Recipe Sifter

Tiny baby zucchini halves hollowed out and stuffed with a sauteed filling of garlic, shallot, Roma tomatoes, and fresh parsley. An elegant room-temperature appetizer from the Silver Palate.

German chocolate cake layered with gooey melted caramels, chopped pecans, and chocolate chips between two layers of batter. A semi-homemade turtle cake that's sinfully rich and ridiculously easy to make.

Quick and easy to make pork chops in a tangy white wine sauce, bon appetite!

Old-fashioned filled sugar cookies with a cooked raisin and nut filling sandwiched between two thin, almond-scented sugar cookie rounds. A classic heirloom cookie recipe.

Creamy spinach and mushroom soup with Swiss cheese, cream cheese, and a touch of nutmeg. A thick, cheesy vegetable soup that's lighter than it tastes.

Frozen chocolate peanut butter graham cracker sandwiches made with sugar-free pudding and nonfat milk. A diabetic-friendly frozen treat that kids and adults both love.

Traditional Tahitian ma'oa and pahua tairo combines fresh snails or clams with taioro (fermented coconut-shrimp sauce), onions, and garlic. An authentic South Pacific delicacy.

Pineapple ginger sauce with garlic and soy sauce, thickened with cornstarch for a glossy finish. A fat-free, 15-minute stir-fry sauce with bright tropical flavor.

Wholesome breakfast cookie bars made with rolled oats, whole wheat flour, wheat germ, and dried fruit. Sweetened with apple juice and brown sugar for a grab-and-go morning fuel-up.

Cold buckwheat noodles tossed in a creamy peanut sauce made with brewed Chinese tea, chili oil, sesame oil, and rice vinegar. A nutty, spicy appetizer or side dish ready in 40 minutes.

Most health food stores sell many kinds of whole grain cereals. Follow directions on package, but increase the amount of water by 1/2 cup for every two servings.

Quick sweet pickles for canning, eight pounds of cucumbers in a sugar-vinegar brine spiced with allspice, celery seed, and mustard seed. A big-batch summer canning project.

Try these decadent cookies made with blanched almonds and a pinch of cinnamon.

Making your own mustard is easy and a perfect compliment to home-made deli recipes. You can control how smooth and how rustic and chunky your mustard is. This makes about 3/4 cup of mustard.

Ginger-soy marinade with fresh ginger root, low-sodium soy sauce, orange juice concentrate, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice. Works on chicken, fish, or any cut of meat.

Hawaiian namasu, a Japanese-Hawaiian pickled vegetable salad with cucumber, carrot, onion, and celery in a sweet vinegar brine. Served cold with sliced smoked salmon.