Recipe Sifter

Poached pears in mint sugar syrup served chilled with chocolate morsels. An elegant, light dessert with fresh mint-infused fruit and a simple chocolate garnish.

Minted tomato saute with cherry tomatoes quickly seared in olive oil and tossed with fresh mint. A 10-minute, three-ingredient low-calorie side dish that bursts with bright summer flavor.

Minestrone casalinga: a homestyle Italian vegetable soup packed with white beans, leeks, cabbage, zucchini, and orzo. Rustic, layered, and exactly what cold weather calls for.

Mocha cake is a spiced coffee loaf studded with raisins, currants, and citron. Brewed coffee, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice create a warmly spiced fruitcake for any occasion.

Mock crab roe is a clever Chinese dish of steamed white fish mixed with egg yolks and scallions, then fried into golden nuggets. Served with soy-vinegar dip.

Molasses barbecued ribs get a salt-vinegar brine soak, then a grill basting of dark molasses sauce loaded with onion, pepper, celery, tomato, cloves and allspice. Smoky, tangy, sticky, and built for summer.

Soft molasses sugar cookies with cinnamon, cloves, and ginger, rolled in sugar with a thumbprint filled with extra crunch. Crisp edges, chewy centers, warm holiday spice.

Mom's oven bag brisket marinated overnight in soy sauce, white vinegar, ketchup, and a heavy coat of coarse black pepper. Low and slow in a cooking bag for fork-tender results.

Old-fashioned strawberry shortcake biscuits made with shortening, folded with melted butter, and cut into diamonds. Flaky, tender, and baked at high heat.

Sticky monster beef ribs marinated overnight, hickory-smoked low over a beef broth drip pan, then basted with mesquite BBQ sauce until the bark turns glossy black. Backyard beef ribs done right.

Freezer pickles made with sliced cucumbers, onions, sugar, vinegar, and celery seed. No canning, no water bath, no special equipment. Just salt, slice, and freeze for bread-and-butter flavor any time of year.

Two-in-one muffin tin breakfast with eggs baked in turkey ham cups alongside fresh muffins. One pan, one bake, and a complete breakfast ready in 30 minutes.

Mushrooms and tofu simmered in white wine, tamari, ginger, and sesame oil. A vegan Chinese-French fusion braise to spoon over noodles with toasted almonds on top.

Vegetarian mushroom stroganoff with paprika, lemon zest, and strained yogurt in a reduced vegetable stock sauce. Low-fat, creamy, and packed with earthy mushroom flavor.

Mushrooms with onions sautés sliced mushrooms, sweet onion, and garlic in oil with dried epazote until the pan goes dry. Serve as a side, taco filling, or quesadilla stuffing.

Sauteed mushrooms with tarragon, garlic, and a splash of soy sauce. A simple vegetarian side dish or appetizer with just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes of active cooking.