just served this recipe for dinner! delicious! and simple. added a bit of lemon too ... thanks as always, Heidi

Debuted at #6?!! Hurrah!!! The pasta looks great, perfect for Spring. I'm so excited about your bird photos! I've always wondered what those little ones were. We've always just called them golf-ball birds because of their size. I've seen them at both ends of the state and they never fail to cheer me up! You are lucky to have such curious ones at your place. We have a pair gathering beak-fulls of moss off of our crabapple tree everyday. Must be nesting nearby. Glad to finally know their name thanks to all the other commenters!

My local farmer just bring me extra spring greens, and the asparagus season is starting, so I have plenty for try this very good looking dish http://kitchenvoyage.blogspot.com

great article in whole living!

Oh my goodness!! This has to be one of my favorite posts from your blog! What a charming visitor! Absolutely delightful! And thank you for the lovely recipe! I will definitely try it.

Wow, we can eat pea greens? How come I never thought to try 'em? This means I can get more out of all my sugar snap pea plants this spring!

Delicious recipes and ooh those birds!

What a chubby bird! Love it. I'm excited to make this pasta... I love seasonal recipes. I'm also looking at your list of spring recipes too. There will be lots of cooking to do this weekend :)

I have 2 little girls, your recipes are a fantastic way to eat great food and keep my family healthy. Your new cookbook is my new favorite gift, I've already given away 4! It's a delight to be able to indulge my desire to bake with my desire to keep it healthy!!!

I would love to have your little fluffy friends come visit me while I cook! They are adorable. They totally remind me of the birds in Cinderella that help her dress and clean :)

Looks amazing. Can not wait to try it!

Heidi, I just have to tell you, you are my absolute favorite chef EVER. I bought your Super Natural Cooking a few years ago and since then it has been my cooking BIBLE! The recipes are so unbelievable!! I work at Anthropologie, where we sold your first cookbook, and when anyone was looking for a cookbook recommendation or for a great gift I always took them to your book (and raved and flipped through to show them all my favorite recipes and went on and on and on... they probably were hoping i would shut up!! but they always bought the book :-)) I am quite the cookbook fanatic and have a huge collection, but I rarely ever use other cookbooks. I never get sick of your recipes, I make them over and over every week. I've always been a healthy eater, and have been a vegetarian for 7 years, but you've opened my eyes to so many new ingredients. THANK YOU!! I am a HUGE, HUGE fan. I had no idea about your website until I saw the cookbook giveaway post on Design*Sponge. I am SO happy I found it, I will now be a devoted regular!! I am so thrilled you have released another cookbook... your first is falling apart in my kitchen! Thank you so much for your amazing dishes. I think of you every week as I cook them :-)

this recipe sounds divine! just perfect for spring. and your pictures are stunning. just read your recent feature in whole living magazine. whole living is one of my favorites - congrats on the article!!! cheers, cailen HS: Thanks Cailen!

That little bird just tears me.

This was delicious! I made it with a ton of russian red kale (de-stemmed), asparagus, and green onion. The creaminess of the egg and butter added such a great flavor and texture without being too heavy. I will definitely come back to this one!

I've been a reader of your blog for years (your triple chocolate espresso bean cookies were what won me over). I've been making the journey to vegetarianism over the past year, but have had problems coming up with a standard repertoire of go-to meals that meet my needs and provide me with adequate fuel for my day. Your new book has been just what I needed. FABULOUS! The recipes are yummy, filling and lend themselves to substituting with whatever I have on hand. Thank you!

Thank you to Whole Living for letting me know about your lovely site! Food is love!

My Sicilian grandmother used to make a pasta and egg dish. She used Fideo, melted alittle butter over the hot pasta, tossed in an egg and alittle milk. I usually make this in the winter, it's a good stick to the ribs kind of meal. Never thought to toss in some veggies though! Sounds great. Love your new book!

