Recipe Sifter

Khombi Tarkari, spicy Indian mushrooms dry-fried with ginger, green chilies, turmeric, and roasted cumin seeds. A bold vegetarian side served warm, room temperature, or cold.

Loaded black bean soup pureed silky-smooth with smoky ham hock, sherry, lemon, and a finish of sour cream and fresh dill. Steakhouse-style classic that elevates the humble bean.

Grilled chicken kabobs marinated in soy, mustard, and Worcestershire, then skewered with zucchini, peppers, onion, and mushrooms. Simple backyard dinner with big flavor.

Cajun chicken sauce piquant with a dark roux, Chablis wine, tomato sauce, stuffed olives, and hot pepper sauce, slow-cooked for hours and served over spaghetti. Big-batch Cajun cooking.

Whole wheat pumpkin tea cake sweetened with honey and brown sugar, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves, and topped with chopped hazelnuts. A lighter autumn loaf for afternoon tea or breakfast.

Baked new potato salad with toasted peanuts, double mustard dressing, cumin, and low-fat yogurt. A make-ahead potato salad with crunch and a tangy, nutty edge.

Spanish-style squid stuffed with ground pork and pine nuts, served in a rich sauce of Ibarra chocolate, almonds, and white wine. Bold Catalan flavors in every bite.

Mac and cheese meets soufflé in this puffy baked dish studded with sliced franks. Dijon mustard and sharp cheddar give it grown-up flavor kids still love.

Homemade kimchi with napa cabbage, daikon radish, scallions, garlic, ginger, pear, and cayenne pepper. Salt-brined and fermented for 3 days in a traditional crock method.

Wild game braised bear steak marinated overnight, seared golden, then slow-simmered in tomato soup with chili powder and onions until fork-tender. A hearty backcountry main dish.

Chicken enchiladas with sour cream and cheddar: shredded chicken bound in sour cream and cheese, rolled in oil-dipped corn tortillas, smothered in a homemade green chile tomato sauce.

Light summer asparagus soup made with fresh asparagus sauteed until golden, simmered in broth, then strained and thickened with egg yolks and milk. A delicate, thin soup built for warm weather when asparagus is cheap and plentiful.

Chocolate pecan pie with melted German sweet chocolate, toasted pecan halves, and a glossy corn-syrup custard baked into a flaky pie shell. The Southern holiday classic with a cocoa upgrade.

Chocolate banana peanut butter shake made with a frozen banana, diet chocolate shake mix, and frozen soda cubes blended thick. A frosty, creamy treat without ice cream.

Curried deer (venison) stew with curry powder, tomato paste, raisins, grapes, and diced apple simmered for 90 minutes. A sweet-savory game curry that tames venison's wild flavor.

Hot fudge sundae cake that bakes its own chocolate sauce underneath the cake layer. Pour hot water over the batter before baking, and the oven creates a fudgy pudding sauce beneath a light chocolate cake.