Recipe Sifter

Five dahl soup, an Indian vegetarian classic blending mung beans, pigeon peas, chickpeas, and yellow and green split peas with ghee, turmeric, ginger, and a fragrant tarka of cumin, chilies, and asafetida.

Cuban-style black beans simmered with green pepper, garlic, cumin, and oregano, finished with a splash of red wine vinegar. Simple, saucy, and full of sofrito flavor.

No-bake fruitcake packed with candied cherries, pineapple, dates, raisins, and nuts, bound with sweetened condensed milk and crushed graham crackers. Refrigerate and slice.

Flourless chocolate mocha cake made with bittersweet chocolate, ground espresso beans, and a water bath bake. Crowned with vanilla whipped cream, toasted pecans, and a zig-zag chocolate drizzle.

Vegan navy bean soup with balsamic-caramelized onions, miso paste, tomato sauce, and warming spices. Oil-free, long-simmered for deep flavor, serves 8. Worth every minute of the 4-hour cook.

Ethiopian injera flatbread made with self-rising, whole wheat, and cornmeal flours. Spongy, slightly sour fermented bread used as both plate and utensil for scooping stews.

Fit for Life Pizza: a dairy-free, cheese-less pizza on a whole wheat and white flour crust, topped with roasted eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, and onions over pesto, finished with sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and fresh basil. Hearty, Mediterranean-style vegan pizza night.

Old-fashioned peach gingerbread upside-down cake: molasses-spiced gingerbread baked over fresh sliced peaches, then topped with butter-glazed peaches and a preserves brush. Late-summer dessert perfection.

Mediterranean lasagna layers tender pasta with eggplant in tomato sauce and a creamy mix of ricotta, feta, and yogurt. A vegetarian Greek-Italian fusion lasagna without ground meat or heavy bechamel.

Pineapple lemon upside-down muffins with crushed pineapple, maraschino cherries, brown sugar, and lemon zest baked in whole wheat. Flip them out for a caramelized top.

Pumpkin dump cake with a spiced pumpkin custard base, yellow cake mix topping, chopped pecans, and a buttery crumble finish. A Thanksgiving-ready shortcut dessert with no mixer required.

Magenta millet pilaf pressure-cooked with beets, then finished with fresh orange juice, orange zest, and mint. A vibrant vegan whole grain side dish.

Hearty multigrain Dakota bread loaded with whole wheat, rye flour, oats, and wheat germ. Honey-sweetened and enriched with cottage cheese for a tender crumb that's worth every minute of rise time.

Caramel chocolate pecan pie with a toasted pecan crust (no flour), a melted caramel middle, and a silky chocolate top layer. A no-bake-filling triple-stack indulgence.

Beef souvlaki kebabs marinate cubed beef or lamb in lemon, olive oil, garlic, and oregano overnight, then grill on skewers with onions, peppers, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Classic Greek street-food at home.

Plomeek soup, a pureed orange vegetable soup with carrots, turnip, potatoes, and tomato paste, garnished with a galaxy-swirl of sour cream. Star Trek inspired.