Recipe Sifter

Dilly beans pickled with garlic, red pepper flakes, and fresh dill in a hot vinegar brine. Crisp, tangy, spicy pickled green beans canned in pint jars.

Turkey Creole simmers cooked turkey with tomatoes, onion, celery, bell pepper, and chili powder in the slow cooker. A dump-and-go post-holiday meal served over rice for six.

Vegan split pea soup: green split peas simmered with celery, carrot, onion, potato, and herbs into a thick, hearty bowl finished with frozen sweet peas and a splash of tamari. No ham needed.

Chewy brown sugar cookies loaded with green candy-coated chocolate pieces. A fun, festive cookie for St. Patrick's Day baking that makes 3 dozen in just 30 minutes.

Low-fat spiced bran muffins with molasses, honey, ginger, cloves, golden raisins, and walnuts. Made with egg whites and nonfat yogurt instead of butter and whole eggs.

Chewy wheat berries tossed with ripe chopped tomatoes and crisp red onion for a hearty whole grain salad. Three ingredients, five minutes, and endlessly customizable with your go-to dressing.

German elderberry soup (Holunderbeersuppe): cooked elderberries with lemon, sugar, and cornstarch for a traditional tart-sweet fruit soup served hot or chilled.

Hearty vegetarian hot pot with pearl barley, root vegetables, mushrooms, and fresh herbs simmered in a savory yeast extract broth. Warming autumn comfort food.

Smoked trout crackers with lemon-dill mayonnaise top thin whole-grain crackers with sliced smoked trout and a bright lemon-dill aioli. A five-ingredient elegant appetizer.

Old-fashioned brown bread made with graham flour, molasses, sour milk, and raisins. Slow-baked for a dense, moist loaf with deep caramel sweetness and a hearty whole grain chew.

Moroccan stew simmers sweet potato, chickpeas, squash, and carrots in a warm blend of cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, and paprika, with raisins for a sweet-savory lift. A hearty vegan tagine-style stew over couscous.

Baked chicken breast coated in a Dijon mustard and yogurt mixture, then topped with seasoned bread crumbs and thyme. A lighter, crumb-crusted chicken that stays juicy without frying.

Single-jar homemade dill pickles with fresh dill heads, garlic, and apple cider vinegar brine. Small-batch refrigerator pickles that cure for 2 weeks before they're ready.

Bite-sized baked egg cups loaded with cheddar, Monterey Jack, green chiles, and cumin. Makes 30 mini appetizers that disappear the second they hit the table.

I love Asian food. These spring rolls were so refreshing and just delicious, and I also loved the texture because of all these fresh veggies. The dipping sauce was terrific.

Quick microwave red snapper topped with zucchini, melted cheese, and a punchy homemade tomato-chili sauce spiked with horseradish and Worcestershire. A light, low-fat fish dinner ready in under 30 minutes.