Recipe Sifter

Homemade papaya liqueur infused in vodka with lemon zest for one week, then strained and aged. Just 4 ingredients for a tropical, fruity spirit. Best made in May or June.

Turkish-style cucumber and tomato salad with paper-thin onion, fresh dill, green chili peppers, and a lemon-vinegar dressing. A bright, crisp side dish.

Whole wheat couscous with brown lentils, fresh tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan simmered in vegetable juice. A low-fat vegetarian one-pot meal with hearty protein and bright Italian flavors.

Roast loin of lamb stuffed with soft-cooked apples, ginger, and lemon juice. An Irish-inspired main dish roast with sweet fruit tucked inside and garlic slivered into the fat.

Deer heart soaked, boiled, sliced into steaks, and pan-fried with steak spice, then served alongside a rosemary and thyme vegetable simmer. Nose-to-tail wild game cooking at its finest.

Traditional Southern roast possum with bread crumb stuffing, onion, bacon drippings, and a kick of red pepper. Old-school Appalachian cooking using black iron and patience.

Crockpot menudo, the traditional Mexican tripe and hominy soup made easy in the slow cooker. Tender tripe, posole, chile, and a calf's foot simmer all day into a rich, deeply savory bowl.

Sweet spiced crabapple pickles simmered in a cinnamon and clove syrup with vinegar and sugar, then canned in jars. An old-fashioned preserve that's tart, warm, and festive.

Grilled skirt steak fajitas marinated overnight in Worcestershire, soy sauce, cumin, and lime. Served with sauteed peppers, guacamole, and warm flour tortillas.

Ogwissimanabo is a traditional Tuscarora yellow squash soup with shallots, cucumber, and a touch of maple syrup. A simple Native American summer soup ready in 30 minutes.

Low-fat apple bread pudding sweetened with maple syrup instead of refined sugar. Egg whites and skim milk keep it light while apples and raisins add natural sweetness. A guilt-free comfort dessert.

Nepal vegetable curry with potatoes, broccoli, tomatoes, and a spice blend of coriander, turmeric, cumin, and cayenne. A naturally vegan one-pot curry served over rice.

Slow cooker spicy black bean stew with green peppers, carrots, celery, chili powder, and hot chili peppers. A vegan one-pot meal that thickens as it cooks.

Easy braised lamb shanks slow-cooked in red wine, tomato, and stock until the meat falls off the bone, then finished with a reduced, glossy pan sauce. A rustic, restaurant-worthy lamb dinner that mostly cooks itself.

Moroccan spiced olives marinated in toasted cumin, fennel, coriander, cardamom, citrus, and garlic. Five-minute appetizer that improves for weeks in the fridge.

Cherry and almond Christmas cake: maraschino cherries, apricots, ginger, and almonds macerated in amaretto and brandy, baked into a lighter apple-puree batter, then soaked in more amaretto. A boozy, fruit-packed festive cake that keeps for a month.