Recipe Sifter

Thin, crispy oatmeal Florentine cookies made with toasted oats, cinnamon, and just a tablespoon of flour. Lacy edges with a nutty, caramelized crunch.

Shrimp filling is one of the popular fillings of Chinese dumplings. Fresh or frozen shrimp seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, cilantro and scallions, the flavor comes out amazingly delicious; the dumplings are juicy and tangy.

Southern sweet tea done right: sugar dissolved into a warm tea concentrate, steeped just briefly so it never turns bitter, then chilled and poured over ice. Smooth, sweet, and refreshing by the glass.

Chocolate fudge with dates, nuts, and a bright hit of orange zest cooked to soft-ball stage on the stovetop. A fruity twist on classic homemade fudge that makes 81 bite-sized squares.

Lemon teriyaki glazed chicken simmers boneless thighs in a homemade sauce of lemon juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. One skillet, 30 minutes, served over rice.

Cajun crawfish or shrimp cocktail sauce loaded with horseradish, chili sauce, Worcestershire, and hot sauce. A fiery, no-cook dipping sauce ready in 10 minutes flat.

Chilled cream of cucumber soup with sour cream, fresh dill, and parsley. A cool, refreshing summer starter that's better made the day before. No fuss, no stove time after dinner.

Lentil potato burgers: oven-baked vegan patties of mashed lentils, potatoes, and whole wheat breadcrumbs with sage, thyme, and rosemary. Hearty, fiber-packed, and zero oil needed.

Smoked turkey gumbo turns the Thanksgiving carcass into a rich Cajun-style gumbo with shrimp, crab, and oysters, built on a deep mahogany roux and served over long-grain rice.

Vegetable stew with potato, green beans, yellow and green peppers, and tomato simmered in chicken broth with fennel seed. A light, Weight Watchers-friendly one-skillet side.

Canned sardines warmed in white wine over a soft fennel and onion relish. A simple, elegant Mediterranean-style fish dish using the sardine oil for cooking.

Moist chocolate banana cake made without eggs, loaded with cocoa, chocolate chips, and crunchy pecans. Buttermilk and ripe bananas keep it fudgy while brown sugar adds deep caramel sweetness.

Dry your beans well before cooking. To get the traditional ‘blistered’ look of the beans you will need to shallow-fry them for 5-6 minutes and stir constantly to avoid burning.

A quick and easy Chinese Sichuan sauce with loads of flavor.

Basic quinoa cooked pilaf-style with garlic and olive oil, toasted in the pan before simmering in chicken broth. A nutty, fluffy grain side dish in under an hour.

Thick, hearty vegan chili made with smashed yams, mixed beans, tomato puree, and a smoky kick of BBQ sauce and cinnamon. A pantry-friendly one-pot meal that's ready in 40 minutes.