Favorite Spring Recipes

Spring is the time of rebirth and growth. The new potatoes, leafy greens, and fresh herbs in the following recipes really capture the feeling of the season.

New Potatoes with Chive Blossoms

1 lb new potatoes
2 stalks green garlic, chopped
2 Tbsp butter
4 chive blossoms
salt and pepper

Steam potatoes until fork tender. In a separate pan, melt the butter and add garlic just until the aroma intensifies; do not brown. Separate chive blossoms into individual flowers. Add butter-garlic mixture and chive blossoms to the potatoes, and toss. Salt and pepper to taste.

Romaine Salad with Orange and Raisins

1 Tbsp orange zest
¼ cup shallots, thinly sliced
4 Tbsp red wine vinegar
¼ cup raisins, softened in hot water and drained
1 head romaine lettuce, torn
2 Tbsp orange juice
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp paprika
¼ tsp ground cumin
¼ cup chopped basil
¼ cup olive oiil
fresh ground pepper

In a small bowl, toss zest, shallots, and vinegar together. Let sit for five minutes. Drain vinegar, and combine it with the orange, salt, paprika, cumin, basil, and oil. In a large bowl, toss romaine with shallot-zest mixture, raisins, and vinaigrette. Season with pepper.

Potatoes with Cilantro and Garlic-Lime Butter

1 lb new potatoes, washed and quartered
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. butter
2 garlic greens, minced
3 Tbsp. lime juice
1 bunch fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
sea salt
fresh ground pepper
1 tsp paprika

Cover the potatoes with cold salted water and bring to a boil. Simmer until fork tender. Melt the butter with the garlic and the lime juice. Drain the potatoes and toss with garlic-lime butter. Toss more as you add cilantro, salt, pepper, and paprika. Great served warm or cold.

Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies

3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 bunch fresh peppermint, chopped
1 1/2 cups white flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 and lightly grease a cookie sheet. Cream together butter and sugars with an electric mixer at high speed. Beat in the egg. Stir in vanilla and peppermint. Sift together the dry ingredients, and add this to the butter mixture along with the chocolate chips. Stir until well combined. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes at 350. Remove from the sheet immediately after baking, and cool on a rack.

Use strap-leaved Garlic Chives as you would regular chives, except that they have a mild garlic flavor (although, but to confuse matter, they are botanically much closer to leeks than they are to chives or onions). The ingredients seem simple, but the following recipe makes for an amazing, fast, fresh side dish. Try it also wrapped in a radicchio leaf for a more substantial dish.

Quick Garlic Chive Rice

2 cups rice, cooked
1 bunch garlic chives, chopped
3 Tbsp butter (or olive oil)
1 Tbsp lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
Combine cooked rice with all ingredients, stir, and serve warm.

Warm Radicchio Salad with Spring Onions

1 head radicchio
balsamic vinegar
olive oil
red onion
Salt and epper

Thoroughly wash and dry a head of radicchio. Make a vinaigrette of 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar and 3 tbsp olive oil with salt to taste. Slice red onions very thin,a nd saute it quickly in a large skillet until limp and a little browned. Add the radicchio and the vinaigrette and toss quickly over heat until it just begins to wilt. Season with ground pepper.