Simmering asparagus briefly in well-salted water is the way for first-of-the-season asparagus. A stellar first course or a light lunch.
extra virgin olive oil
Braised Short Ribs with Moxie Beans
Long, cold New England winters would be unbearable if it weren’t for braises. There’s a solid six months between picking the last of the summer’s tomatoes and trimming the first spear of asparagus, and during that time I turn to sturdy long-cooked recipes like these short ribs, which have the added benefit of warming your kitchen as they cook. This is a recipe intended for a cold day, when the wind is blowing sideways and the snow shoveling feels never-ending.
Chocolate Beet Cake with Chocolate-Orange Glaze
Chocolate and beets are a natural pair. The earthiness of the beets contrasts with the richness and sweetness of chocolate. The milk chocolate frosting on this cake is laced with orange zest—orange tastes great with both chocolate and beets.
Faith’s Greek Lemon Chicken Soup with Quinoa
We’ve all had lemon chicken soup with rice or noodles, but quinoa somehow makes any dish heartier and more substantial. Because quinoa is so dense and filling, it’s an excellent way to make Faith’s soup recipe, a riff on avgolemono, a meal.
Braised Beef with Lots and Lots of Onions
This is one of those miraculous dishes that uses only a few basic ingredients (beef, onions, garlic, thyme, etc.), doesn’t require much technique or fussing, and yet produces a delectable and soul-satisfying dish that’s superb on its own but lends itself to leftover improvisation.
Lidia Bastianich’s Polenta Torta with Gorgonzola and Savoy Cabbage
Lidia Bastianich's polenta torta is delicious with Gorgonzola and cabbage, but you can vary the filling however you wish. The dish is ideal for a crowd. You can assemble the tart the day before and then bake it the day of your gathering, and it also reheats well.
