Recipe Sifter

Cocoa espresso brownie bars with walnuts, made with egg substitute and corn oil spread for a lighter take. Fudgy, coffee-spiked, and dusted with powdered sugar.

Savory green beans with mushrooms, basil, and lemon juice cooked entirely in the microwave. A quick, no-fuss vegetable side dish ready in under 20 minutes.

Homemade seitan from scratch using bread flour, kneaded and washed to extract pure wheat gluten, then simmered in a savory tamari, ginger, and kombu broth. The ultimate plant-based protein.

Liver dumplings (leberknödel) blend scraped beef liver with lard, breadcrumbs, egg, and parsley, then poach in clear broth. Single-serving Austrian-German soup garnish.

Smoky chipotle salsa blended from canned chipotles in adobo, tomato paste, brown sugar, and red wine vinegar. Sweet, fiery, and ready in 10 minutes. Makes 2 cups.

Smoked turkey slices rolled around turmeric-spiced couscous, creamy avocado and red bell pepper, brightened with lime, orange juice and fresh cilantro. A colorful make-ahead appetizer or light lunch.

Old-fashioned drop cookies with dark molasses, chopped tart apples, and warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Soft, chewy, and they make 60 cookies from one batch.

Simple sourdough starter made with unbleached all-purpose flour and warm milk instead of water. A two-ingredient base for homemade sourdough bread.

Southwestern tortilla soup with white beans, corn, avocado, fresh tomatoes, and crispy fried tortilla strips in a cumin-lime vegetable broth. Vegetarian and satisfying.

No-cook spaghetti with raw tomato sauce, fresh basil, garlic, and extra-virgin olive oil. Served at room temperature, this Italian summer pasta is ready in 40 minutes.

Fresh currants simmered with sugar, vinegar, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves into a sweet-tart spiced relish. This old-fashioned preserve is a natural alongside roasted meats, cheese boards, or warm biscuits.

Crispy phyllo triangles stuffed with spiced lamb, raisins, pine nuts, and warm cinnamon-cumin-allspice. A Middle Eastern-inspired appetizer that bakes lighter than fried, perfect for parties.

Steamed shrimp cooked shell-on in a spiced broth with celery, peppers, scallion, and a kick of cayenne. Serve the peel-and-eat shrimp with the cooking liquid for dunking garlic bread. Messy, casual, and fun.

Fresh ripe tomatoes stewed with scallions, green pepper, dill, and basil, thickened with cornmeal and enriched with sunflower seed butter. Diabetic-friendly and naturally vegan.

Light strawberry Bavarian cream with fresh berries, gelatin, whipped cream, and folded egg whites for an airy mousse-like dessert. Spoons into glasses and chills overnight.

Homemade strawberry popsicles with real frozen strawberries, skim milk, and unflavored gelatin for a creamy texture. A low-fat frozen treat kids can help make.