Recipe Sifter

Corn tortillas fried crispy flat, spread with refried beans, loaded with sharp cheddar, and broiled until bubbly. Topped with cool shredded lettuce and fresh tomato for the real-deal Tex-Mex chalupa experience.

Cold sesame peanut noodle salad with chicken, bean sprouts, scallions, and red pepper, tossed in a garlicky peanut butter-soy dressing. Asian-inspired pasta salad served chilled over crisp lettuce.

Panelle are Sicilian chickpea fritters: simmered chickpea-flour dough chilled, cut into rounds, deep-fried golden, and dusted with lemon-zest-peppered almonds. Street food from Palermo.

Cheese-stuffed burgers hide a pocket of Monterey Jack and fresh chile pepper inside lean ground beef patties, then get served on toasted crusty bread with sliced tomato. The Juicy Lucy goes Southwest.

Nutty spinach dip with creamy ranch dressing, frozen spinach, dry vegetable soup mix, and chopped walnuts. A no-cook party dip that doubles as a stuffed mushroom filling.

Szechwan spiced beef stew braised with star anise, hot bean paste, crushed peppercorns, and dry sherry. Deeply aromatic Chinese-style comfort food.

Cheese and chile squares, a baked appetizer of cottage cheese, Longhorn cheddar and Monterey Jack layered with green chiles and a tabasco-spiked egg custard. Cuts into 24 crowd-ready bites for parties.

Olive Profumate: oil-cured black olives marinated with fennel seeds, orange zest, and sliced garlic. A no-cook Italian appetizer that keeps for two weeks in the fridge.

Hint of ginger marinade combines soy sauce, dry sherry, fresh ginger, garlic, and lemon zest for poultry, pork, and fish. A fast Asian-leaning marinade ready in 5 minutes, no cooking required.

Ground turkey one-pot meal with green beans, diced potatoes, stewed tomatoes, and tomato soup. A budget-friendly dump-and-heat dinner ready in 20 minutes flat.

Homemade picante sauce simmered with canned whole tomatoes, fresh jalapenos, onion, and apple cider vinegar. Adjust the heat by adding more peppers. Serve chilled with chips.

Ginger-chicken stew: tender chicken simmered in a sesame-oil broth with ginger matchsticks, garlic, sherry, soy sauce, and peppery mustard greens. A light Asian-inspired bowl ready in under 30 minutes.

Start your day with one or two wedges of this cheesy and tasty broccoli frittata with a cup of orange juice or some fresh fruits. It satisfies your taste buds and provides enough nutrients before the lunch hunger hits you.

Roma chicken express sears pesto-coated chicken breasts and finishes them in a quick balsamic-mushroom pan sauce. Italian-inspired skillet dinner ready in 25 minutes, garnished with roasted red pepper and olives.

Braised pork chops with cumin, turmeric, and paprika in a simple onion-garlic pan sauce. Golden-seared and simmered low for tender, spice-rubbed flavor.

Sea scallops with fresh tomatoes and white wine over spinach fettuccine, topped with toasted pine nuts and Parmesan. A light, elegant pasta dinner in under an hour.