Recipe Sifter

Grilled lobster and shrimp skewers piled over a cool watermelon, cucumber, and jalapeño salsa, with charred bell peppers, asparagus, leeks, and sweet corn alongside. A bold summer surf-and-grill plate.

Homemade chicken broth simmered low and slow with aromatic vegetables, bay leaf, and fresh parsley for a rich, golden stock that beats anything from a can.

Oven barbecued spareribs braised low and slow for 3 hours in a homemade ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Fall-off-the-bone tender, no grill needed.

Make-ahead barley polenta cooked in milk and honey, chilled overnight, then cut into squares, coated in wheat germ, and pan-fried in butter until crispy. A wholesome, nutty breakfast or side dish.

Oven-braised lamb stew with flageolet beans, elbow macaroni, fresh oregano, and Roma tomatoes. Browned lamb simmers in stock for 1 1/2 hours, then the pasta cooks right in the pot.

Medieval-style meat cakes with pork shoulder, dates, raisins, pistachios, and saffron baked into a buttery pastry shell. Ancient sweet-savory tart that blends pork with dried fruits and warm spices.

Gateau St. Honore with a puff pastry base, caramel-dipped cream puffs, brandy-raisin chocolate mousse filling, and piped whipped cream in alternating chocolate and vanilla stripes. A showstopping French patisserie centerpiece.

Final assembly of a three-layer tiramisu torte with mascarpone filling, whipped cream piping, and chocolate-covered coffee beans. The Italian dessert classic reimagined as a layer cake.

A rich beef shepherd's pie built from ground roast beef braised with red wine, cognac, mushrooms, and thyme, under a buttery nutmeg mash glazed golden with egg yolk. A deeply savory upgrade on the classic.

Fudge truffle cheesecake assembly with chocolate ganache filling, hand-rolled cocoa truffle ring and white chocolate drizzle. Bakery-level showstopper dessert.

Strawberry brownie torte with fudgy brownie layers, strawberry-studded vanilla ice cream filling, and a homemade chocolate sauce. A frozen layered dessert that's easier to make than it looks.

Stunning braided vegetable bread made from three colorful doughs: tomato red, spinach green, and beetroot pink. A showpiece loaf that's as fun to bake as it is to eat.

Flourless fallen souffle cake with a full pound of bittersweet chocolate, butter, and nine eggs. A dense, fudgy French-style chocolate cake with a soft center, dusted in cocoa and powdered sugar.

First Alert Chili made with 4 pounds of ground beef, kidney beans, beer, and blended plum tomatoes. A big-batch chili loaded with cumin, paprika, and heat.

Ham loaf made with ground ham and pork, saltine crackers, eggs, and condensed tomato soup. A classic Midwestern meat loaf that divides into four freezer-friendly portions.

Onion and rosemary focaccia: classic Italian flatbread with finger-dimpled olive oil top, soaked-and-sautéed sweet onions, kosher salt, and crushed fresh rosemary. Crusty edges, pillowy interior.