Recipe Sifter

Warm cranberry apple cider simmered in the crock pot with cinnamon sticks and a clove-studded orange. The holiday party drink that fills the whole house with spice.

Healthy chicken meatloaf with oats and applesauce instead of heavy binders. Lean ground chicken stays moist while poultry seasoning adds savory depth in just 1 hour.

Slow cooker baked beans with bacon, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, ketchup, and mustard. A dump-and-go crockpot side dish that simmers all day for a sticky, smoky-sweet cookout classic.

Cajun skillet beans with black-eyed peas, the holy trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper, plus tomatoes, thyme, and a pinch of cayenne. A quick, hearty vegetarian Cajun side.

Toasted curry powder oven-toasts coriander, cumin, fennel, cardamom and turmeric before grinding for a deep, aromatic, restaurant-style spice blend. Six-month shelf life in a tightly sealed jar.

Thick seitan steaks baked until firm, then simmered in a savory tamari broth with kombu and fresh ginger for deep umami flavor. Brushed with sauce and broiled until lightly charred, these vegan steaks have real chew and satisfying meatiness.

Green Curry Paste (Nam Prik Kaeng Khiew Wah) recipe

A low-fat creamy mushroom soup made with dried oyster, morel, and porcini mushrooms plus fresh portabellos, simmered with leeks and curry in skim milk. Finished with dry sherry and fresh chervil. Ready in 25 minutes.

Fresh mango salsa with ginger, habanero, brown sugar, garlic, cloves, and soy sauce. A sweet-hot tropical condiment for grilled fish, chicken, or tacos.

New Orleans red beans and rice cooked low and slow in a crockpot with smoked turkey legs, onion, celery, bay leaves, and hot sauce. Makes enough to freeze multiple family meals.

Roasted tomato salsa with jalapenos, garlic, white onion, cumin, and cider vinegar. Oven-roasting concentrates the tomato flavor for a smoky, slightly chunky salsa that beats any jar.

The delicious combination of herring and beet makes this salad a winner!

Diabetic-friendly apple salad with a whole marinated apple cut into flower-like sections and filled with spiced applesauce, raisins, and crisp celery.

Budget-friendly beef stew with round steak, potatoes, carrots, and celery simmered in tomato sauce. A hearty one-skillet meal that feeds 10 from simple pantry staples.

Thai basil fried rice with fresh red chilies, button mushrooms, long beans, and light soy sauce. A vegetarian wok-fried rice that's spicy, aromatic, and ready in minutes.

Low-fat asparagus guacamole made with pureed cooked asparagus and yogurt instead of avocado. Same guacamole seasonings - cumin, cayenne, garlic, tomato - a fraction of the fat.