Recipe Sifter

The easiest brownie pie you'll ever make: boxed brownie mix poured into frozen pie shells with chopped nuts and baked slightly underdone for a fudgy center. Makes 2 pies. Serve with mocha ice cream.

Old-fashioned Pennsylvania dandelion and lettuce salad with Swiss cheese, hard-boiled eggs, and a sharp olive oil vinegar dressing. A springtime forager's lunch in 10 minutes flat.

Braised leeks with celery in a reduced celery-honey sauce. A clean, virtually fat-free vegetable side that lets the alliums and herbs do the talking.

Tropical fruit smoothie with frozen banana, fresh papaya, raspberries, and toasted wheat germ. A no-sugar-added blender drink ready in under 5 minutes.

Camarones al ajillo with shrimp sauteed in generous olive oil, fresh garlic, hot sauce, and lemon. A classic Spanish-style garlic shrimp appetizer ready in 20 minutes.

Pasta salad with roasted red peppers, fresh basil, and mozzarella in a white balsamic and grainy mustard dressing. A bright Italian-leaning pasta salad that travels well to picnics and potlucks.

Outstanding strawberries desserts, we love it so much, not only for kids, but for us. Great keeper of my family.

A nice dessert, there are three great toppings on the top, mixing very well!

Sweet and tangy peach barbecue sauce with brown sugar, ginger, and mace for basting grilled hot dogs, pork, or chicken. This fruity twist on classic BBQ sauce comes together in 10 minutes flat.

Spinach salad with orange and toasted almonds, mushrooms, and scallions, dressed in a simple lemon-olive oil vinaigrette. Light, bright, and ready in 15 minutes flat.

Microwave chocolate marshmallow fudge with chopped nuts. Sugar, butter, and evaporated milk boiled in the microwave, then beaten with chocolate chips and marshmallows for creamy fudge in 15 minutes.

Chinese-style fried fish with whole garlic cloves in a savory black bean and soy sauce. Cornstarch-coated snapper or halibut fillets pan-fried until crispy, then glazed with a bold garlic sauce.

Blanched spinach pureed smooth and dressed with mustard oil, ginger, garlic, and green chili. An authentic Bihari-style saag side dish ready in 20 minutes with just 6 ingredients.

This is an elegant looking, although time consuming dish. You'll need an equal amount, (by weight), of the three vegetables, after trimming. Figure on four to six ounces per person.

Whole wheat spaghetti tossed with crisp asparagus, smoky mozzarella, prosciutto ribbons, garlic, and fresh basil. A 25-minute Italian pantry pasta with bold flavors and a hint of springtime.

Bulgur pilaf with pine nuts and red pepper: nutty bulgur simmered in broth with sweet bell pepper, then finished with toasted pine nuts and chives. A fast, wholesome side that comes together easily.