Recipe Sifter

Oven-baked potato disks tossed in chili-infused olive oil with paprika and garlic powder. Festive red and green chili peppers flavor the oil overnight for subtle heat.

Shoestring potatoes get pan-fried crispy then hit with crushed black pepper and tangy amchoor powder for fiery Indian street food flavor.

Black bean soup made from dried beans with sauteed onions, green pepper, garlic, cumin, and tomatoes. Thick, earthy, and finished with fresh lemon juice. Vegan.

USDA-style jellied cottage cheese and fruit salad with lime gelatin, crushed pineapple, and sliced peaches. A retro make-ahead gelatin salad that freezes well for up to 6 months.

This is the basic recipe for cooking lentils or beans. Many southern and southwestern regional recipes call for cooked lentils or beans to be stirred gently into a dish near the end of cooking. Therefore, it may be a good idea ot make them a day ahead and have them ready when you begin the actual cooking.

Very yummy ice cream, you can use the low-fat or non-fat ice cream, then don't worry about too many calories.

Pear and almond pancakes with syrup-soaked Bartletts and slivered nuts pressed right into the batter, finished with warm fig-maple syrup. A weekend breakfast with real brunch-menu flair.

A spicy and scrumptious side dish made with pistachio nuts and cardamom seeds.

Wild rice and lentil salad with brown rice, tri-color bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and fresh herbs in a fat-free tomato-herb vinaigrette. A colorful, high-fiber grain salad.

Homemade baby food blending cooked chicken, brown rice, ripe peach, and a sprinkle of wheat germ for a nutrient-rich first-foods meal. Quick to make and gentler on small tummies than store-bought.

Ready in less than 15 minutes. An easy green bean side dish recipe with cashews, thyme and garlic that ensures the green beans remain the star.

Diabetic-friendly cabbage and pineapple salad with sugar substitute and light whipped topping. A sweet, crunchy no-cook side dish with zero added sugar.

Ralph's Retch, a gleefully gross Halloween drink for kids: strawberry jello chopped into wobbly globs, layered with crushed ice and fizzy strawberry soda. A no-cook party gag that tastes like a sweet slushie.

Middle Eastern braised ox ribs in pepper sauce with sumac, mace, and marjoram, slow-cooked with sweet red peppers and onions. Serve over rice or potatoes.

Black bean salad with fresh orange segments, red and yellow bell peppers, jalapeno, and a cumin-lime dressing. A bright, no-cook vegetarian side in 20 minutes.

Authentic Italian tiramisu with zabaglione, mascarpone, and espresso. Marsala-based custard layered with rum-soaked sponge cake in wine glasses. Serves 8, chill 3 hours.