Recipe Sifter

Baked bean casserole with apples, tomatoes, cheese, and chili powder inspired by the Moosewood cookbook. Dried beans simmered tender, then layered with sweet-tart apple chunks and mild melted cheese for a hearty vegetarian one-dish meal.

Sweet-and-sour sauce made with ginger marmalade, orange marmalade, fresh ginger, and Chinese rice vinegar. A no-cook dipping sauce ready in 10 minutes for wontons and fried appetizers.

Whole wheat pasta dough: a simple eggless pasta made with whole wheat pastry flour and all-purpose flour, water, and a touch of olive oil. The base for handmade fettuccine, lasagna sheets, or ravioli.

Smoky baba ganoush-style aubergine and sesame pate with tahini, garlic, lemon, and olive oil. A creamy, vegan Greek appetizer served cold with warm pita bread.

Just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes of prep for fluffy, golden beer muffins with a hint of yeasty tang. Brush with butter, top with cheddar, and serve warm from the oven.

Sweet and sour pork stir fry with pineapple, cucumber, tomato, and red pepper in a fish sauce and vinegar glaze, finished with a light cornstarch coating. A 30-minute wok dinner.

Fluffy Bisquick dumplings steamed over a warm mandarin orange and cinnamon sauce, all made in the microwave in 30 minutes. A cozy, quick citrus dessert for two that uses pantry staples.

Chinese vegetarian eggplant and tofu stir-fry. Asian sweet and sour flavor.

Vegetarian barley and bean soup with kidney beans, mushrooms, carrots, green beans, and tomatoes in a basil-oregano broth. A filling one-pot meal packed with fiber and protein.

Chinese-style roast duck lacquered with plum and black bean sauce, rubbed with garlic and ginger, then chilled overnight for easy slicing. Serve with Chinese pancakes for a Peking-style feast.

A hearty post-Thanksgiving chowder with butternut squash, celery root, savoy cabbage, rice, and leftover turkey in a silky pureed broth. Use up those holiday leftovers in 45 minutes flat.

Beer marinade for beef with cayenne, horseradish, lemon juice, and olive oil. A Cajun-spiced marinade that doubles as a basting sauce while grilling.

An aromatic Indian vegetable side with carrots, peas, and potatoes sizzled in mustard oil with cumin seeds and dried chilies. Vibrant, vegan, and on the table in 35 minutes.

Low-fat sherried beef stir-fry with round steak marinated in dry sherry and soy sauce, tossed with carrots, green pepper, and onion in a glossy cornstarch sauce. Served over hot rice.

Moroccan-style sliced tomato and onion salad with olive oil, garlic, parsley, sweet paprika, and cumin. A simple no-cook side that captures North African market flavors.

Just 4 ingredients: almond paste, melted chocolate, chopped almonds, and powdered sugar. Roll, chill, slice into elegant no-bake candies that taste like a European confection.