there are few times of the year more exciting than when spring starts to show her colors. even the slightest spike in temperature has people racing to their tank tops and sandals. and i am no exception.

our yard work is nearly complete and we have replanted ninety percent of our small but mighty side yard garden space. and while i am anxiously waiting for all my strawberries and tomatoes to start producing, all the green things in the garden are going wild.

i have been on a bit of a pasta kick lately. it truly is my first culinary love and i’ve been working on new shapes, flavors and colors to bring to all of our spring menus.

our gorgeous garden greens (nasturtium leave, kale and arugula) bring flavor, color and nutritional value to a simple and delicious spring spaghetti.

garlic & spring green spaghetti

serves: 4

prep time: 10 minutes

cook time: 15 minutes

total time: 25 minutes

ingredients: 1.5 lbs spaghetti (fresh if you can get your hands on it or want to make it yourself). 8 oz mixed spring greens (i used nasturtium leaves, kale, chard and arugula that we had in the garden but you could do any combination of your favorite greens). 2 tbs olive oil. 10 garlic cloves, thinly sliced. zest and juice of 1 lemon. ..5 cup parmesan cheese + extra for garnish. 25 cup bread crumbs. 1 tbs + 1 tsp kosher salt. .5 tsp freshly ground pepper.

start by filling a pot with water and 1 tbs of salt. you want to cook your pasta with water like the ocean. bring your water to a boil. cook your pasta to your package instructions. if you are cooking fresh pasta, it should only take 1.5-2 minutes to cook. if you are using fresh, wait to cook it till your greens are cooked. if you are cooking dried pasta, start it as soon as your water boils. while your pasta cooks, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large pan. once your oil is hot, add in the garlic and cook just until fragrant. about 30 second to a minute.

add in your greens and your lemon juice, season with the salt and pepper and cook until they wilt down. 3-5 minutes depending on how hearty your greens are.

turn off the heat and add in the lemon zest.

add in your cooked pasta, .5 cup of paremsan cheese, half the bread crumbs.

stir well till everything is combined.

serve hot with with extra parmesan and bread crumbs and enjoy.

xo, a

garlic & spring green spaghetti

serves: 4

prep time: 10 minutes

cook time: 15 minutes

total time: 25 minutes

ingredients: 1.5 lbs spaghetti (fresh if you can get your hands on it or want to make it yourself). 8 oz mixed spring greens (i used nasturtium leaves, kale, chard and arugula that we had in the garden but you could do any combination of your favorite greens). 2 tbs olive oil. 10 garlic cloves, thinly sliced. zest and juice of 1 lemon. ..5 cup parmesan cheese + extra for garnish. 25 cup bread crumbs. 1 tbs + 1 tsp kosher salt. .5 tsp freshly ground pepper.

start by filling a pot with water and 1 tbs of salt. you want to cook your pasta with water like the ocean. bring your water to a boil. cook your pasta to your package instructions. if you are cooking fresh pasta, it should only take 1.5-2 minutes to cook. if you are using fresh, wait to cook it till your greens are cooked. if you are cooking dried pasta, start it as soon as your water boils. while your pasta cooks, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large pan. once your oil is hot, add in the garlic and cook just until fragrant. about 30 second to a minute. add in your greens and your lemon juice, season with the salt and pepper and cook until they wilt down. 3-5 minutes depending on how hearty your greens are. turn off the heat and add in the lemon zest. add in your cooked pasta, .5 cup of paremsan cheese, half the bread crumbs. stir well till everything is combined. serve hot with with extra parmesan and bread crumbs and enjoy.

it is always just a little bit easier to get on the health train in january. that post holiday bloat has set in. suddenly, you have time in your schedule now that you aren’t racing to buy presents or attend holiday gatherings. you just came off the lost weeks post holiday where no one knows what to do or what day it is.

but now, the motivation is kicking in. healthy, balanced, bright food is starting to look real good. and i am here to help.

through out the earlier years of my cooking, it’s pretty much a blur of over cooked chicken and the fact that i could never get all dishes done at the same time (time management has never been my strong suit, but i’m working on it). but i did make a version of this fish dish a few years in and it was such a hit with everyone that it stuck with me. and i’ve been making it over and over again in different versions since then and THIS version has become my fast favorite. the colors are gorgeous and it has a beautiful contrast of flavor and textures.

