Recipe Sifter

Kipper pate slices layer creamy smoked fish on golden puff pastry, finished with a cool cucumber-mint dressing. A British appetizer that handles a dinner party with quiet confidence.

French-style chicken mousseline stuffing for pheasant with pureed chicken breast, port wine, cream, and a fine dice of carrot, leek, turnip, celeriac, and mushroom. Restaurant technique for game birds.

Greek-style fried salt cod (bakaliaros) in a light flour batter, served with skordalia. Soaked overnight, boiled, battered, and pan-fried until golden.

Katirikkai thogyal is a smoky South Indian eggplant chutney made with roasted eggplant, urad dal, dried red chilies, tamarind, and a pinch of hing. Coarsely blended and served alongside rice and ghee.

Asian-style rice and vegetable salad with broccoli, cauliflower, snow peas, and carrots simmered in soy sauce, tossed with brown rice and served chilled.

Ham frittata: a low-fat skillet-to-broiler egg bake loaded with diced ham, sauteed potatoes, mushrooms, and green pepper. A protein-packed brunch made with liquid egg substitute.

Russian marinated pearl onions (Luk Marinovannyi) pickled in apple cider vinegar with dill, caraway seeds, red pepper flakes, and peppercorns. Ready in two weeks.

Baked eggplant and parsnip slices with no added oil, salt, or sugar. A simple 2-ingredient side dish that's naturally fat-free, diabetic-friendly, and low-sodium.

Fun gwau: Cantonese steamed dumplings stuffed with pork, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts, all wrapped in translucent wheat-starch wrappers. A dim sum classic.

Possee stew made from five cans: stewed tomatoes, chili beans, corn, hominy, and green chilies. A dump-and-heat pantry stew ready in 15 minutes flat.

Steamed ground turkey dumplings (shu mai) with ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and scallions in wonton wrappers. Served with a tangy fish sauce, vinegar, and chili dipping sauce. Makes 40 bite-sized gems.

Chocolate chip cherry drop cookies with cream cheese in the dough, maraschino cherries, and a half-cherry crown on each cookie. Holiday-bright bite-sized treats.

Marshmallow cream chocolate cake whips egg whites with marshmallow fluff and folds in cocoa for a virtually fat-free chocolate cake with a soft, almost angel-food crumb.

Canned sweet potatoes baked in applesauce with brown sugar, butter, and nutmeg. A 5-ingredient side dish casserole that takes all of 5 minutes to assemble.

Chewy butterscotch bar cookies made with brown sugar, bran, and nuts, rolled in powdered sugar after baking. A simple vintage treat with a nutty, toffee-like flavor.

A quick microwave chickpea and zucchini curry with seitan, raisins, and mild curry paste in tomato sauce. Vegetarian, low-fat, and ready in 30 minutes.