Recipe Sifter

Too much fruit salad is a big-batch medley of pineapple, melon, citrus, peaches, kiwi, and banana bathed in apricot nectar and chilled overnight so the flavors meld. A bright, make-ahead crowd salad.

Hearty lima bean and leek soup with lentils, wild rice, and a meaty broth built from disintegrated lentils. Easily made vegan and packed with plant protein.

Mexican fruit dessert with fresh oranges, bananas, and strawberries tossed in Kahlua coffee liqueur and topped with sweetened whipped cream and cinnamon. A no-cook, no-bake dessert ready in 20 minutes.

Designed for the grill, this leg of lamb is butterflied and marinated in balsamic and mint for easy grilling. Perfect for a summer cook-out or Easter dinner.

Molded red pepper couscous ring filled with steamed vegetables and topped with a cool dill yogurt sauce. Stunning vegetarian buffet centerpiece that cuts like a savory cake.

Michaelmas broth is a traditional Irish chicken and rice soup served on the Feast of Saint Michael in late September. Whole chicken simmered with mirepoix, then strained and finished with long-grain rice.

Canned green tomato pie filling with Granny Smith apples, dark and white raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. A boiling-water canner recipe for preserving the fall harvest.

No-bake pumpkin parfait pie with vanilla ice cream, instant coffee, and warm spices set in a graham cracker crust. A creamy, mousse-like pumpkin pie that chills instead of bakes.

Low-sugar blender brownies made with applesauce instead of butter and sugar substitute for a lighter treat. Chewy, fudgy, and ready in under 30 minutes.

Chinese toffee-coated apples and bananas with crispy batter and caramel sesame coating. Deep-fried fruit dunked in ice water creates a shatteringly crisp candy shell.

Grilled butterflied leg of lamb rubbed with crushed rosemary and marinated in red Burgundy wine, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. No mint, just herbs and smoke over mesquite charcoal.

Miso potato salad with baby potatoes simmered in a sauce of white and red miso, sake, ginger, and honey. A Japanese-inspired side served hot or cold, no mayo needed.

California vegetable pizza on whole wheat crust topped with broccoli, artichoke hearts, olives, tomatoes, and green peppers. A cheeseless vegetarian pizza that's all about the veggies.

Whole wheat oatmeal apple muffins with raisins, made with no added sugar, egg substitute, and skim milk. Hearty, naturally sweet, and low-fat.

Iced mocha coffee shake: chilled brewed coffee blended with cocoa, sugar, and milk, topped with whipped cream and grated chocolate. The cafe drink you can make at home for half the price.

One dish microwave spaghetti for two with ground beef, onion, and Italian tomato sauce cooked together in a single casserole. A quick weeknight pasta dinner with no pots to boil and minimal cleanup.