Recipe Sifter

Curried potato chowder with caramelized onions, white wine, dry mustard, and nonfat yogurt stirred in at the end. A lighter, lower-fat chowder with bold Indian-inspired flavor.

Joyce's steak and mushroom gravy: flour-dredged round steak browned and slow-simmered in cream of mushroom soup. Classic midwestern comfort over mashed potatoes.

Light-as-air chocolate chiffon cake with deep cocoa flavor and virtually zero fat, perfect for anyone craving rich chocolate dessert without the calorie bomb.

Rich Thai red curry with prawns and butternut squash in coconut milk sauce, ready in 60 minutes for weeknight Thai dinners with authentic restaurant flavor.

Slow-baked country ham with a brown sugar, honey, dry sherry, and Dijon mustard glaze applied three times for a sticky, caramelized crust. The centerpiece for any holiday feast.

White Michigan bean soup is a three-ingredient classic: white navy-style beans simmered slowly with a smoked ham hock, then partly mashed to thicken. Old-school, no-fuss comfort.

Kid-friendly paella: chicken drumettes, bacon, saffron rice, and peas in a single pan. A gentler introduction to Spanish flavors that still delivers that signature golden, crackling bottom.

Very tasty pies, I used fresh cherries, still so great.

New Orleans turkey creole with poached turkey legs, bacon, tomatoes, green bell pepper, onion, garlic, and okra served over rice. A Southern Creole classic with bold bayou flavor.

Mini cocktail quiches in pastry cups with ham, tuna, Swiss cheese, and a creamy egg-mayonnaise filling. The retro hors d'oeuvre that disappears off the platter at every party.

Soba noodles with snow pea greens and shiitake mushrooms in a shallot-chili-soy-rice wine sauce. An oil-free Japanese-style noodle bowl with deep umami and tender seasonal greens.

Layered sausage and macaroni casserole with mushrooms, cottage cheese, and Italian herbs, topped with bread crumbs. A hearty weeknight bake with big savory flavor.

Plump shrimp or scallops seared in garlic butter with sweet red pepper strips and a bright squeeze of lemon. This 5-ingredient Provencal-style seafood dinner is on the table in 30 minutes over steamed rice.

Baked puffy omelet squares made with separated eggs for a soufflé-like rise, topped with a chunky stewed tomato and zucchini sauce. Light, low-calorie, and high-protein.

Pasta with black beans and spinach in jarred pasta sauce, topped with Parmesan. A protein-packed vegetarian dinner using pantry staples and frozen spinach, ready in 25 minutes.

Szechuan eggplant sautéed in broth instead of oil for a low-fat, plant-based dinner that packs serious heat. Just 5 ingredients, 30 minutes, and a whole lot of spicy Szechuan-teriyaki flavor over rice.