Recipe Sifter

Cappuccino cheesecake: a silky cream cheese filling spiked with espresso and cinnamon, set on a buttery toasted-nut crust. Espresso-bar flavor in classic New York cheesecake form.

Thick, creamy potato soup baked in the oven with a smoked ham hock, thyme, and milk. A hands-off Dutch oven recipe that simmers itself into hearty, smoky comfort.

Wild rice with a four-mushroom medley (button, shiitake, oyster, enoki) plus snow peas and red pepper, simmered in soy-scented broth. A high-fiber, low-fat vegetarian dish with real depth.

Cheese-scalloped potatoes and carrots in a homemade sharp cheddar sauce with a hint of cayenne. A from-scratch layered casserole with a golden, bubbly top.

Beet pesto blends roasted beets and sauteed beet greens with toasted walnuts, garlic, banana pepper, and red onion. Vibrant magenta vegetarian pasta sauce or spread that uses the whole beet, root to leaf.

Mixed grain mushroom casserole with wild rice, pearl barley, and brown rice baked in herb-seasoned vegetable broth with sauteed mushrooms and thyme.

Hot and spicy spareribs grill low and slow with indirect heat, then baste with a tomato, cider vinegar, brown sugar, and chili powder sauce. Sticky, smoky backyard barbecue ribs.

Mashed sweet potatoes blended with roasted bananas, orange juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. A naturally creamy, butter-free holiday side that skips the marshmallow fluff.

Bacardi rum cake made with yellow cake mix, vanilla pudding, pecans, and dark rum, then soaked in a buttery rum syrup. A boozy, sticky bundt cake that's a holiday classic.

Black chocolate Bundt cake with coffee, honey, and a crack of black pepper, draped in a semi-sweet ganache glaze with Grand Marnier. Deep, complex, and show-stopping.

Broiled polenta crostini topped with a woodsy porcini and fresh mushroom ragout with tomatoes and parsley. Vegetarian Italian comfort food with deep, earthy flavor.

Grilled tuna and roasted pepper sandwiches: meaty grilled tuna layered with sweet roasted peppers, capers, and parsley salad on focaccia. A Mediterranean pan bagnat style picnic sandwich that only gets better after chilling.

Chocolate orange cheesecake with bittersweet chocolate, orange oil, and a cocoa-cinnamon graham cracker crust. A rich, fudgy baked cheesecake dusted with cocoa powder.

Downhome cafe banana bread with four ripe bananas, butter, and a touch of lemon juice for brightness. A classic, tender loaf with simple pantry ingredients and old-fashioned flavor.

Texan fried pies stuffed with spiced dried apricot filling in a flaky, vinegar-laced pastry. Hand-held, golden-fried, and dusted with sugar. A classic Southern dessert from scratch.

Swedish chocolate Bundt cake with melted unsweetened chocolate, heavy cream, and a breadcrumb-coated pan for a crisp crust. Dense, rich, and unfrosted.