Recipe Sifter

Pumpkin sheet cake: a fast, one-bowl fall cake loaded with canned pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Moist, not-too-sweet, and big enough to feed a potluck without breaking a sweat.

Quebec apple dumplings wrap whole apples in cheddar pastry, each cored and stuffed with rum-spiked mincemeat. Brushed with a brown sugar and lemon cream glaze, baked golden, and served warm with rum cream.

Quick apple bread with chopped unpeeled apples, cinnamon, and a tender shortening-based crumb. A simple weekday loaf that bakes up moist with a hint of orchard sweetness.

If you're in a rush to make dinner on time, try this simple recipe that will help you satisfy everyone's hunger at the dinner table.

Rahm-Fleckle are German potato dumplings rolled thin, topped with cream and sliced tart apples, then baked and cut into squares. A sweet-savory Bavarian comfort dish served hot with cream.

No-bake raisin peanut butter balls rolled in toasted coconut with a hint of cinnamon and lemon juice. A quick, kid-friendly candy with no cooking required.

Ratatouille lasagna layers salted eggplant, zucchini, and summer squash with fresh tomatoes, herbs, and Parmesan. No pasta, no bechamel, just pure Provencal vegetables baked golden.

Soft, spiced rhubarb drop cookies with warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, plus walnuts, raisins, and a kick of crystallized ginger. A clever way to use up springtime rhubarb stalks.

Flavors of Stilton cheese, garlic and sage flavor this unique version of a classic rich creamy soup.

Fat-free tomato onion dressing blended with sauteed sweet onion, herb vinegar, basil, poppy seeds, celery seeds, and dill. A light, tangy salad dressing with no oil.

Ruth's sugar cookies are tender drop cookies made with shortening and dipped warm into granulated sugar for a crackly, sparkling top. A simple recipe that makes three dozen in 30 minutes.

Shredded carrot salad with crushed pineapple, plumped raisins, and mayonnaise. A sweet, creamy no-cook side dish perfect for potlucks and barbecues.

Santa Fe salmon chowder with potatoes, corn, green chilies, and chili powder in a creamy lowfat milk base. A Southwestern-style fish chowder with a gentle kick of heat.

Eastern European sauerkraut soup with bacon, ham, frankfurters, grated potatoes, paprika, caraway seeds, and tomato paste in beef stock. A tangy, hearty one-pot meal.

Fluffy and buttery shortcake is filled with spiced and citrus plums in between.

Shrimp and vodka linguine: tender shrimp tossed with silky linguine in a light tomato-vodka cream sauce with fresh basil and parmesan. A lighter spin on penne alla vodka that comes together in 30 minutes.