The pictures of the birds are so precious -- and the pasta looks nourishingly delicious too :)

simple pasta, lovely. avocado with pasta, divine.

Btw, the photos in your new book are amazing! They really capture the beauty of all aspects of cooking. Well done!

Interesting combination of flavors. Great idea. You are blessed to have such precious visitors as well!

LOVED the spring pasta! I roasted the veggies first - asparagus and zucchini, then tossed in some leftover peas. Split into 2 dishes - one with a gluten-free pasta for my GF hubby, the other with fresh fettucini for my son and I. YUM!!

Hello Heidi I spotted a mention of your cookbook last week and thought it offered some great new ideas for feeding myself, husband and 2 young girls healthy and tasty veggie food. They have eaten everything I've made then so far. I just have one question after studying the quinoa patties recipe on page 121. Where does the goat cheese come into play? It's mentioned under the title and in the index but does not appear in the ingredients or the instructions. Thanks so much for the inspiration - I have many cookbooks from all over the world but this is a lovely twist. Best Robyn HS: Hi Robyn! Thanks for the heads up. The recipe is correct, but it should say either Parmesan or Gruyere under the recipe title, I think that's a fix for the next printing. Of course, if you're a goat cheese fan, you can use that in place of the other cheese.

The cute little birdie wants a treat! He probably smelled your good cooking and stopped by to say hello. ;)

Lovely post! What a treat with those wee birdies. Is it wrong but I think I am actually in love with pea shoots? Actually in love with them.

I love this! I have been working so hard to get more healthy recipes because our fmaily enjoys eating a mostly whole foods diet! We eat lots of fruits, veggies and our favorite whole grain is Kamut Wheat. I would love to try this using Kamut pasta!

This is a great recipe. I teach free community cooking classes at a non-profit food and nutrition agency that is similiar to Project Open Hand in SF. I am always looking for recipes that are quick, uncomplicated, and use basic ingredients. I will definitely use this one (and cite you) when our farmers' market finally opens. (I used the green bean recipe from SNC for at least 3 different groups last year). Thanks!

The past look so great! I will have to try cooking it this week :) Xo http://www.ourlivesinanutshell.com/glowing-green-smoothie/

Yesterday I wandered into Books Inc. and there was your lovely book. I'd been reading all the raves and comments and the inspiring samplings you've been posting here...well I broke my vow not to buy another cookbook. Once I had it in my hands I couldn't let it go. It's absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to get started.

The birds are darling. I particularly love your shot of the bird in flight. They look so fragile and scrappy at the same time if that's possible.

Leave it to you to combine 2 of my daughter's favorite foods. AVOCADO on PASTA! I would have never thought of that! I made this with asparagus and peas and it was delicious. I just got the new issue of Whole Living in the mail and your piece is great. You look lovely. If you visit NY again you should take the train up by me and walk around Stone Barns.

I have to add that I've also been loving the cookbook. The recipes are delicious and not too much work so far . . . . I have to thank you for introducing me to brown butter. I had no idea butter held such transformative powers under its unassuming appearance.

They do look like baby juncos, or baby chickadees. Adorable! And as always, your recipe delights the imagination and tempts me into the kitchen.

What a lot of comments.. wow That is a beautiful beautiful bird,, what an amazing experience!!!! The pasta looks wonderful and I will be trying that brand out. I can never get my homemade pasta thin enough so that will be a nice change. thanks

I just licked my monitor. YUM!!!!! And SO many congrats on all your well-deserved success. You obviously love what you do and are extremely dedicated; you deserve all the good stuff that's happening! HS: Thanks Jennifer

Oh Heidi! I am so happy that I get Whole Living and have been led to your wonderful heaven of a blog! I am vegetarian and also gluten free. Your recipes are simple and delicious and I simply can't wait to get your cookbook! And those birds are too cute! Thanks so much for the new place for me to hang out! HS: Welcome Ruth-Ann!

