When I was a kid, we ate minestrone soup at every family gathering because my aunt made it for every birthday party. She made that and spinach dip. The spinach dip that’s made from frozen spinach and vegetable soup mix. I just made it for St. Patrick’s Day and it was as epic as I remembered as a child.

I’ve made the minestrone in my book - the real original minestrone that my aunt used to make. And I made a version with winter vegetables in the app and you can find the recipe here.

This version is for spring. It’s a celebration of everything at the farmer’s market right now. A celebration of everything that arrives in the CSA box this week. It’s perfect for those spring nights that are a little cool but you’re still looking forward to summer.

The brilliant part of this soup is that it cooks in literally 20 minutes. Once the veggies are softened and a little crispy, it takes a few minutes to bring to a boil, then the tiny little orzo pasta cooks in minutes. Like three. Literally, it cooks so fast.

SPRING MINESTRONE SOUP

serves 4

STEP 1

Chop all vegetables into basically bite sized pieces and cook in a stock pot with olive oil until a little brown on the edges.  Season with salt.  

STEP 2

Pour in garbanzo beans and stock and bring to a boil.  Season with oregano and basil.  

STEP 3

Add asparagus and pasta to the pot and cook 3 minutes until the pasta is done.  Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.

STEP 4

Serve with fresh basil and parmesan cheese.

1 zucchini, about 1 cup chopped

1 fennel bulb, sliced

1 leek, whites sliced thin

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 bunch asparagus

2 cups green beans, chopped

2 tbs olive oil

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 can garbanzo beans

4 cups vegetable stock

1 cup orzo

2 tbs fresh basil

¼ cup parmesan cheese

Salt & pepper

Is champagne ubiquitous for New Year’s just because it’s bubbly and festive? I hadn’t really thought of it before, but it must be, right? I love a good glass of champagne but I didn't know that until I actually ever had a glass of Dom Perignon. I was 22 so it’s not like I had to wait forever to get a decent glass of bubbles. Before that I’d had a glass of Cooks. Ok, possibly a bottle. But even typing that right now gave me a headache. Good champagne makes the world of difference.

Good champagne is really remarkable. Like life changing. Good champagne is so worth the money. Just don’t waste it on people who don’t like it. And don’t mix the good stuff. If you’re going to make it into a cocktail, then buy prosecco - same flavor profile, similar taste, not all of the sugar of cheap champagne, and WAY cheaper.

CHAMPAGNE RISOTTO

serves 4

1 shallot, chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped

½ cup butter, divided

¼ lb chanterelle mushrooms

2 tbs olive oil

2 cup Arborio rice

2 cup champagne

4 cups room temperature seafood stock

½ cup parmesan cheese

salt and pepper

8 large sea scallops

STEP 1

In a medium saucepan, heat 2 tbs butter & 2 tbs olive oil. Cook mushrooms over medium heat until tender.  Remove from the pan and set aside. (5 mins)

STEP 2

In the same pan, melt another 2 tbs olive oil with 2 tbs butter.  Cook shallot and garlic until softened (4 mins)

STEP 3

Stir Arborio rice into the pan and stir until all of the kernels are coated in oil.

STEP 4

Pour in one cup of champagne and stir constantly to deglaze the bottom of the pan.  When most of the champagne has evaporated, add the second cup and stir until that liquid has evaporated.

STEP 5

Pour in one cup of stock and stir until completely incorporated. When most of the stock has dissolved, add another cup of stock.  Continue until all of the stock has been added.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.

STEP 6

Remove from heat and stir in mushrooms, remaining butter and parmesan cheese.  

STEP 7

Bring a dry skillet to high heat.  Pat the scallops dry and season with salt and pepper.  Melt 2 tbs butter in the pan and place the scallops into the melted butter.  

Cook 1-2 minutes until browned.  Flip and cook 2 minutes on the other side.  Scallops are properly cooked when slightly firm to the touch.  

The best brunch I know is the Huevos Rancheros at Norma's in Palm Springs.  You can read everything I like to do with my family on this blog post here.  If you aren't planning a trip to the desert soon, then make these Huevos Rancheros at home - they were inspired by Norma's but I added a boat load of sausage to jazz things up.  

SKILLET HUEVOS RANCHEROS

serves 4

STEP 1

Cook onion and chorizo together in a skillet until chorizo is cooked through and onion is soft.  Stir in black beans.

STEP 2

Lay one tortilla in a large skillet and top with sliced cheese.  Add the other tortilla on top of the cheese and cook 2-3 minutes over high heat until tortilla is crispy on the bottom.  Remove from heat.

STEP 3

Pour chorizo mixture over top the tortilla sprinkle tomato over top and create four small ‘wells’ in the toppings.  Crack and egg into each of the wells. 

STEP 4

Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes until egg whites have set completely but yolks are still tender.  Top with sour cream, avocado, and cilantro to serve.  Add some hot sauce too!

