Bran muffins can get a bad rap. They're so often dry and overly-sweet, which always feels like a shame because bran has such a nice flavor in and of itself. Plus, there are so many ways to add a punch of flavor without a lot of extra sugar. How about a mound of blueberries, fresh lemon zest, and coconut oil folded into a delicate whole-grain batter? 

Jammy pink rhubarb, coconut custard, and a honey-rose water drizzle! Who needs gluten (or dairy or nuts or refined sugar, for that matter) when you've got all this going on?! 

The humble quesadilla wears many hats. It's a quick weeknight meal that can transform yesterday's leftovers into something new and tasty. It's also a fuss-free snack that will satisfy a group of hungry teenagers — or the crowd at your next cocktail party. Fill it with plain cheese and beans or with shrimp and avocado, the quesadilla is whatever you want to make it.

Though you might normally associate chimichurri with grilled steaks, lamb chops and other robust cuts of meat, this garlicky South American herb sauce pairs wonderfully with mild halibut and other lean white fish. Rubbed over the fillets before baking, the flavor of the chimichurri stays fresh and bright, infusing the delicate fish with a pop of green color and taste that says SPRING! It's another simple yet impressive fish recipe to add to your repertoire.

When I was facing a significant birthday a few years ago (one that ended in a "0") I began my celebration at SFMOMA, specifically at the Blue Bottle Cafe with a slice of Thiebaud Cake: a chocolate cake covered in strawberry buttercream and filled with Lillet- and vanilla-poached strawberries.  Clearly it was going to be a good decade!  So when the cafe's co-owner Caitlin Freeman published Modern Art Desserts, a cookbook based on the art-influenced creations she sells at the SFMOMA cafe, I was very excited to learn more about these amazing desserts.

Quicos are my new favorite nibble, and I'll bet good money that if you like crunchy and salty snacks, they're about to be your favorite new nibble, too. These particular homemade quicos are tossed with lime zest and chili powder, making them even more irresistable than usual. If a Cinco de Mayo celebration is your future — or any party at all! — you'll definitely want this on your snack list.

The weather may finally be getting warm enough to poke our noses outside, but don't pack away your Dutch oven quite yet. Everyone's favorite pot can still be your friend in springtime. Roast a chicken in fresh and saucy coconut milk, or make a pot of Hot and Sour Mushroom and Rice Soup. There's a risotto of fresh spring vegetables that bakes into creamy goodness right inside your Dutch oven. Or make a big pot of easy, tender barbecue shredded chicken. Keep your favorite pot handy — these spring dishes will keep it busy.

You know those recipes that makes beautiful lunches and feel like a special treat, but that actually don't take all that long to make if you plan in advance? The ones that graduate to dinner in a snap, and then family and friends begin requesting it? This spring grain salad is just that — it combines hearty einkorn wheat berries with sweet mango, fresh cilantro and parsley, crisp sunflower sprouts, crunchy toasted pepitas and a creamy avocado dressing. Perfect for spring, perfect for anytime.

Q: My wife works all day and commutes to the city in the evening to finish up her law degree. After two years of this, she's coming to the end of her rope regarding her dinners: a peanut butter sandwich does not a dinner make. 

Your parents may have slipped the occasional note or doodle into your lunch bag, but graphic designer David LaFerriere has taken it one step further, adding a new surprise drawing to his kids' sandwich bags nearly every day. He started snapping photos of the mini works of art and now has a Flickr set boasting over 1,100 photos!