Blog Posts by Food52

Every week at Food52.com, we're digging up Genius Recipes -- the ones that make us rethink cooking myths, get us talking, and change the way we cook.

Today: St. Patrick's Day gets spring fever.

- Kristen Miglore, Senior Editor, Food52.com

Corned beef and cabbage never really had a fighting chance.

As St. Patrick's Day rolls in with the last days of winter, we're already itching for a little excitement (this might explain the green beer).

While it's a dish that's comforting in its reverent plainness, that's about the best it could hope for -- until now.

>> RELATED: The best Irish Brown Soda Quick Bread.

Enter Suzanne Goin, a chef more synonymous with sunny California farmers' markets and Mediterranean cooking than economic meats and carbs. (Her restaurant in L.A. is named after a French olive -- who is she to tell us how to make our Irish-American stew?)

But perhaps that's just what corned beef and cabbage was waiting for all this time: a little

In the culinary world, vegans tend to get a bad rap. They're stereotyped as anemic zealots, ready to crash our dinner parties wielding stalks of celery as they try to force us to espouse the virtues of shunning meat. In reality, vegan food can be a goldmine of adventurous flavors for even the most carnivorous amongst us.

Armed with this knowledge and a dose of healthy curiosity, we challenged ourselves to come up with an complete plant-based feast that celebrates seasonal vegetables in an entirely indulgent way.

• Check out more vegan and vegetarian recipes on FOOD52.
• Still searching for dinner inspiration? Browse through our weeknight-friendly Dinner Tonight menus.
• Got a question in the kitchen? The Food52 Hotline is here to help!

Paul Bertolli's Cauliflower Soup by Genius Recipes

This soup might seem plain, but trust us. Paul Bertolli, who was at the helm of Chez Panisse and Oliveto for over 20 years, knows exactly how to make a vegetable

Inspiration for tonight's dinner: good ol' meat and potatoes. A steak, medium-rare please, and some tangy, goat cheesey mashed potatoes. A meal that sticks to the ribs and pulls no punches. It comes together gosh darn fast, too, and boy oh boy does it leave a person feeling fed. Tuck in, folks.

As always, less than 60 minutes stands between you and tonights' dinner. This one is especially easy - just a quick stop at the store for some nice fresh steaks and you're golden. Fine more delicious steak dinners and ideas for dinner tonight on food52.com!

Broiled New York Steak by coffeefoodwritergirl

Serves 2-4

2 pieces New York Steak (2 1/2 inch thick - trimmed)
2 tablespoons powdered mustard
2 teaspoons powdered garlic
2 teaspoons sea salt
2 teaspoons seasoning salt
4 teaspoons fresh ground pepper (course)
2 tablespoons olive oil

Let steaks come to room temperature (if cold) and pre-heat broiler. Make sure rack is set so that steaks are about 8 inches

There are many reasons to celebrate this Saturday: it's the weekend, it's St. Patrick's Day, and it's the beginning of spring. Dust off those baskets, those blankets, and those sunglasses -- and grab a few beers. You deserve a long, leisurely picnic out in the sun; an afternoon nap is optional, but recommended.

• Need more picnic-worth salads? Check out our recipes here.
• Browse through our sandwich recipes for some more picnic ideas.
• Got a question in the kitchen? The Food52 Hotline is here to help!

Mom's Flapjacks by Londonfoodieny

Probably not the sort of flapjacks you have in mind, these are what all granola bars aspire to be. Chewy, crispy and rich with butter, these oatmeal squares (or wedges, like ours) are made with golden syrup (the British answer to maple syrup, only milder), rolled oats, and a variety of seeds (pumpkin, sesame and sunflower). - Amanda & Merrill

Serves 9-20 depending on greediness
1 cup butter
2/3 cups sugar
heaped 1/3

One-pot meals are the gastronomical equivalent of the friend that everyone likes to have around -- they're pleasant, flexible, low-key, and great with crowds. So we're serving up seven versatile dinners that can all be prepared in a single pot. From hearty beef stews and spicy jambalaya to some lighter kale-based fare, here are a variety of tastes to awaken your palate, brought to you by the spirited home cooks' community at Food52.

Delicious, impressive meals without a sink full of cookware to scrub down after the fact? Sounds like a one-pot wonder to us.

• Browse through hundreds of our one-pot recipes here.
• When we need more easy weeknight meals, we know we can count on dinner always being fuss-free when Jenny's in the Kitchen.
• Got a burning food-related question? Turn to the Food52 Hotline for help.

Secret Ingredient Beef Stew by SmallKitchCara

This savory, rich stew may be named after one secret ingredient, but it's because of a complex mix

Inspiration for tonight's dinner: the all-American soda fountain. Honest food for honest folks. A juicy, gooey mess of a Patty Melt, followed by a big bowl of Chocolate Pudding. Soda jerk and sparkly red vinyl not included.

Looking for more delicious burger or chocolate dessert recipes? Join the party over at food52.com!

Patty Melt by cheese1227

Serves 2

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
3-4 Tablespoons butter, softened and divided
6 button mushrooms, sliced
½ sweet onion, sliced thin, half-moon slices
4 slices of oval-shaped, light rye bread
4 ounces, thinly sliced Gruyere cheese
Mayonnaise (optional)
Pickles (absolutely crucial garnish)

1. Mix ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper thoroughly. Divide mixture and form into two, oval patties. I like to make thinner patties, but shape them so that when they are fully cooked, they cover

There's something beautiful about a pan of baked pasta. It's hot. It's cheesy. And it has that crusty cap crowning the top of it, the accessory that mere bowls of pasta can't match. Before it gets too warm outside, tuck into one of these dishes -- dishes that double as a quick weeknight meal or a dinner-party showstopper. The leftovers (if there are any) will heat up perfectly the next day.

• For more simple, homey pasta dishes, check out our 9 Weeknight Pastas.
• Not in the mood for pasta? Try out our recipe for Eggplant Parmesan.
• Got a question in the kitchen? The Food52 Hotline is here to help!

Jennie's Homemade Manicotti by Jennifer Perillo

A truly unique take on baked pasta, this recipe requires a little faith, but not all that much work considering the results. You just whiz the batter up in a blender, and then all you need to do is crank out 10 or so perfect crepes to roll around a simple mixture of ricotta, eggs, parsley and parmesan. Don't

We know, we know. The last thing you want to do in winter is nibble on lettuce leaves, dressing on the side. Rest assured that here at Food52, we'll never subject you to such culinary blasphemy, regardless of the season.

But as much as you want to spend a few months curled under a blanket eating something a) warm b) cheesy c) carbohydrate-laden or d) all of the above, it's a shame to miss out on this season's perfect vegetables (not to mention, all of your necessary nutrients). What makes these salads so ingenious is that they're raw, or nearly so, without being frigid. Serve them up as a light lunch or a side dish at dinner -- you'll be pleased to find that each bite is intensely flavorful.

• Try pairing with soup for a quick and easy weeknight meal.
• Check out our best root vegetable sides for more ideas on how to use in-season vegetables.
• Got a kitchen question? Hit up the Food52 Hotline.

Northern Spy's Kale Salad by Genius Recipes



This salad