Recipe Sifter

Navy bean and tomato soup made from dried beans, with stewed tomatoes, onion, and celery sauteed in margarine. A high-fiber, low-fat, gluten-free farmhouse soup that costs pennies to make.

Fresh lo mein noodles wok-tossed with Chinese mushrooms, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and celery in a savory oyster sauce. Faster than takeout at just 14 minutes.

Japanese pork stir-fry made in the microwave with frozen stir-fry vegetables, julienned pork chop, soy sauce, and dry sherry. A 20-minute weeknight dinner for two served over rice.

A tropical blueberry passion fruit smoothie with banana, yogurt, and toasted wheat germ. Thick, creamy, and naturally sweetened with honey. Serves 4 in under 5 minutes.

Pasteli me Fistikia, a traditional Greek candy with roasted pistachios set in a honey-sugar brittle. Four ingredients and a candy thermometer for an authentic Mediterranean sweet.

Moroccan lamb tagine slow-simmered with saffron, honey, cinnamon, dates, and toasted almonds. A fragrant North African braise with sweet-savory depth in every bite.

Tomato and zucchini gratin: thin slices fanned and overlapped, showered with a herby Parmesan breadcrumb topping, drizzled with olive oil, and baked until golden. A rustic summer-garden side dish.

Frozen lard or shortening cut into flour creates the flakiest, most tender pie crust with a foolproof plastic bag rolling method that makes handling easy.

A simple but scrumptious dish that makes a healthy dinner taste taste amazing!

Sweet and sour lentils with brown rice simmer in a tangy honey-tamari-ginger sauce with sauteed onion and celery. A hearty vegetarian one-bowl dinner with plant-protein backbone.

Another kind of dumplings, steamed dumplings, but still a popular recipe too!

Vietnamese fruits in syrup (trái cây) with orange, pineapple, and lychees in a sherry-citrus sugar syrup. A simple, elegant tropical dessert chilled to perfection.

German pork chops in onion beer sauce (Schweinekotelett in Zwiebelsosse). Pan-fried chops simmered in beer and beef broth with sliced onions and gravy.

Slow cooker chocolate fondue with chocolate almond candy bars, marshmallows, and whipping cream. Stays warm and glossy for hours of dipping without scorching. Five ingredients, no babysitting.

Fluffy banana buttermilk pancakes made with whole wheat pastry flour and toasted wheat germ. No butter or oil in the batter. Makes a dozen golden flapjacks in 30 minutes.

Chilled pasta salad with flaked salmon, avocado, red bell pepper, cilantro, and lime-mayonnaise dressing: creamy, fresh, served on lettuce with paprika garnish.