Recipe Sifter

Big, soft raisin-oatmeal cookies with peanut butter for tender chew, dark brown sugar for moisture, and a whisper of mace that sets these apart from every other oat cookie. Quarter-cup scoops, no flour required.

Loaded chili built on three meats, ground beef, hot Italian sausage, and smoked sausage, with kidney beans, a layered hit of serrano and habanero heat, and a splash of red wine. Thickened with cornmeal and tastes even better the next day.

If you love banana bread you will adore this simple recipe that's easy to understand and follow.

Stir-fried bell peppers, carrots, and zucchini with garlic, ginger, scallions are tossed with pasta, cucumber, cilantro, and miso-chili sauce. It's a delicious, light yet nutritious one pot meal that's perfect for week-nights.

A classic combination using fresh ingredients instead of dry and salty onion soup mix. Perfect for veggies or as a chip dip.

A hearty vegetarian broccoli rice casserole with brown rice, two cream soups, melty American cheese, and tender broccoli florets. The Sunday dinner casserole made meat-free without the fuss.

Thick udon noodles with a spicy Asian dressing that's easy to make and ready when you are.

This Christmas pudding has plenty of delicious fruit and nuts, but it's really simple to make - just plan ahead and then make the warm vanilla-bean custard on the day.

There are hundreds versions of this very Polish soup. Here you have an original proposition of mine. I used to cook it on the base of my favorite duck and chicken stock. The cream is a must to create wonderful pink color. Optionally you may add a quarter or a half of hard boiled egg to your bowl. By the way, I change my recipe sometimes, for instance by adding dried California prunes instead of sugar, or by adding some white vinegar instead of lemon juice.

Austrian quick pickled red onions in an apple cider brine with bay leaf, allspice and peppercorns. Bright pink, sweet-tart and warmly spiced. Pile onto dark rye with paprika cheese, burgers, or fish tacos.

Made these chicken tenders for dinner the other night, and they came out quite tasty with very noticeable herby flavor. You can always reduce the amount of herbs to suit your own taste.

Cherry pineapple jam combines pitted sweet cherries and crushed pineapple in an old-fashioned sun-finished preserve. Just three ingredients, no pectin needed.

Added sliced Provolone, which I melted over the top under the broiler and made the sandwiches in pita pockets. Delicious!

Classic slow-cooked apple butter with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg simmered for 4 hours in the oven or crockpot for thick, spreadable preserve.

Bread can be full of flavor, mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes and garlic make this bread unbelievably delicious!

Quick, easy and tasty. This hearty breakfast can be done within 10 minutes. Serve it with a cup of orange juice and one or two slices of toast.