Recipe Sifter

Authentic Cajun blackened chicken with a spicy Paul Prudhomme-style seasoning rub. Cast-iron skillet seared at smoking-hot temperatures for the signature charred crust. Best done outdoors or under a commercial vent.

Thai jungle curry with catfish, homemade curry paste, Thai eggplant, and kaffir lime leaves. A fiery, coconut-free curry that's broth-based, bold, and ready in 20 minutes.

Homemade caramel turtle candies with pecan halves, melted caramels thinned with whipped topping, and a semi-sweet chocolate shell. Three ingredients, no thermometer.

A silky 4-ingredient shrimp pate blended with cream cheese, butter, and a splash of brandy. Ready in 5 minutes flat, this elegant spread is the easiest appetizer you'll ever bring to a party.

Grilled shark kebabs marinated in rice wine, dry sherry, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. Firm, meaty fish that holds its shape on the skewer and picks up smoky char from the coals.

Homemade licorice liqueur made by steeping real licorice root in vodka for a week, then sweetening with sugar syrup. Three ingredients, two weeks, and a bold anise-flavored spirit.

Roast pork loin rubbed with caraway, mustard, and sage, finished under a brown sugar applesauce glaze. The bone-deep Sunday dinner roast that fills the house with autumn smells.

Olive cheese balls with cheddar cheese dough wrapped around pimento-stuffed green olives and baked golden. A make-ahead party appetizer that freezes well.

New Year's Eve polenta squares crisp tube polenta under the broiler, then top each bite with a tangy sun-dried tomato, caper, and parsley pesto. A make-ahead cocktail-party appetizer that feeds a crowd.

Halloween chocolate blood cake with red-dyed white chocolate sponge, strawberry ice cream center, and a creepy dripping red icing topped with vampire teeth candies. Spooky party showstopper.

Fast beef and noodles: ground beef, mushrooms, and egg noodles tossed with beef-mushroom soup and butter. A 40-minute stovetop skillet dinner for two.

Cheese onion morsels with sharp cheddar, butter, and parsley baked into savory bite-sized drop biscuits. A make-ahead appetizer that freezes well and reheats in minutes.

A simple recipe that will help you on your quest to make the most delicious beef sausages anyone has ever had!

Lobster stuffed beef tenderloin with lobster tails tucked inside a butterflied roast, topped with bacon, and served with a white wine butter sauce.

Cheddar toss and heat popcorn with melted butter, sharp cheddar, garlic salt, and onion salt. Oven-warmed until the cheese melts into every kernel.

Classic British fish pie with poached white fish in a creamy parsley and egg sauce, topped with mashed potato and baked until golden. Simple, hearty comfort food.