At the tail-end of winter, I’m often tempted to buy out-of-season produce flown in from far-flung regions. This week I’m taking a big breath, putting the asparagus down, and giving rutabagas and potatoes a last hurrah. They’re the perfect additions to this Thai-inspired chicken soup, adding a hearty note that feels just right for the equinox.

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Wendelien’s Floating Kitchen

Day 13: Wednesday, March 19
Assignment: Find 5 new recipes to make for dinner
The Cooking Cure: See all assignments so far here

Sometimes deciding what to cook is the toughest part of making dinner, don’t you think? Whether you’re in a total dinner rut or, the opposite, you’re overwhelmed with the number of recipes you’re constantly accumulating, the problem is the same: taking time to make a conscious choice about what to have for dinner.

Today, your assignment is to make that time. Set aside part of your day to sift through your cookbooks, comb your favorite blogs and magazines, and sort through your recipe box. Give yourself the time you need to find some recipes that make you excited for dinner.

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Rice and beans makes for the ultimate budget meal — especially if you cook dried beans from scratch — but that doesn’t mean your dinner has to be boring. Simmered with fragrant spices, wrapped up in a tortilla, baked into a comforting casserole, this combination can be cooked up in a variety of ways that manage to be satisfying and tasty, without breaking the bank.

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Q: Can I use the leftover broth from corned beef and cabbage in a soup the next day?

Sent by Jane

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I see monolithic stone backsplashes like these and think expensive — prohibitively so, but I still can’t help but pore over them as if a mason were standing by waiting for me to decide on one for my own kitchen. The beauty of natural stone is really allowed to shine in the running veins of large slabs, making backsplashes like this the focal point of the room.

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