In the past, I often made stir-fried egg-noodles with sugarsnap peas and baby corn cobs. But with my favourite combination of spring vegetables unavailable here, I've been a little stuck for ideas. Any bunch of spring-time greens sounds perfect and a handful of herbs will brighten up the dish, too. Thanks for the inspiration.

I love how simple this recipe is! I will be giving this a try soon!

Those are the cutest little birds. I'm sure they wanted some of your delicious meal too!

This looks great. I love the colors.

So proud of your book success! This pasta is what I need now. Simple and fresh. Oh, and the bird is so sweet. Tell him to send his Valley cousin my way!

Those little puff-ball birdies are so cute! Thanks for taking pics and sharing.

I want the pasta (with some broc rabe, too) and my giant dog wants the bird...thanks!

Hi Heidi, I ordered your new cookbook last Sept. and it came the beginning of the month from Amazon. It is so creative and a great read in addition to the great recipes. Thanks for a wonderful addition to my 101 cookbooks, and many wonderful meals. I put some roasted strawberries with one of the oatmeal recipes - yum!

Heidi I just wanted to let you know that I love your cookbooks! I have both and absolutely love every single recipe I create out of it. I just found out about this website and love that I have found it! Keep up the terrific work you do and let me know if you ever come close to the east coast ( I live in Maine) I would love to get my books signed.

Where have you been all my life! I can't believe I just found you! I love your website - very much needed by the public at large. I am a follower on Twitter and am about to friend you on FB - don't want to miss out on anything you have to publish. Thanks!

Sweet visitors! Those are bushtits. And with dark eyes, they are either immature, or male. Adult females have light eyes. They're very social birds who nest in a cool, pendulous, woven nest so keep an eye out in your trees!

Since I stumbled across your site, I keep thinking how glad I did. I love your red lentil soup with brown rice. And as far as the birds they look like young black eyed juncos. Keep the yummy recipes coming. I can't wait to buy your book. Thanks again.

Congrats on your cookbook success. My little one loved your birdies.

Those adorable little birds are looking for a meal. Feed them. I am sure they heard rumors that your place was the place to be.

I always love your posts, Heidi, but I think these pics of the little birdie friends are just my favorites. Beyond cute!! They really brightened my day :-)

This has to be one my favorite postings ever. My husband and I love the bushtits. Great photos. Thanks, Heidi!

I'm still waiting for my copy! It's taking ages :( Those birds are adorable! Loving the spring pasta dish, pasta is never better than when it's simple and fresh.

I'll probably sound like a complete dork by saying this, but, if those cute little birds are pecking at your window, it usually means they are males. this time of year the males are ready to mate. They will see their reflection and think its another male after their female. on an entirely different note: this pasta recipe looks awesome!

Congratulations on your new cookbook and features. Love your site. And as for your pasta dish...I love anything and everything with pasta and asparagus! Can't wait to get your new cookbook. I enjoy my birds outside my windows as well, especially our new set of mockingbirds. My daughter is busy trying to get them to mock her sounds! Happy Spring!

Fantastic! I never thought about putting avocado in the pasta. And...oh my goodness, those birds are sooo cute!

Any plans to bring your book tour to the east coast. I relocated to DC from Berkeley last fall and have been reminiscing about the Bay Area food and weather through your site--love it.

Your cookbook is fabulous! I am really enjoying it. This pasta looks perfect to me for any season!

Hello Heidi, I love your blogs! And of course your recipes. I live in New Zealand and although our seasons don't match, good food is always in season! If I have one or two ingredients I want to use I just look up your recipes using your ingredient list, and go from there. I love to adapt recipes and experiment, and your recipes are so easy to use that way. Thanks for sharing so generously.

The pasta looks delicious!

Dear Heidi, I am a Japanese blogger living in California. I really love and enjoy your comfort and artistic blog. I want to spread it around by my blog. I would like to use the screen shot of your blog for introducing it. Is that okay for you? Sincerely yours, Shina HS: Sure Shina! Thank you!

