Recipe Sifter

Smoked salmon canapes on crisp jicama triangles with lime-spiked Neufchatel cheese and cracked black pepper. A light, no-cook appetizer that looks like it came from a caterer.

A very nutritious salad and tastes refreshingly delicious.

Critters in the Hay is a Halloween popcorn treat with pumpkin pie spice caramel corn, candy corn, licorice spiders, and gummy worms. A spooky party snack kids love.

Bacon-wrapped crabmeat balls with sherry, lemon juice, dry mustard, and fresh bread crumbs broiled until crispy. An elegant appetizer that makes about 2 dozen bite-sized hors d'oeuvres.

Veal cutlets pan-fried with capers and deglazed with white wine and bay leaf, finished with a creamy evaporated milk sauce. A quick German-style schnitzel variation ready in 20 minutes.

Memphis-style dry rub for ribs with paprika, cayenne, green peppercorns, and Jamaican allspice. A 12-spice blend with real heat and smoky depth. No sauce needed.

A great way to give tofu some kick. Quite a traditional Chinese dish.

Microwave-steamed globe artichokes with a zesty mustard dipping sauce made with brown mustard, Italian dressing mix, Worcestershire, and hot sauce.

Lemon poppy seed dressing for fruit salad made with lemonade, dry white wine, and honey. Light, citrusy, and ready in 5 minutes. A bright vinaigrette that makes fresh fruit sing.

Japanese tofu and shrimp donburi rice bowl with scrambled eggs, shredded carrots, and scallions in a soy-sweet sauce. Fifteen minutes from stove to table. Quick, filling, and full of umami.

Funnel cake: classic state-fair fried batter poured through a funnel in a spiral pattern, fried golden, and dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon. The Pennsylvania Dutch carnival treat.

Basic Couscous: a 3-ingredient pantry side ready in 10 minutes. Just couscous, broth, and salt steamed off the heat. Endlessly versatile under stews, kebabs, or roasted vegetables.

Dairy-free tofu cream cheese flavored with lime juice, dill, and caraway seeds. Just blend until smooth and spread on bread or baked potatoes. Vegan, high-protein, and ready in minutes.

Sauteed mushroom caps in butter and olive oil with garlic and parsley, served over sirloin steak. A classic steakhouse-style mushroom topping ready in minutes.

Rosemary and allspice rub with crushed allspice berries, garlic, and olive oil. A fragrant wet rub for lamb, chicken, or grilled meats made in minutes.

Thai red or green curry paste: a homemade aromatic blend of chilies, shallots, garlic, lemongrass, shrimp paste, ginger, and coriander. The from-scratch base for authentic Thai curries.