Recipe Sifter

This cake is remarkable; no one would ever believe that it is so low in fat and calories.

Savory pumpkin fritters with canned pumpkin, eggs, and a hint of pepper, deep-fried golden. Serve with ham or bacon for a heritage brunch classic.

Sicilian caponata with sauteed eggplant, olives, capers, and a sweet-tangy vinegar sauce. A rustic Italian appetizer or side that tastes even better the next day.

Chocolate-marshmallow cake is a light cocoa sponge baked in a jelly roll pan and topped with billowy marshmallow frosting. An old-fashioned American layer cake with the feel of a campfire s'more.

Drop biscuits made with sweet potato and sour cream, topped with a crunchy brown sugar crust. Tender, slightly sweet, and golden. A Southern-style biscuit that needs no butter.

Maria's Ischli cookies are Austrian sandwich cookies with ground hazelnuts or almonds, filled with raspberry jam and topped with chocolate icing. A classic European holiday cookie.

Cherry quick bread with maraschino cherries folded into a buttery buttermilk batter. A sweet, tender loaf with pops of bright red cherry in every slice, baked in one hour.

Italian baked clams on the half shell stuffed with herbed bread crumbs, garlic, Romano cheese, basil, oregano, and lemon juice, finished with a splash of white wine. A classic Italian-American appetizer.

Rich Mughlai chicken curry with a ground almond, ginger, and garlic paste in a creamy yogurt and cardamom sauce. A royal Indian dish with whole spices and whipped cream.

Basic Italian tomato sauce with peeled plum tomatoes, garlic, basil, a splash of red wine, and a knob of butter for a silky, restaurant-style red sauce in 40 minutes.

A dead-simple 5-ingredient chili with ground beef, kidney beans, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and taco sauce. No extra spices needed. Just simmer and serve.

Italian bulgur soup with summer squash, lima beans, tomatoes, basil, garlic, and Parmesan. A hearty, low-fat vegetable soup with whole grain texture, ready in 45 minutes.

Rich and creamy squares with a buttery yellow cake mix base topped with sweetened cream cheese and pecans. An easy two-layer bar cookie that feeds a crowd.

Traditional Irish creamed kale simmered in butter, double cream, and stock with a pinch of nutmeg. A simple, hearty side dish that turns sturdy kale leaves silky and rich.

Brown rice baked with spinach, mushrooms, cottage cheese, and Parmesan topped with sunflower seeds. A wholesome, high-protein casserole the whole family will love.

Chinese-American pepper steak stir-fry with sirloin strips, green bell peppers, onions, and water chestnuts in a glossy soy-ginger sauce. Fast, flavorful, and ready in about 35 minutes.