These 8 great seasonal recipes were submitted by our readers and tested in Sunset’s kitchen. Mix and match them for a quick weeknight dinner or a special Valentine’s Day meal for your sweetie.
Endive Salad with Bacon, Gorgonzola, and Avocado
Samantha Saffir, Santa Monica
This salad makes great use of the excellent endive and avocados in the markets this time of year. Plus it has just enough richness to satisfy cold-weather appetites.
Prep and cook time: 20 minutes
Greek-Style Lemon Potatoes
Margee Berry, Trout Lake, WA
“I love the flavors of Greek cooking,” Berry says. Here, she uses lemon, fresh oregano, and feta to brighten up russet potatoes. Serve alongside grilled fish or steak.
Prep and cook time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Meyer Lemon–Crab Salad
Elizabeth Farquhar, Logsden, OR
This simple, refreshing salad combines two exceptional West Coast winter ingredients: crab and fresh citrus. Serve as a starter course or as a lunch entrée.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Mexican Chocolate Pots de Crème
Meg Matta, Incline Village, NV
These small, very creamy desserts pack a serious dose of dark chocolate. Spiced with cinnamon and cayenne, they have a subtle, lingering heat.
Prep and cook time: 45 minutes, plus about 3½ hours to chill
Charlotte’s Cocoa Cake
Carol Worthington-Levy, San Jose, CA
Worthington-Levy’s mother-in-law, Charlotte Levy, gave her this recipe, which has all the flavor of rich hot chocolate.
Prep and cook time: About 1 hour
Bourbon-Glazed Shrimp
Brad Hightow, Oakland, CA
This recipe won “Best Seafood Dish” in a local barbecue contest. Hightow recommends using quality Bourbon.
Prep and cook time: About 35 minutes
Blue Cheese Cocktail Crackers
Betty Cornelison, Portland, OR
These savory little bites are great to serve with drinks. They’re also a tasty snack for game day.
Prep and cook time: About 35 minutes
Lemon-Artichoke Chicken
Charlotte Corkery, Auburn, CA
This dish is elegant enough for company but simple enough for weeknight meals. (Valentine’s Day, anyone?)
Prep and cook time: About 1 hour