Recipe Sifter

Fruit and cheese pita pockets stuffed with low-fat cottage cheese, diced cheddar, kiwi, pineapple tidbits, and chives for a quick no-cook lunch ready in 10 minutes.

Crispy fried won tons filled with chopped dates and walnuts. A sweet three-ingredient appetizer or dessert with a crunchy shell and sticky fruit-nut center.

Fresh corn and papaya salsa with Roma tomatoes, red onion, lime zest, and cilantro. A tropical no-cook salsa with sweet fruit and bright citrus that pairs with grilled fish or chips.

Couscous and vegetables tops fluffy couscous with a quick tomato ragout of corn, bell pepper, mushrooms, and chili in a broth-sauté base. Vegan weeknight dinner in 30 minutes.

Homemade turkey jerky marinated in soy sauce, Worcestershire, liquid smoke, and hot sauce. Dehydrate in the oven or a dehydrator for a high-protein, smoky snack.

Pacific pot roast studded with whole garlic cloves, braised low and slow in a Dutch oven, then served with a tomato-spiked flour gravy over rice. Simple, old-school comfort.

No-cook cranberry apple relish with fresh cranberries, shredded apple, orange, and ground coriander. Sugar-free, low-fat, and diabetic-friendly with bright, tart flavor.

Freezer burritos with mashed black beans, rice, sauteed onions, garlic, and tomato sauce rolled in flour tortillas. A vegetarian make-ahead meal prep staple that freezes beautifully for fast lunches or breakfasts.

A Sicilian classic: tender cauliflower simmered with anchovies, pine nuts, currants, and tomatoes over spaghetti. Sweet, savory, and unmistakably Palermo on your plate.

Chilled cucumber soup blended with chicken broth, milk, lemon juice, and a hint of curry. Cold summer soup garnished with chives and crisp cucumber slices.

Drunken leeks braised in red wine with garlic, finished with a splash of red wine vinegar and fresh parsley. A simple, elegant side dish ready in 30 minutes.

Microwave-steamed globe artichokes with a zesty mustard dipping sauce made with brown mustard, Italian dressing mix, Worcestershire, and hot sauce.

Ghoul-Ade is a jet-black Halloween punch made by mixing orange and grape drink mix with ginger ale and sugar water. Five minutes, five ingredients, seriously spooky.

This barely sweet, fruity rye tastes good with scrambled eggs or in a turkey sandwich. For tea sandwiches, slice thin and spread with cream cheese and toasted sliced almonds.

Boeuf en ficelle steams a whole filet mignon suspended by string over boiling beef broth with root vegetables. A classic French technique for rare, intensely beefy tenderloin.

Classic single 9-inch pie crust with shortening or lard. The reliable American home-baking standard, easy to roll and ready for any sweet or savory filling you have planned.