Recipe Sifter

Rhubarb meringue pie with a from-scratch shortening crust, tangy rhubarb-orange filling cooked on the stovetop, and a golden vanilla meringue topping. Three layers, all homemade.

Homemade garam masala from whole roasted cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and mace ground fresh. This essential Indian spice blend takes 20 minutes and blows store-bought versions out of the water.

Fruit salsa sundaes scoop vanilla ice cream into crisp tortilla bowls and top with peaches, strawberries, candied ginger, and lime zest. A Tex-Mex inspired summer dessert that takes 25 minutes.

Kuemmelkartoffel, a traditional German caraway potato side dish. Boiled potato slices tossed with caraway seeds and finished with melted butter for earthy, aromatic flavor.

Light spaghetti sauce with tomato sauce, garlic, green bell pepper, red wine, basil, and oregano ready in 20 minutes. A quick, low-fat meatless marinara for weeknight pasta.

Indian kachumber salad with cubed tomato, red onion, fresh chili, ginger, and lemon juice. A raw, no-cook side dish that pairs with any curry or grilled meat.

Pennsylvania Dutch almond cake with lemon extract, sliced almonds, and sugar topping. Thin batter bakes into light cake that slices best when cooled in the pan.

Angel hair pasta tossed with fresh chopped tomatoes, basil, parsley, scallions, green olives, and olive oil for a no-cook sauce that comes together in minutes.

Four-ingredient garlic and white bean soup made entirely in the microwave. Eight cloves of mellowed garlic, creamy pureed beans, vegetable broth. High-fiber, low-fat, vegan.

Vegetarian antipasto pasta salad with rotini, cauliflower, carrots, black olives, and a garlic cider vinegar dressing. Made overnight so the flavors develop fully.

Apple Cinnamon Pudding is a dairy-free rice pudding cooked in apple juice with cinnamon and pecans, then chilled until firm and cut into squares. A simple vegan dessert.

Elegant pureed soup with apples, maple syrup, cinnamon, lemon, and white wine. Thickened with arrowroot and finished with sour cream. Serve warm for a sophisticated starter or light dessert.

Quick apricot kolachky filling with apricot preserves, shredded coconut, and chopped pecans or walnuts. Three ingredients, five minutes, refrigerate until ready to fill your pastry dough.

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

Hearty vegetable fettuccine loaded with potatoes, turnips, and tomatoes simmered in fresh herbs. This fuel-packed vegan pasta dish is a satisfying one-pot meal that's built for hungry appetites.

Filled cookies sandwich a sweet raisin filling between two rounds of tender vanilla shortbread, sealed with fork tines and baked golden. Old-fashioned American lunchbox classic, like a homemade fig newton.