Recipe Sifter

Mary Wilhelm of Sparta sent her signature cookie, which she said she has prepared for the Food Network, Warrens Cranfest and Taste of Home magazine. Two classic flavor pairings - brown sugar and cashews, and orange and cranberry - come together.

Impossible breakfast pie with sausage, cheddar, eggs, and Bisquick that forms its own crust as it bakes. An overnight make-ahead brunch casserole with just 5 minutes of prep.

Potato and bologna scalloped casserole with cubed bologna, sliced potatoes, peas, and a creamy cheddar-soup sauce spiked with sage. A retro pantry casserole for an easy weeknight family dinner.

Roast fillet of beef: a whole tenderloin studded with garlic and marinated in soy, port, and thyme, then roasted and rested for a tender, rosy centerpiece. An elegant make-ahead roast for holidays.

Matzo meal cookies with coconut and brown sugar, baked until rich brown and filled with jam centers. A Passover-friendly cookie with no flour, no eggs, no leavening.

A spicy and savory dish that can be served plain or as part of a meal. Tastes amazing with a crusty bread bowls.

Scottish oat bread for the bread machine with oat flour, whole wheat, bran, honey, and applesauce. A hearty, fiber-rich loaf with a nutty, slightly sweet crumb.

Streusel coffee cake with a hidden layer of stretched caramel candy ribbons baked inside and a cinnamon-brown sugar walnut crumble on top. Best served warm.

Mexican cheese cookies are slim shortbread-style sticks made with shredded Monterey Jack folded into a buttery sugar dough, baked until golden at the edges.

This is sort of a huge piece of French toast in a baking pan that looks like a roller coaster. It is fun to watch if you have a glass door oven. If not, it is a big surprise when you take it out!

Simple Southern chess pie filled with chopped apples, butter, and cinnamon. Cream together five basic ingredients, fold in apples, then bake until set with a two-temperature method.

Lemon queen cake is a four-layer white cake with lemon curd filling, lemon-butter frosting, and lemon-tossed coconut pressed into the sides. A stunning Southern celebration cake.

Creamy Mexican corn soup pureed smooth, seasoned with cumin and green chilies, enriched with melted pepper jack cheese. Served over chicken and tomatoes with crispy fried tortilla squares.

Sausage bean chowder: a hearty pantry chowder with browned sausage, kidney beans, tomato, and potato simmered with thyme and bay leaf. One pot, 75 minutes, deeply satisfying.

Broiled chicken breasts baked in a tangy pineapple-Dijon sauce with Worcestershire, rosemary, and lemon slices. Sweet, savory, and on the table in one hour.

Velvety mushroom barley soup with a clever trick: half the barley gets pureed with sauteed mushrooms for extra body. Lightened up with skim evaporated milk and a splash of dry vermouth.