Recipe Sifter

No time to make a loaf of yeast bread, try this quick bread that's made with whole wheat flour, oats, wheat germ and sunflower seeds. It's loaded with goodness.

Grilled Caucasian shashlik from the Russian Tea Room: lamb kebabs marinated overnight in lemon, dill, garlic, and bay leaf, skewered with tomatoes, onions, and peppers. Served over rice.

A layered strawberry Jello salad with mashed bananas, crushed pineapple, and frozen strawberries split by a tangy sour cream center. The potluck classic that never goes out of style.

Chopped turnips and potatoes simmered with fried bacon and onions in stock until soft and savory. A rustic British-style soup with just 6 ingredients that warms you to the bone on a cold day.

A nice change from my usual meatloaf. Wild rice was a great addition, and the meatloaf was moist and very tasty thanks for the cheddar cheese. Will be making this again.

Loaded chili built on three meats, ground beef, hot Italian sausage, and smoked sausage, with kidney beans, a layered hit of serrano and habanero heat, and a splash of red wine. Thickened with cornmeal and tastes even better the next day.

Spicy pumpkin pie with two teaspoons of cayenne pepper hidden in the warm spice blend, balanced by honey, half-and-half, and ground pecans. A Thanksgiving showstopper that surprises every guest at the second bite.

Brown sugar berry scones with caramel-sweet brown sugar, juicy blueberries, and a tender, big-batch crumb. A no-egg scone that bakes up soft in the middle with lightly crisp edges.

Moist pineapple raisin muffins sweetened with brown sugar and pineapple juice instead of milk, with a cup of plump raisins and a hit of orange zest. Half whole-wheat flour gives them a hearty, breakfast-worthy crumb.

Honey oatmeal chocolate chip cookies lightened with applesauce and egg whites instead of butter and yolks. Quick oats give hearty chew while melty chocolate chips finish every bite.

Silky semisweet chocolate ganache made with just four ingredients: heavy cream, butter, sugar, and chocolate. Use it as a glaze, frosting, truffle base, or filling.

Traditional yeasted hamantaschen for Purim, a sweet egg-rich yeast dough folded into the iconic three-cornered hat shape around poppy seed or fruit filling. The Old World version, not cookie dough.

Mom's cranberry orange scones with tart frozen cranberries, bright orange zest, and a buttermilk-tender crumb. An overnight flour-and-fruit rest soaks up excess moisture for the perfect texture.

Bread machine pumpkin spice bread with real pumpkin puree, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Cozy fall yeast loaf with a soft crumb and warm autumn perfume.

Grilled portobello mushroom burgers marinate big meaty caps in balsamic, garlic, and a touch of cayenne, then grill until juicy and tender. A satisfying vegan burger piled with tomato, onion, and lettuce.

Norwegian sandbakkels rolled-out sugar cookies with a buttery, sandy crumb. A traditional Scandinavian holiday cookie that bakes up crisp and tender.