Recipe Sifter

Pureed vegetable soup with broccoli florets: silky potato-thickened base of carrots, celery, onion, and garlic with thyme and nutmeg, then scattered with steamed broccoli florets for bite.

Raspberry chocolate swirl cheesecake on a cocoa-vanilla wafer crust. Two batters marbled together for a dramatic black-and-pink presentation.

Ricotta-stuffed zucchini flowers filled with creamy ricotta, Asiago, chopped almonds, basil and parsley. Delicate squash blossoms baked until warm, elegant enough for company, easy enough for a summer Tuesday.

Homemade lavash crackers topped with sesame and poppy seeds, baked crisp and golden. A thin, crunchy flatbread that breaks into rustic shards for serving with butter, dips, or cheese.

Herb-packed chickpea falafel patties loaded with cumin, basil, marjoram, thyme, and tahini, pan-fried until golden brown and stuffed into whole wheat pita pockets with fresh veggies.

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.

Sweet and sour turkey meatballs: lean turkey meatballs spiced with Chinese five-spice, simmered in a homemade sweet-and-sour sauce with pineapple, peppers, carrots and bean sprouts. A lighter take on the takeaway favorite.

Soft finger-shaped cookies packed with peanut butter, chopped apples, and brown sugar, rolled in powdered sugar. These tea sticks bake in one pan then cut into 24 dainty pieces.

Silky pureed artichoke soup with cream, lemon juice, and white pepper. Serve it chilled for summer or gently warmed for cooler days.

Vegetarian supreme pizza on whole wheat crust loaded with steamed spinach, zucchini, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and fresh tomatoes. No cheese, all vegetables.

Scalloped potatoes layered with ham, onions, and creamy milk sauce get topped with buttery breadcrumbs for a cozy one-dish dinner that's perfect for using up leftover ham.

Beef and onion stew, French-style: thinly sliced leftover beef layered with a Dijon-mustard onion sauce and crowned with a buttery breadcrumb crust baked golden.

Fruit nut bran bread is a bread machine loaf packed with toasted bran, sliced almonds, dried fruit and a touch of brown sugar. Hearty, fiber-rich whole-meal bread that bakes hands-off in a few hours.

Punjabi masala brinjals: eggplants scored and stuffed with cumin, pomegranate seeds, garam masala, and turmeric, then braised in a spiced tomato-ginger sauce until tender.

Chili-rubbed bison tenderloin pan-seared and served over creamy morel mushroom linguine with charbroiled vegetables. A wild game dinner that feels like fine dining.

Light angel food cake topped with vanilla ice cream and fresh blueberries macerated in Grand Marnier for an effortless summer dessert in 10 minutes.