Recipe Sifter

Savory lentils soaked overnight and simmered tender with sauteed onions in olive oil or bacon fat and a dash of hot sauce. A simple, hearty side dish with just 5 ingredients.

Louisiana seafood gumbo with shrimp, crab, and okra in a deep brown roux, simmered with the Cajun holy trinity, tomato, and a hit of Tabasco. Served over rice for a true Gulf Coast supper.

A creamy salmon chowder with sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, corn, and leeks simmered in clam juice, cream, and milk. Rich, hearty, and warming from the first spoonful.

Fiery homemade salsa with four jalapenos, hot sauce, cayenne, and red pepper flakes blended with fresh tomatoes, garlic, cilantro, and lime. Keeps in the fridge for a week.

Seitan a la Normandie baked with sliced apples, caramelized onions, tamari, mirin, and ground pecans. A French-inspired vegetarian main dish with sweet-savory depth.

Self-filled chocolate cupcakes with a cream cheese and chocolate chip center baked right in. No frosting needed when the filling does double duty.

Thick, fudgy peppermint pattie brownies with a whole layer of York-style mint candies sandwiched between cocoa batter. Makes 36 squares for parties and bake sales.

Sesame-oat cinnamon swirl bread layers toasted sesame seeds, rolled oats, and whole wheat into a soft yeasted loaf with a spiral of warm cinnamon. Makes two loaves.

Hearty North African vegetable couscous with chickpeas, cabbage, turnip, squash, and tomatoes spiced with cumin, coriander, turmeric, and fresh ginger. A filling vegan one-pot meal over fluffy couscous.

Old-fashioned apple cake loaded with sliced apples, walnuts, and cinnamon in a moist oil-based batter. No mixer needed for this rustic 9x13 sheet cake.

Hearty minestrone soup with bacon, pearl barley, kidney beans, and vegetables in a beefy tomato broth. A thick, filling one-pot soup with Italian herbs and a smoky backbone.

Chocolate sheet cake (Texas sheet cake) with hot cocoa-buttermilk batter and a poured cocoa-buttermilk icing finished while the cake is still hot. The Southern church-supper crowd-feeder cut into 24 squares.

Beef stew topped with homemade biscuits and baked until golden. Tender stewing beef with carrots, celery, tomatoes, and onion under a fluffy biscuit crust.

Classic shepherd's pie with ground beef, tomato soup, green beans, and egg-enriched mashed potatoes topped with melted American cheese. A pantry-friendly casserole the whole family loves.

Sicilian garbanzo stew with chickpeas, potatoes, carrots, fennel seed, and thyme mashed into a thick, chunky vegetarian broth. A hearty Italian peasant stew ready in 40 minutes with no added fat.

Crunchy brown sugar nugget cookies baked in muffin tins with oats, granola, pecans, and butter. Flourless, crumbly, and caramelized with crispy edges.