Recipe Sifter

Homemade apple jelly made in the microwave with apple juice, pectin, and red hot cinnamon candies for a spicy-sweet twist. Yields 6 half pints in under an hour.

Bread and butter pickles with thin-sliced cucumbers and onions brined with salt and ice, then packed in a sweet-sour brown sugar, cider vinegar, mustard, and turmeric syrup.

Fresh Southwestern corn and black bean salad with toasted pine nuts, red cabbage, cilantro, and a zesty lime dressing. A colorful vegetarian side ready in under 30 minutes.

Homemade German-style mustard with whole mustard seeds, cider vinegar, cinnamon, allspice, and honey. Bold, grainy, and fiery. Keeps in the fridge for months. Gift-jar worthy.

Quick baked mac and cheese made with cream of cheddar soup, a touch of mustard, and crispy bread crumb topping. Bubbly, cheesy comfort in 40 minutes flat.

A light, brothy borscht of cabbage and beets simmered with carrot, celery, and tomato juice into a ruby-red, sweet-and-sour soup. Vegan, low in calories, and even better the next day.

Pinto beans simmer with quinoa and butternut squash in this hearty vegetarian stew where Spanish paprika and tomatoes build a robust base that's pure cold-weather comfort in a bowl.

Sesame-crusted tofu cubes fried golden and served with a homemade plum dipping sauce made from fresh plums, soy, and teriyaki. A vegetarian party appetizer that serves 16.

Crunchy low-fat coleslaw with shredded green apples, red and green cabbage, and a tangy honey-mustard yogurt dressing. No mayo needed for this crisp, make-ahead slaw.

All-purpose camping seasoning mix with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and black pepper. Mix in 5 minutes, toss in your pack, and season everything from fish to eggs.

Crispy baked chimichangas stuffed with spiced black beans, melted cheese, and fresh green onions. Skip the deep fryer for this healthier take on the classic Tex-Mex favorite.

Roast goose rubbed with thyme and served with potato pierogies and a pan dripping gravy made from the neck and liver. A showstopping Eastern European holiday centerpiece.

Marinated eggplant in olive oil: salt-pressed, vinegar-soaked strips layered with garlic, oregano, and chile in extra-virgin oil. An Italian antipasto that gets better for months.

Snouts and beans: a playful Halloween twist on franks and beans, where knockwurst is carved into curling 'snouts' and simmered with jazzed-up barbecue baked beans. A fun, kid-approved party dish.

Vegetarian Chinese boiled dumplings (shwei jow) with handmade wrappers and a tofu, mushroom, and lily bud filling. Served with a soy-vinegar dipping sauce. Makes 24.

Baby greens tossed with ripe mango and red bell pepper, dressed in a spicy ginger-raisin vinaigrette blended with cilantro and green chile. A bright, low-calorie salad bursting with tropical flavor.