Wonderful pasta. I love eating anything and everything green in spring!

Hi Heidi, Yummy spring recipe and great bird photos...those little guys are called Bushtits. I love your blog!

Loved seeing you in Whole Living. HS: Thanks Ali :)

hey Heidi, just want to thank you for this blog. i love that you wrote about your little birds - they are beautiful and i know why they come to your kitchen window - it's for your light. don't ever stop writing and photographing. HS: Thanks Jeff, that's very nice of you to say. Hope your weekend was great.

I love all of your recipes and am anxious to get your cookbook - there's something about a book that I just like better no matter how nice it is to read your blog and get recipes that way, as well. Thanks for this recipe, perfect as I have a ton of asparagus and was going to look for a soup recipe. Now I can make your pasta instead.

Oh! What lovely kitchen companions! Those birds are precious indeed! The pasta looks perfect too! Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

Hi Heidi, Thanks for the wonderful recipe. I can't wait to try it. I picked up your new book the other day, and sat down yesterday and read it cover to cover. Last night for dinner we had the Wild Rice Casserole, and it was fantastic. I have one question however. Both myself and my daughter are allergic to soy. What would you offer as an alternative to tofu in the recipes in your book, that would be in the spirit of the intended flavors/textures? Thanks!

What a delightful photo of the bird peeking around the corner of the window. A moment caught in time.

Congrats! for the 8 pages in whole living!

I turned my neighbor on to your wonderful writing, pictures, and of course, recipes a few years ago. She repaid me by presenting me with a signed copy of your new...cookbook. I hesitate, because it's more like the pleasures of a really good book, book. If you know what I mean! Just made the Macaroon Tart for my daughter's birthday 'cake.' Too yummy! What I really sat down to post, was after reading today's installment, I'm delighted to see it's the same Heidi we've come to love. Although all the accolades are so deserved, and no one would blame you for being the tiniest bit smug with your success, you're right back to doing what you do best - sharing with us your words, pictures and tasty dishes. Thank you!

Your pasta looks fantastic and those little birds are so cute! It was great meeting you yesterday at Mrs. Dalloway's. I can't wait to start making some of the recipes from your book!

I love your new cookbook Heidi :) Thank you!!

Heidi - The cookbook is amazing. I made both the baked oatmeal AND the oatcakes this morning. Looks like some variation of spring pasta is on the docket for dinner. Thanks for feeding us!

Your Spring pasta looks scrumptious! I will for sure try it. I don't understand how the eggs don't scramble. You can't even see them in the picture though. Can you fill me in Heidi? Thank you so much.

We just marked out calendar for April 30. We can't wait for the market and can't wait to meet someone we already feel we know!

This sounds healthy, simple and, most importantly, delicious! Plus, the pictures, as always, are gorgeous; the bird is adorable.

This post was so fine. I am about to buy your cookbook so that will be a great pleasure also.] Photos were above and beyond.

I have to eat low carb/ gluten free / hi protein so I can't indulge in most of yr recipes but I cook select things for my hubby (he's vegetarian) and they never disappoint. I'll make him this pasta tonite and dream of those little birds making a trip to NYC! :) Great photos, thanks for all you do!

Birds are fearless little creatures. It's pretty amazing actually. Love the photo of the one poking its head around the corner. Great shot! Spring pasta dishes always make me smile. Served with a big glass of wine, of course.

Oh my word, that little bird is so utterly adorable and your description - "tiny pom-poms with bodies no longer than my thumb" - was just lovely. The pasta is slightly less adorable but I suspect no less lovely! It really does look delicious, just the thing for this time of year.

Your little fluffy friend is so sweet... I'm amazed you could get so close to him! My copy of Super Natural Every Day just arrived and I can't wait to try out so many of the recipes... but this spring pasta looks so delicious too... decisions, decisions!

