Recipe Sifter

Eggplant gratin layers pan-fried eggplant, fresh tomato sauce, basil and Gruyere under a saffron-tinted ricotta and Parmesan custard. A Provencal-inspired baked vegetable centerpiece worth the effort.

Emily's bean soup simmers seven dried beans and lentils with a meaty ham bone, tomatoes, and vegetables into a thick hearty pot. Old-fashioned cold-weather comfort.

Boston chowder with fish and clams, potatoes, carrot, onion, and milk. A light, simple New England-style seafood chowder finished with fresh savory and thyme.

Bread machine cinnamon apple bread made with applesauce, whole wheat flour, rolled oats, and raisins. No sugar added, no eggs, no butter. Just dump and press start.

Southern mustard greens slow-simmered with smoked ham hocks, cabbage, and potatoes in a peppery pot likker. A one-pot soul food classic cooked low and slow.

Pickled bell pepper strips preserved in a sweet vinegar brine with garlic and pickling salt. Home canning recipe for crunchy, sweet-tart pepper pickles. Perfect for sandwiches, charcuterie, or condiments.

French potato salad with a tarragon vinaigrette of white wine vinegar, olive oil, and grainy mustard. No mayo, just warm potatoes soaking up a bright dressing.

Prune Buns are old-fashioned yeasted sweet buns filled with prune preserves - built on an overnight sponge starter and a butter-rich dough, finished with powdered sugar.

Mild coconut fish curry with mustard seeds, fenugreek, turmeric, tamarind, and grated coconut simmered with cubed fish. A South Indian-style curry that's fragrant without the heat.

Montessori muffins made with whole wheat flour, molasses, and chopped prunes. No refined sugar, just earthy sweetness from molasses and fruit. A wholesome, kid-friendly muffin with real ingredients.

A big-batch deer sausage recipe with equal parts ground venison and pork, seasoned with cayenne, paprika, brown sugar, and hot sauce. Mix, stuff into casings, and you're set for the season.

Buttermilk bran muffins with raisins, walnuts, and cinnamon. High-fiber breakfast muffins made with miller's bran, ready in 30 minutes. Big batch makes 12.

No-egg chocolate cake made with cocoa powder, sour milk, and boiling water for a rich, moist crumb. One-bowl mixing, no eggs needed, baked in a tube pan.

Bread machine brown breakfast bread, a whole-wheat quick bread sweetened with honey and molasses, studded with raisins, and warmed with ginger, cinnamon, and allspice. Hands-off breakfast loaf.

A thick vegan split pea stew packed with sweet potato, broccoli, Roma tomatoes, and fresh dill. High in fiber and protein with under 1 gram of fat, this plant-powered bowl is weeknight meal prep gold.

Classic Italian pizzelle cookies made with butter, eggs, vanilla, and a shot of whiskey for depth. Crisp, thin waffle cookies pressed on a pizzelle iron. Makes 16 dozen.