Recipe Sifter

Traditional mincemeat with real beef and suet, the way it was made for centuries before the meatless version took over. Currants, raisins, apples, brandy, and warming spices simmer into a deeply flavored pie filling. Yields 80 servings.

Super moist, buttery and packed with pumpkin flavor. The dried cranberries are delicious additions. Great treat at Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Thick, warming butternut squash chili with kidney beans, plum tomatoes, red wine, and a hint of orange zest. Seasoned with cumin, chili powder, and allspice. A cozy vegetarian chili for fall and winter.

Wintry spices make this a rich, creamy, and flavorful holiday favorite!

Individual fruitcake cupcakes studded with dates, golden raisins, pecans, and citrus zest, soaked in brandy and topped with a pineapple chunk. Just 2 tablespoons of brown sugar in the whole batch. Diabetic-friendly holiday baking at its finest.

No-cholesterol apple cake with shredded apples, whole wheat flour, oat bran, and egg whites instead of whole eggs. A heart-healthy sheet cake with warm cinnamon spice and zero cholesterol.

Barbadians make Black Cake for weddings, birthdays and at Christimas time. Indeed, no Christmas holiday is felt to be complete without black Cake. People from many of the islands make a similar cake. This Black Cake derived from the British Plum Pudding which is a must on their Christmas menu.

Kalakukko: a traditional Finnish rye-crusted fish pie with pork and small whole fish sealed inside a dense rye dough, slow-baked for hours. A Savonian heirloom and Easter specialty.

Mandarin orange muffins spiced with allspice and nutmeg, dipped warm in melted butter and cinnamon sugar. Tender and citrusy with bursts of orange in every bite.

This is a new treat in our house, but we are loving it. My son loves filling the apples with the dry mixture and snagging raisins when he thinks I’m not looking. Happy cooking!

"This cake is a rich, dark, moist fruit cake, very flavorful at Christmas. Try icing with almond paste for a more festive touch. This recipe is started in October or November so as to let it mellow before the holidays. I remember very well my mother storing her fruit cake in an old butter churn that belonged to my grandmother and great grandmother. I wish that I had that old crock."

This is my favorite pumpkin pie recipe! I found it years ago, and recently lost it in a move. I was joyous to find it again! I encourage everyone to use fresh pumpkin, just cut into large chunks, steam, then scoop out of peel, easy!

Fluffy mashed sweet potatoes with bananas, soy milk, prune juice, and honey, baked until puffed and topped with candied ginger. Dairy-free and naturally sweet enough for dessert.

Making the sausages was not as hard as I thought, and it tasted amazing. No need for me to buy sausages any more, this homemade one rocks.

Add some fruit to your mornings with these scrumptious muffins! Just don't forget to take an extra one for later!

Cincinnati 5-way chili: ground beef chili spiced with cinnamon, cocoa, allspice, and cardamom, ladled over spaghetti and topped with cheddar, beans, and chopped onion.