Recipe Sifter

Elva's carne guisada with beef chuck braised in a cumin-spiced gravy with Rotel tomatoes, onion, and bell pepper. Tex-Mex comfort food ready in 40 minutes.

Roast capon stuffed with rye bread, caraway seeds, and parsley, cooked in the microwave. A retro technique that delivers juicy, tender poultry fast.

Italian wild mushroom topping with dried porcini, fresh portobello, tomatoes, rosemary, sage, and garlic marinated 24 hours in olive oil and lemon. Use on bruschetta or pasta.

Yogurt chocolate chip cookies with honey and brown sugar for a soft, chewy texture. Plain yogurt replaces some fat for tender cookies with a subtle tang.

Refined Verona-style antipasto with paper-thin prosciutto, crunchy celery root matchsticks, and Parmesan wedges on bitter radicchio for an elegant Italian starter.

Moroccan fava bean puree (bessara): dried favas simmered with garlic and cumin, blended with olive oil, served with Arab bread and a cumin-cayenne spice dip.

Romaine salad with tomatillos, ripe tomatoes, avocado, lime juice, olive oil, and fresh cilantro. A California-Mexican inspired composed salad with no-toss presentation.

Chunky sweet potato soup loaded with carrots, celery, peas, and herbs, finished with nonfat sour cream and skim milk. A big-batch comfort soup that serves 16 and feels lighter than it tastes.

Argentine-style grilled flank steak with classic chimichurri sauce of parsley, garlic, jalapeño, oregano, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. Sliced thin across the grain.

Fresh mango salsa with ginger, habanero, brown sugar, garlic, cloves, and soy sauce. A sweet-hot tropical condiment for grilled fish, chicken, or tacos.

For those who love the taste of fish, this succulent dish is for you!

Jumbo shrimp and asparagus stir-fried with ginger, soy, and sherry. Light Chinese-style weeknight dinner built on quick-blanched asparagus and a splash of reserved cooking water.

Breaded pork chops braised until tender, topped with a warm sour cherry sauce spiked with cinnamon, cloves, honey, and Madeira wine. An elegant but approachable dinner.

Baked salmon fillets topped with a compound pistachio basil butter melted over each serving. White wine in the pan keeps the fish moist. Ready in 20 minutes.

Slow cooker salsa chicken with Brussels sprouts, Ro-Tel tomatoes, jalapeno, and cayenne pepper. Set it and forget it for 7 hours on low for a spicy, hands-off dinner.