Recipe Sifter

Creamy Indian barfi made with ground almonds, cashews, evaporated milk, and butter. Just 5 ingredients and 45 minutes for rich, melt-in-your-mouth milk fudge squares.

Freezer fajitas: marinated sirloin steak frozen with frozen fajita vegetables for a make-ahead Tex-Mex weeknight dinner. Thaw, sear, and serve in flour tortillas with salsa.

Carrot raisin cake sweetened with honey and pineapple juice instead of sugar. Whole wheat pastry flour and egg whites only keep it fat-free and wholesome.

New England-style fish and clam chowder with fresh corn, potatoes, pork fat, white wine, and light cream. Loaded with herbs like thyme, sage, marjoram, and rosemary.

Mexican corn casserole kicked up with jalapeños and red bell peppers in a cornmeal-buttermilk base loaded with cheddar cheese. Bakes into a moist, spicy side dish that feeds a crowd.

Tofu in black bean sauce stir-fried with garlic, ginger, and soy sauce, thickened with kuzu. A vegetarian Chinese-style main dish served over rice.

Rice with black beans, corn, plum tomatoes, green chiles, cilantro, and scallions. Low-fat, vegan, and ready in 40 minutes. A Southwestern side that does it all.

Rolled veal cutlets stuffed with mushroom and onion breadcrumbs, braised in a smoky paprika-tomato sauce with sour cream. Served over buttered noodles for a hearty Eastern European supper.

Chicken legs braised in broth, topped with melted Monterey Jack and smothered in sautéed tri-color peppers with lime, garlic, and jalapeño cheese. Tex-Mex comfort food in 45 minutes.

Birnensuppe, a chilled German pear soup scented with cinnamon and star anise, studded with sherry-soaked raisins and brightened with lemon. Silky, elegant, and refreshing. Serves 2.

Layers of homemade cornmeal tortillas, seasoned ground beef, and melted cheddar bake into a hearty Mexican casserole that feeds a crowd on busy weeknights.

Bread machine whole wheat loaf with cracked wheat cereal, wheat germ, honey, and powdered milk. A triple-wheat hearty sandwich bread that goes from pantry to slice with the push of a button.

Old-fashioned wild plum jelly made with fresh plum juice, dry fruit pectin, and sugar. A traditional grandma-style preserve with a tart-sweet edge that captures wild plums at peak season.

Fluffy sweet potato scones made with mashed yams and butter, lightly golden on the outside, tender within. Serve warm with honey for a Caribbean-inspired treat.

Blanched cauliflower and cabbage tossed in a warm sweet-and-sour sauce with pineapple, water chestnuts, soy, malt vinegar, and sherry. A crunchy Asian-inspired side salad served cool.

Sichuan-style bean thread noodles with minced pork, dried mushrooms, hot bean sauce, and fresh ginger. Spicy, slurpable, and deeply savory with a cilantro finish.