Recipe Sifter

Holiday gingersnaps with crackled sugar tops, deep molasses warmth, and a full tablespoon of ground ginger for serious snap. Chilled dough rolls into tidy balls that bake up crisp at the edges and chewy in the center.

Fresh melon and grape salad with cantaloupe, watermelon, and green grapes tossed in a honey-lime-Dijon dressing. A sweet-tangy summer fruit salad with a savory twist.

Homemade tea liqueur made by steeping black tea leaves in vodka and sweetening with sugar syrup. Just 3 ingredients and 2 weeks of patience for a smooth, aromatic spirit that's a knockout in cocktails or sipped neat.

Red wine, tomato, and rosemary sauce simmers a French mirepoix with red wine, tomato paste, and fresh rosemary, then thickens with arrowroot for a glossy, fat-free finish. Versatile for meats, polenta, and pasta.

A thick, rustic Italian-style soup loaded with penne, cannellini beans, fennel, zucchini, and summer squash simmered in vegetable broth spiked with dry vermouth. Low-fat, naturally vegetarian, and feeds 8 from one big pot in about an hour.

Super easy side of Asparagus dressed with pimentos, lime juice and pine nuts.

Gingered snow peas stir-fried with mushrooms, scallions, sherry and soy sauce. Quick Asian-style vegetable side dish ready in 15 minutes.

Savory baked beans with great northern beans, curry powder, lemon juice, and soy sauce. An oil-free, vegan-friendly baked bean casserole with Indian-inspired spicing and no added sugar.

Tender baked pears filled with a sweet almond-brown sugar mixture, poached in white grape juice for a delicate fruit dessert that's naturally refined.

Smoky eggplant salad mashed with tomatoes, cayenne pepper, and olive oil, served chilled as a dip or spread. A simple vegetarian appetizer with a spicy kick.

Traditional steamed cranberry pudding with suet, breadcrumbs and brown sugar. Dense, moist old-fashioned holiday dessert steamed for 2 hours.

Hearty baked casserole of red beans, rigatoni, Italian sausage, plum tomatoes, Swiss chard, and white wine with oregano and garlic. A rustic Italian-inspired one-pot meal.

Macedoine of fresh fruit marinated in rum and orange juice with oranges, apples, pears, bananas, raspberries, and walnuts. An elegant French fruit dessert.

Crushed red potatoes mixed with buttermilk and scallions, pressed into a skillet, and pan-fried until the bottom turns golden and crisp. Slice into wedges and serve hot.

Peach Melba dessert sauce: a simple compote of peaches, raspberries, and sugar simmered into a glossy ruby topping. Spoon warm or chilled over vanilla ice cream for the classic Escoffier dessert.

Fat-free three bean salad shakes together steamed green beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, and red onion in rice vinegar. No oil, no sugar, just five ingredients and a fridge.