925 spring recipes

Chile corn bake with cornmeal, cheddar cheese, green chiles, and sweet red peppers in a custardy casserole. A Southwestern side dish that's somewhere between cornbread and a savory corn pudding.

Oven-baked nacho cheese potato slices tossed with taco seasoning, barbecue sauce, green peppers, and onions, topped with melted cheese. A hearty Tex-Mex side or meatless main.

Sizzling rice soup simmers a clear chicken broth with chicken, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts, finished with crispy fried rice that audibly sizzles when added to each bowl. Classic Chinese restaurant favorite.

Hells Canyon chukar stir-fry: velveted game bird breast stir-fried with cashews, scallions, snow peas, and rice wine. A hunter's-kitchen take on classic Chinese stir-fry technique.

Fresh tomato salsa with bell pepper, jalapeno, garlic, cilantro, and lime, brightened with red wine vinegar and chili powder. The chunky homemade salsa that beats jarred every time, served fresh or rested for deeper flavor.

Cheese pasties, hand-held British turnovers stuffed with sharp cheddar and diced root vegetables (turnip, carrot, leek, celery) in a flaky butter shortcrust, warmed with mace and cayenne. Crimped, baked golden, and even better the next day.

Cold quinoa olive salad with green and black olives, pine nuts, red bell pepper, and umeboshi plum vinegar. A protein-packed vegetarian side with Mediterranean-Japanese flavors.

Veal fettuccine with oysters and artichokes is a buttery Louisiana-style pasta where seared veal strips, plump oysters, and quartered artichoke hearts swim in a peppery cream sauce built from oyster liquor.

Ham and turkey hash with sweet potato, apple, and red bell pepper, blanketed in a peppery cheddar cheese sauce and broiled bubbly. Great leftover ham rescue.

Twice-baked stuffed potato loaded with cottage cheese, cheddar, sunflower seeds, green pepper, carrots, and scallions. A lean, vegetable-packed baked potato made in the microwave.

Saffron-braised lamb shoulder served over herb couscous with cucumber, red pepper, and fresh mint. A North African-inspired one-pot meal with bright, herby accompaniments.

Chinese pepper steak with sirloin, green bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes in a soy-cornstarch sauce. A classic stir-fry with a quick soy marinade.

Crustless rice and turkey quiche with tomato, green pepper, basil, and reduced-fat cheddar. Uses egg substitute and skim milk for a lighter take on quiche. Great for using leftover turkey and rice.

Pan-fried crab cakes with scallions, celery, and lemon, coated in garlicky breadcrumbs and served with homemade dill mayonnaise made from scratch in the blender.

Mesquite-smoked salmon fajitas with a fresh mango-cantaloupe salsa and sauteed poblano peppers. The salmon is smoked indoors on the stovetop using mesquite wood chunks and a cast-iron skillet.

Cold asparagus salad with a Chinese-style vinaigrette of rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Marinate overnight for deeper flavor, top with butter-toasted sunflower seeds.