Recipe Sifter

Mom's homemade apple pie pairs a flaky shortening crust with canned apple filling for a from-scratch taste in half the time. Brushed with milk and dusted with sugar, the top crust bakes up golden and crackly.

Mom's shepherd's pie: leftover lamb cubed and simmered with onion, red pepper, rosemary, and parsley under a mashed potato crust. The classic Sunday-roast reinvention.

Potato flake sourdough starter: a simple three-ingredient base of water, sugar, and instant potato flakes left to ferment for 3 to 4 days. The sweet, old-fashioned starter used in friendship bread and soft white loaves.

Morning glory fruit shake with bananas, strawberries, pineapple, ice, and just a touch of honey. A dairy-free breakfast smoothie blended thick and served immediately.

No-bake rum balls made with crushed vanilla wafers, pecans, cocoa, powdered sugar, and real rum. A classic Christmas cookie tin staple rolled in powdered sugar.

Mushroom beef patties smothered in a basil cream sauce, topped with melted cheese and onions. Salisbury steak taken up a notch with a hot-pepper kick and fresh mushrooms.

Lighter sour cream substitute made from cottage cheese, lemon juice, and skim milk blended smooth in seconds. A low-fat dollop for baked potatoes, dips, and tacos with the same tang.

No fat potato salad swaps mayo for a sweet-tangy cooked dressing made from egg substitute, sugar, and vinegar. A diet-friendly take on the picnic classic with all the texture and none of the oil.

Tastes delicious when filled with very lean beef cooked with a little green pepper, lean shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, and a good shot of hot sauce. Of course a nice Mexican beer with it makes it extra good.

Simple almond-cinnamon nut filling for cookies made with finely ground almonds, sugar, and cinnamon. A three-ingredient filling for rugelach, kolacky, or any filled cookie recipe.

Indian nut masala paste made from toasted cumin, cardamom, poppy seeds, and peppercorns ground with almonds, garlic, and fresh ginger. Keeps for a month.

Toasted hazelnut vinaigrette with lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, and a touch of sugar. A light, nutty salad dressing with only 6 ingredients, ready in 15 minutes.

Almond and hazelnut pastry ring with a sweet marzipan-style nut filling, baked in a glossy golden spiral. Classic European dessert pastry for coffee or tea.

Nut-crusted bananas dipped in honey and lemon juice, sprinkled with crushed macadamia nuts or walnuts. A no-cook, 3-ingredient snack or healthy dessert ready in minutes.

Nutkins are light, crispy pecan meringue cookies made with just 4 ingredients: egg whites, powdered sugar, pecans, and vanilla. Naturally gluten-free.

Homemade oatmeal citrus face scrub with dried lemon and orange peels, oats, and blanched almonds ground into a fine exfoliating powder. All-natural, 3 ingredients, stores for months.