Recipe Sifter

Homemade fortune cookies: thin crisp wafers cooked on a skillet, folded around your own paper fortunes while still pliable. A party project for Lunar New Year or kids' birthdays.

Crispy deep-fried smelt coated in a fiery blend of dry mustard, cayenne, and lemon zest. Double-fried for maximum crunch, these little fish make an addictive appetizer or light seafood dinner in just 30 minutes.

Quick-pickled dill carrots with apple cider vinegar, garlic, red pepper flakes, and fresh dill. Crunchy refrigerator pickles that get better after a few days of soaking.

Steamed potato salad tossed with green peas, celery, and scallions in a lighter dressing of mayonnaise, yogurt, Dijon mustard, and loads of fresh dill. A bright, tangy side for cookouts and potlucks.

Homemade dry jerk seasoning with allspice, thyme, cayenne, cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper. A Jamaican-style spice rub for fish, vegetables, chicken, and snacks.

Takes about 45 min. to make, plus another 12 - 15 minutes to finish cooking. Makes a very chunky, hearty stew. Adding more water will make it a soup.

Cottage cheese blended with pumpkin purée, brown sugar, and warm spices makes a lighter, creamy filling for this graham cracker crust pie. Low-fat pumpkin pie that still satisfies.

Refrigerator pickles with sliced cucumbers, Vidalia onion, and red bell pepper in a sweet vinegar brine with celery seed. No canning, no cooking, just mix and chill.

Edible aquarium dessert cups with blue gelatin and suspended gummy fish. A playful, kid-friendly no-bake treat that comes together in minutes.

Eggplant and pasta shells in a tomato-wine sauce with mushrooms, green pepper, red onion, and oregano. An oil-free vegetarian pasta sauteed in water and vinegar.

Eggplant manicotti stuffs pasta shells with garlic-roasted eggplant, charred red pepper, and tomato, then tops them with a creamy spinach-cottage cheese sauce. A lighter take on the Italian classic.

Espresso Romano brewed in a stovetop moka pot and served with a twist of lemon peel. A classic Italian coffee ritual with bright citrus aroma and zero calories.

Philadelphia pepper pot is the legendary Revolutionary War-era soup of tripe, calves feet, red pepper, herbs, and potatoes. A heritage colonial stew that fed Washington's army at Valley Forge.

Fillets Pacifica are broiled fish marinated in soy sauce, lemon juice, fresh ginger, and brown sugar, finished with toasted sesame seeds. A light, Asian-inspired fish dinner with a sweet-savory glaze.

Pan-fried fish in seasoned flour with a sharp rosemary, garlic, and white wine vinegar pan sauce. A Greek-style fish dish with bright, piquant flavors built right in the skillet.

Instead of using plain old beef, enjoy this delicious variation of tacos that's fun to make and eat.