Recipe Sifter

Eggplant Parmigiana with bechamel, tomato sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, and artichoke hearts. A layered Italian casserole where egg-dipped eggplant bakes into a bubbly, cheesy masterpiece.

Mexi corn lasagna layers seasoned ground beef, corn, and picante sauce between corn tortillas with a cottage cheese and Parmesan filling, topped with melted cheddar.

Mexicali pasta salad: tricolor pasta tossed with tart tomatillos, sweet pineapple chunks, jalapeño, cilantro, and a lime-zest dressing made from the reserved pineapple juice. Sweet, tangy, fiery summer side.

Golden color and rich flavor is achieved by the caramelization of the sugar, and the addition of orange rind.

Plain Italian minestrone with potatoes, celery, green beans, peas, and ditalini pasta in a simple broth, finished with Parmesan and parsley. No tomatoes needed.

Minestrone casalinga: a homestyle Italian vegetable soup packed with white beans, leeks, cabbage, zucchini, and orzo. Rustic, layered, and exactly what cold weather calls for.

Mississippi mud cake with a fudgy cocoa and pecan cake base, melted marshmallow layer, and rich chocolate pecan icing. A three-layer Southern chocolate dessert that's pure indulgence.

Missouri-style grilled pork ribs with a vinegar-based marinade of chili powder, toasted cumin, brown sugar, honey, dry mustard, and paprika. Tangy, spicy, and smoke-kissed.

Layered mocha chocolate torte with bloomed cocoa cake, espresso-spiked ermine filling, pecans, and creamy white frosting. Four-layer celebration cake.

Slow-cooker beef chili with pinto beans, green chiles, jalapeños, and a splash of balsamic for brightness. An Arizona-style chili that simmers 8 hours and tastes better the next day.

Slow cooker Tucson-style chili with ground beef, pinto beans, green chiles, jalapeños and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Classic Southwestern crockpot chili for a crowd.

Molasses elephant cookies are soft, spice-laced drop cookies with cinnamon, ginger, and a splash of cider vinegar, decorated with raisin or date faces. A vintage kids' cookie made for tiny artists.

Mom's black bottom pie with a chocolate custard base and vanilla chiffon top in a baked pastry shell. Old-school two-layer dessert from the heyday of American diner pies. Walnut garnish optional.

Mom's oven bag brisket marinated overnight in soy sauce, white vinegar, ketchup, and a heavy coat of coarse black pepper. Low and slow in a cooking bag for fork-tender results.

A thin-crust homemade pizza baked on hot tiles for a crisp base, with garlic oil, tomato sauce, mushrooms, peppers, onions, and cottage cheese in place of mozzarella. A lighter, vegetable-loaded family-night pie.

Mini cheesecakes with graham cracker crusts, sweetened condensed milk filling, and a glossy raspberry pie filling topping. Two-bite individual cheesecakes baked in a muffin pan, ready in 20 minutes.