Recipe Sifter

Concia is a Roman Jewish dish of fried zucchini layered with garlic, fresh basil, and white wine vinegar. A make-ahead antipasto that improves overnight.

Showstopping frozen dessert layered with scoops of ice cream, rainbow sherbet, whipped cream, and sugar wafer crumbs in an angel food pan. No baking needed.

Fresh raspberry pie with chopped mint, baked in a double crust until golden and bubbling. Unexpected herb twist on classic fruit pie.

Italian no-cook tomato cucumber summer salad with red onion, basil, parsley, and a touch of red pepper flakes. Italian-style topping for bruschetta or tossed cold with pasta.

Corn and cheese chili loaded with two kinds of kidney beans, crispy bacon, plum tomatoes, and sharp cheddar stirred in at the end. A hearty, no-meat-needed chili with smoky bacon richness.

Corned beef barbecue sandwiches simmered in a homemade sauce of ketchup, Worcestershire, vinegar, mustard, chili powder, and paprika. A Midwestern potluck classic using canned corned beef on hamburger buns.

Roasted Cornish game hens basted with a sticky apple juice and cinnamon glaze with lemon. Just 5 ingredients for a gorgeous, golden bird with sweet-tart lacquered skin.

A hearty British-style meatloaf of pork, pig's liver, and bacon with grated carrot, lemon zest, and herbs. Baked in a water bath and served cold the next day for the richest flavor.

A hearty free-form meatloaf packed with sauteed mushrooms, carrots, celery, and onions, seasoned with fines herbes and soy sauce. Baked crusty-brown on a sheet pan. Serves 4 to 6.

Country hearth stew with sauteed beef, egg noodles, and mixed vegetables in a thyme and sage broth, finished with a crunchy cracker crumb topping.

A hearty meatless three-bean chili with kidney beans, chickpeas, and refried beans simmered in beer and chicken broth. Topped with sharp cheddar and croutons. Feeds 6 to 8.

Layers of chopped ham and tart green apples seasoned with sage, topped with buttery mashed potatoes and baked until the peaks turn golden brown. A hearty savory-sweet casserole that feeds six.

Traditional Moroccan couscous with lamb shanks, saffron, pumpkin, turnips, cabbage, and chickpeas served over buttery couscous with raisins. A spectacular North African feast that feeds six generously.

Classic French apple dumplings wrapped in lemon-scented pastry, filled with a cognac-butter stuffing and baked golden. Serve warm with whipped cream or a pour of Marsala wine.

Dried pinto beans simmered from scratch with carrots, celery, Roma tomatoes, fresh thyme, oregano, and cilantro. A nourishing bean soup served over rice or barley that's worth the overnight soak.

Layered crabmeat appetizer dip with a seasoned cream cheese base, chili relish, and crab on top. Make ahead overnight and serve cold on Melba rounds.