Welcome, Spring!

The long, cold winter is behind us—gone are cozy nights by the fire enjoying hot soups, rich stews, and hearty goulashes. Spring is here, and with the new season comes light, healthy recipes—pastas tossed with olive oil and fresh herbs; crisp salads drizzled with fresh, citrusy vinaigrettes; light entrees with colorful, seasonal veggies.

Pull your recipe books out and get inspired by all the old standbys and new possibilities spring has to offer. Plant tomatoes in large containers with fresh herbs like basil, Italian parsley and thyme. Plan fun family menus to celebrate the new season. Welcome spring with your favorite recipes, new ideas and exciting inspirations!

Good Bread + Special Mayo = Great Sandwich!

For me, the formula for a great sandwich is simple—always use good bread and a special mayo. One of my favorites is a grilled chicken sandwich with cilantro lime mayo. To begin, I season chicken breasts with salt and pepper and heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. I cook the chicken until done, then set aside to rest. For the bun, I like Kaiser rolls or a good onion roll, which adds much more to the sandwich than regular hamburger buns. The cilantro lime mayo is easy. Add chopped, fresh cilantro to mayo, along with minced garlic, hot sauce to taste, fresh squeezed lime juice, salt and pepper. Top with tomato, lettuce and purple onion, and your sandwich goes from ordinary to extraordinary!

Breakfast--Wrap It Up!

One of my favorite breakfasts is a quick, easy wrap that I can throw together in minutes and eat on the go. Scramble an egg. As it's cooking, add chopped deli meat, or leftover pork chops, or cooked sausage/bacon, whatever you have on hand. Heat a whole-wheat or flour tortilla for a few seconds in the microwave. Place the egg mixture in the warm tortilla, add grated cheese, slightly fold over one end, and roll up.

For a little variety, add any of your favorite ingredients to jazz up your wrap: sautéed peppers and onions (fresh or frozen), black olives, salsa, etc.

Wrap in foil, and head out the door!