Recipe Sifter

Roasted asparagus with olive oil, Parmesan, and lemon at high heat for crisp-tender spears in just 20 minutes. A simple, elegant vegetable side dish that works with any main course.

Sausage

Oats are a great source of soluble fibre and have been shown to help lower cholesterol levels. Cinnamon is well regarded for its ability to balance sugar levels, thus keeping hunger at bay for longer. Adding flaxseeds or chia seeds boosts the omega-3 oils and adds even more fibre to the dish. The dish can be assembled the night before and left in the fridge for the oats to soften. All that is required the next morning is to add hot milk.

Black bean and rice salad tossed with fresh lime juice, chopped tomatoes, and low-fat Italian dressing. A no-cook vegan salad that turns leftover rice into a filling lunch.

Ice Box Cookies: Ice box cookies are a boon for the busy person because they can be prepared in advance and stored in the freezer until needed. Just slice and bake when desired, and you have a great home made cookie.

Homemade sweet Italian sausage made from coarse-ground pork shoulder seasoned with fennel, sage, garlic, and white wine. Stuff into hog casings or shape into patties for a fresher, more flavorful sausage than store-bought.

Marji's fudgies: dense fudgy chocolate drop cookies with cocoa, powdered milk, and a stiff dough that bakes into a brownie-cookie hybrid. Foil-pan baking trick included.

Oven-roasted asparagus tossed with olive oil and finished with a splash of balsamic vinegar. Four ingredients, high heat, and ready in 15 minutes.

Microwave scallops Provencal with garlic, tomato, mushrooms, black olives, and fresh basil. A 10-minute Mediterranean dinner that keeps scallops tender without pan-searing skills.

Tender chicken and brown rice simmered in broth with a surprising hit of horseradish and sugar, loaded with bell peppers and black beans. A hearty one-pot dinner topped with Parmesan and ready in 30 minutes.

Spaghetti tossed with black-eyed peas, artichoke hearts, black olives, and Parmesan in a garlicky bean broth. A hearty, protein-packed meatless pasta dinner in 30 minutes.

Yuletide ginger cookies made with oat bran and egg whites instead of butter and whole eggs for a lighter holiday treat. Rolled in festive colored sugar crystals for sparkle and crunch on every bite.

Making your own mayonnaise is one of the most magical things you can do in your kitchen. You transform common ingredients into a legendary, luscious sauce – and it is in fact a cold sauce.

Fettunta Toscana is Tuscan grilled bread rubbed with raw garlic and topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, and olive oil. The original Italian bruschetta, simple and seasonal.

Another old favourite traditionally made with eggs, Matza Brei is a Passover classic and an ideal Breakfast (Lunch, Dinner or mid-afternoon snack if you ask my Brothers). If you eat Soy on Passover, this is awesome. Otherwise just wait a week ;)

Vegetarian bean burgers made with refried beans, rice, toasted sesame seeds, oats, and nutritional yeast. Freezer-friendly patties you can fry or bake.