Recipe Sifter

Wagon wheel pasta smothered in a puréed sun-dried tomato sauce with garlic, oregano, and a squeeze of lemon, finished with grated Parmesan. A quick, intensely flavorful dinner for two.

Raisin Puree is the basis for the dough of this rich-tasting, chewy bar. The combination of orange and chocolate is a classic favorite. We considered cutting the amount of chocolate in the recipe, thereby cut ting the fat, but in the end we agreed that the extra richness is worth the extra grams of fat.

No-cook couscous made by steeping the dry pasta in boiling water or broth off the heat. Five minutes of prep, 30 minutes of patience, and you have fluffy couscous ready for any North African dish.

Triple-chocolate dessert with a brownie shell, Kahlua-spiked chocolate mousse filling, and a coffee-chocolate glaze. A showpiece that needs thin slices and earns every one.

Indian spiced potatoes in a thick tomato sauce with ginger, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, and garam masala. A vegetarian potato curry with whole spice tempering and bold flavor.

Blueberry crumb cake baked in a loaf pan with fresh blueberries folded into a simple batter and topped with a buttery cinnamon-sugar streusel. A homestyle cake that's easy to slice and share.

Middle Eastern braised ox ribs in pepper sauce with sumac, mace, and marjoram, slow-cooked with sweet red peppers and onions. Serve over rice or potatoes.

Ham mousse with peaches, a savory baked custard of ground ham, eggs, cream, Dijon mustard, and port wine, unmolded and garnished with fresh peaches, pickled watermelon rind, and almonds.

Pennsylvania Dutch pickled bell peppers stuffed with shredded cabbage, salt, and yellow mustard seeds, then submerged in cold vinegar. Old-fashioned cold-pack pickle that keeps for months without canning.

Patty's cake: a cornmeal-and-lemon tea cake with yogurt tang and fresh berries. Rustic, gently sweet, and built for an afternoon with a cup of tea.

Chicken salad with sun-dried tomatoes, walnuts, and lime mayo dressing. A crunchy, tangy twist on classic chicken salad loaded with celery, peppers, and fresh chives.

Easy ham, bean and tomato soup turns leftover holiday ham and a ham bone broth into a hearty navy bean soup with onions, celery, and tomato. A pantry-savvy meal.

Deviled halibut: garlic-marinated fillets coated in sharp cheddar and breadcrumbs, baked golden, and served with a curry-spiked tomato sauce. Bold Anglo-Indian fish dinner.

Homemade kimchi with napa cabbage, daikon radish, scallions, garlic, ginger, pear, and cayenne pepper. Salt-brined and fermented for 3 days in a traditional crock method.

Quick sweet and sour chicken with frozen breaded chicken, mixed vegetables, rice, and bottled sweet and sour sauce. A 15-minute weeknight dinner using pantry shortcuts.

Fruit-filled puffs made with matzoh cake meal instead of flour, stuffed with fresh strawberries and kiwi, piped with whipped topping, and drizzled with chocolate syrup. A Passover-friendly choux pastry dessert.