Recipe Sifter

The surprise? Sauerkraut. Rinsed and squeezed dry, it melts invisibly into this spiced apple cake, adding incredible moisture. With cinnamon, nutmeg, Granny Smith apple, and chopped pecans, nobody will ever guess the secret.

A layered Southern dessert with a buttery pecan shortbread crust, creamy sweet potato and cream cheese filling, and billowy whipped topping. Crunchy, creamy, and utterly indulgent.

Moroccan tagine of okra and tomatoes uses a clever string-the-okra technique to keep pods whole while poaching in spiced tomato sauce. A vegetarian Maghreb classic served hot or warm.

Butter-toasted pecans coated in melted chocolate candy coating and dropped into crunchy clusters. Just 3 ingredients, 3 dozen pieces, and pure holiday candy tray gold.

A big-batch Southern chow-chow relish made with half-ripe tomatoes, celery, green peppers, and onions in a tangy brown sugar and vinegar brine. Cures for 6 weeks before serving.

Banana bread with a twist: chocolate chips, maraschino cherries, and plenty of nuts folded into a moist, mashed banana batter. Not your grandma's loaf, but she'd approve.

A savory and hearty soup made with succulent beef, sliced mushrooms and pearl barley.

Hearty veggie burgers packed with bulgur, chickpeas, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and sauteed mushrooms. Seasoned with tahini, cumin, and fresh dill for serious plant-based flavor.

Baked veggie burgers made with ground sunflower seeds, grated carrots, celery, and wheat germ. Crispy outside, tender inside, and naturally low in sodium.

Western beans and franks slow-baked with two kinds of beans, molasses, brown sugar, bacon, and diced orange. A hearty, smoky bean pot with citrus sweetness.

Moist chocolate zucchini cake packed with wheat germ, cocoa, warm spices, and semi-sweet chocolate chunks. The sneakiest way to use up garden zucchini in a rich bundt cake.

Old-fashioned white Christmas fudge loaded with pecans, walnuts, candied cherries, and candied pineapple. Cooked to soft ball stage for a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

White coconut cake with a tender crumb from cake flour and folded meringue, covered in boiled white frosting and showered with flaked coconut. A classic Southern layer cake.

Whole wheat hamburger buns are soft, sturdy homemade rolls made from a blend of whole wheat and bread flour. The kind of nutty, hearty buns that hold up to a juicy patty without going soggy.

Wild duck or goose browned in a skillet, stuffed with apple and onion, then braised in homemade gravy until the meat falls right off the bone. Honest, hearty hunter's fare.

Brandied raspberry sauce made with frozen raspberries, sugar, and cornstarch thickened with brandy. A quick dessert topping for cheesecake, ice cream, or pound cake.