Recipe Sifter

A chef-crafted veggie burger loaded with grated beets, carrots, turnips, zucchini, and mashed potato, bound with oats and rice, and studded with crunchy hazelnuts. These hold together on the grill and taste like a garden in the best way.

Cherry divinity is the pink church-cookbook candy: hard-ball sugar syrup whipped into beaten egg whites with cherry Jello, then loaded with chopped nuts and coconut. Old-fashioned, fluffy, festive.

Chinese halibut grills thick steaks marinated in fresh ginger, scallion, light and dark soy, rice wine and toasted sesame oil. Charcoal-grilled in under 15 minutes for clean, smoky-savory weeknight fish.

Chinese stir-fried vegetables with bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and celery in a soy-thickened chicken broth sauce. A quick wok dinner served over steamed rice.

I received this recipe from a friend who knows I love dates. It is an outstanding chocolate square, it is moist, keeps well and freezes nicely.

Chunky kidney bean dip with sour cream, cumin, coriander, hot sauce, and lemon juice. A no-cook bean dip with warm spice and creamy texture, ready in 10 minutes.

Cinnamon apple Jello mold made with applesauce, ginger ale, chopped nuts, and raisins. A nostalgic no-bake gelatin salad for Thanksgiving and holiday dinners.

Fresh citrus vinaigrette with diced orange, grapefruit, lime, and lemon segments in olive oil, champagne vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, pink peppercorns, and cilantro. Restaurant-quality.

Classic French-style turkey soup with golden sautéed vegetables, white wine, and a flour-thickened broth. Elegant yet simple way to use your holiday turkey carcass.

Chewy coconut almond macaroons made with homemade almond paste, ground coconut, and egg whites. Naturally gluten-free, crisp on the outside, soft in the middle. Makes 3 to 4 dozen.

Sweet corn fritters studded with edible marigold petals, fried until golden with lacy, crispy edges. A stunning appetizer that brings the garden straight to the plate.

A creamy vegan cheesecake made with blended tofu on a crunchy granola crust, topped with a fresh strawberry sauce. Dairy-free, egg-free, and naturally sweetened. Serves 8.

Two-ingredient cranberry apple sorbet made with Golden Delicious apples simmered in cranberry juice. No ice cream maker needed. Fat-free, dairy-free, and naturally refreshing.

Creamy Mexican avocado-lime soup with cilantro, cumin, crema Mexicana, and chicken broth, puréed smooth and topped with Cotija cheese and fresh avocado cubes.

Crispy fried rice vermicelli (mee krob) tossed with tangy tamarind syrup, bean sprouts, cilantro, and green onions. Classic Thai sweet, sour, salty noodle dish with shattering crunch.

Old-fashioned crystal pickles brined for 8 days then boiled in a sweet spiced vinegar syrup until translucent. A heritage canning recipe with cinnamon, allspice, and cloves.