Recipe Sifter

Tender black beans tossed with fire-roasted red and yellow peppers, sweet corn, and jalapeño in a cumin-lemon dressing bright with fresh basil.

Grilled butterflied leg of lamb marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, tomato paste, rosemary, and garlic. Marinate overnight, grill 30 minutes, and slice thin for a crowd.

A tender, savory meatloaf made with cream of mushroom soup and onion soup mix, then topped with a rich mushroom gravy from the pan drippings. Classic comfort food that bakes low and slow for over an hour.

Slow cooker cola steak made with round steak braised in cola and ketchup for 8 to 10 hours. The cola tenderizes the beef and creates a sweet, tangy gravy with almost no effort.

Boozy rich eggnog from a cooked custard base with bourbon, dark rum, cognac, vanilla bean, and freshly whipped cream. Holiday punch bowl showstopper made the safe, food-safe traditional way.

Lighter Coq Au Vin, oven-baked chicken breasts in white wine with golden mushrooms and pearl onions for guilt-free French dining.

Roasted acorn squash halves glazed with chutney and filled with a curried herb stuffing studded with dried fruit. Baked in apple juice and beef broth for deep, sweet-savory flavor. A stunning fall side dish.

Mom's best bagels are the real deal: stiff yeast dough kneaded long, hand-shaped, boiled in sugared water, then baked with an egg yolk glaze for that signature chewy crust.

Light basmati rice pudding made with skim milk, raisins, and vanilla, folded with whipped topping for a creamy, airy texture. A low-fat Indian-inspired dessert.

Sweet and sour chicken breast with pineapple, peppers, and carrots made two ways: crockpot (8-10 hrs) or oven (2 hrs). Tapioca thickens the sauce without any fuss. Serve over rice.

Crockpot chicken and vegetables slow-cooks boneless chicken breasts over a bed of mixed veggies with garlic and Worcestershire. A dump-and-go weeknight dinner that tends itself for 8 hours.

Barbecued beef brisket rubbed and marinated overnight, then baked low and slow in a tangy-sweet homemade sauce until fork-tender. No smoker needed, just sliced brisket for piled-high barbecue sandwiches.

Italian fitascetta bread ring topped with slow-cooked caramelized red onions. A rustic olive oil yeast bread with a soft interior and a crispy, golden crust.

Roasted cherry tomato compote over milky Parmesan polenta. Caramelized shallots and white wine turn simple tomatoes into something extraordinary. Low-fat, vegetarian, and full of flavor.

Tangy lemon curd filling in a crisp pie shell, topped with sky-high meringue swirled into golden peaks. Crowd-pleasing classic dessert.

Not Just Regular Beef Stew: a refined version with seared tenderloin cubes, red wine, clove-studded onion, and grated potato as a natural thickener. Pearl onions and fresh parsley finish.