Recipe Sifter

Basic holiday butter cookies with a tender, melt-in-your-mouth crumb from cornstarch in the dough. This versatile base recipe can be rolled, cut, or shaped into any holiday cookie you want.

Although I have not tried it, I assume any firm winter squash could be substituted for the pumpkin

Raisin oatmeal brownies blend melted chocolate chips with brown sugar, oats, and raisins for a chewy bar with nutty texture and pockets of fruity sweetness.

Layered chocolate torte with a dried sour cherry and Marsala filling, coffee-soaked cake layers, and a cream cheese whipped cream. A multi-component holiday showpiece that tastes like Black Forest cake's sophisticated Italian cousin.

Chinese-style pineapple lemon chicken with a crispy sesame breading and a glossy pineapple-lemon sauce brightened by fresh ginger. A better-than-takeout deep-fried chicken recipe finished with a blended fruit sauce.

BLT corn chowder puts bacon, lettuce, and tomato into a creamy potato and corn soup. Made with skim milk and Canadian bacon, it's lighter than it looks and ready in 35 minutes.

Chinese-style crispy string beans flash-fried in a wok then tossed with soy sauce, sherry, garlic, minced pork, and sesame oil. A savory, blistered side dish ready in 30 minutes.

Fettuccine alla Romana with a luxurious butter, egg yolk, cream, and Parmesan sauce tossed with hot pasta. Five-ingredient Roman pasta classic that's richer and silkier than classic Alfredo.

Chocolate covered marshmallow cookies with a soft vanilla base, a melted marshmallow top, cocoa frosting, and a pecan half. Like homemade Mallomars.

Cheese pepper bread for the bread machine with Swiss cheese and cracked black pepper baked right into the dough. Savory, aromatic, and completely hands-off.

Grilled chicken breasts with a curried peach and Vidalia onion relish spiked with cayenne, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Make the relish up to 5 days ahead.

Pan-seared chicken breasts with sautéed leeks, bright lime zest, and sundried tomatoes served over tender zucchini spaghetti. An elegant low-carb dinner that's on the table in 40 minutes.

Mustikkapiiras is a traditional Finnish blueberry pie with a tender press-in crust and tangy yogurt-custard filling. Simple Nordic dessert with fresh berries and bright lemon.

Basic enriched bread dough with scalded milk, egg, and yeast, perfect for rolls, loaves, or sweet breads. Old-fashioned all-purpose dough that rises on the counter or rests overnight in the fridge.

Sausage skillet: simmered Italian sausage, red potatoes, onions, and bell peppers in one pan. Hearty four-ingredient weeknight dinner that comes together in under 45 minutes.

Weeknight beef and bean barbecue bake with Velveeta cheese and buttermilk biscuits around the edge. Retro family-friendly one-dish dinner ready in 30 minutes.