Recipe Sifter

Cherry pineapple dump cake: the legendary five-ingredient potluck dessert. Dump canned fruit and yellow cake mix in a pan, dot with butter, scatter nuts, and bake. No mixing bowl required.

A traditional British Easter fruitcake with a hidden almond paste layer, golden raisins, currants, and candied cherries. Topped with 11 marzipan balls for the Apostles.

Orange macadamia nut cookies are buttery shortbread diamonds with chopped macadamias and bright orange zest. Just five ingredients, no eggs, rolled and cut for a tea-tray cookie that bakes up tender and crisp.

Edible aquarium dessert cups with blue gelatin and suspended gummy fish. A playful, kid-friendly no-bake treat that comes together in minutes.

Classic eggplant Parmigiana with breaded and fried eggplant rounds layered with homemade tomato-basil sauce, Parmesan, and sliced mozzarella. The Italian-American staple done from scratch.

English cheddar and vegetable soup pureed smooth with butternut squash, potatoes, and carrots. Finished with sharp cheddar, cream, and crispy bacon garnish.

Chocolate crinkle cookies with their signature snowy white powdered-sugar crackle. Made with melted unsweetened chocolate and vegetable oil for a fudgy, brownie-like center. Yields 48 holiday-perfect cookies.

Grilled chicken fajitas marinated overnight in Worcestershire, soy sauce, lime juice, cumin, and a shot of tequila. Served sizzling with sauteed peppers and all the fixings.

Philadelphia pepper pot is the legendary Revolutionary War-era soup of tripe, calves feet, red pepper, herbs, and potatoes. A heritage colonial stew that fed Washington's army at Valley Forge.

Cantonese-style barbecued pork loin marinated overnight in soy, hoisin, honey, and sherry, then roasted hot and sliced thin for a glossy, sweet-savory platter with hot mustard alongside.

Add some sophistication to the dinner table with this scrumptious dish that will make your family think their in a fancy restaurant.

Make-ahead mashed potato casserole with sour cream and cream cheese, refrigerated overnight, then baked the next day. The Thanksgiving and holiday side that frees up your stovetop.

Veal stock built from roasted bones, mirepoix, leek, and tomato, simmered low for hours into a deep, gelatinous foundation. The classical brown stock that anchors French sauces and braises.

Classic vinegar pie with a smooth egg-rich custard filling, Depression-era pantry baking that mimics lemon pie using kitchen vinegar. Six ingredients, sweet-tart, satisfying.

Chocolate zucchini cake with grated zucchini and buttermilk for an unbelievably moist crumb, warmed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a whisper of orange zest. The garden surplus dessert that hides its vegetables.

Festive pumpkin pie with a cream cheese-enriched filling, warm spices, and a sour cream topping baked right on. Part pumpkin pie, part cheesecake, all holiday showstopper.