Jennie Schacht

Jump at the chance to cook with spring onions this season – they're part of the same family as green onions and are distinguished by their bulbs, which have a sweet, mellow flavor. For a make-ahead meal, pour into a buttered casserole dish, let cool and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When ready to eat, sprinkle with panko, mist the top with cooking spray and bake in 375˚F oven until hot and bubbly.

Scoop up the creamy hummus, crispy chickpeas and tangy salad with pita wedges, or serve it all tucked into a halved pita pocket for dinner on the go. If you have the ingredients on hand, make a quick sauce with Greek yogurt, lemon juice and chopped fresh mint and drizzle over the spiced chickpeas.

You’ll save time (and need fewer ingredients) by using one spicy dressing as both a marinade for the fish and a dressing for the slaw. There’s plenty of room for play with this recipe – turn up the heat by adding more sriracha or jalapeño peppers, or toss in handfuls of chopped cilantro and mint for extra freshness. Instead of a grill pan, you can cook the fish on your barbecue or broil on a foil-lined baking sheet.

Who says French toast has to be sweet? Here, savory mushrooms are cooked with butter, thyme and milk and spooned over caraway rye French toast for a satisfying breakfast-for-dinner.

This easy asparagus and lemon ricotta flatbread is ready in just 30 minutes and costs just $10 to make, making it a perfect choice for a budget weeknight meal.