Recipe Sifter

Santa's white fudge made with sour cream, corn syrup, and sugar cooked to soft-ball stage, then loaded with candied cherries and pecans. Creamy holiday candy in an 8x8 pan.

Sausage O'Patties: Irish-inspired potato and pork breakfast patties with onion, parsley, and thyme. Crispy-edged homemade sausage cakes ready in under 25 minutes without any sausage casings.

Sautéed broccoli with lemon and anchovies quickly blanches broccoli, then tosses it with garlic, melted anchovies, cayenne, and fresh lemon juice. A salty, briny Southern Italian side in 15 minutes.

Crispy bread-cup croustades filled with baby shrimp in a Swiss cheese sauce with lemon zest and Worcestershire. Makes 3 to 4 dozen freezer-friendly party bites.

Crispy coconut-crusted jumbo shrimp fried golden and served with a tangy pineapple cocktail dipping sauce. This Hawaiian-style appetizer is ready in 20 minutes and feeds a crowd.

Greek-style tripe stew simmered for hours in a tomato paste, white wine, and butter sauce with onions and parsley. Serve with pilaf for a traditional Mediterranean comfort meal.

Smoked turkey cooked overnight in white wine with garlic, onion, mint, and a touch of liquid smoke. Oven-smoked, low-and-slow Cajun-style turkey that feeds a crowd with juicy, herb-scented results.

Smoky salmon cheese ball made with canned salmon, cream cheese, horseradish, and liquid smoke, rolled in pecans and parsley. A no-cook make-ahead appetizer for parties.

Escargots a la Cauderan: petits-gris snails braised in a ham, shallot, and white wine sauce from the Bordeaux tradition. A rustic French appetizer cooked low and slow.

Quick Southwestern roll-ups with roast beef, cheddar, salsa, and shredded lettuce wrapped in flour tortillas. A 10-minute no-cook lunch or snack.

Greek lamb souvlaki with tzatziki: red-wine and oregano-marinated lamb shoulder skewers grilled over coals, served with cool strained yogurt, cucumber, and garlic dip.

German-style Käsespätzle with buttery browned onions, melted Emmentaler cheese, and dry mustard, baked until hot and bubbly. Simple Alpine comfort food.

Spicy Mexican jicama salad with tangerines, apple, cantaloupe, cilantro, and a dusting of chili powder. A crisp, no-cook fruit salad in the style of Mexican street fruit cups.

Middle Eastern-style lamb hand pies with pine nuts, mint, and lemon zest baked in biscuit dough. Served with a cool minted yogurt dipping sauce.

Homemade turkey sausage patties with roasted poblano pepper, cilantro, parsley, oregano, cumin, and cloves blended into lean ground turkey. A low-fat, green-spiced breakfast sausage with Southwestern heat.

Pork loin and carrots stir-fried with fresh ginger, hot chilies, and Thai fish sauce over screaming high heat. A 20-minute weeknight dinner with serious wok flavor.