Recipe Sifter

A traditional Norwegian fish soup from Bergen with homemade fish stock, halibut (or cod), carrots, parsnips, leeks, and an egg yolk-enriched broth. Topped with parsley and sour cream.

Traditional German sweet-and-sour red cabbage braised with apples, red wine, brown sugar, and vinegar. Simmered in a Dutch oven for an hour until tender and glossy. The classic side dish for sauerbraten, pork roast, or schnitzel.

A hearty vegetarian version of my favorite soup. It's easy to make it vegetarian by using roasted vegetable stock instead of beef stock. By adding a leftover parmesan rind (I save them in the freezer for this soup) it adds extra flavor. (optional)

A clean tasting soup that is packed with protein rich beans.

Traditional Melton Mowbray pork pie with hand-raised hot water crust pastry, seasoned diced pork shoulder, and pork bone jelly. A classic British cold pie served chilled.

Have you ever seen a ling cod? They are almost primeval looking - huge, gaping mouths with very sharp teeth. As with any fish, the most important factor for how good it tastes is its freshness. I picked up this fillet at my local fish market where they told me that the ling cod had just come in that morning. With the lemon-garlic butter sauce it was divine.

Refrigerator pickled mushrooms: button caps simmered to firmness then jarred in a sweet-tart vinegar marinade with peppercorns and bay leaves. Eastern European style for canapes, salads, and antipasto.

Quebec yellow split pea soup (soupe aux pois) with smoked ham, bay, and root vegetables. The classic French-Canadian winter soup, simmered until thick and smoky.

Hearty barley soup with smoky diced ham, butter-sauteed mushrooms, carrots, celery, and a warm hint of allspice. A bowl of pure cold-weather comfort.

Hearty ground beef and rice casserole simmered with crushed tomatoes, herbs, and mushroom soup, then broiled under a bubbly blanket of melted cheddar. Table-ready in 40 minutes.

Chilled curried pumpkin soup purées spiced pumpkin with butter-sautéed onions, bay, and nutmeg, then thins with milk for a velvety bowl that works hot or cold. A versatile do-ahead soup.

Callos a la Madrileña is a classic Madrid tripe stew slow-simmered with chorizo, ham, pig's foot, white wine, and smoky paprika. Rustic Spanish comfort food at its finest.

An easy and tasty chowder is made with corn, potatoes and kielbasa. Some steamed rice or a few slices of good bread will help to soak up all the yumminess. A perfect week-night meal.

Backyard booyah, the giant slow-simmered meat-and-vegetable stew of the Upper Midwest. Beef, soup bones, and chicken cooked until they fall off the bone, then loaded with vegetables in a kettle.

This scrumptious chicken dish is made with safflower oil, plain yogurt and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

The bottom of the pizza, called the "crust", may vary widely according to style—thin as in a typical hand-tossed pizza or Roman pizza, or thick as in a typical pan pizza or Chicago-style pizza. It is traditionally plain, but may also be seasoned with garlic, or herbs, or stuffed with cheese.