Meals you can make ahead of time. Just the thing for when you have people over and don’t want to be stressing in the kitchen.

browse the recipes:

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...

Avocado Ranch

Avocado Ranch

I made this dressing to go with Bison Taco Salad, and had some extra so the next day I tried it on...

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...

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...

Osso Buco

Osso Buco

Osso buco refers to a cross-cut piece of beef shank that exposes the "hole in the bone" and...

Gravlax

Gravlax

Salmon is easy to cure at home but for some reason has people intimidated. No more! As long as you...

Graham Crackers

Graham Crackers

These graham crackers are adapted from the bakery, Miette, published in Miette: Recipes from San...

Big Pot of Tomatoes

Big Pot of Tomatoes

It's tomato season and more tomatoes ripen each day. This is a great thing, but what do you do...

How to Cook Beans

How to Cook Beans

A no-recipe, recipe for cooking beans. Dried beans are simple to cook, they just take a little...

Barbacoa

Barbacoa

I love the limey acidity in this slow cooked, spicy beef that I like to serve as soft tacos with...

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...

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Oven space is always at a premium when you're cooking a holiday meal, especially Thanksgiving, so...

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...

Via’s Rice (Spanish Rice)

Via’s Rice (Spanish Rice)

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

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...

How to Cook Dried Hominy

How to Cook Dried Hominy

Sometimes you can find red hominy instead of the regular white (thanks Rancho Gordo!) but no...

Refried Beans

Refried Beans

Back when I worked a lot and hired a nanny to help around the house, Via's cooking sustained me...

Pot Roast (Beef or Bison)

Pot Roast (Beef or Bison)

  Pot roast, daube, stew, even ragu, they're all very similar: meat seasoned and browned on...

Cornbread

Cornbread

This cornbread recipe, "California Cornbread", comes from my cooking school archives. I can still...

Black Pepper Ranch

Black Pepper Ranch

Black pepper and buttermilk make a great dip, drizzle, or dressing—think of it as ranch dressing...

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...

Slow Cooker Carnitas

Slow Cooker Carnitas

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

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...

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...

Eggnog, Small Batch

Eggnog, Small Batch

Eggnog latte?  No thanks.  A small glass of really good eggnog with a shot of Cognac or bourbon?...

Winter Squash Enchiladas

Winter Squash Enchiladas

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

Ham Hock and Greens

Ham Hock and Greens

We are so lucky to live near several producers of piggie goodness; thanks to the Co-Op and...

French Onion Soup Gratinée

French Onion Soup Gratinée

French onion soup isn't difficult to make, but it does take some time. You're looking at 45...

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,...

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...

French Vinaigrette

French Vinaigrette

This classic vinaigrette enhances your fresh garden greens and beautiful farmer's market produce...

Chia Seed Pudding

Chia Seed Pudding

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

Candied Kumquats

Candied Kumquats

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

Chipotle Chicken Chili

Chipotle Chicken Chili

Start stocking canned beans and chipotle peppers in your pantry so you can make this spicy chicken...

Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Can we talk about San Marzano tomatoes?  Wow!  This sauce!  Simple ingredients, yet so rich and...

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

I made these at CSC last night and we preferred a less sweet version that put the sugar in the...

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...

Pickled Red Onions

Pickled Red Onions

A batch of these pickled red onions will last in your fridge two or three weeks. Use a forkful to...

Eggplant Lasagna

Eggplant Lasagna

Roasted eggplant slices baked in layers with parmesan and a meaty, creamy, tomato-y sauce...you'll...

Chicken & Broccoli Casserole

Chicken & Broccoli Casserole

Chicken Broccoli.  It announced "company's coming!" back in the 1970's,  when I was a kid learning...

Rustic Chard Tart

Rustic Chard Tart

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

Birria

Birria

“Beef stew” takes on a whole new dimension with dried chiles and the other wonderful, savory...

Checkerboard Shortbread

Checkerboard Shortbread

When my brother lived in Seattle, I frequented Café Besalu on every trip. Many of their...

Black Bean Chili

Here's a family dinner staple that I'm writing up especially for Elise, who has a hungry,...

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