Recipe Sifter

Sweet monkey bread made with canned buttermilk biscuits rolled in cinnamon sugar and drenched in a melted brown sugar glaze. Pull-apart, sticky, and ready in 40 minutes.

Crispy fried tofu presses firm Chinese or Japanese tofu, slices it thin, then deep fries until puffy and golden. Two-ingredient vegetarian appetizer with shatter-crisp edges.

Broiled red snapper on a cedar plank with lemon, paprika, and fresh vegetables. A dramatic presentation that sizzles straight from the broiler to the table.

If you're looking for something different, try this scrumptious dish that has flavor in every bite!

Raw grated carrot salad with orange segments, fresh ginger, garlic, honey, mint, and walnuts in a citrus dressing. A no-cook Moroccan-inspired side dish that rests for two hours to develop flavor.

Potato salad with pomegranate seeds, plain yogurt, and fresh cilantro. A bright, mayo-free side with jewel-like crunch and a tangy, lighter dressing.

A cost-effective veggie only hash that uses up basic pantry vegetables. Develops a nice crusty brown surface as it cooks.

Authentic Thai Tom Yum Goong: a fragrant hot-and-sour shrimp soup with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, fresh chilies, fish sauce, and straw mushrooms. The classic Bangkok street-food soup made at home.

Grilled orange chicken marinated overnight in frozen orange juice concentrate, soy sauce, and tarragon. A citrusy, caramelized barbecue chicken with just 6 ingredients.

Easy matzoh ball dumplings made with just 5 ingredients: eggs, matzo meal, fat, salt, and stock. Drop them into any soup for fluffy, tender dumplings that cook in 30-40 minutes.

Red snapper fillets wrapped in soaked corn husks and grilled over embers, finished with a spicy orange vinaigrette. A smoky, tamale-inspired technique that keeps the fish juicy and tender.

Scalloped turkey and cauliflower baked in a light turkey stock gravy. A low-calorie main dish that puts leftover turkey to good use.

Banana French toast: a lighter take on the classic, dipped in egg substitute and topped with vanilla yogurt, caramelized banana slices, and maple syrup. A healthy weekend breakfast.

Beau's notes: * There are no "jalapeno beans;" there are jalapeno peppers and pinto beans. I have two recipes, both of which are quite tref, but a Catholic should worry? But if you are hosting a Jewish person, smoked turkey will substitute most agreeably for the chazer called for in either recipe.]

Homemade vanilla bean extract with just two ingredients: chopped vanilla beans steeped in brandy for two weeks. Richer than store-bought and endlessly refillable.

Rice with black beans, stewed tomatoes, garlic, and oregano cooked in one pot. An oil-free, plant-based side dish or light meal ready in under 30 minutes.