Recipe Sifter

Felvideki finom nulleves, a hearty Hungarian hare soup from the Upper Highlands with root vegetables, lard-browned liver roux, and rice. Old-country game cookery from the Felvidek region.

Three-ingredient lemon cookies made with cake mix, whipped topping, and an egg, rolled in powdered sugar for a crinkle-top finish. Soft, puffy, and ready in 20 minutes.

Masaledar sem, Indian-style spiced green beans simmered with ginger-garlic paste, cumin, coriander, and tomato. Vegan side dish that delivers big flavor from pantry spices in under 30 minutes.

Santa's Whiskers are festive slice-and-bake cookies with candied cherries and pecans in a buttery dough, rolled in flaked coconut for a snowy, whiskery edge.

Quick bran muffins made with bran cereal and cake mix for a semi-homemade shortcut that still tastes scratch-baked. Golden, tender, and butter-brushed on top. Ready in 30 minutes, makes a dozen.

Strawberry tart with a no-bake vanilla pudding filling in a graham cracker crust, topped with fresh berries and a hint of orange zest. A simple diabetic-friendly dessert in 30 minutes.

Indian lentil sandwich spread with coriander, cumin, turmeric, ginger, and garlic. A vegan, oil-free, high-protein spread inspired by McDougall's plant-based approach.

Cranberry star mold: a retro raspberry gelatin dessert folded with whipped cream, pineapple, and orange sections, chilled in a star mold. A classic holiday side or light dessert.

Party pleaser meatballs: coconut-studded baked meatballs glazed in a sweet-savory sauce of grape jelly, chutney, red wine, and mustard. The retro cocktail-party appetizer that still disappears first from the buffet.

Slow-roasted wild duck basted in flambed dry sherry with onion juice, white pepper, and red pepper flakes. Braised breast-side down for tender, flavorful meat.

Roasted Cornish game hens basted with a sticky apple juice and cinnamon glaze with lemon. Just 5 ingredients for a gorgeous, golden bird with sweet-tart lacquered skin.

A quick, spicy hot sauce for falafel: tomato paste simmered with vegetable stock, chili paste, cumin, lemon and fresh herbs into a bright, fiery sauce in about five minutes. Drizzle it over falafel, shawarma or grilled veg.

Summer fruit compote with poached plums, boysenberries, raspberries, citrus, and grapes in a maple syrup and wine sauce finished with fresh mint. An elegant warm fruit dessert.

Indian whole urad dal slow-cooked with ginger, garlic, turmeric, and green chilies, finished with a ghee tadka of cumin and fried onions. A hearty, protein-rich dal with deep, earthy flavor.

Apricot almond chewies are no-bake bites that bind dried apricots, toasted slivered almonds, and shredded coconut with sweetened condensed milk. Refrigerator cookies, no oven required.

Fennel Nicoise braises quartered fennel with tomatoes, white wine, and thyme for a silky Provencal side dish served cold. A do-ahead starter from the South of France.