Recipe Sifter

Roman-style concia: zucchini slices fried golden in olive oil, then layered with garlic, basil, and vinegar. An old-world Italian appetizer that improves as it sits.

Pickled spring garlic in vinegar and sweetened soy sauce, Korean-style. Slow ferment that mellows young garlic into tender, savory cloves perfect for rice bowls and grilled meats.

Vegan vegetable broth made with tomato juice, soy sauce, onions, garlic, and basil. A 6-ingredient pantry-staple broth for cooking seitan, soups, or thickening into a quick mushroom-style gravy.

Frozen fruit cups made with applesauce, strawberries, mandarin oranges, grapes, and orange juice concentrate. Healthy no-sugar-added frozen snack for kids and lunchboxes.

Crispy pan-fried potatoes seasoned with toasted cumin seeds, fennel seeds, cayenne, and loads of fresh basil. Eat them straight from the pan or wrap in a tortilla with cool yogurt for a quick, spiced meal.

Poached pears with chocolate drizzle: Bosc pear wedges simmered in white wine and apple juice with warm spices, then crowned with melted dark chocolate. An elegant light dessert.

Microwave eggplant and tomatoes over rice noodles is a four-ingredient lunch ready in 10 minutes. Healthy, no-oil, vegan meal-for-one.

Cold-brewed herbal iced tea made overnight with flavored tea bags and filtered water. A caffeine-free, no-cook method for smooth peppermint, strawberry, or lemon tea.

Baked black bean quesadillas stuffed with mashed beans, tomato, cilantro, olives, spinach, and pepper jack soy cheese on whole wheat tortillas. Vegan-friendly and ready in 30 minutes.

Lemon asparagus and carrots steamed crisp-tender, chilled, then finished with bright lemon juice and lemon pepper. A clean, vegan side that lets the vegetables stay the star.

Another new way to enjoy all the healthy benefits of herring!

Muffaletta sandwich with Italian salami, ham, provolone, and American cheese on round bread, served warm with a tangy New Orleans olive salad dressing. A French Quarter classic.

If you love black beans then you have to try this simple recipe that will satisfy your tastebuds.

Thai cucumber pickles, a quick sweet-sour-spicy side of sliced cucumber, red chiles, onion, and cilantro in a red wine vinegar brine. Five-minute condiment.

My hearty soup starts with a homemade stock simmered low for hours, then strained and skimmed clean before a load of vegetables, pasta, and pulled meat go in. A from-scratch, stick-to-your-ribs bowl made the old-fashioned way.

Three tomato salad with red, yellow pear, and cherry tomatoes plus mushrooms in a balsamic-mustard vinaigrette with fresh basil. A colorful, low-fat summer side.