Recipe Sifter

Cheese dill bread using frozen bread dough, kneaded with cheddar and fresh dill, then baked with a melted cheese topping. A shortcut loaf with from-scratch flavor.

Orzo with spinach and toasted pine nuts, cooked risotto-style in garlic-infused water with Parmesan. A 15-minute Mediterranean side dish or light vegetarian dinner.

Old-fashioned homemade beef soup with browned beef shank, crushed marrow bones, carrots, turnips, and onion. Long-simmered heritage soup for cold nights.

Homemade Indian spice blend with coriander, cumin, black peppercorns, turmeric, dried chili, cloves, ginger, and allspice. A versatile hot and spicy seasoning mix ground fresh in a spice mill.

Crisp-fried pasta nibbles boiled until almost tender, then deep fried until golden and crunchy. Sprinkled with garlic salt for an addictive party snack.

Microwave-steamed globe artichokes with a zesty mustard dipping sauce made with brown mustard, Italian dressing mix, Worcestershire, and hot sauce.

A traditional seasoning that is perfect for meats and vegetables.

Cuban-style black beans cooked from dried with garlic, onion, olive oil, and optional hot chilies. Slow-simmered overnight then finished in a sofrito and served over rice.

Basic Couscous: a 3-ingredient pantry side ready in 10 minutes. Just couscous, broth, and salt steamed off the heat. Endlessly versatile under stews, kebabs, or roasted vegetables.

Biskuitstreifle, a traditional German soup garnish of light baked egg-and-flour strips. A sponge-like savory dough cut into thin batons, dropped into broth just before serving for body and bite.

Romaine and tangelo salad with sweet citrus segments, toasted pecans, and a honey poppy seed dressing. Simple, bright four-ingredient winter side salad.

Curried beef meatballs made with ground beef, herb stuffing mix, and curry powder, cooked in the microwave in minutes. Bite-sized appetizers perfect for parties with sweet-tart dipping sauce.

Crock-Pot rice cooked on high with butter for fluffy, hands-off results. A slow cooker method for cooking perfect rice without watching the stove.

Italian-style hot fish pickle made from canned tuna, salmon, or anchovy mashed with white wine, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, and Mediterranean herbs. A bold spread for crackers, crostini, or pasta.

Crispy potato latkes loaded with shredded carrots and zucchini, pan-fried golden on a hot griddle. Serve with applesauce or cranberry sauce for dipping. Makes 36 latkes.

Homemade sun-dried tomatoes oven-dried at low heat for 16-18 hours, then packed in olive oil with rock salt and optional rosemary or dried chilies. A pantry staple that keeps indefinitely.