Oh. My. I'm pretty sure my mouth watered looking at that big bowl of green pasta love. This is my favorite way to create a dish - taking what is leftover and surprising us with a brilliant new something. I'll be trying this asap. You use of avocado is always inspiring. They're just the best, you know. Still love, love, loving your cookbook. :)

Heidi, I could be completely wrong, but I have looked for another way to contact you (email etc.) but I have not been able to find it. I have been following your blog religiously and I am now one of your biggest fans! I am a junior at University of Colorado at Boulder and I am aspiring cook. I live and breathe food; when I am not eating or cooking, I am thinking of new ways to combine flavors or exploring new food blogs online. I do not know if you are interested but more than anything I would love the opportunity to intern for you. I would love the opportunity to talk to you about your life and how you began on this path. My email is [email protected] and I couldn't tell you how much hearing from you would mean. Thank you, Zoey Ripple

Heidi, I could be completely wrong, but I have looked for another way to contact you (email etc.) but I have not been able to find it. I have been following your blog religiously and I am now one of your biggest fans! I am a junior at University of Colorado at Boulder and I am aspiring cook. I live and breathe food; when I am not eating or cooking, I am thinking of new ways to combine flavors or exploring new food blogs online. I do not know if you are interested but more than anything I would love the opportunity to intern for you. I would love the opportunity to talk to you about your life and how you began on this path. My email is [email protected] and I couldn't tell you how much hearing from you would mean. Thank you, Zoey Ripple

Heidi, this is sooo how I cook everyday. Something left made into something new. I just made a version of your spring pasta, but with some frozen brown rice I had thawing. It turned out delicious like a healthy, fresh (un) fried rice. Thx~

I think those are the cutest, fluffiest birdies I've ever seen!! I would love if some would come visit my window. oh, and that pasta looks beautiful too!

Brilliant! I often have leftover pasta in the fridge and have never thought to throw in an egg. Congratulations on the success of your book!

I like the addition of eggs to leftover pasta. I have added veggies, but the eggs would add moisture and substance. I like tips like this that I can apply to quick after work meals. Your book is on order and I'm anxious for the post to deliver. Company in the kitchen is so nice. -Brenda

I have never seen Bushtits and am so jealous that you have these adorable little birds visit your kitchen - so so cute! Pea shoots? Gotta look that up...

Love those sweet birds! And congrats on #6 on the NY Times Bestseller list. Such a great accomplishment!

Oh my goodness - how cute are those sweet birds? You make me want to move to a place where birds hang out on the patio!

Yum.. I've been making variations of this a lot lately, but without the eggs, so I will try adding them next time. Speaking of eggs, the unda-style quesadillas have become a regular here too - Love Them! They pulled me through a few tough moments when I was tempted to indulge in the less-than-super-natural. Thanks so much for that great recipe. And, as far as sweet little birds, when I lived in AZ, the migrating hummingbirds would tap at my kitchen window when the feeder was empty. Adorable!!

Your little visitors are adorable and totally made me smile. Thanks for sharing, Heidi :)

They are adorable, not to mention that your pasta looks so delicious. I just had pappardelle pasta with chicken thigh, mushroom and baby spinach for brunch. I think I try the combination of this and your pasta sometime next week.

Hi I also have regular bushtit visitors who sometimes snuggle up on the balcony trellis when the weather is bad. Lately they have been absent as it's mating time, so the chickadees and sparrows have been more frequent. This link is a photo I took a while ago and posted on my own blog. http://www.thedelicious.net/2011/01/not-content-with-just-delighting-us.html

Love this fresh, green pasta dish. Nothing better at this time of the year.

Great article! And your feathered visitors are Western bushtits....so cute!

I love your online recipes and try most of them. I recently order both SNC and SNED and love the format, photos and recipes. I am not vegetarian but I guess a flexitarian. I do cook vegetarian at least 2-3/week and vegan about 1/week. Your books are an inspiration and I have so many new recipes to try with the grains and flours in my pantry. Thank you for these!!!

