Recipe Sifter

Pumpkin bread with dark molasses, brown sugar, and three warm spices, plus walnuts and optional raisins. Makes three loaves. Tender, deeply spiced, and freezes beautifully for the holidays.

Orange sorbet blends fresh orange juice with peel-infused simple syrup and Grand Marnier for a bright, citrusy frozen dessert. Pipe into hollowed orange shells for an elegant presentation.

Slow cooker beef and beans with cubed chuck, salt pork, and pinto beans simmered in tomato paste, garlic, chili powder, and cumin. Old-school cowboy comfort food, low and slow until the beef pulls apart.

Open face apple tart with overlapping Golden Delicious slices, apricot glaze, and a buttery pastry shell. The classic French tarte aux pommes done simply at home.

Star sugar cookies with butter, both granulated and powdered sugar, plus cream of tartar for that signature soft chew. Roll, cut, and decorate or bake as flattened balls.

Honey and whole wheat flour give these yummy pumpkin rolls extra goodness.

Hungarian white tomato soup (Feher Paradicsomleves) made from just three ingredients: ripe tomatoes, strong chicken broth, and salt. The tomatoes simmer whole, then are strained out to leave a crystal-clear, golden broth.

Herb-roasted turkey breast rubbed with rosemary, sage, thyme, and marjoram under the skin, with onion and garlic tucked into the neck cavity. A simple low-fat holiday main with crisp golden skin.

Cajun chicken and rice casserole with cream of mushroom and celery soups, bell pepper, onion, and seasoned rice mix. A dump-and-bake comfort food supper the whole family will devour.

This lemony pumpkin-flavored dessert is low-fat, airy, and souffle-like because it's made with only the beaten whites of the egg. The cake puffs in the steamer and then deflates slightly as it stands.

Fork-tender pot roast braised in cola, tomatoes, and Italian seasonings until it falls apart. The Coca-Cola breaks down the meat fibers while adding subtle caramel sweetness to the gravy.

Savory rice stuffed pork chops with bacon, mushrooms, and vegetables. Double-thick chops bake slowly, basted to juicy perfection with Burgundy sauce.

Leg of lamb studded with garlic and rubbed with lemon juice roasts with potatoes until tender, creating bright Greek Sunday dinner.

Classic Wiener Backhendl, the traditional Viennese fried chicken with a shattering breadcrumb crust. Marinated in lemon juice, pan-fried in butter, then baked until impossibly crisp.

Slow-simmered buffalo meat with beer, root vegetables, and sage tucked under a golden, flaky pastry crust. A rugged pot pie straight from the Northern Plains.

Lightened potato skins with crispy russet shells, sharp cheddar, turkey bacon, and fresh chives, served with low-fat sour cream. All the steakhouse appetizer flavor, way less guilt.