Recipe Sifter

Japanese rice porridge (okayu) simmered with white miso, silky tofu, umeboshi plums, spinach, and napa cabbage. Warm, soothing, and soul-restoring on cold days.

Cornish hen braised in burgundy wine with fresh raspberries, rosemary, thyme, and garlic, then finished under the broiler for crispy edges. An elegant dinner for one or a romantic meal for two.

Parkin is a variety of gingerbread, good warming stuff to eat out of doors in cold weather. When I was a child, it was always a firm favourite for the firework party on Bonfire Night each year. This is adapted from my mother's recipe.

Homemade string hoppers (idiyappam), delicate steamed noodle nests pressed from a soft flour dough and steamed in minutes. A Sri Lankan staple, light and lacy, served hot with curry.

Brown sugar and toasted almond ice cream, a custard base with deep butterscotch notes, warm cinnamon, and crunchy toasted almonds. Made lighter with milk and evaporated milk, churned smooth and scoopable.

Super quick, easy to make, and it's creamy and delicious with some nice crunch and freshness.

Hearty vegetarian chili built on TVP, kidney beans, tomatoes, and green chiles. A high-fiber, low-fat one-pot meal seasoned with cumin, oregano, and chili powder. No meat, no soaking dried beans, ready in under an hour.

Mom's banana oatmeal cookies are soft, chewy drop cookies with mashed bananas, rolled oats, butter, and a hint of lemon juice. A classic family recipe that yields nearly 80 cookies.

Old-fashioned nectarine and raspberry preserves with whole fruit suspended in a glossy, lightly thickened syrup. No commercial pectin, just sugar, lemon, and time.

Cantaloupe sorbet with honey-sweetened melon puree and brandied melon balls for garnish. A refreshing palate cleanser or summer dessert that captures peak melon flavor in a frozen scoop.

Indian-style tomato date chutney slow-simmered with vinegar-soaked chilies, ginger, garlic, and warm whole spices. Sweet, tart, and lasts six weeks in the fridge.

Pumpkin puff pancakes are tiny silver-dollar pancakes built on Bisquick, canned pumpkin, eggs, and warm spices. Light, puffy, and ideal for fall brunch or holiday breakfast trays.

Homemade sago biscuits press together just four pantry staples, sago, desiccated coconut, sugar, and breadcrumbs, into crisp, golden rounds. A simple, eggless Sri Lankan teatime biscuit with toasty coconut flavor.

Low-fat blueberry muffins with applesauce in place of butter, sweetened with sugar and maple syrup, and lightened with whipped egg whites. A moist tender breakfast bake under 150 calories per muffin.

Seems odd but the crispy tacos actually go well together and kids love it because it appeared on the kids television show, iCarly.

This Chunky Blueberry Sauce is a versatile topping that balances sweet and tart flavors. With just four ingredients, it’s easy to prepare and adds a burst of flavor to breakfast dishes, desserts, or even savory pairings like grilled meats. The sauce thickens naturally as it simmers, creating a luscious texture with whole berries for a rustic appeal.