Fennel & Lemon Relish
This crisp slaw from Alice Waters’ The Art of Simple Food II is excellent tossed with roasted vegetables, or even served as part of a charcuterie board.
Ingredients:
2 lemons
2-3 fennel bulbs
1 shallot
2-3 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
- Using a box grater or rasp, zest both lemons, then reserve the zest and fruit.
- Peel and finely dice the shallot. Place shallot in a small bowl with the lemon zest, juice of 1 lemon, Champagne vinegar, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix well and let sit for a few minutes to macerate. Whisk in the extra-virgin olive oil. Taste for salt and acid and adjust as needed.
- Trim the fronds and dark green stalks from the fennel bulb. Cut the bulb in half lengthwise and then into a fine dice. Toss with salt to taste and stir into the lemon-shallot mixture. Remove all the remaining peel from the remaining lemon and cut the segments from their membranes. Cut segments into a medium dice and gently stir them into the relish. Let relish sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Lemon-Garlic Kale Salad
Tossed with a sweet-tart citrus dressing, this salad is fresh and bright and pairs nicely with just about any main dish.
Ingredients:
1 large bunch Lacinato kale, greens removed from thick stems, washed and patted dry
1 cup slivered almonds
â…“ cup lemon juice
1½ cups olive oil
4 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
Sea salt
Method:
1. In a small skillet, toast almonds until golden brown and fragrant. Set aside to cool.
2. In a bowl, combine the lemon juice and 1 heaping teaspoon salt. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Using the flat side of a knife, crush the garlic cloves and add to the dressing, setting aside to steep.
3. Working in batches, cut the kale into thin ribbons and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle with the almonds. Remove and discard garlic cloves from dressing. Pour half the dressing over the salad and toss. Taste for both dressing and salt, adding more as needed. Serve within 1 hour.
Marinated Persian Cucumber Salad
Super simple and healthy, this salad is perfect for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients:
2 Persian cucumbers
1 red onion
¼ cup white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Peel the cucumbers and then half lengthwise before thinly slicing. Then, peel and thinly slice the onion and place in a bowl with the cucumber.
2. Combine the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, and oil in a bowl and whisk together. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Pour the vinaigrette over the cucumber and onion mixture and toss well to coat. Allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 1-2 hours before serving cold or at room temperature.
Guinness Chocolate Cake with Irish Cream Frosting
Rich, moist, and deeply chocolatey, this classic Guinness cake is a perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Slice and serve with a cup of coffee—or another splash of stout—for a cozy treat.
Ingredients:
1 cup Guinness stout
½ cup unsalted butter
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups granulated sugar
¾ cup sour cream or buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
Frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
2–3 cups powdered sugar
1–2 tablespoons Irish cream liqueur (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease and line a 9-inch springform pan or cake pan.
2. In a saucepan, gently heat the Guinness and butter until the butter melts. Whisk in the cocoa powder and sugar until smooth and set aside to cool slightly. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sour cream, eggs, and vanilla. Stir this mixture into the Guinness mixture until combined. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the batter until smooth.
3. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 35–45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
4. For the frosting, beat the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in Irish cream and vanilla until smooth and spreadable. Spread the frosting thickly over the cooled cake.
Skillet Breakfast Hash with Thyme, Sausage & Chèvre
Golden, crisp-edged potatoes tossed with maple-kissed sausage, sweet onions, and fresh thyme — finished with creamy chèvre for a rich, tangy contrast.Â
Ingredients:
4–5 medium potatoes, diced into ½-inch cubes
½ red or yellow onion, thinly sliced
4 Skagit River Ranch breakfast sausage patties
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
½ cup Bellsong Creamery chèvre, crumbled
Olive oil (if needed)
Optional: farm-fresh eggs, for topping
Method:
1. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage until browned and cooked through, crumbling the meat into small, bite-sized pieces as you go. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving drippings in the pan.
2. Add diced potatoes to the skillet in an even layer. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and tender—about 15–20 minutes. If needed, add a drizzle of olive oil. Stir in sliced onion and thyme. Cook for another 3–4 minutes, until softened and fragrant.
3. Return bacon or sausage to the pan and toss to combine. Remove from heat and crumble chèvre over the warm hash so it just begins to soften. Serve immediately, topped with a fried or poached egg, if desired.
Roasted Carrots with Chili-Lime Shrub Glaze
Sweet roasted carrots meet a bright, tangy glaze with just a hint of heat—this unexpected side dish brings bold Southwestern flavor to the table.
