Recipe Sifter

Green beans with shallots, blanched crisp-tender then tossed in butter with sweet shallots and brightened with lemon and parsley. A simple, elegant French side dish that comes together fast.

Bright, herb-forward hummus with no tahini needed. Sautéed onion and garlic blend with fresh parsley, basil, oregano, and coriander into silky chickpeas for a lighter Middle Eastern dip that skips the paste but keeps all the flavor. Ready in 25 minutes.

Hummus marinade thins classic chickpea, sesame and lemon hummus with olive oil and dark toasted sesame oil into a coating for chicken, lamb, fish or vegetables. Vegan, gluten-free and Middle Eastern.

Moroccan-spiced beef brisket braised with turmeric, ginger, tomatoes, and briny green olives. Seared, slow-braised, chilled to defat, then reheated for fork-tender slices.

Georgia barbecue sauce: a tangy ketchup-and-vinegar Southern classic with brown sugar, mustard, garlic, and a half lemon simmered right in the pot. Perfect for basting pork, ribs, and chicken on the grill.

Asparagus cornet with lemon dressing wraps puff pastry into golden cones, fills them with crisp-tender asparagus spears, and serves over a homemade lemon-mustard mayonnaise. Restaurant-grade plated appetizer for special occasions.

Fresh fruit tart with banana-cream filling: a graham-honey crust, creamy banana-gelatin filling, and a crown of plums, raspberries, and blackberries under a glossy strawberry glaze. Dairy-free and naturally sweetened.

Orange roughy with basil and peppers is a light microwave fish dinner for two: mild white fillets steamed over julienned red bell peppers and onions with fresh basil and lemon. Ready in 25 minutes with almost no fat.

Crispy deep-fried shrimp cakes with Dijon mustard, Worcestershire, cayenne, and hot sauce. Golden and crunchy outside, tender shrimp inside. Served with fresh lemon.

Red-skinned potatoes tossed in a bright parsley-cucumber sauce with dill, lemon, and scallions. A fresh, dairy-free Jewish side dish topped with poppy seeds.

Baked Clams Casino with littleneck clams on the half shell topped with garlicky, paprika-seasoned bread crumbs and crispy bacon. A classic Italian-American appetizer served with lemon wedges.

Honey fried trout: whole trout rubbed with lemon, double-dredged in cornmeal, pan-fried crispy, then glazed with honey for a sweet-savory finish. A classic streamside supper.

Festive lebkuchen cookies made with honey, brown sugar, allspice, and lemon. A traditional German Christmas cookie decorated with white icing.

Beef satay skewers with a homemade curried peanut dipping sauce. Sirloin cubes broiled on bamboo skewers and served with a rich, spicy peanut butter sauce.

Salmon en croute wrapped in golden puff pastry with a herbed white fish mousse between two fillets. A stunning centrepiece shaped to look like a whole fish.

Chicken piccata with mushrooms, lemon, and white wine sauce. Thin-pounded chicken breasts pan-fried golden then simmered in a bright, reduced pan sauce.