Recipe Sifter

Cold dilly beans are crisp pickled green beans canned with garlic, fresh dill, and a hint of cayenne in a cider vinegar brine. A snappy, shelf-stable summer pickle ready in two weeks.

Slow-simmered beef chuck chili with cumin, oregano, and chili powder, made a day ahead for deep flavor. Topped with sour cream and fresh lime.

Chilled penne pasta salad with julienned carrots, zucchini, green onions, and fresh basil in a light sesame-cream dressing. A vibrant make-ahead side dish.

A sweet, sipping chocolate, perfect on a cold winter day. I use 85% chocolate. The amount of sugar can be decreased, or the chocolate can be increased for a richer chocolate flavor.

Corn dogs dip frankfurters in a cornmeal batter spiked with dry mustard, then deep-fry to a golden crackle. State-fair classic from scratch in 30 minutes flat.

Cornmeal nips are crispy, bite-sized cornmeal puffs with a kick of hot sauce and grated onion. Drop-baked from a simple batter with just 8 ingredients.

Cornmeal-crusted trout pan-fried in butter and finished with a brown butter hazelnut sauce with lemon juice and parsley. Crispy coating, nutty sauce, and bright acid in every bite. Ready in 30 minutes.

Mini cornmeal muffins with buttermilk and whole kernel corn baked at high heat for crispy edges. Bite-sized cornbread that's great alongside chili, soups, and barbecue.

Cottage cheese pancakes blended smooth in a blender with eggs, flour, and oil. A high-protein, creamy pancake with just 4 ingredients and 15 minutes start to finish.

This is pleasently warm but not mouth burning hot!

Country-style sandwich maker pockets stuffed with egg, grated cheese, zucchini, and onion, toasted in a sandwich press. A quick hot snack from the toastie-maker era of home cooking.

Couscous Provencal with artichoke hearts, ripe tomato, fresh basil, and briny capers. A bright Mediterranean side that comes together in about 15 minutes using steeped (not boiled) couscous.

Classic Crab Louis salad with chilled crab meat on shredded lettuce topped with a tangy Louis sauce of cream, chili sauce, lemon, and Worcestershire. A no-cook West Coast classic.

Creamy crab and artichoke hearts over a bed of sour cream spinach with a cayenne kick. This microwave casserole is on the table in 20 minutes flat.

This recipe uses ready-made taco shells, but soft tortillas are good too.

Crabmeat custard baked in the microwave with snow crab, sharp cheddar, and a silky egg-milk custard over crustless white bread. A quick savory custard with a touch of cayenne heat.