Recipe Sifter

Andalusian gazpacho with 3 pounds of fresh tomatoes, bread, garlic, olive oil, and white wine vinegar, served ice-cold with a spread of diced vegetable garnishes. No cooking required.

Anginares tarama is a Greek island appetizer of tender braised artichokes filled with creamy taramosalata, the classic emulsion of cured cod roe, lemon, olive oil, and grated onion. Old-school meze with elegant presentation.

Chocolate thumbprint cookies rolled in powdered sugar with a rich chocolate ganache filling. Brown sugar shortbread base with chopped chocolate chips baked into the dough.

Homemade curry powder toasted and ground from whole spices for vibrant, complex flavor that blows away store-bought blends and keeps for six months.

One-pot Italian rice cooked in tomato juice with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, and olives finished with Parmesan for a flavorful Mediterranean side dish.

Quick 15-minute apple raisin sauce with applesauce, apple butter, and maple syrup for a naturally sweet topping over pancakes, pork, or oatmeal.

Simple bread machine focaccia studded with quartered fresh apples, plump raisins, and a hint of cinnamon for a sweet Italian-inspired breakfast bread.

A refreshing molded salad to accompany holiday foods.

Light gelatin dessert made with sugar-free Jello and chilled applesauce instead of water. Cinnamon adds warmth. Garnish with mint, apple slices, and cinnamon sticks for pretty presentation.

Diabetic-friendly apple salad with a whole marinated apple cut into flower-like sections and filled with spiced applesauce, raisins, and crisp celery.

Applesauce jello salad -- A delicious jello salad, taken from The Monterey Coast Guard Officers' Wives Club Cookbook. My sister-in-law was the president of the club which put that cookbook together.

Fat-free cocoa squares with applesauce instead of butter or oil. A hot cocoa-brown sugar sauce poured over the batter before baking creates a gooey, self-saucing chocolate dessert.

Thick apricot filling made by simmering dried fruit with cornstarch until it reaches the perfect consistency for kolachky pastries.

Steamed broccoli, brussels sprouts, and snap beans topped with a creamy walnut-dill-sage sauce. A vibrant plant-based dish ready in 25 minutes.

Artillery Punch - a historic large-batch party punch with rye whiskey, Jamaican rum, brandy, red wine, Benedictine, strong black tea, and citrus. Makes 25-30 cups, handle with care.

Aunt Elsie's family hot dog BBQ sauce with ketchup, sweet relish, sauteed onion, and vinegar. Score the hot dogs so the sweet tangy sauce soaks in as they simmer plump and hot.