Ingredients:
1 bunch baby carrots, trimmed and halved lengthwise if large
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper
2–3 tablespoons Girl Meets Dirt Chili Lime & Tomato Shrub
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon butter
Fresh herbs (parsley), for finishing
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 425°. Toss the carrots with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then spread on a baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for 20–25 minutes, turning once, until tender and caramelized at the edges.
2. While the carrots roast, add the chili-lime shrub to a small saucepan over medium heat. Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes to concentrate the flavor. Stir in honey and butter, if using, and cook until slightly thickened and glossy.
3. Transfer the roasted carrots to a serving bowl and toss with the warm glaze until evenly coated. Finish with a sprinkle of fresh herbs and an extra crack of black pepper. Serve warm.
Winter Citrus & Fava Shoot Salad
This crisp, citrus-kissed salad is both bold in flavor and beautiful in presentation.
Ingredients:
1 blood orange
1 Navel orange
½ pound fava shoots
½ red onion, thinly sliced
2 fennel bulbs, quartered, cored and thinly sliced, plus a handful of the fronds
Vinaigrette:
1 shallot, peeled and minced
â…“ cup freshly squeezed juice from an orange
â…“ cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
¾ cup olive oil
Sea salt salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
- Spread the salad greens out on a large, round serving platter to make a bed.
- Using a sharp paring knife, cut the tops and bottoms off the orange. Stand oranges up and slice to remove the peel and membrane. Then, slice oranges crosswise into thin wheels.
- Arrange the orange on top of the salad greens, overlapping the slices slightly. Then layer on the fennel slices. Scatter the onion slices on top of the salad.
- Drizzle vinaigrette over the salad and then season with ground pepper if desired.
Roasted Asparagus with Fried Duck Eggs
This easy sheet pan dish is topped with bright lemon juice.
Ingredients:
1½ pounds asparagus, trimmed of tough stems
3 duck eggs
Juice of ½ lemon
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Cut the asparagus into 2-inch pieces. Put the oven rack in the center of the oven, about 5 inches below the heat source, and preheat the broiler.
2. Film the bottom of a large sauté pan with olive oil. Place the asparagus in the pan and season with salt and pepper, tossing to coat asparagus in oil. Spread out evenly and pop the pan in the oven under the broiler, cooking about 3 minutes or until the asparagus just starts to brown.
3. Being careful not to touch the pan’s handle, use the spatula to push the asparagus to the edges of the pan, leaving the center empty. Carefully break the eggs into that space. Broil 1 more minute, until egg whites are set. Remove the pan from the oven.
4. Squeeze the lemon juice over everything in the pan and give the pan another sprinkle of salt. To serve, top a generous helping of asparagus with a duck egg and serve with a side of toasted bread to sop up the excess yolk.
Variation: This dish is also lovely topped with a pat of fresh spring herb butter. To prepare combine, ¼ cup room temperature butter with 2 tablespoons of mixed, chopped herbs and a sprinkle of sea salt. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Potato-Leek Soup
This classic Julia Child recipe is always a home run; serve this with slices of this week’s Beecher’s cheese bread.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound baby red potatoes, peeled and cut in half if on the larger side
3 large leeks (1 pound), cleaned and thinly sliced
6 cups vegetable or chicken stock
1-2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup crème fraîche
â…“ cup minced parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Heat the oil in a large (6-plus quart) stockpot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leek and potato. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have begun to soften and brown slightly, about 5-10 minutes (time will vary greatly depending on the surface area of the bottom of your pot).
2. Add the stock, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
3. Blend until smooth, either using an immersion blender or by carefully transferring to a blender in batches.
4. Add the cream, and season to taste with salt and lemon juice.
5. Ladle into bowls, and garnish with a dollop of crème fraîche and a healthy sprinkling of minced parsley.
Radicchio Salad with Fresh Chevre & Marcona Almonds
This salad is crisp and colorful, complete with blushy radicchio and juicy citrus.
Ingredients:
1 head Chioggia radicchio, torn into bite-size pieces
4 cups mixed salad greens
1 orange, removed of peel and any pith, and sliced into thin rounds
1 blood orange, removed of peel and any pith, and sliced into thin rounds
½ cup top-quality olive oil
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
4 ounces chevre cheese, crumbled
½ cup Marcona almonds, coarsely chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large bowl, whisk the olive oil with the red wine vinegar and season with salt and pepper.
2. Add the radicchio and greens to a large salad bowl, and drizzle with about half the vinaigrette and toss until coated. Add the orange slices, goat cheese and hazelnuts, drizzle with additional vinaigrette, and season the salad with salt and pepper. Toss gently together once more and serve.