Recipe Sifter

Pacific Northwest grilled salmon rubbed with brown sugar, cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. A simple overnight cure that builds a lacquered, smoky crust on the grill.

Steamed shrimp with garlic, soy sauce, rice wine, and scallions in a Chinese-style preparation. Butterflied shrimp topped with slow-cooked golden garlic and steamed until tender.

Grilled tofu kebabs marinated in tamari, rice vinegar, garlic, and oregano, threaded on skewers with fresh vegetables. Simple vegetarian grilling.

Rich homemade chicken stock built from gizzards and necks simmered for over 2 hours with onion, carrot, garlic, and peppercorns. Yields 2 quarts of liquid gold for soups, sauces, and braises.

Miniature quiches loaded with cheddar, bell pepper, and Tex-Mex spices. Crustless, two-bite party appetizers baked in a muffin tin until the centers just set.

Venison and wild rice stew inspired by Plains Tribes cooking. Slow-simmered shoulder with onions until fork-tender, then finished with wild rice. Just six ingredients.

Tangy sourdough banana pancakes with buttermilk and yogurt, topped with sliced bananas. Skip the syrup and let the sweet-sour contrast shine with just a pat of butter.

Crockpot lemon-garlic chicken braised all day in white wine with half a cup of crushed garlic and lemon juice. A dump-and-go slow cooker recipe served over rice.

Homemade Caesar salad dressing mix with lemon zest, oregano, garlic, and Parmesan. Shelf-stable dry blend ready to shake into dressing whenever you need it.

Homemade herbes de Provence blend with basil, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, savory, coriander, nutmeg, cloves, and white pepper. A fragrant French herb mix in five minutes.

No-cook cashew pita pockets with curried yogurt, cucumber, bell pepper, and red onion. A crunchy vegetarian lunch ready in 15 minutes flat.

Korean bulgogi-style marinade with soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, garlic, and toasted sesame seeds. Works on beef short ribs, steak, or chicken for grilling.

Cold spiced shrimp poached in ginger, dry sherry, scallions, and Szechwan peppercorns. Chilled in the cooking stock for maximum flavor absorption.

Kipper pate slices layer creamy smoked fish on golden puff pastry, finished with a cool cucumber-mint dressing. A British appetizer that handles a dinner party with quiet confidence.

Red-cooked eggs simmered in dark soy sauce, brown sugar, chicken broth, and sesame oil until deeply colored. A Chinese appetizer served with a hoisin and oyster sauce dip.

Lighter cocoa oatmeal cookies made with egg whites and nonfat yogurt instead of whole eggs and butter. Studded with mini chocolate chips and chewy with 3 cups of quick oats. Makes a whopping 66 cookies.