Recipe Sifter

Annie's butter cookies: one buttery, rich dough that shapes into candy canes, pinwheels, spritzes, cutouts, or drop cookies. The Christmas-cookie foundation worth memorizing.

Koofteh Tabrizi, oversized Persian meatballs packed with rice, fresh herbs, and leeks, then poached whole in a turmeric-tomato broth. A celebration dish from Iran's Azerbaijan region.

Hearty firehouse-style chili with hot Italian sausage and ground beef, red kidney beans, tomatoes, red wine, and honey. A bold, slightly sweet, slightly spicy crowd-feeding bowl.

Puff-top shrimp bisque: individual soup cups crowned with golden puff pastry lids, hiding a creamy shrimp and zucchini bisque. Impressive starter for two.

Rustic tomato soup made with very ripe tomatoes, garlic, and oregano, enriched with small pasta. This Mediterranean-style soup relies on peak-season tomatoes for incredible flavor.

Light lemon bundt cake with fresh lemon zest and juice gets soaked in citrus glaze while warm, then served with fresh berries for summer picnics or potlucks.

Italian Sunday gravy with browned chicken legs and thighs, hot Italian sausage, hand-crushed tomatoes, red wine, and garlic. Serve over pasta with freshly grated Parmesan.

Pan-fried fusilli with toasted pine nuts, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, parsley, and Parmesan. The pasta crisps at the edges in the skillet for a nutty, textural Italian dinner.

Whole wheat spaghetti with a garlicky quick meat sauce built on a proper onion-carrot-celery base. Lean ground beef and crushed tomatoes make a weeknight pasta that eats like a weekend ragu.

Tex-Mex spiced chicken tossed with fresh mango, crunchy jicama, and bell peppers in a zesty lime dressing. Served in crispy microwaved tortilla bowls over shredded Bibb lettuce.

Vidalia onion risotto with crumbled feta and Parmesan cheese. Sweet onions and tangy feta give this creamy arborio rice dish a Greek-Italian twist.

Classic bacon quiche Lorraine with crispy bacon, sauteed onions, and sharp cheddar in a silky egg custard seasoned with nutmeg and dry mustard. Brunch or dinner, it never disappoints.

Green beans braised in white wine with summer squash, cherry tomatoes, oregano, and a shower of Parmesan. A light, healthy 30-minute side that puts peak-season produce front and center.

Quick Chinese-American lo mein using spaghetti, leftover ham, broccoli, mushrooms, bell pepper, and carrots with a soy and BBQ sauce glaze. A budget-friendly fridge-clearing stir-fry.

Quinoa tabbouleh swaps traditional bulgur for protein-rich quinoa, tossed with cherry tomatoes, fresh parsley, mint, cilantro, pine nuts and a bright lemon-olive oil dressing. A gluten-free Middle Eastern-style salad.

German-style potato salad with a warm beer dressing made from butter, flour, mustard, and a full cup of beer. Crispy bacon, onion, and celery get tossed in after the potatoes soak up the tangy, malty dressing.