You may be thinking that a recipe for a thick, hearty soup is a bit odd considering that yesterday was the first day of spring. But this Spanish bean soup is not just any soup. Rather, it is a soup sent straight from the soup gods (if the soup gods took the form of my future mother-in-law).

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When I think about throwing a dinner party, especially a big one like this polenta supper I'm sharing with you this week, my thoughts immediately go to: What can I make ahead? Last week, I had an easy answer: a shredded, succulent mess of beef braised in red wine and tomatoes, falling apart in its juices. It's a terrific make-ahead dish, since like most braises, this beef gets better overnight, and takes all the stress of a main dish off your hands entirely. Sound good? It gets better. 

Frozen pizzas have their time and place, like as back-up meals when we don't have time to shop and easy heat-and-serve dinners for babysitters. Nothing wrong with a good store-bought frozen pizza in these situations, but making your own homemade frozen pizzas from scratch will probably save you some pennies — plus you get exactly the toppings you want! It's easy to do: just two little tricks and you can fill your freezer with all the made-ahead frozen pizzas you could ever want.

Q: I've started planning Easter dinner for my family. We have 6 adults, two of them vegan. My plan is to do lamb chops for the carnivores and go vegan for the side dishes. My other challenge is that I'm on-call Sunday morning so I need things that can be prepared a head of time. 

Here in Southern California, winter is on its way out and I have never felt more ready to give kale salads a rest. Right now I am craving all that is crunchy, fresh and pale green -- like this salad, which mixes a dill-flecked dressing with sweet sugar snap peas, crisp celery, chopped romaine and pretty, pink-edged radish slices that remind me of spring's first blossoms winking to life.

Is it any wonder why we are crazy for canning jars? They are cheap, easy to find and leak-proof. They can be frozen, microwaved (minus the lids, of course) and even baked in the oven. And they make great containers for lunches prepared in bulk, individually portioned, and stored in the refrigerator or freezer, so it's easy to grab a wholesome, homemade meal on even the busiest afternoon.

Do you get stumped for good lunch ideas, falling back on the same unsatisfying sandwiches and cans of rewarmed soup? So do we. So let's talk about some fresh options, like a grain salad tossed with creamy bits of avocado, and whole wheat wraps filled with sweet potatoes. Let's consider this hearty roasted broccoli soup that doesn't come from a can and an extremely tasty chickpea twist on the classic tuna fish sandwich. We have a  whole month's worth of work-week lunches up for grabs today — which one will you be making first?

The only possible cure for the late-winter blues is brunch. A big brunch. One with friends dropping by, trays upon trays of sticky buns, mimosas and coffee, and muffins for nibbling when you think you're almost full. Oh, yes! Let's do this.

Sweet, healthy fruit is a natural fit for breakfast and is often its best simply eaten raw and unadorned. But if you are looking for some fresh ways to enjoy fruit in the morning, these 10 recipes have you covered. Whether it's baked, roasted, poached or pureed, the fruit in these recipes will last for several days in the fridge, so you can spoon it over oatmeal, mix it into yogurt, or eat it alongside toast on even the busiest mornings.

Citrus and poppy seeds go hand in hand, as do muffins and spring. So what better way to welcome in March than with these scrumptious orange-infused poppy seed muffins? The bright and sunny flavors are guaranteed to lift your winter spirits, even if the weather is not ready to comply.
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