Recipe Sifter

Easy drunken beans (frijoles borrachos) simmered with beer, jalapeños, garlic, tomato, and cumin. A smoky Tex-Mex side ready in 20 minutes.

Hot fresh strawberries au sabayon, briefly poached in lemon-vanilla syrup and blanketed in a frothy Marsala egg-yolk zabaglione. A French-Italian restaurant dessert that plates in minutes.

Mike's fish fumet is a clean, aromatic homemade fish stock simmered from fish trimmings, leeks, and herbs with a splash of tarragon vinegar for brightness. The French base for chowders, seafood soups, and pan sauces.

Greek poached oranges in spiced mavrodaphne wine syrup with bay leaf and clove. A jewel-toned, make-ahead dessert that lets winter citrus shine without the oven.

Rivel soup is a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch egg dumpling soup with tiny flour-and-egg crumbles cooked in broth with corn. Three ingredients, ready in 20 minutes.

Sparkling pineapple punch with cinnamon-infused simple syrup, lime juice, pineapple juice, and sparkling white wine. A fizzy, crowd-sized party punch served from a punch bowl.

Blanched escarole leaves stuffed with marinated chickpeas, fresh tomatoes, garlic, and white wine vinegar. A vegan, low-fat Italian appetizer served at room temperature.

Sweet avocado mousse blends ripe avocado with lemon yogurt and coconut rum, then folds in whipped egg whites for a pale green, silky chilled dessert topped with chopped pistachios.

Light, crisp peppermint meringue cookies made with egg whites, sugar, and crushed candy canes. Slow-baked until dry and melt-in-your-mouth airy.

Twice cooked herbed duck quarters slow-roasted to render the fat, then grilled over charcoal for crisp, smoky skin. Herb-rubbed, crackling, and impossibly juicy.

Baked cod in a sack steams the fish in a sealed parchment or foil packet, so it comes out moist, flaky, and never dry. A clean, healthy, one-packet dinner that traps every bit of flavor and juice.

A big fresh ham roasted for hours, then stuffed with spicy Italian sausage and cooked until fork-tender. The pan drippings make a rich, savory gravy. Feeds a crowd with just two ingredients.

Elegant Scandinavian berry compote with fresh blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries in a lightly sweetened maple and cinnamon sauce.

Mini cheesecakes with chocolate cookie crusts, creamy ricotta-cream cheese filling, and fresh orange zest topping. These bite-sized treats bake in a water bath for silky texture.

This recipe is a combination of the best parts of many other General Tso's Chicken recipes I have seen.

Here's a homemade steak sauce that will have you licking your plate. Do that when the children aren't looking!