Last week's tomatoey salad dressing recipe tastes delicious on the recipe I share in this week's column: Spring Pearl Barley Salad. The barley stretches a handful of greens into a full meal, whether office lunch or easy dinner, and the dressing hints at summer. flatheadbeacon.com/2026/05/21/s...

Stretch a couple of handfuls of baby greens into a filling salad that keeps and travels well.

Cherry tomatoes are about the easiest vegetables to freeze—just pop them whole into a bag. I freeze supersweet homegrown ones and then drizzle the dressing in this week's column on my garden's first greens before my tomato plants are even in the ground: flatheadbeacon.com/2026/05/14/t...

Frozen cherry tomatoes and dried herbs blend into a summery dressing for spring greens and vegetables.

We still have nights in the 30s, but for weeks I've been harvesting chives and making all of my dinners pop. I explain why chives are the first breath of spring, how I use them, and how easy they are to grow indoors and out in this @simplyrecipes.com article: www.simplyrecipes.com/spring-dinne...

I use glass jars incessantly for food storage: on my kitchen's open shelves, in the fridge for everything from homemade sour cream to kimchi, and of course for hundreds of home-canned goods. I explain at @simplyrecipes.com why these jars aren't in my collection: www.simplyrecipes.com/dollar-tree-...

The recipe in this week's column is on my summer drinking menu from the first flush or rhubarb. This homemade seltzer is light and refreshing, on its own or in cocktails, and costs pennies to make if you grow rhubarb or have a friend with a plant: flatheadbeacon.com/2026/05/07/r...

Enjoy this bright, light homemade seltzer all summer, with or without alcohol.

I finally cleaned my oven! I put it off for years because the smell created by its self-clean cycle or chemical sprays always drives me out of the house. This option is so much better that I wrote about it for @simplyrecipes.com—and cleaned my sister's oven. www.simplyrecipes.com/never-use-ov...

Taco seasoning has far wider use than hard-shell, ground beef tacos. I put the Tex-Mex blend on grilled corn and asparagus spears and stir it into bean soup. Learn more, and why you should make your own, in my Simply Recipes article: www.simplyrecipes.com/tex-mex-spic...

Recipes really stand out when I have the option to incorporate both homemade cheese and homegrown vegetables. To make that possible any time of year, the version of tikka masala I share in my latest column can be made with frozen or fresh vegetables. flatheadbeacon.com/2026/04/30/f...

This version of the classic Indian dish can use homemade paneer and homegrown vegetables, frozen or fresh.

In tomorrow's column, I'll share one of my favorite uses for homemade paneer: tikka masala. In last week's column, you'll find everything you need to make the cheese that stars in this dish: flatheadbeacon.com/2026/04/23/f...

One little adjustment in technique turns crumbly homemade cheese into firm, sliceable paneer.

A fabulous new preserving book from @bookishjulia.bsky.social comes out next month. I got a sneak peek and tried out her tasty asparagus-end relish. Learn more about this no-waste recipe and her book in my recent article for @simplyrecipes.com: www.simplyrecipes.com/never-toss-a...

Pierogi make one of those meals that I love to have in the freezer: Pull them out, throw them in a pan with a little butter or oil, and fry until unthawed in the center and deliciously browned on the surface. I share my start-to-finish recipe in my latest column: flatheadbeacon.com/2026/04/16/p...

Homemade pierogi take time to fill and fold but cook quickly and freeze well for later last-minute meals.

Potatoes and homemade lemon cheese make a perfect pairing of subtle flavors. See for yourself tonight in the side dish I shared in last week's column, and then use the same recipe as a filling for the scratch-made pierogi coming up later this week. flatheadbeacon.com/2026/04/09/r...

Homemade cheese that doesn’t melt mixes into rustic mashers that work as a side dish or a filling for pierogi.

I'm focusing on homemade cheese this month in my Flathead Beacon column. My easiest cheese recipe went live last week, and tomorrow's column will share one of my favorite ways to use it--if I haven't just eaten it all on sourdough toast! flatheadbeacon.com/2026/04/02/l...

High heat and added acid turn milk into an easy, three-ingredient homemade cheese.

When I'm choosing from among the most basic mushroom varieties in a grocery store, I never hesitate to grab these fungi over milder white button mushrooms. Learn why, and about common mushroom types, in my latest @simplyrecipes.com article. www.simplyrecipes.com/cremini-mush...

I make omelets for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, filling them with dibs and dabs from the fridge but especially handfuls of early crops from the garden, like walking onion tops or chives, sorrel, spinach, and asparagus. Learn more in this week's column. flatheadbeacon.com/2026/03/26/v...

The garden’s first vegetables and herbs shine in this delicious, filling, gluten-free meal.

Create a grain-free pizza crust from scratch by using cheese and egg to bind the cauliflower as it bakes.

The great thing about granola is that it can be as personalized as you want. My latest granola recipe proves the point: gluten-free, nut-free, vegan, and delicious. It's also easy to make, healthier, and more affordable than store-bought options. flatheadbeacon.com/2026/03/12/g...

Oats, quinoa, pumpkin seeds, and agave syrup form the base for this apple- and currant-flavored granola.

