Recipe Sifter

Veggie burgers in pita bread are homemade grain patties of barley, lentils, and rice with carrots, onion, and sunflower seeds, pan-fried golden and stuffed into warm pita pockets with lettuce and tomato.

Shrimp in garlic sauce baked in a vermouth, olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, and parsley marinade. Prawns marinate for an hour then bake until pink and translucent. A Spanish-style garlic shrimp with bright, herby flavors.

Easy spaghetti casserole layered with a from-scratch beef and mushroom tomato sauce, tangled spaghetti and sharp cheddar, then baked under a crunchy bread crumb crust. A bubbling, crowd-feeding weeknight bake.

Nantucket cioppino is a New England take on the San Francisco classic, loading swordfish, lobster, clams, mussels, cod, and shrimp into a red wine tomato broth. A showstopper seafood stew for a crowd.

Greek octopus pilaf simmered in tomato, white wine, and oregano for an hour until tender, served over rice cooked in the braising sauce. A traditional taverna dish.

Cajun-spiced shrimp simmered with the holy trinity, fresh tomatoes, apple juice, and fish stock over rice. This New Orleans-style skillet dinner brings bold bayou flavor to your table in 40 minutes flat.

Neapolitan spaghetti alla pummarola with plum tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and a splash of red wine. Authentic Southern Italian comfort food ready in 45 minutes.

Mediterranean shrimp and bow tie pasta with olives, garlic, oregano, and lemon. A fast 30-minute Italian-inspired one-skillet weeknight dinner.

Aunt Eloise's borscht simmers ruby beets, potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes and sorrel into a tangy Eastern European soup served hot or cold with a swirl of sour cream.

Quick cheese and wine bread baked in a round pan with parmesan, onion, oregano and white wine. Savory biscuit-style bread ready in 45 minutes, no yeast required.

Gringo chili: retro American chili built on canned tomato soup, French onion soup, kidney beans, and ground beef. Loaded with ground chile, cumin, and oregano. Weeknight chili with zero apologies.

Fat-free Alfredo sauce over fettuccine made with skim evaporated milk, garlic sauteed in white wine, and nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor without the cheese. A lighter take on the classic cream pasta.

Bow tie pasta with a chunky eggplant-tomato sauce simmered with basil, oregano, and cayenne in vegetable broth. A low-fat, oil-free vegan pasta that's full of flavor.

Stromboli stuffed with ham, salami, provolone, and mozzarella in frozen bread dough with Italian herbs. Golden, buttery, and ready in 35 minutes. Serve with marinara.

Hearty Italian sausage soup with hot sausage, tomato puree, red wine, bell peppers, and fresh herbs simmered in beef stock. Served over rotelli pasta with Parmesan.

Jeff's favorite pizza sauce: a thick, concentrated pizza sauce made with plum tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, and parmesan. Freezer-friendly and ready for homemade pizza night.