Recipe Sifter

Pickled green tomatoes with fresh dill, garlic, celery, and green pepper in a hot vinegar brine. A tangy, crunchy refrigerator pickle ready in 4 weeks using end-of-season tomatoes.

Quick Chinese-style chicken and zucchini stir fry with bamboo shoots, soy sauce, and rice wine. Wok-cooked weeknight dinner in under 25 minutes.

Very popular in Asian restaurants, can be used as a appetizer or main dish, both work very well.

Rich cookies made with leftover egg yolks from angel food cake: cream both sugars with shortening, roll in sugar, flatten with glass, and bake until golden for tender rounds.

Sauce Esterhazy with sauteed mushrooms and shallots in paprika-spiked sour cream with Worcestershire sauce. A rich Hungarian-inspired steak sauce ready in 15 minutes that turns broiled beef into a bistro dinner.

Old-fashioned pickled jalapenos with garlic and Mexican oregano in boiling vinegar. A simple, no-cook grandmother's recipe for spicy pickled peppers.

Louisiana Creole rabbit marinated overnight in garlic, cayenne, and vinegar then roasted with white wine, mushrooms, and green pepper. Cajun-spiced and fork-tender.

Pureed green bean soup made in the microwave with onions, chicken broth, and milk. A smooth, creamy vegetable soup ready in about 20 minutes with minimal cleanup.

Banana macaroon salad layers homemade coconut-oat macaroon crumbs with sliced bananas, pecans and whipped topping, then chills until everything melds. A retro potluck and picnic favorite.

Chinese barbecue sauce blends ketchup, brown sugar, soy, ginger, garlic, and liquid smoke into a sticky-sweet glaze. The 6-ingredient sauce that turns ribs and chicken into char siu magic.

Spinach mousse made with blanched fresh spinach, egg whites and a drizzle of heavy cream, finished with a pinch of nutmeg. Cold, silky, no-cook starter for a French or Creole table.

Salmon potato casserole combines canned salmon with cream of potato soup, evaporated milk, and a crunchy shredded wheat topping browned under the broiler. A pantry-friendly weeknight casserole ready in 25 minutes.

Sichuan dan dan noodles in a spicy, nutty broth of chili bean sauce, sesame paste, dark soy, and preserved vegetables with garlic and ginger. Fiery, slurpable, and ready in 15 minutes.

Scallops, shrimp, and crab in a creamy mustard and sherry sauce baked in shells with golden breadcrumbs. A classic French seafood gratin that feels like a special occasion.

St. Nicholas cookies are buttery, spiced Dutch-style holiday cookies loaded with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and chopped almonds. Slice-and-bake or press into carved wooden molds.

Chocolate mug cake for one, mixed and microwaved right in the mug in about 5 minutes. No oven, one dish, and a warm, fudgy chocolate cake whenever a craving hits.