This is a gluten-free recipe I make all year: Now featuring mushrooms, Vinegar-Pickled Mustard Eggs, and the last of my storage onions. Soon with my first herbs, asparagus, and peas. Later with zucchini and sweet peppers. What will you add? flatheadbeacon.com/2026/03/05/b...

Enjoy this warming, filling, naturally gluten-free grain bowl as a savory breakfast or later in the day.

I spent several weeks testing 10 nonstick skillets for @thekitchn.bsky.social to find the best options for any budget. I tested not just pans with a “traditional” nonstick coating but also ones with environmentally friendly surfaces. Read my results here: www.thekitchn.com/best-nonstic...

Local peeps: I will be teaching a free workshop Saturday, March 7, at Free the Seeds 2026: Growing Together, presented by Land to Hand. I teach at 12:30 pm as part of the full day of free workshops, a seed giveaway, and other activities. Get all the details here: landtohandmt.org/programs/fre...

Sometimes it's the little things: in this case, little prep bowls that have become a mainstay in my kitchen. Read about why I love them and how I use them in my recent article for @simplyrecipes.com: www.simplyrecipes.com/dollar-tree-...

Pickled onions are some of the easiest pickles you can make, any time of year. In my recent article for @simplyrecipes.com, Chef Rick Martinez explains why pickled red onions make everything taste better and I share my quickest pickled onion technique. www.simplyrecipes.com/red-onion-tr...

With the three-ingredient recipe in my latest column, there are so many potential upgrades. Brown butter or honey? Chocolate dip or cinnamon-sugar sprinkle? Citrus zest, crystallized ginger, or sesame seeds? Sweet spices or savory herbs? Which ones will you choose? flatheadbeacon.com/2026/02/26/b...

Stick with my three-ingredient recipe, or make it your own with custom flavors and shapes.

I'm finally getting around to sharing last week's column. It's one of my favorite cold-weather meals, combining winter squash with summer vegetables plucked from the freezer into a warming curry. flatheadbeacon.com/2026/02/19/s...

Want the most nooks and crannies in your English muffins? Of course you do. I share the best way to achieve that—thoroughly tested with my homemade Stovetop Sourdough English Muffins—in my recent article for @simplyrecipes.com: www.simplyrecipes.com/how-to-split...

I have Three Forks Grille in Columbia Falls to thank for inspiring the sandwich in this week's column. The spinoff deli that served a similar Reuben was short lived (although the main restaurant still creates amazing dinners). So the best sandwich is now DIY. flatheadbeacon.com/2026/02/12/v...

Smoky beets make a delicious filling for a vegetarian Reuben, especially when you layer in homemade condiments.

Looking for ways to upgrade the nibbles at your Super Bowl party (or however else you plan to enjoy Sunday)? Whip up the easy Tangy Pickle Dip in my latest column. If you plan ahead, you can toast up homemade sourdough bagel chips as dippers. flatheadbeacon.com/2026/02/05/t...

Goat cheese, yogurt, and up to three kinds of pickles create a bold dip that tastes delicious on homemade bagel chips.

I stopped keeping garlic powder in my kitchen at one point because it always clumped up. Then I discovered the trick I share in my latest article for @simplyrecipes.com. It works so well I now dry my homegrown garlic and grind it into powder. www.simplyrecipes.com/how-to-keep-...

I bet you didn't expect me, who hasn't cooked or eaten chicken in decades, to share tips on the best way to bake it at Simply Recipes. But no one expected me to review a Sugar Ray show back in the day either. Enjoy. www.simplyrecipes.com/crispiest-ov...

In my first piece in a long time for @thekitchn.bsky.social, I tested all sorts of food in Carote's super affordable, nonstick, detachable handle cookware. Yes, even chicken! Check out my review: www.thekitchn.com/carote-cookw...

In this week's @flatheadbeacon column, I share my straight-up, no-nonsense rye loaf. Just wild yeast, water, flour, and salt: no instant coffee, cocoa powder, caraway, corn syrup, or other fillers. It's dark, tangy, and delicious. flatheadbeacon.com/2026/01/29/s...

Changing the flours and adjusting the technique gives my classic loaf a new texture and flavor.

Whether you want more zing and flavor in your tuna salad or you're just out of mayo, I've got the upgrade for you in my latest piece for @simplyrecipes.com. www.simplyrecipes.com/tuna-salad-y...

It's rare for me to make a recipe without tweaking it, even the first time I try it, but Meera Sodha's Vegan Potato and Cabbage Curry sounded so good that I made it exactly as written—and still do. Learn why in my recent @simplyrecipes.com article. www.simplyrecipes.com/meera-sodha-...

It seems natural to store onions and potatoes together, but it's actually one of the fastest ways to see them sprout and rot. Learn why, and get my tips that let me store potatoes and onions for months, in my latest for @simplyrecipes.com. www.simplyrecipes.com/never-store-...

In last week's column I shared my recipe for homemade sourdough bagels, and this week I explain how to turn those bagels into chips. You can make these chips from store-bought bagels too, but really, who can resist homemade sourdough ones? flatheadbeacon.com/2026/01/22/p...