Recipe Sifter

Spicy black bean potato salad gives the picnic classic a Southwestern kick, with red potatoes, black beans, jalapenos, bacon and Cajun seasoning in a creamy mustard dressing. A bold make-ahead side.

Crispy fried eggplant slices rolled around creamy ricotta and mozzarella, baked in marinara until the cheese bubbles golden. An Italian-American classic that eats like lasagna without the noodles.

Oven-baked coconut shrimp with a triple-dip coating of egg, flour, and shredded coconut. Crispy outside, juicy inside, no deep frying required. Ready in 40 minutes.

Gnocchi with zucchini and parsley butter tosses pillowy potato dumplings in nutty browned butter with shallots, summer squash, burst cherry tomatoes, and Parmesan. A 20-minute weeknight dinner.

Lobster, Normandy Style (Homard a la Normande) recipe

Chinese lemon chicken with crispy double-fried chicken breast slices cloaked in a glossy lemon sauce thickened with cornstarch and finished with sesame oil. Takeout-style classic, brighter than the bottled versions.

A scrumptious casserole made with lean ground beef, cabbage and juicy apples.

Japanese pork ramen stir-fry: pork-flavored ramen noodles tossed with pan-fried pork and Japanese mixed vegetables in a soy-spiked pan sauce. Pantry weeknight meal in 25 minutes.

French toast fingers stuffed with strawberry jam, dipped in orange-egg batter, and griddled golden. A kid-friendly 10-minute breakfast that turns jam sandwiches into dunkable brunch bites with maple syrup.

Hawaiian roast pork shoulder marinated overnight in soy sauce and liquid smoke, then slow-baked until fork-tender. Three ingredients, luau-style smoky flavor, no grill or smoker required.

Dolmades yialandzi are Greek stuffed grape leaves filled with herbed rice, dill, parsley, lemon juice, and olive oil. A vegetarian meze served cold as an appetizer or light main course.

Traditional Irish creamed kale simmered in butter, double cream, and stock with a pinch of nutmeg. A simple, hearty side dish that turns sturdy kale leaves silky and rich.

Homemade ricotta ravioli from scratch: a classic egg pasta dough rolled thin, filled with seasoned ricotta and Parmesan, sealed with a fork, and boiled just until tender. Simple, old-school Italian.

Wild rice with quinoa cooks both grains in one pot with soy sauce for a nutty, protein-rich side dish. The staggered cooking method ensures both grains finish tender at the same time.

Quick ground beef gumbo made with condensed chicken gumbo soup, bouillon, and green pepper. A shortcut weeknight version served over rice or on toasted buns.

Eggplant with tomatoes is a simple side dish of butter-browned eggplant slices topped with warm canned tomatoes and chopped chives. A quick, low-calorie vegetable dish with just five ingredients.