Recipe Sifter

Gumdrop fruitcake with white raisins, chopped nuts, and colorful gumdrops in a spiced applesauce batter. A festive, kid-friendly alternative to traditional fruitcake.

Whole wheat persimmon muffins spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, packed with chopped walnuts and raisins. The persimmon pulp keeps them naturally moist and tender, perfect for fall breakfasts when ripe persimmons hit the market.

Big, soft raisin-oatmeal cookies with peanut butter for tender chew, dark brown sugar for moisture, and a whisper of mace that sets these apart from every other oat cookie. Quarter-cup scoops, no flour required.

If you love banana bread you will adore this simple recipe that's easy to understand and follow.

A good start for school day. My granddaughter loves oatmeal, found this recipe, and added a few things of my own.

Loaded chili built on three meats, ground beef, hot Italian sausage, and smoked sausage, with kidney beans, a layered hit of serrano and habanero heat, and a splash of red wine. Thickened with cornmeal and tastes even better the next day.

There are hundreds versions of this very Polish soup. Here you have an original proposition of mine. I used to cook it on the base of my favorite duck and chicken stock. The cream is a must to create wonderful pink color. Optionally you may add a quarter or a half of hard boiled egg to your bowl. By the way, I change my recipe sometimes, for instance by adding dried California prunes instead of sugar, or by adding some white vinegar instead of lemon juice.

A hearty vegetarian broccoli rice casserole with brown rice, two cream soups, melty American cheese, and tender broccoli florets. The Sunday dinner casserole made meat-free without the fuss.

Bread can be full of flavor, mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes and garlic make this bread unbelievably delicious!

Juicy, sweet and tender roasted tomatoes, creamy goat cheese, and slightly bitter mixed greens make this mouth-watering pasta dish delicious and nutritious.

Authentic shrimp pad thai: rice noodles stir-fried fast over high heat with garlic, shrimp, egg, and fish sauce, finished with bean sprouts, peanuts, and a squeeze of lime. Thai street food made at home.

Warm applesauce is cooked with a bit cinnamon and maple syrup, then filled into the folded whole wheat crepes. These delicious yet healthy crepes are ideal for breakfast. Make a bunch of crepes, store in an air-tight bag or container, then freeze them. Now you have the ready-to-go breakfast, a bit applesauce makes it to a whole new level.

Barley risotto layered with sun-dried tomatoes and homemade basil pesto, enriched with ricotta and goat cheese, then baked until the pesto toasts golden. A vegetarian main that eats like a feast.

This filling yet delicious bean salad is very easy to make. Put the salad in the frige for a couple of hours or overnight, the flavor will be even better. Of course you can always have some right after you make it to satisfy your caving before it grows too big :)

These scrumptious snacks are made with whole wheat flour and meat drippings.

Classic lemon bars with a buttery shortbread crust and silky citrus curd filling, finished with a snowfall of powdered sugar. Tangy without going puckery, just the right balance of bright and sweet.