The Best of Spring Cooking with Ali Slagle

Hello, and welcome back to the show! Today’s episode brought me so much joy, and I think you’re going to love it (but take warning: it will make you hungry). I speak with Ali Slagle, author of the James Beard award-nominated cookbook I Dream of Dinner (So You Don't Have To) and publisher of the Substack

40 Ingredients Forever

. She’s also a frequent contributor to the New York Times.

Ali and I share our favorite ways to use spring ingredients, from asparagus, to peas, to new potatoes, rhubarb, lamb and more. We discuss ways to make spring cooking not only easier, but also more delicious, offering specific recipe ideas, cooking techniques and prep tips. We also share our favorite spring entertaining menus, which would be perfect for Easter this weekend. 

I recorded the conversation in early March on a gray, cold day, and this conversation truly was “therapy,” as Ali stated. I think you’re going to walk away with actionable cooking tips, but also uplifted and excited to start cooking. I’ve included links below to many of the recipes that we discussed! 

You can listen to (or watch!) the episode right here, or, better yet, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Pandora. You can also now watch the full episode videos on YouTube (p.s. if you haven’t subscribed to the channel yet, please do!).

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xo, Nicki

Recipes mentioned in the episode (in the order mentioned):

• Chicken Paillard with Fingerling Potato & Dandelion Greens Salad

• Snap Pea Salad with Walnuts & Parmesan

• Ottolenghi Crispy Coconut Asparagus and Green Bean Salad

• Ina Garten’s Baby Potatoes in a Pot

• Rhubarb Brown Butter Bars

• Roasted Strawberries & Rhubarb

• Strawberry Crisp

• Crispy Lamb and Lemon Rice 

• Lamb Flatbread Pizzas

• Arugula Salad with Parmesan 

• Whipped Ricotta Crostini

• Lemon Garlic Roasted Chicken

Links:

• Ali’s Newsletter,

  40 Ingredients Forever

• Find Ali on Instagram

• Ali’s cookbook, I Dream of Dinner (so You Don't Have To)

Recent Episodes:

Beyond Just Food: Whole Life Nourishment with Vaness Henry

• Beyond Just Food: Whole Life Nourishment with Vaness Henry | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

• Intuition, Food & Freedom with Bella Lively | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

• Gaining Trust in Our Bodies Through Stillness with Nicki Sizemore | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

• Food as Connection + Cooking Winter Vegetables with Hetty McKinnon | Apple Podcasts | Spotify