Recipe Sifter

Tomatillo guacamole made with cooked tomatillos, mashed avocado, jalapeno, and lemon juice. A tangy Mexican dip with bright, citrusy flavor that's ready in 20 minutes.

Cafe con miel is Spanish honey coffee with warm milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. A cozy 20-minute drink that doubles as a light dessert. Three ingredients you already have.

Classic bread and butter pickle slices with cucumber, onion, and green pepper in a sweet-tart cider vinegar brine with mustard seed, turmeric, and celery seed. Canned for the pantry.

Fowl gumbo with boiled chicken, okra, tomatoes, bell pepper, and celery in a rich brown gravy, finished with file powder. Serve over rice or cornbread for a true Southern bowl.

Two-ingredient cranberry relish made with fresh cranberries and sugar. The simplest stovetop cranberry sauce that beats canned every time, ready in under 15 minutes for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Steamed fish and vegetables in stove-top papillotte: halibut and sugar snap peas steamed in plastic over diced tomatoes and basil. A clean, light, restaurant-style dinner in 20 minutes.

Banana orange juice breakfast smoothie with egg and vanilla. A creamy, protein-rich morning shake blended in under 10 minutes with just four ingredients.

Lighter potato salad dressed with nonfat yogurt and mustard instead of mayo. Loaded with broccoli, corn, peas, and dill for a colorful, veggie-packed side dish.

Mom's shepherd's pie: leftover lamb cubed and simmered with onion, red pepper, rosemary, and parsley under a mashed potato crust. The classic Sunday-roast reinvention.

Reptile pot pie poaches alligator, snake, or iguana meat in a Thai-Indian curry sauce of coconut milk, fish sauce, turmeric, and coriander. Served over baby vegetables with fresh cilantro. Bold, unexpected, and surprisingly approachable.

Casco Bay Rice tosses brown rice with shrimp, crab, marinated artichoke hearts, and tomatoes in a sherry-white wine sauce. A coastal Maine-inspired seafood rice bowl ready in 30 minutes.

Vegetarian Mexican pie with a spiced bean and corn filling sandwiched between layers of stovetop cornbread, baked until golden. A hearty, budget-friendly meatless main dish.

Homemade turkey sausage seasoned with fennel, garlic, and red pepper flakes for authentic Sicilian flavor. Grind, stuff, and pan-fry these lean links in about an hour.

Steamed corn pones are simple masa dough logs wrapped in softened corn husks and steamed until tender. A rustic Mexican-Southern US sidekick to beans, chili, or stews.

Romesco-style roasted pepper dip made with broiled red and yellow bell peppers, roasted garlic, almonds, and sherry vinegar. A low-fat vegetarian appetizer with a striking two-tone presentation.

Chocolate-dipped California figs stuffed with walnuts or marshmallows. An elegant no-bake candy with just three ingredients. Perfect for gift boxes.