roasted salmon + pea purée & lemon broth

serves: 4

prep time: 10 minutes

active time: 30 minutes

total time: 40 minutes

ingredients: 1.5 lbs salmon. 4 tbs olive oil, divided. 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes. 2 shallots, finely chopped. 3 garlic cloves, minced. 4 cups chicken stock. .25 cup lemon juice (about 2 juicy lemons) and the zest of the lemons. 8 oz frozen peas, thawed. 20 mint leaves. .5 cup freshly grated parmesan. 1 tbs salt kosher salt. .5 tsp freshly ground pepper. food processor/blender. baking sheet. aluminum foil. fish turner (or other metal spatula). medium pot.

start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees f. heat 2 tbs of your olive oil over medium heat. and when the oil has warmed, add in the shallots and garlic and season with a few pinches of salt. and a pinch or two of pepper. sauté the shallots and garlic over medium heat, stirring ever so often until the shallots are translucent and the garlic is fragrant. about 3-5 minutes.

pour in the chicken stock and bring the liquid to a boil.

add in half the lemon juice and all but a couple pinches of the lemon zest.

bring the liquid back to a boil and reduce the heat so the liquid begins to simmer. line your baking sheet with aluminum foil.

slice your salmon into 4 equal pieces, and place them, skin side down onto the baking sheet. add the tomatoes to the sheet. season the fish and tomatoes with half the remaining salt and pepper and drizzle with the remaining olive oil. roast the fish for 12-15 minutes until it is cooked through.

while the salmon cooks, combine the peas, mint, parmesan cheese, remaining lemon zest and juice and the rest of the salt and pepper in the bowl of your food processor or blender.

blend until smooth and well combined.

spread a few spoons of pea purée along the bottom of your serving plate or bowl.

when the fish is cooked, use your fish turner or metal spatula to gently remove the fish from it’s skin and place a fish piece on the bed of pea purée. top each piece with some of the blistered tomatoes.

pour about .5 cup of the lemon broth over your fish.

serve hot and enjoy.

xo, a

roasted salmon + pea purée & lemon broth

serves: 4

prep time: 10 minutes

active time: 30 minutes

total time: 40 minutes

ingredients: 1.5 lbs salmon. 4 tbs olive oil, divided. 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes. 2 shallots, finely chopped. 3 garlic cloves, minced. 4 cups chicken stock. .25 cup lemon juice (about 2 juicy lemons) and the zest of the lemons. 8 oz frozen peas, thawed. 20 mint leaves. .5 cup freshly grated parmesan. 1 tbs salt kosher salt. .5 tsp freshly ground pepper. food processor/blender. baking sheet. aluminum foil. fish turner (or other metal spatula). medium pot.

start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees f. heat 2 tbs of your olive oil over medium heat. and when the oil has warmed, add in the shallots and garlic and season with a few pinches of salt. and a pinch or two of pepper. sauté the shallots and garlic over medium heat, stirring ever so often until the shallots are translucent and the garlic is fragrant. about 3-5 minutes. pour in the chicken stock and bring the liquid to a boil. add in half the lemon juice and all but a couple pinches of the lemon zest. bring the liquid back to a boil and reduce the heat so the liquid begins to simmer. line your baking sheet with aluminum foil. slice your salmon into 4 equal pieces, and place them, skin side down onto the baking sheet. add the tomatoes to the sheet. season the fish and tomatoes with half the remaining salt and pepper and drizzle with the remaining olive oil. roast the fish for 12-15 minutes until it is cooked through. while the salmon cooks, combine the peas, mint, parmesan cheese, remaining lemon zest and juice and the rest of the salt and pepper in the bowl of your food processor or blender. blend until smooth and well combined. spread a few spoons of pea purée along the bottom of your serving plate or bowl. when the fish is cooked, use your fish turner or metal spatula to gently remove the fish from it’s skin and place a fish piece on the bed of pea purée. top each piece with some of the blistered tomatoes. pour about .5 cup of the lemon broth over your fish. serve hot and enjoy.