Recipe Sifter

Cold spiced shrimp poached in ginger, dry sherry, scallions, and Szechwan peppercorns. Chilled in the cooking stock for maximum flavor absorption.

Pounded round steak seasoned with dry mustard and Worcestershire, then braised until melt-in-your-mouth tender and topped with savory mushrooms. A classic crowd-sized dinner that feeds 10 with minimal prep.

Rack of lamb marinated in red wine vinegar and coriander, roasted at high heat, then finished with a warm bacon and Dijon mustard vinaigrette built from the pan drippings.

Marachichi pasta with anchovies, black and green olives, tomato, and a heavy hand of Italian herbs. Sicilian-style puttanesca riff with bold, salty Mediterranean flavor.

Sourdough biscuits from starter: old-fashioned fermented biscuits with a tangy, tender crumb, naturally leavened from a flour-and-water sponge and lifted with a touch of baking soda. Pioneer-style comfort.

Slow-cooked caramelized onions layered with oil-cured black olives and anchovy fillets in a buttery homemade crust. A rustic French-style open-faced savory pie.

Creamy crab and artichoke hearts over a bed of sour cream spinach with a cayenne kick. This microwave casserole is on the table in 20 minutes flat.

Raspberry cream pie with a toasted pecan-cinnamon crust and a light, gelatin-set raspberry filling folded into whipped cream. Grain-free and easy to lighten on sugar, it sets up cool and airy in the fridge.

La sabana: a Mexican restaurant classic of paper-thin beef filet pounded to the size of a plate, flash-seared with lime, and served with refried beans and salsa. Four seconds on the griddle, no more.

Sherried cheddar cheese dip with sour cream, sherry, jalapeno, hot sauce, and garlic. A sharp, slightly boozy cheese dip for vegetables, melon, or Polish sausage.

Swedish meatballs in a creamy allspice-spiked gravy made from beef bouillon, evaporated milk, and a touch of lemon. The retro homestyle version that lands over buttered noodles.

Coriander flank steak marinated in lemon juice, soy sauce, olive oil, ground coriander, and garlic, then grilled and finished with fresh cilantro. A quick-grilling steak with warm, citrusy spice.

Shrimp boiled in spiced beer with garlic, bay, celery seed, and cayenne, served hot with lemon-Tabasco butter or chilled with mayonnaise. Easy peel-and-eat shrimp with deep flavor from the beer broth.

Pennsylvania-style kettle roast with rump beef seared in bacon drippings, then braised low and slow with ginger, cloves, bay leaves, and onion. Fork-tender after a long simmer.

Vegan corn muffins bound with blended silken tofu instead of eggs. Whole wheat pastry flour, cornmeal, and just four other ingredients. Dairy-free and oil-free.

Tiburon Encurtido Frito: lime-marinated shark steaks pan-fried in corn oil until golden. A simple Latin American preparation where the citrus marinade does all the work in just three ingredients.