Recipe Sifter

A big fresh ham roasted for hours, then stuffed with spicy Italian sausage and cooked until fork-tender. The pan drippings make a rich, savory gravy. Feeds a crowd with just two ingredients.

Pickled red beets in a sweet brown sugar and vinegar brine. Old-school canning recipe that yields jewel-toned jars perfect for sandwiches, salads, and holiday relish trays.

Chili-rubbed sirloin steak: a quick four-ingredient weeknight dinner ready in 15 minutes. Garlic and chili powder pressed into the meat form a bold dry crust under high heat, sliced and served with cool salsa.

How to dry fruit puree into fruit leather: a low-tech guide using sun, oven, or car-window heat to turn fresh fruit puree into chewy rolled-up snacks.

Boiled ham with potatoes and green beans cooked together in the same pot. A three-ingredient Southern one-pot dinner where the ham bone flavors everything as it simmers to falling-off-the-bone tender.

Marinated asparagus bundles tied with blanched green onion strips and marinated in red wine vinegar with oregano and tarragon. An elegant make-ahead appetizer.

Homemade cappuccino mix with instant coffee, powdered creamer, sugar, and crushed orange hard candy for citrus warmth. Shelf-stable jar blend ready to scoop into hot water.

Roasted Cornish game hens basted with a sticky apple juice and cinnamon glaze with lemon. Just 5 ingredients for a gorgeous, golden bird with sweet-tart lacquered skin.

Pineapple ecstasy, a creamy low-calorie fruit-and-yogurt dessert with fresh pineapple, banana, and vanilla yogurt. Sweetened with sugar substitute, light enough for everyday indulgence.

A chilled blended cocktail of strong French roast coffee, port wine, cinnamon, and orange zest. This 10-minute cafe au vin is a sophisticated after-dinner sipper served in wine glasses.

Mint julep syrup concentrate made with creme de menthe, lemonade, and lime juice. Mix 1 part syrup to 5 parts water for a refreshing Southern-style drink.

Sourdough muffins made from an overnight sponge starter mixed with flour, sugar, and melted shortening. A simple way to use sourdough starter in muffin form.

How to prepare fiddlehead ferns: clean, simmer until tender, and serve with butter and lemon. Works for bracken, ostrich, and cinnamon fern varieties.

No-cook pineapple cranberry relish made with raw ground cranberries, crushed pineapple, and sugar-free sweetener. A tart, low-fat, diabetic-friendly condiment for turkey and roasted meats.

Five-ingredient no-cook barbecue sauce with ketchup, honey, cider vinegar, Worcestershire, and chili powder. Ready in 5 minutes flat.

Horseradish applesauce: a sweet-and-sharp two-ingredient condiment that wakes up roast pork, ham, or veal. The grandparent of every modern fruit-and-heat sauce.