Recipe Sifter

Strawberry punch made with frozen strawberries in syrup, pink lemonade, orange juice, and ginger ale. Four ingredients, no booze, ready in 5 minutes for a crowd of 32.

Warm brie melted over fresh herb sprigs, scored in a diamond pattern and ringed with baby pear tomatoes. A quick microwave appetizer served with crusty French bread for scooping.

Breaded pork chops braised until tender, topped with a warm sour cherry sauce spiked with cinnamon, cloves, honey, and Madeira wine. An elegant but approachable dinner.

Honey glazed grilled chicken with pea-mint sauce pairs sticky-sweet balsamic-honey bone-in breasts with a vibrant spring sauce of fresh peas and mint. A bright, garden-forward dinner off the grill.

Orange and coffee bean cordial: a whole orange studded with coffee beans, sugar cubes, and vanilla, steeped in cognac for two months. Classic French-style homemade digestif, no special equipment needed.

Ham and redeye gravy is the old Appalachian breakfast classic: fried ham steaks with a skillet gravy of pan drippings, brown sugar, and strong black coffee.

Sliced strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, and creamy avocado piled on mixed greens with a light poppy seed dressing. This no-cook summer fruit salad comes together in 15 minutes flat.

A simple approach that doesn't complicate the delicate flavors of trout, this recipe yields a delicious and attractive entree with a minimum of preparation.

Tex-Mex skillet cornbread with a spiced black bean, pepper, and tomato filling topped with homemade cornbread batter baked golden in a cast iron skillet. A one-pan vegetarian dinner.

Crepes filled with peaches poached in red wine, raspberry preserves, orange zest, and warm spices. An elegant French dessert using frozen peaches for year-round ease, ready in 25 minutes.

Thai Kaeng Khua curry paste made with dried chilies, garlic, lemongrass, coriander root, and shrimp paste. A fragrant homemade paste that keeps 3-4 months refrigerated.

Warm cranberry apple cider simmered in the crock pot with cinnamon sticks and a clove-studded orange. The holiday party drink that fills the whole house with spice.

Thick seitan steaks baked until firm, then simmered in a savory tamari broth with kombu and fresh ginger for deep umami flavor. Brushed with sauce and broiled until lightly charred, these vegan steaks have real chew and satisfying meatiness.

Soft shell crabs seared in clarified butter meet brown butter sauce spiked with sherry vinegar, toasted hazelnuts, and sweet sugar snap peas. Elegant springtime seafood in under an hour.

Jack-o'-lantern cookies made by dipping Oreos in orange-tinted cream cheese frosting coating. A fun no-bake Halloween treat kids love to decorate with chocolate icing faces.

The delicious combination of herring and beet makes this salad a winner!