There is a blog, called Simply Recipes, that is reliable in every way. It is appropriately named, it is well maintained, and every recipe I have tried has met my every expectation. The clever woman behind the effort is Elise Bauer, and I like to think that if we lived near each other, we would be friends. It seems she was one of the first people who blogged about recipes, which must be how she got such a straightforward name for her website. She takes all the pictures, tries all the recipes before sharing them (or creates them herself), provides clear direction and suggestions, and posts regularly. Her recipes are organized by season and by ingredient and by category, and easily searched.

I have made a lot of her recipes, and with great success. I also find that if I’m stumped about what to make, browsing around on her website is a quick way to get inspired or to chase down a good idea for a particular ingredient. Here are some of my favorites, directly linked in the hope that you will explore her whole website yourself. Enjoy!

Chicken Piccata – an easy way to make chicken seem fancy.

Cajun Chicken Salad – one of my favorite things to have on hand for lunch!

Stuffed Zucchini with Turkey Sausage – a huge hit last summer, and a great way to manage more than one monster zucchini!

Yes, this enormous vegetable did grow in our garden.

Grilled Skirt Steak Skewers – hands down the best grilled meat that I have assisted in preparing.

Hamburger and Macaroni – basic, cozy, delicious.

Franks and Sauerkraut Paprikash – hotdogs and sauerkraut and sour cream! Hurrah!

Poached Salmon – just as promised.

Easy Coconut Shrimp Curry – versatile and quick!

Spring Minestrone Soup – each spring, I look forward to making this flavorful soup.

Pickled Beets – a nice side dish, or addition to salads.

Zucchini Bread – reason enough to grow zucchini again this summer.