Recipe Sifter

A smooth, homemade jellied cranberry sauce: cranberries simmered, strained silky, set with gelatin in a mold. The from-scratch answer to canned, and easy to make sugar-free for Thanksgiving.

Easy garlic bean soup: white beans simmered with a whole head of roasted garlic and a sweet roasted red pepper. Five ingredients, naturally vegan, deep slow-cooked flavor.

Two-ingredient garlic cucumber relish pulsed in a food processor and drained through a coffee filter. A fresh, low-calorie condiment for grilled meats, sandwiches, and fish.

An easy 2-ingredient Halloween punch: orange juice and lemon-lime soda for a fizzy, spooky-orange party drink. Kid-friendly, ready in minutes, and a blank slate for ghoulish garnishes.

Easy lemonade pie folds frozen lemonade concentrate and lemon zest into whipped topping for a 3-ingredient no-bake summer dessert. Set in a graham crust or sliced from a baking dish.

Old-fashioned egg balls for soup made from hard-boiled egg yolks, raw egg yolks, and flour. A heritage 3-ingredient garnish that adds richness to clear broths and consommes.

Sicilian eggplant caponata, a sweet-and-sour relish of roasted eggplant, onion, celery, tomato, capers, and raisins. Vegetarian, low-fat, and a classic Mediterranean antipasto.

Grilled eggplant rollups with sun-dried tomato goat cheese, fresh basil, and garlic. A no-bread vegetarian appetizer with smoky char and a creamy tangy filling.

Enchilada chili dogs roll a hot dog and a smear of chili sauce inside a soft tortilla, then bake until golden. A fun, hand-held, kid-friendly mashup of two cookout favorites.

Fava beans simmered or refried with onion, Roma tomato, and cilantro. A flexible Mexican-style habas preparation, two methods in one, great as a side or stuffed in tacos.

Quick mushroom sauce of sliced mushrooms browned in butter and finished with a splash of Worcestershire. A fast, savory pan sauce to spoon over steak, omelets, or fish. Ready in minutes.

A simply seasoned sweet and sour refreshing cucumber salad.

Fresh fig appetizers two ways: prosciutto-wrapped quarters with lime and black pepper, or fig halves filled with pecan cream cheese. No-cook, elegant cocktail bites.

Fish marinade with white wine, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and hot sauce. A versatile Asian-inspired marinade that works on fish, chicken, and lamb for grilling or broiling.

Here's a homemade steak sauce that will have you licking your plate. Do that when the children aren't looking!