Recipe Sifter

Baked chicken legs with a lemon-herb seasoning roasted until golden, then smothered in mushroom gravy and baked again until fork-tender. A two-stage roasting method for maximum flavor.

Crispy Sicilian flatbread topped with sauteed mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh herbs, and Parmesan. Uses store-bought pizza dough for a 30-minute appetizer or snack.

Spinach and mushroom Florentine lasagna with ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan layered three times and baked under marinara or tomato-cream sauce. A vegetarian restaurant copycat.

No-bean chili with a veal, beef, and pork blend simmered in canned tomatoes with chili powder, cumin, and a splash of red wine vinegar. Texas-style heat in 80 minutes.

Ground turkey simmered with crushed tomatoes, red wine, capers, and fresh herbs piled over roasted spaghetti squash strands. A hearty low-fat, low-calorie dinner that doesn't skimp on flavor.

Sea scallops sauteed with shallots, garlic, tomato, and fresh oregano, served on garlic-rubbed French bread toasts. An elegant appetizer with a light, lemony pan sauce.

Vegetarian baked pasta with mushrooms, bell pepper, and tomatoes, layered with a cottage cheese filling and topped with savory tomato sauce. Lighter, lower-fat take on classic baked ziti.

Eggplant and pasta shells in a tomato-wine sauce with mushrooms, green pepper, red onion, and oregano. An oil-free vegetarian pasta sauteed in water and vinegar.

Gazpacho salad takes all the fresh vegetables from the classic cold soup and serves them chopped over lettuce with a tangy herb dressing. No cooking, no blender, just crisp tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers chilled until the flavors meld.

Vegetarian Mexican stuffed peppers filled with brown rice, black beans, cumin, and chili powder, baked in a tomato sauce. A hearty plant-based main dish with warm Southwestern spices.

Tomato and zucchini gratin: thin slices fanned and overlapped, showered with a herby Parmesan breadcrumb topping, drizzled with olive oil, and baked until golden. A rustic summer-garden side dish.

Italian potato salad tosses steamed red potatoes with green beans, Kalamata olives, Roma tomatoes, and fresh basil in a light cornstarch-thickened red wine vinaigrette.

Quick rotini pasta salad tossed with mozzarella, mixed vegetables, and a herbed mayo dressing scented with oregano and basil. A 15-minute lunchbox-friendly side that holds up cold.

Italian stuffed meatloaf layered with zucchini, mushrooms, black olives, and mozzarella, blanketed in spaghetti sauce. A showstopping party loaf that serves a crowd of twenty.

Fettuccine Alfredo with sauteed mushrooms, butter, half-and-half, and a blend of mozzarella and Romano cheeses. A simpler, vegetarian take on classic Alfredo with earthy mushroom depth.

Homemade beef and pork sausage seasoned with sage, cumin, aniseed, and red pepper flakes. Stuff into casings for links or shape into patties for grilling.