Recipe Sifter

Old-fashioned spiked eggnog with bourbon, dark rum, whipped cream, and 60 eggs for a crowd of 50. A rich, boozy holiday punch with real whipped cream and fresh nutmeg.

Turkey pasta salad with red grapes, celery, and creamy mayo-sour cream dressing over mostaccioli. An easy cold lunch or potluck side that turns leftover holiday turkey into something genuinely crave-worthy.

Canned Corned Beef Hash mixed with Eggs, Cheese, and Veggies.

Quick herbed macaroni Parmesan tossed with fresh basil, Roma tomatoes, parsley, and grated Parmesan. A 15-minute weeknight pasta side dish.

Homemade grainy raspberry mustard with whole mustard seeds, raspberry vinegar, white wine, and seedless raspberry jam. A sweet-sharp condiment that keeps for up to a month.

Raspberry and fig gratin with sour cream and broiled brown sugar crust. Four ingredients, 15 minutes, and the caramelized sugar cracks like creme brulee over warm fruit.

Whisk together hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil for a quick Asian-style dip that pairs with spring rolls, dumplings, or grilled meats in seconds.

Authentic frijoles refritos made with cooked beans mashed in lard or bacon drippings and topped with melted longhorn cheese. Three ingredients, 15 minutes, real Mexican flavor.

Frozen strawberries blended with chilled grapefruit juice for a tart, fruity drink that's ready in 10 minutes. Two ingredients, one blender, served over ice.

I normally eat three to four times as much as other family members at a sitting, but since we usually have guests over on Thanksgiving, I have to pretend my stomach isn't a bottomless pit and eat the average amount. Afterwards, though, I always sneak in and make myself a few (yes, plural) of these sandwiches, inspired by the thanksgiving sandwich Ross made in an episode of Friends once.

Thai green papaya salad (som tum) with grated unripe papaya, green beans, cherry tomatoes, and peanuts in a spicy soy-chili-lemon dressing. Served with raw cabbage leaves for scooping.

Moist chocolate sour cream layer cake with fluffy cocoa frosting, toasted nuts, coconut filling, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. A showstopper for birthdays and celebrations.

Ham Head is a fun Halloween food art project for kids. A round ham slice becomes a spooky face with hard-boiled egg eyes, olive pupils, pickle mouth with olive teeth, carrot ears, and string cheese hair.

Blend firm tofu with sugar, vanilla, and a squeeze of lemon for a silky dairy-free whipped topping. No cooking, no fuss, ready in 10 minutes flat. A quick vegan stand-in for whipped cream on pies, fruit, and beyond.

TO GLAZE HAM.

Horseradish applesauce: a sweet-and-sharp two-ingredient condiment that wakes up roast pork, ham, or veal. The grandparent of every modern fruit-and-heat sauce.