Wild asparagus will be popping before you know it. Here are a few of my favorite things to make as we thaw out from winter and look forward to longer, warmer days.

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Refried Beans

Refried Beans

I always thought refried beans came from a can but then I met Viya and learned how to make them....

Farro with Roasted Carrots

Farro with Roasted Carrots

Cook the farro and toss with 3 tablespoons of Citrus Vinaigrette. Add roasted carrots, dried...

Citrus Vinaigrette

Citrus Vinaigrette

This dressing makes a big batch that you can use to dress greens anytime and use for main-dish...

Bouillabaisse

Bouillabaisse

Bouillabaisse is really two soups in one: a flavorful fish stock and a soup made with that stock...

Poached Shrimp

Poached Shrimp

This quick, gentle cooking method makes for tender, delicious shrimp, especially if you buy...

Fennel Apple Slaw

Fennel Apple Slaw

The perfect side for crab cakes and grilled fish but also great with a deluxe grilled cheese like...

Bison Bolognese Lasagna

Bison Bolognese Lasagna

This slow-cooked bison Bolognese makes a fantastic lasagne. As with most meat sauces, stews, and...

Shrimp Escabeche

Shrimp Escabeche

Trust me, there are quite a few shrimp in there under the pickled vegetables! Serve as a wine...

Crustless Quinoa Quiche

Crustless Quinoa Quiche

This quinoa quiche makes a satisfying brunch, lunch, or dinner and is a great way to use greens,...

Frittata

Frittata

Frittata is a wing-it, seasonal dish that can help you use up all sorts of things in your...

Lemon Bars

Lemon Bars

This lemon bar recipe is similar to the one my mom made in the 70's, but with 6 or 7 lemons...

Seafood Paella

Seafood Paella

Paella is easy to make at home and should be fun and low stress to make. Think of it as a one-pot...

Simple Slaw for Taco Night

Simple Slaw for Taco Night

Tonight is "taco night" which means make a taco or burrito with any or all: chorizo from the Coop...

Madeleine Cake

Madeleine Cake

We call this madeleine cake at my house because it is reminiscent of the little French...

Black Bean Salad

Black Bean Salad

Where I grew up in Almaden Valley, a suburb of San Jose, California, my mom and the other ladies...

Grad Party Mojitos

Grad Party Mojitos

Refreshing and non-alcoholic, this recipe is built to fill two 2-gallon dispensing jugs, making 36...

How to Cook Beans

How to Cook Beans

These giant white beans are Royal Coronas from Rancho Gordo. Serve them simply with olive oil and...

Salad of Beets and Oranges

Salad of Beets and Oranges

Beets and oranges pair beautifully both in color and flavor. For this salad, I like to cook the...

Turmeric Chicken Pilaf

Turmeric Chicken Pilaf

This one-pot chicken and rice dinner is perfect for weeknights, as it comes together in about half...

Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

This Thai-inspired soup can be yours in less that 30 minutes! Inspired by Thai it Up Chicken Soup...

Cashew Bars

Cashew Bars

Made with raw cashews, cacao butter (Navitas Organics now sells convenient wafers), and sweetened...

Same Day Pizza Dough

Same Day Pizza Dough

When I want pizza and haven't planned ahead, I make a yeasted dough and add some of my sourdough...

Pasta with Clam Sauce

Pasta with Clam Sauce

There are no canned clams on the shelves of my grocery stores at the moment...I wonder if the word...

Brothy Clam Chowder

Brothy Clam Chowder

Clam Chowder cooks quickly and is something you can whip up on a moment's notice if you have a few...

Slow Cooker Posole

Slow Cooker Posole

Posole is a slow cooked stew/soup made with cooked hominy (the namesake of the dish), pork (but...

Strawberry Rhubarb Compote

Strawberry Rhubarb Compote

It's just about rhubarb season here in Montana, we just need a few more warm-ish weeks to ripen...

Sonoma Chicken Salad

Sonoma Chicken Salad

Sad fact: Whole Foods has changed their Sonoma Chicken Salad and at least what is available here...

Egg Salad

Egg Salad

A text with a friend yesterday reminded me to post some of my "just stir it together" favorites,...

Brothy Beans with Bacon

Brothy Beans with Bacon

A little bit of bacon goes a long way with this pot of beans. Keep them brothy or reduce to barely...

Artichoke Nibbles

Artichoke Nibbles

My Mom made a lot of recipes from Sunset magazine in the 1970's and these Artichoke Nibbles are...

One-Pot Creamy Mushroom Pasta

One-Pot Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Here's just what you need for these snowy spring days—a warm and creamy mushroom pasta that only...

Sourdough Hot Cross Buns

Sourdough Hot Cross Buns

I've been researching hot cross buns the past week and have been humbled and learned a lot about...

Lemon Lavender Bundt Cake

Lemon Lavender Bundt Cake

This is Flo Braker's Lemon Lavender Mail-a-Cake from Baking for All Occasions: A Treasury of...

Raw Kale Salad with Quinoa

Raw Kale Salad with Quinoa

This salad has been a favorite of mine since before I moved to Montana, over a dozen years ago. I...

Spring Rolls

Spring Rolls

These Vietnamese style spring rolls make for a cool and refreshing dinner. Set up all the...

Broccoli Beef

Broccoli Beef

My son and I adapted this recipe from a Cook's Illustrated page I ripped and filed from the...

Grilled Eggplant Gyros

Grilled Eggplant Gyros

To salt or not to salt the eggplant? That is the question. Short on time the last time I made...

Viya’s Rice (Spanish Rice)

Viya’s Rice (Spanish Rice)

Spanish Rice, Mexican Rice, Arroz Rojo, Red Rice, no matter what you call it, cooking rice with a...

Black Bean Tortilla Soup

Black Bean Tortilla Soup

Yummy, feel-good dinner coming right up!  Another great recipe from Kathryne Taylor of the whole...

Salmon Patties

Salmon Patties

The Kvichak Fish Company is a family business, Montana people who head up to Alaska for the summer...

Slow Cooker Carnitas

Slow Cooker Carnitas

"It's like bacon!" exclaimed my 11 year old. He tolerates my creations of squash and beans and...

Three Bean Salad

Three Bean Salad

Got cooked beans you need to use? Make a bean salad and you'll have something to eat for lunch or...

Spinach Lasagna

Spinach Lasagna

Simple cooking relies on the best tasting, best quality ingredients. For lasagna, that means...

Chicken and Lentil Tagine

Chicken and Lentil Tagine

Shake up chicken dinner by using some different seasonings—fenugreek and turmeric in this Moroccan...

Black Bean Chili

Black Bean Chili

What did Julia Child order when she went to Cafe Beaujolais in Mendocino CA?  This chili!  No...

Winter Squash Enchiladas

Winter Squash Enchiladas

Jumbled together in bins at the market, you'll find all kinds of winter squash: Delicata,...

Slow Cooker Beef Ragu

Slow Cooker Beef Ragu

Last weekend I spent some time with Donna Hay The New Classics and tried the slow-cooked beef...

Crab Cakes

Crab Cakes

  I'm not going to lie. These babies are a project. On the upside, make them ahead (night...

Sriracha Shrimp with Polenta

Sriracha Shrimp with Polenta

For my weeknight cooking, I'm looking for great flavor and speed of preparation. So, instead of...

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