Recipe Sifter

Nothing beats a succulent pot roast dinner and this recipe proves just that.

Potato barley soup simmers pearl barley with carrots, celery, onion, and potatoes in beef or chicken stock for a thick, hearty grain-and-vegetable bowl that gets better the next day.

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.

Roasted vegetable gazpacho with oven-charred tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and garlic blended with sherry vinegar and stale bread into a silky chilled soup. Deeper and smokier than traditional gazpacho.

Buttermilk-marinated chicken strips get coated in sesame-studded breadcrumbs and baked until golden, served with tangy plum preserves sauce spiked with horseradish and mustard.

Slow-simmered Sicilian ragu with ground pork, pureed tomatoes, soffritto vegetables, and fresh mint. Freezes for months and gets richer with every reheat.

Pumpkin pie with sweetened condensed milk and orange zest, finished with a tangy sour cream and orange juice concentrate topping. The citrus brightens the spices and the sour cream cuts the sweetness.

Let this tantalizing dish simmer in your crockpot while you take a siesta to get away from the kids.

A rich, fudgy steamed chocolate pudding made with semi-sweet chocolate and pecans, served warm with a fresh raspberry-liqueur sauce. An elegant make-ahead dessert for special occasions.

Jerk-rubbed pork loin stuffed with a tropical rice filling of crushed pineapple, ripe banana, dark rum, and Jarlsberg cheese. Caribbean flavors packed into every slice.

Herb-marinated shrimp skewered on sugar cane spears, broiled and served over golden tofu with shredded daikon and balsamic vinaigrette. A stunning fusion appetizer.

Syros Island nougat is a traditional Greek confection of whipped egg whites, honey, and sugar syrup folded with toasted pistachios. Chewy, fragrant, and wrapped in wax paper like a gift from a Mediterranean candy shop.

Tagliatelle tossed with golden pan-fried pumpkin, peppery rocket, lemon zest, and a homemade roasted red pepper chili oil. A vibrant autumn pasta with serious kick.

Southern black-eyed pea salad with spinach, pecans, Monterey Jack, and mushrooms in a smoky vinegar dressing. A make-ahead side that gets better overnight in the fridge.

Corn fritters made from cheese seasoned with Australian native herbs and spices, served with a paperbark smoked beetroot jam.

Authentic Middle Eastern falafel made from dried chickpeas soaked overnight and deep-fried golden. Crispy exterior with fluffy interior, perfect in pita with tahini sauce.