Recipe Sifter

Ultra-moist chocolate zucchini cake with shredded zucchini hidden in a cocoa batter loaded with chocolate chips and walnuts. The sneakiest way to use up summer zucchini, and nobody will guess the secret ingredient.

A creamy tofu-based cheesecake loaded with almond flavor from almond meal, almond extract, and a crown of slivered almonds on a graham cracker crust. Blend, pour, bake. No dairy, no eggs, no stress.

Beef tenderloin stir-fried with vibrant red, yellow, and green bell peppers in sesame oil with ginger, cumin, and a white wine finish. A fast, colorful weeknight dinner for 4 to 6.

Herbed beer bread with Parmesan, Italian herbs, and a cornmeal-dusted crust. No yeast, no kneading, just self-rising flour and a bottle of beer for a crusty loaf.

One-skillet Basque vegetable rice with tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, Spanish paprika, and thyme cooked in broth until tender. A healthy, hearty vegetarian main served straight from the cast-iron pan.

Spicy venison sausage lasagna layered with a slow-simmered mushroom tomato sauce, creamy ricotta, stretchy mozzarella, and Parmesan. A leaner, bolder twist on the Italian-American classic.

German hasenpfeffer: rabbit braised with bacon, carrots and mushrooms in a vinegar-spiked broth, finished with sour cream. The classic German hunter's stew over noodles or dumplings.

Restaurant-style Szechuan shrimp flash-fried in peanut oil and tossed in a fiery chili-hoisin sauce with ginger, garlic, and dried chilies. An authentic Chinese wok recipe with serious heat.

Fiesta rice baked in two big pans with tomatoes, olives, green peppers, chili powder, and oregano, topped with melted cheddar. A hands-off crowd-sized side dish.

Eggless bread pudding with crushed pineapple, raisins, and a rum-brown sugar glaze topped with sliced almonds. Lighter than traditional custard-based versions.

Cooked chicken, elbow macaroni, cheddar, and mushrooms baked in a creamy curry-spiked mushroom soup sauce. A dump-and-bake casserole with just 10 minutes of prep.

Cowboy chili with ground beef, pinto beans, stewed tomatoes, beef stock, and a classic chili-cumin-oregano spice trio. A no-frills cattle drive bowl, cooked low and slow.

Mrs. Claus' cookies are a holiday drop cookie loaded with chopped figs, currants, walnuts, and crisp rice cereal, subtly spiced with mace. Vintage Christmas cookie tin charm in every bite.

Rabbit curry: butter-baked rabbit deboned and folded into a creamy curry sauce with apple, sour cream, and orange zest. A classic English-style mild curry served over rice.

Salmon and corn casserole topped with crushed soda crackers, cheddar cheese, and sliced almonds. A cozy holiday bake using pantry-friendly canned salmon and creamed corn.

Brown sugar pound cake with a deep caramel note and a toasted-pecan frosting that drips down the sides. A dense, buttery tube cake from TV weatherman Willard Scott's kitchen.