Recipe Sifter

Lightning-fast bay scallop saute with tri-color bell peppers, garlic, white wine, fresh basil, and toasted pine nuts over pasta. A low-calorie seafood dinner that's on the table in 20 minutes.

Pistachio salad (Watergate salad): the retro fluffy green potluck classic with instant pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple, marshmallows, and whipped topping. Five ingredients, no cooking.

Expert guide to working with delicate phyllo dough without tearing or drying. Essential techniques for handling paper-thin pastry sheets for spanakopita, baklava, and more.

Chinese-style brown gravy for egg foo yung made with meat stock, soy sauce, and cornstarch. A simple three-ingredient sauce ready in minutes.

Mexican Sunrise Punch with tequila, orange juice, limeade, lemonade, and ginger ale. A crowd-pleasing citrus party punch that makes 12 cups in 10 minutes. Add grenadine for the sunrise effect.

Light vegetarian sauce made with arrowroot, tamari, and vegetable stock. Glossy, savory, and ready in 15 minutes. Great over grains, stir-fries, or steamed veggies.

A fizzy, non-alcoholic fall punch blending cranberry, apple, and orange juices with sparkling club soda. Garnished with orange slices and fresh cranberries. Low calorie and festive.

Traditional New Mexican biscochitos with anise seed and cinnamon-sugar topping. These shortening-based cookies are crisp, fragrant, and cut into festive shapes.

Polar Bear cocktail: Amaretto, white creme de cacao, chocolate syrup, and vanilla ice cream blended smooth. A creamy dessert drink ready in 10 minutes that makes 2 glasses.

Open-faced rump roast sandwich on toasted rye with Monterey Jack cheese, sweet relish, and coleslaw dressing. A quick, no-cook way to turn leftover roast beef into a satisfying lunch in 10 minutes.

An exotic and delicious peanut sauce made with dried red chilies and dark soy sauce that tastes amazing with rice or noodles.

Cilantro pesto pasta with pine nuts, Parmesan, and poppy seeds tossed through spinach fettuccine. A fresh twist on classic basil pesto ready in 20 minutes.

Crunchy raw cauliflower and torn romaine tossed with crumbled bacon, grated Parmesan, and a sweet creamy dressing. A 10-minute no-cook salad that feeds a crowd and disappears fast at every potluck.

A simple but tasty almond paste that could be used for toast, cakes and even muffins.

Norwegian meat salad with julienned lamb or veal and ham in a creamy vinaigrette, garnished with sliced egg and pickled beet. A hearty Scandinavian main dish salad.

Chunky black bean dip with carrot, celery, garlic, and warm spices folded into sour cream. Half-mashed beans give body while whole beans add bite. No-cook party dip ready in 15 minutes.