2 large ‘burrito style’ tortillas

8 oz jack cheese, thinly sliced

1 can black beans, drained

1 lb chorizo

½ yellow onion, sliced

2 large tomatoes, chopped

4 eggs

1 avocado

½ cup sour cream

½ cup cilantro, chopped

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Does winter feel like it's dragging on?  I'm trying to revel in the cold weather since I know it won't last but it does get challenging after a little while... So let's make chili.  It's a great way to enjoy winter.  I mean, who eats chili in the summer?  No one eats chili in the summer. So make a hot bowl of chili, snuggle up in something cashmere, and remember it will warm up soon!

ROASTED POBLANO CHILI

serves 4

STEP 1

Roast chilies over an open flame or in the broiler.  Pop into a plastic bag and seal it tight. Let rest 5 minutes. 

STEP 2

Cook onion, garlic and turkey until turkey is cooked through.  Sprinkle the top with flour, cumin and oregano and stir to combine. 

STEP 3

Add stock and bring to a boil.

STEP 4

Remove chilies from the plastic bag and rub with a paper towel to remove most of the skins.  Chop chilies and add to soup. 

STEP 5

Mix dry ingredients for waffles then add milk, eggs, honey, and melted butter.  Mix to combine and cook in a waffle maker until done.  Let cool and cut into strips.

STEP 6

Serve chili topped with jack cheese, a squeeze of lime, and cornbread waffle sticks.

1 lb. ground turkey

1 lb. poblano chilies

6 cups chicken stock

2 cloves garlic

1 onion, chopped

1 tbs flour

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp oregano

s&p

1 lime

1 cup jack cheese, shredded

1 ¼ cup flour

1 ¼ cup cornmeal

2 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

½ cup buttermilk

2 eggs

2 tbs honey

½ cup melted butter 

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Before I had children I hosted a Chinese New Year dinner every year!  I loved it.  It's a great excuse for a party and not one that most people in Seattle seem to think of.  Or we remember the day of because the kids come home from their assembly super excited about dragons and envelops with coins inside.  

I don't entirely know why I stopped.  Probably being overwhelmed by three kids did it.  But I'm determined to bring it back.  Even if it's just for the five of us - I will bring it back.  If you are more ambitious (or if I get more ambitious?) host a few friends and enjoy.

This dinner is one of the simplest dinners you can make - and it's so good.  Like addictive good.  If you need to scale the recipe, download Weeknight Society and you can adjust to as many as 12 servings within the app.  

CHINESE CHICKEN WRAPS

serves 4

STEP 1

Cook chicken with garlic and onion until chicken is browned. 

STEP 2

Mix hoisin, soy, vinegar, honey, ginger, chili oil, and stock in a bowl.

STEP 3

Add chestnuts, scallions, zucchini, and bell pepper to the pan then pour over the sauce.

STEP 4

Cook until veggies are softened. 

STEP 5

Serve on butter lettuce

2 lb ground chicken

2 cloves garlic

1 onion

¼ cup hoisin

2 tbs soy sauce

1 tbs rice vinegar

1 tbs grated ginger

2 tbs honey

1 tbs chili oil

¼ cup chicken stock

1 can water chestnuts, chopped

4 scallions, chopped

1 zucchini, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

1 head butter lettuce

Shop the gear

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In the event you forgot to get a dinner reservation for Valentine's Day - or if you're like me - you don't want to waste a perfectly good evening out on a prix fix menu and overly crowded restaurants. - let's eat in!

I have become a master of the "indoor steak" technique over the last few years for a number of reasons, but mostly because it is so freaking easy!  SO EASY!  It's how restaurants do their steaks - there aren't grills in most restaurants - so they skillet sear and broil them too.  It keeps in the moisture (worst word ever) and creates the deliciously crispy crust on the outside.

The video will show you how easy it is to cook steak in the oven + a bonus cocktail and a side dish you can make in minutes.  (Also, my cute husband is at the end)

Steak au Poivre

serves 4

4 NY Strip steaks

4 tbs crushed peppercorns

2 tbs butter

2 shallot, chopped

½ cup cognac

½ cup beef stock

3 large russet potatoes, sliced in rounds

2 tbs olive oil

2 tsp flake salt

STEP 1

Preheat the broiler to 500 degrees. Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat until the pan is smoking hot.  Pat the steaks dry and push each one into the peppercorns. 

STEP 2

Pop the steaks on the hot skillet.  Sear 3 minutes each side until browned.

STEP 3

Toss potatoes in olive oil and salt.  Spread out on a baking sheet and pop in the lowest rack in the oven for 5 minutes.  Check and flip as needed to brown them but not burn them.

STEP 4

Top each steak with ½ tbs butter and pop the pan into the oven.  Cook 5-8 minutes until meat thermometer reads 145 degrees. Remove from the oven and let rest covered on a plate with foil for 5 minutes.

STEP 5

Place pan on a high burner and pour in shallots – cook quickly.  Add cognac & stock and whisk.  Season with salt.  Cook to reduce by 1/2.  Plate steaks and top with sauce.

NOTES

-       Traditionally this is cooked with heavy cream.  That didn’t seem needed with this gorgeous steak but if you want to add ½ cup cream with the sherry, it’s delicious.

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I don't think you need me to tell you how to make it romantic at home.  But I will remind you that music helps.  A lot.  Have music.  

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