Recipe Sifter

Grilled cheese sandwich with olivada: challah bread smeared with briny black olive paste, layered with Swiss cheese and optional tomato, grilled crisp. A Mediterranean twist on a classic.

Rhubarb and melon fruit salad with rhubarb melted in white wine and sugar, then chilled with fresh melon balls and mint. A Scandinavian-style summer dessert salad.

Sweet monkey bread made with canned buttermilk biscuits rolled in cinnamon sugar and drenched in a melted brown sugar glaze. Pull-apart, sticky, and ready in 40 minutes.

Crispy fried tofu presses firm Chinese or Japanese tofu, slices it thin, then deep fries until puffy and golden. Two-ingredient vegetarian appetizer with shatter-crisp edges.

Broiled red snapper on a cedar plank with lemon, paprika, and fresh vegetables. A dramatic presentation that sizzles straight from the broiler to the table.

Potato salad with pomegranate seeds, plain yogurt, and fresh cilantro. A bright, mayo-free side with jewel-like crunch and a tangy, lighter dressing.

A cost-effective veggie only hash that uses up basic pantry vegetables. Develops a nice crusty brown surface as it cooks.

Grilled orange chicken marinated overnight in frozen orange juice concentrate, soy sauce, and tarragon. A citrusy, caramelized barbecue chicken with just 6 ingredients.

Red snapper fillets wrapped in soaked corn husks and grilled over embers, finished with a spicy orange vinaigrette. A smoky, tamale-inspired technique that keeps the fish juicy and tender.

Red beans with toasted pecans, saffron, and red wine served over whole wheat spaghetti. A creative vegetarian fusion dish with Mediterranean and Southwest flavors that comes together in 30 minutes.

Crock pot barbecued pork turns leftover pork roast into tender pulled-pork sandwiches, slow-cooked in a homemade sweet-and-tangy tomato BBQ sauce. A freezer-friendly make-ahead, ready to pile on buns.

Beau's notes: * There are no "jalapeno beans;" there are jalapeno peppers and pinto beans. I have two recipes, both of which are quite tref, but a Catholic should worry? But if you are hosting a Jewish person, smoked turkey will substitute most agreeably for the chazer called for in either recipe.]

Simple baked trout in white wine with herbs and garlic. Minimal prep, maximum flavor. Whole trout bakes in 30 minutes for an elegant, light dinner for four.

Citrus soup frappe: a chilled, lightly jellied dessert soup of orange, raspberry, and lemon juices laced with red wine, Sauterne, and kirsch. A vintage Continental starter or palate-cleansing finale.

Popcorn drop cookies with ground popcorn folded into stiff egg whites for a light, airy meringue-like cookie. A naturally gluten-free novelty cookie with a corny crunch and only six ingredients.

Quick Valentine's Day cake using a boxed cake mix, white frosting, and chocolate candy hearts. A simple, festive dessert anyone can make with just 3 items.