Recipe Sifter

Mom's shepherd's pie: leftover lamb cubed and simmered with onion, red pepper, rosemary, and parsley under a mashed potato crust. The classic Sunday-roast reinvention.

Potato flake sourdough starter: a simple three-ingredient base of water, sugar, and instant potato flakes left to ferment for 3 to 4 days. The sweet, old-fashioned starter used in friendship bread and soft white loaves.

Morning glory fruit shake with bananas, strawberries, pineapple, ice, and just a touch of honey. A dairy-free breakfast smoothie blended thick and served immediately.

Moroccan-spiced lentil soup combines brown lentils with caramelized onions, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, and red pepper flakes. A warming vegetarian-friendly soup with deep aromatic spice and almost no fat.

Mulled summer fruits in Chenin Blanc, a make-ahead dessert of peaches, berries, and apricots soaked in spiced white wine syrup. Served chilled with sorbet or whipped cream.

Mushroom beef patties smothered in a basil cream sauce, topped with melted cheese and onions. Salisbury steak taken up a notch with a hot-pepper kick and fresh mushrooms.

Lighter sour cream substitute made from cottage cheese, lemon juice, and skim milk blended smooth in seconds. A low-fat dollop for baked potatoes, dips, and tacos with the same tang.

Tastes delicious when filled with very lean beef cooked with a little green pepper, lean shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, and a good shot of hot sauce. Of course a nice Mexican beer with it makes it extra good.

Simple almond-cinnamon nut filling for cookies made with finely ground almonds, sugar, and cinnamon. A three-ingredient filling for rugelach, kolacky, or any filled cookie recipe.

Nut-crusted bananas dipped in honey and lemon juice, sprinkled with crushed macadamia nuts or walnuts. A no-cook, 3-ingredient snack or healthy dessert ready in minutes.

Homemade oatmeal citrus face scrub with dried lemon and orange peels, oats, and blanched almonds ground into a fine exfoliating powder. All-natural, 3 ingredients, stores for months.

Homemade oatmeal milk blended from cooked oats, banana, vanilla, and water. A creamy, dairy-free milk alternative with natural sweetness and no added sugar, ready in 10 minutes.

Okra shoyu-zuke: quick Japanese soy-pickled okra and onion with rice vinegar and soy sauce. A crisp, umami-packed side dish ready in minutes.

Old World chicken is a four-ingredient baked chicken breast with seasoned breadcrumbs, melted muenster cheese and a finishing splash of wine. Simple, comforting weeknight fare.

Two-potato gratin layers thin slices of sweet potatoes and new potatoes with minced onion and skim milk for a lighter take on classic scalloped potatoes. Naturally low-fat side dish.

Bone marrow onion sauce with dry sherry and beef broth, pureed until silky smooth. A rich, old-school European sauce for roast beef, made in the microwave.