Recipe Sifter

Malai Murgh: whole chicken simmered in milk, layered with butter-fried almonds, raisins, and onions, then baked in a rich egg yolk and cream custard. A Mughlai classic.

Mama Stamberg's cranberry relish with raw cranberries, onion, sour cream, and horseradish. The famous NPR Thanksgiving recipe that's frozen then thawed for a shocking pink, tangy condiment.

Chilled mango ginger lime soup pureed smooth and strained for a silky texture. A no-cook cold soup with just 4 ingredients and a serious ginger kick from 4 ounces of fresh root.

Manhattan Island clam chowder is the tomato-based East Coast chowder: littleneck clams steamed open, then simmered in white wine and fresh tomato broth with pork fatback, potatoes, and cracker crumb thickening.

Maple pecan crescent twists made with store-bought crescent roll dough, a cinnamon-nutmeg pecan sugar filling, and a maple powdered sugar glaze. A quick breakfast pastry in 30 minutes.

These are better then the average peanut butter cookie and really do melt in your mouth!

Marinated eggplant, an Italian antipasto of golden-fried eggplant slices layered with garlic, bay leaf, rosemary, and red wine vinegar. Keeps up to two weeks in the fridge.

Butter-almond cookies shaped and colored into tiny fruit miniatures like strawberries, bananas, pears, and oranges. A showstopper holiday cookie project using simple dough with food coloring and clever shaping techniques.

Danish Mayor's Braid (Borgmeister Krans): a braided ring of Danish pastry filled with almond paste, baked golden with sliced almonds and crystallized sugar on top. A holiday-table showstopper.

Filipino mechado: braised beef with potatoes, carrots, lime, soy, and tomato sauce. Classic Spanish-influenced Filipino comfort food, sliced and served with sauce.

Melitzanosalata, a Greek roasted eggplant dip with garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. Smoky, tangy, and rustic, served cold with bread or grilled meats.

Meringue pecan pie binds Ritz cracker crumbs and chopped pecans into a stiff egg-white meringue, then bakes into a chewy-crisp slice. No pie crust required. Top with ice cream or fresh fruit and whipped cream.

Chocolate cupcakes stuffed with maraschino cherry and pecan cream cheese filling, topped with lush frosting, a whole cherry, and a pecan half. Holiday dessert with retro charm.

Mexican turkey rollups stuffed with seasoned turkey, cheddar, salsa, and olives in flour tortillas, baked under a creamy taco-spiced sauce. Great for using leftover turkey.

Microwave black bean burritos done in minutes, no stove required. Spiced black beans, partly pureed for a creamy texture, wrapped in tortillas with a fresh avocado-tomato salsa. An easy vegetarian dinner.

No-bake butterscotch bars with applesauce, vanilla wafers, raisins, and wheat germ, cooked in the microwave in 8 minutes. A quick, chewy snack bar the kids will love.