Recipe Sifter

Salmon patty sandwiches on English muffins with hollandaise sauce. Canned salmon patties coated in crushed cheese crackers, sauteed, then slow-cooked in a Crock-Pot for tender results.

Fresh salsa fresca with tomatoes, tomato juice, jalapeno, serrano chile, cilantro, and garlic. A double-heat Mexican salsa that needs 2 hours to chill for the flavors to meld.

White sangria built on dry white wine, cinnamon simple syrup, sparkling water, and citrus and apple slices for a chilled summer pitcher that pours light and crisp.

Sangrita with tomato juice, orange juice, lime juice, minced onion, and hot sauce chilled and served over ice. The traditional Mexican chaser for tequila, or a tangy nonalcoholic refresher on its own.

Lime-marinated grilled turkey breast pounded thin and served with fresh tomato-cilantro-jalapeno salsa. A lean, Southwestern-style main dish that grills in under 15 minutes.

Grilled lamb kabobs marinated overnight in soy sauce, garlic, and white wine vinegar, skewered with bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and small onions.

Chocolate-almond sandwich cookies with ground almond cocoa wafers and whipped white chocolate ganache filling. An elegant, slice-and-bake cookie that keeps for a week.

Sharp cheddar sesame cheese ball with Worcestershire sauce, pimentos, and scallions, rolled in toasted sesame seeds. A make-ahead appetizer for parties and holidays.

Crispy sesame chicken: bone-in pieces dredged in a sesame-seed-flour coating, pan-fried golden, then baked through. Nutty, crunchy crust on juicy chicken, not the Chinese takeout version.

Sesame-oat cinnamon swirl bread layers toasted sesame seeds, rolled oats, and whole wheat into a soft yeasted loaf with a spiral of warm cinnamon. Makes two loaves.

Slow-roasted wild duck basted in flambed dry sherry with onion juice, white pepper, and red pepper flakes. Braised breast-side down for tender, flavorful meat.

Short-cut chili con carne made in a slow cooker with lean ground beef, kidney beans, tomato sauce, and Worcestershire. A simple set-it-and-forget-it weeknight chili.

Shrimp "cooked" in a tangy citrus marinade. Fresh and refreshing cold shrimp cocktail.

Grilled shrimp and scallop kabobs marinated in soy sauce, ginger, lemon, and garlic with pineapple and zucchini. A seafood skewer worth the 3-hour marinate.

Sigi's chocolate torte: store-bought pound cake layered with a silky chocolate ganache-style icing made in a blender. Four-layer torte ready for the fridge in 30 minutes.

Silky cocoa creme is a light chocolate mousse made with ricotta, cocoa powder, and whipped topping, set with gelatin. A low-fat molded dessert served with strawberries.