Recipe Sifter

Old-fashioned sweet pepper pickles brined overnight, then simmered in spiced sugar-vinegar syrup with cloves, cinnamon, mace, and ginger. A canning-jar staple from the heritage pantry.

Pork sausage barbecue beans, a one-skillet cookout side of hot Italian sausage, baked beans, bell pepper, green onions, and a brown sugar spiced BBQ sauce.

Pumpkin spice cake with buttermilk, canned pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and chopped nuts baked in two 8-inch layers. A moist, warmly spiced autumn cake that pairs with any frosting you like.

Pennsylvania Dutch sauerbraten with chuck roast bacon-larded, vinegar-marinated for days, then pot-roasted with cloves and allspice for an almost-black sweet-sour gravy.

Moist whole wheat apple bread loaded with grated Granny Smiths, chopped walnuts, and warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and allspice. Sweetened with honey for a wholesome, no-refined-sugar loaf.

Braised flank steak shredded into a garlicky chili base, finished with plump shrimp and fresh cilantro. Scoop it up with warm corn tortillas and a cool hit of sour cream for a hearty steak-meets-seafood bowl.

I like this sour flavor. The best over buckwheat, but all is fine when over rice, potatoes, noodles, or just with lettuce mix. You may use pickled grilled red pepper.

Spiced baba ghanoush with broiled eggplant, lemon, olive oil, and a warming hit of allspice and cinnamon. A Middle Eastern dip with unexpected spice depth, served with pita and fresh herbs.

Easy creamy pumpkin pie made with brown sugar, evaporated milk, and a simple cinnamon-allspice-ginger spice blend. A no-fuss Thanksgiving classic that mixes in one bowl.

Fluffy pumpkin spice waffles with warm cinnamon, allspice, and ginger folded into a tender batter. Top with toasted pecans and maple syrup for an autumn breakfast worth waking up for.

Competition-style Texas chili with 4 pounds of cubed round steak, 14 spices including curry and cinnamon, green chiles, and a secret weapon: milk chocolate melted in at the end.

Meat and sweet potato pie with a seasoned ground beef crust filled with mashed sweet potatoes, brown sugar, cinnamon, and eggs. A savory-sweet dinner pie with no pastry needed.

Vegan baked beans slow-cooked with molasses, brown sugar, warm spices, and tomato sauce. No meat, no dairy, just rich and smoky homemade beans baked low and slow until thick and saucy. A hearty plant-based side dish.

Sharp cheddar, butter-glazed apples with brown sugar and warm spices, plus breakfast sausage on a crispy pizza crust. Vermont breakfast pizza is brunch at its most indulgent.

Homemade gyros with seasoned ground lamb on skewers, spiced with allspice, coriander, and savory, bacon-basted on the broiler. Served in pita with yogurt and fresh tomatoes.

Carnatzlach are garlicky Romanian-Jewish skinless sausages made from seasoned ground beef and club soda for a light, springy texture. Broiled until crispy and browned, they're a crowd-pleasing appetizer or main.