning chunky tomato dip: peeled tomatoes, red onion, black olives, cumin, garlic, oregano, and red wine vinegar. No chiles, no cilantro, all flavor.

Healthy meat loaf packed with sauteed cabbage, shredded carrots, and potatoes mixed into lean ground beef with whole wheat bread crumbs. More vegetable than meat, baked covered then uncovered for a golden crust.

Tomato and herb salad layers sliced ripe tomatoes over crisp lettuce with a chopped-tomato oregano vinaigrette. Fat-free, low calorie, diabetic-friendly side ready in 20 minutes.

Roux-thickened Creole onion soup loaded with golden onions, three cheeses, cayenne, and herbs, topped with seasoned bread cubes. French onion goes full Louisiana.

White chicken chili with white beans, green chiles, poblano pepper, cumin, and oregano. A lighter, brothy chili loaded with garnish options.

French style herbed cheese spreads softened cream cheese with oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and milk into a five-minute Boursin-style appetizer for crusty bread or crackers.