Spring Thaw
Sesame Noodle Bowl Recipe, 8 Asparagus Recipes, a local store recommendation and my favorite Summer t shirt.
I'm sorry this is late. I was on a new shoot for “Taste Buds with Stephanie” with
, and I completely forgot to send it!Jackie has an excellent blog and Instagram account @sweetgirltreatsmn all about treats, and her family was so welcoming and kind to our crew. She is a fantastic follow!




I have a lot of suggestions today to get us closer to Spring…
What am I planting:
I am excited about all my babies getting ready to go into the garden. I am hardening them off outside and trying to keep the squirrels from eating them.
These are Early Girls and New Girls. My entire crop has to grow in 65 days or less.
Follow local gals @minnesotagardener, who has great flowers, and @forksinthedirt for veggie lovers to see what’s growing in their yards and their Winter sowing results.
Fresh Veggies have me thinking of Sesame Noodle Bowls with that awesome peanut sauce and asparagus recipes.
What am I cooking:
This time of year, I crave everything fresh. It’s almost like your body knows Spring is coming, and you must load up on fresh foods. Try this Sesame Noodle Bowl from my site.
Ingredients
1 cup cooked spaghetti noodles, according to package directions, tossed with 1/4 cup sesame vinaigrette (recipe below)
2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage
1/3 cup edamame
1/2 cup chopped or sliced red pepper
1 sliced Persian cucumber
One chopped scallion with white and green parts
1/3 cup chopped cilantro

Here are a few other noodle bowls
We got crazy about Asparagus on the Jason Show. I made
Here are 8 Asparagus recipes for the upcoming season. I grow Asparagus at Hilltop in Ely, and last year was a bumper crop, so I am excited to see what we get this year.
What I am reading:
Culinary Leverage: A Journey Through the Heat is about exposing the dysfunction of an industry through the eyes of a highly decorated chef who, through hard-won experience, resilience and grief, soul searching and moments of reckoning, finds a healthier way forward, not just for himself but for the restaurant business as a whole.
At the age of twenty-three, Adam and Jeanie Janas Ritter moved from Las Vegas, NV, to Healdsburg, CA, to work with Chef Douglas Keane at the Two Michelin Starred Cyrus Restaurant. This was a pivotal time in their lives and careers, and it was with Chef Doug that they honed many of the foundational skills that continue to shape who they are as people and restaurateurs today. Most importantly, they learned that fine dining service can be both professional and fun, that food can be precise yet deeply satisfying, and that when you invest in the people you work with, you gain the good fortune of having them become your family.
I will be at the dinner on April 29 at Bûcheron to celebrate the release of his inspiring new book, paired with a 5-course tasting menu. With an intimate understanding of Chef Douglas’ cuisine, Chef Adam is excited to revisit his favorite Cyrus classics in our Bûcheron setting.
Ill let you know how it is.
What Am I Wearing:
I found my - this season’s Summer t-shirt at Garnet Hill. I like the way it washes and that the sleeves are more of a cap sleeve and its not too tight around the belly:
I also bought a few dresses at the cute boutique in the North Loop called Statement Boutique. The owner brought me many items in the dressing room that I likely would not have picked, and they worked! I love helping with shopping; I am terrible at it, and she was spot on. I bought this dress and a few others.
Looking for Something fun to do for Mothers Day? My friend David Kisan @SipandBloom is planning an amazing experience at the Four Seasons Hotel and you can can 10$ on tickets!



Tickets are available for purchase at sip-n-bloom.com and we would like to offer your monthly email audience $10 off tickets using the code BUDS10.
Event Details:
Date: May 11, 2025
Location: Four Seasons Minneapolis - Mill City Ballroom
Tickets: Available now at sip-n-bloom.com
Attendees will have access to a stunning selection of flowers, with VIP upgrades available for premium floral choices and exclusive perks.
Early booking is highly recommended, as tickets are expected to sell out fast.