Recipe Sifter

Three layers of deep chocolate cake get brushed with vanilla sugar glaze while hot, then stacked with mocha buttercream icing spiked with coffee and cocoa.

Mild, sweet chicken curry stir-fry with fresh apples, yogurt, and warm spices ready in 30 minutes. A kid-friendly weeknight dinner that's endlessly customizable with your favorite toppings.

This two-layer banana cake with buttermilk and chopped pecans bakes up incredibly moist and tender. Made with cake flour for a fine, soft crumb, it's the kind of from-scratch banana cake that wins blue ribbons.

Crispy bacon bits and melted cheddar coat tender red potatoes roasted until fork-tender. Ranch dressing adds creamy tang to this crowd-pleasing side that feeds a group.

Meaty ziti casserole with a lean blend of ground chuck and ground turkey, mushrooms, bell pepper, and a from-scratch tomato sauce baked under bubbling parmesan. A weeknight crowd-pleaser that lightens the classic without losing the meat-sauce flavor.

Shell-on shrimp simmered in a herby Worcestershire and white wine sauce over garlicky angel hair pasta. Paprika, rosemary, and thyme infuse every strand in this soul-warming shrimp pasta dinner for four.

Warm pear pudding cake with pecans, cinnamon, and cloves baked under a bubbling brown sugar caramel sauce. An old-fashioned comfort dessert best served hot with ice cream or whipped cream.

Nothing is more fascinating and delicious than eating at the open- air street hawker centers in Asia, particularly in Singapore. Each stall serves a specialty, typically an honest, unpretentious, home-style dish for $1 to $3 a plate. This rice noodle dish is hawker food at its best. If done right, its fragrance will tell you how good it's going to be as soon as it arrives at your table.

Homemade hummus made from dried chickpeas cooked from scratch, blended with tahini, fresh lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. Cooking your own chickpeas gives a creamier, smoother dip than canned.

Ham and artichoke heart pasta salad with penne, green beans, tomato, and red pepper in a double-mustard vinaigrette. A hearty cold pasta salad with bold tangy flavor.

Finger licking sticky authentic Chinese barbecue spareribs at home. Chinese spare ribs are one of the most popular Chinese restaurant take-out favorites.

Cheesy sausage biscuits made with crumbled sausage, cream of cheddar soup, and self-rising flour for a savory drop biscuit that bakes up golden in 15 minutes.

Spring artichoke hearts, tender leeks, and sweet peas simmer into light herbed soup brightened with mint, parsley, and a drizzle of Parmesan-topped olive oil.

Turkey empanada baked in flaky pie crust with cumin-spiced ground turkey, fresh tomatoes, bell pepper, and cilantro. A lighter twist on the classic with golden, crispy edges.

Layers of corn tortillas, spiced ground beef with corn and tomatoes, and creamy cottage cheese filling bake into this Mexican-inspired lasagna. Melted cheddar and picante sauce finish it.

Fat-free Alfredo sauce over fettuccine made with skim evaporated milk, garlic sauteed in white wine, and nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor without the cheese. A lighter take on the classic cream pasta.