Recipe Sifter

Simple pimples: a two-ingredient Halloween snack of cored cherry tomatoes squeezed to ooze cream cheese. Kid-friendly, gross-cute, and ready in 10 minutes with no cooking required.

Pounded sirloin steaks pan-seared and topped with melted cheddar, served over fresh tomato-cumin salsa with cilantro. A fast Tex-Mex steak dinner ready in 15 minutes.

Curried rice salad with corn, celery, olives, dill pickles, and a chutney French dressing. A retro cold salad mounded on greens and topped with sliced hard-boiled eggs.

Vegetarian sloppy joes made with chopped soybeans in a tangy ketchup sauce with chili powder, vinegar, and dry mustard. A protein-packed meatless sandwich ready in 15 minutes.

Parmesan break-away rolls dip quartered refrigerator biscuits in garlic butter and roll them in Parmesan, then bake in a sandwich maker until golden. Pull-apart cheesy bites in 15 minutes.

Smoked salmon platter with a tangy apple-horseradish cream, sliced black bread, steamed broccoli, capers, and lemon wedges. A light, elegant spread ready in just 15 minutes.

A quick, low-calorie salad with diced ham, fresh corn, tomato and crunchy croutons tossed in a creamy smoked paprika and sour cream dressing. Ready in 15 minutes, no cooking required.

Snake cocktail king muddles fresh ginger and brown sugar with vodka, chile vodka, lemon, and orange liqueur. A spicy-citrus shaker drink with real heat from infused vodka.

The health benefits of green papaya exceed those of the ripe variety. Raw green papaya is packed with vitamins, enzymes and phytonutrients. It contains vital nutrients including potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, E and B. However, perhaps the most important health property of green papaya is its ability to improve digestion and the uptake of nutrients, raising enzyme levels and improving assimilation, and thus also strengthening the immune system. Green papaya contains two of the most powerful plant proteolytic enzymes: papain and chymopapain. These enzymes excel at breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates, as well as aiding healthy digestion. Papain can only be found in the papaya fruit and is more effective than pepsin produced by our own stomachs.

Creamy sour cream clam dip with lemon juice, celery salt, and minced onion. A no-cook retro appetizer that comes together in minutes using canned clams.

Soy lemon peanut sauce, a 5-minute no-cook sauce whisked from peanut butter, soy, lemon, garlic, and chili flakes. Pourable and spicy-tangy for noodles, rice, or dipping. Vegan and easily gluten-free.

Gazpacho is a cold summer soup that originated in Spain. It has many different variations both in terms of ingredients and fabrication methods. Basic ingredients will always include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, garlic, and some kind of acid, (lemon juice, lime juice, vinegar, or some combination thereof). From there, other additives include olive oil, tomato juice, tomatillos, croutons, and various types of herbs.

Cream of potato soup in 15 minutes using instant mashed potato mix, butter-sauteed onions, and a hit of red pepper flakes. Topped with sharp cheddar and scallions.

a great appetizer for the spicy food lovers (uses tapatio hot suace)

Lightened-up spinach dip with fresh mushrooms, scallions, fat-free mayonnaise, and nonfat sour cream. A five-ingredient party dip that comes together in five minutes and keeps things low-calorie.

Blended spinach sauce with balsamic vinegar and garlic served over brown basmati rice. A no-cook, vegan-friendly puree ready in 15 minutes flat.