Recipe Sifter

A traditional and scrumptious garlic bread that's extremely easy to make. Can be served plain or with pasta.

Blended dried fruit pudding made with peaches, apricots, dates, and pineapple soaked in lemon juice. A naturally sweet no-cook dessert with no added sugar.

Steamed ground turkey dumplings (shu mai) with ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and scallions in wonton wrappers. Served with a tangy fish sauce, vinegar, and chili dipping sauce. Makes 40 bite-sized gems.

No-boil lasagna with ground beef meat sauce, ricotta-mozzarella cheese filling, and uncooked noodles that soften right in the pan. Skip the boiling step and still get a classic family-style lasagna with tender layers.

Scandinavian butter cookies spiced with cardamom and topped with egg white glaze and almonds. Delicate finger-shaped treats that freeze beautifully for three months.

Classic French country pate with ground pork and veal marinated overnight in white wine and brandy, lined with fatback, and baked in a water bath until firm. A make-ahead appetizer.

Five-grain bread baked in terra cotta flower pots with cracked wheat, rye, whole wheat, oatmeal, and rice. Honey and malt extract add natural sweetness to this rustic multigrain loaf.

Thai-style chicken and sesame noodles: marinated chicken tossed with spaghetti, carrot and cilantro in a sweet-spicy peanut sauce. A fast, semi-homemade noodle bowl, great warm or cold.

Olive quiche with a hash brown potato crust, two cheeses, green chilies, and spicy olives. Gluten-free and hearty with a crispy golden potato shell instead of pastry.

Jello flavored cake made by sifting flavored gelatin right into the batter with cake flour and whipped egg whites. A light, airy ring cake you can customize with any Jello flavor.

A no-bake vanilla wafer crumb crust made with just three ingredients. Press into a pie pan, chill, and fill with your favorite pudding, cream, or fruit filling.

Elephant ears: Pennsylvania Dutch yeast-dough fritters stretched thin, deep-fried until golden and bubbly, then dusted with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar. The state fair classic.

Mexican-style bean lasagne layered with fat-free refried beans, taco sauce, corn, cottage cheese, and olives. No-boil noodles bake right in the pan. Vegetarian and low-fat.

Banana cream pie with a buttery pecan-shortbread crust, a thin chocolate layer, vanilla custard folded with whipped cream and fresh bananas. Makes two pies for the county fair winner's circle.

Buttery lemon anise biscotti: twice-baked Italian cookies flavored with bright lemon zest and warm anise. Crisp, dry, and made for dipping in coffee or sweet wine.

Barely-baked chocolate truffle squares with a full pound of melted semi-sweet chocolate, whipped egg whites, and a tangy sour cream swirl on top. Chilled, sliced, and frozen for make-ahead indulgence.