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.

browse the recipes:

Slow Cooker Posole

Slow Cooker Posole

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

Rhubarb Crumb Cake

Rhubarb Crumb Cake

This crumb cake is the offspring of three good cakes—Stella Moss's Rhubarb Sheet, the Rhubarb...

Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup

  Chicken Soup makes about 2 quarts of chicken broth for soup Phase 1 soup broth/stock2–4...

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...

One Pot Rice and Beans

One Pot Rice and Beans

New York Times Cooking ran a one-pot meal feature and it inspired me to simplify our rice and bean...

Farro or Spelt Berry Salad

Farro or Spelt Berry Salad

This salad is very satisfying on its own, but sometimes I use it to justify salami for a...

Salad of Beets and Oranges

Salad of Beets and Oranges

William Werner tossed this salad together for us when Alison, Lawrence & Ann, and I visited...

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...

Quinoa Black Bean Burgers

Quinoa Black Bean Burgers

It's hard to find a decent veggie burger recipe, but Kathryne Taylor of the blog Cookie + Kate is...

Meyer Lemon Curd

Meyer Lemon Curd

  Bi-Rite Market's selection of citrus is always something to behold, but especially when you...

Black Bean Tortilla Soup

Black Bean Tortilla Soup

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

Saffron Rosewater Ice Cream

Saffron Rosewater Ice Cream

A small scoop of saffron ice cream concludes dinner on a sweet note without being a sugar bomb. I...

Spicy Purple Slaw

Spicy Purple Slaw

You're on your way to making a slaw when you thinly slice any sturdy vegetable. For dressing, you...

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...

Molasses Crinkles

Molasses Crinkles

  Call me crazy, but I'm a fan of blackstrap molasses. When I encounter a recipe that...

Naan

Naan

Bread.  It makes everyone happier.  And flatbreads like naan and pita do all their rising in an...

Corn Tortillas

Corn Tortillas

When I plan a hands-on cooking class, I'm on the hunt for something Fun, something to get my...

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...

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...

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...

Cocoa Buckwheat Granola

Cocoa Buckwheat Granola

Chocolate for breakfast. Sure you can! Maximize nutrition with this cocoa buckwheat granola,...

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...

Farro

Farro

Farro is an ancient variety of wheat, usually sold and prepared with its whole grain intact,...

Miso Butter with Chives

Miso Butter with Chives

I didn't think butter could be improved upon, but by adding white miso and rice vinegar you get a...

Garden Ranch Dressing

Garden Ranch Dressing

A fresh green salad with ranch dressing is a great partner for anything off the grill, as well as...

Crispy Garbanzos

Crispy Garbanzos

Crispy garbanzos are something you can make at home, the key is to let the beans air dry for 30...

Cashew Cream

Cashew Cream

Naturally sweet, creamy goodness made from ... cashews?  Believe it. One of the best takeaways...

Chia Seed Pudding

Chia Seed Pudding

Stir a few tablespoons of chia seeds into unsweetened almond milk, wait a bit, and you have...

Cream Scones

Cream Scones

You can stop collecting scone and shortcake recipes, this is the only one you need. I'm giving it...

Candied Kumquats

Candied Kumquats

"Be sure and eat the skin."   I shot my then boyfriend, Christopher, a skeptical look, but...

Yellow Chicken Pilaf

Yellow Chicken Pilaf

Here's a rice version of "Yellow Chicken", a family favorite of ours since the day care years with...

Potato Gratin

Potato Gratin

Make this the next time you bake a ham or throw a nice piece of meat on the grill.  Potatoes and...

Your House Granola

Your House Granola

Make your own house granola. It's a delicious topping for your morning yogurt and a great way to...

Thai Pork Lettuce Wraps

Thai Pork Lettuce Wraps

Monday night, 6pm.  Everybody hungry. Thawed package of ground pork in the fridge—mostly because...

Rustic Chard Tart

Rustic Chard Tart

The savory tarts of the Mediterranean are my inspiration for this Rustic Chard Tart, a slice of...

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