Just got my issue of Whole Living featuring you! Beautiful pictures (as usual). And lovely article too. Trying this pasta this evening! Thanks again for this blog, both your amazing cookbooks and for being you. :)

Another fantastic recipe that makes me want to play with fresh green flavours. Your new book arrived in the UK post this week! Woohoo! I think I have looked at every single page at least twice already. Being a healthy bread fiend with a Swedish husband my first recipe from it had to be the rye soda bread! Perfect! Words can't describe how wholesome and great tasting it is. And I'm not even joking. You, my dear, absolutely rock!

Sunday morning, flipping through my new Whole Living and this is how I discovered 101 cookbooks! Great and fresh pasta recipe. Definitely on menu tonight. I have leftover almond meal, I think I will sprinkle that on top. I have little finches outside my kitchen window. They look sort of the same, but they have yellow or red/orange bellies. I feed them nyger seed and they swarm! Thank you Heidi for your beautiful work!

OMG, could those birds BE any cuter?! So sweet. The pasta looks delicious, too - I will definitely try it! Congrats on all of your success, Heidi, it's very well-deserved! :)

Those little birds are pretty amazing. Lucky you.

This looks every bit as good as it sounds! Love your photographs and your recipes of course. Any time time you can combine fresh asparagus and/or peas with pasta, it's a beautiful thing as far as I'm concerned. Great idea adding avocado too. I'll have to come up with a sauce for the other family members who unfortunately for me don't share same appreciation for simple and fresh meals like this gem from Heidi.

You have the perfect company! How adorable that little bird ! I would peek through your kitchen window too if i was a bird teeheehee Did you give her/him any food ?

I have the same photos of some of my own pom-pom friends! Amazing how they aren't afraid to let you get so close to them on the other side of the glass, isn't it? I've observed them tirelessly attempt to fly through every window of my house for hours on end. They've nested just outside our slider.

Pea shoots are so trendy right now! I just did a spring pasta with an avocado cream sauce. You'd love it, Heidi!

That first photograph of your bird friend is one of the most adorable photographs I have EVER seen. EVER. I laughed out loud. alone, in my room, at the cuteness. I think my roommates know I'm not studying. The pasta also looks delectable :) - long time reader from the yukon!

the little bird is so adorable and fluffly and by the way the pasta looks really refreshing

Hi Heidi....the birds are too sweet! Just starting birding here in CT! It's great fun. I can't find Pom Poms in my two books I just bought at our library's book sale. Maybe they're CA birds. The recipe sounds yummy too.

That pasta looks so good! And what great pictures of those cute little birds!

The birds are so cute! We used to have a family of doves in the tree outside our house and I would sit on the steps for days watching them. I was hoping to make it out to Berkeley yesterday for your event but sadly was a bit too exhausted after running my first marathon. I have your oatcakes in the oven right now though, and I am sure they will not disappoint! Your book is beautiful by the way.

Yes, bushtits I am sure... recipe looks great! I know what I am having for dinner tonite!

Yes, they are bushtits! So cute. They flit around in flocks, constantly calling to each other. They're often in my yard picking bugs out of the trees.

This looks delicious - maybe even good enough to venture out into the Portland drizzle this morning to get some veggies from the Farmer's Market :) I have been cooking my way through Super Natural Every Day. I've made the avocado salad about 10 times now and I can't get enough of it. I subbed hard boiled eggs for the avocados the other day and it came out great. I blogged about it here. HS: Genius Morgan!

Your fine feathered friends remind me of the fearless catbirds we have here in the mid-atlantic region of the east coast. I'm lucky to have a wildlife preserve behind my house, and the highlight of my morning is being greeted by an overly excited catbird waiting for my breakfast offering of golden raisins and oranges. I'm guessing it's no mistake your bushtits found the Queen of Seed - ha! Got sunflower seeds?!

Love the colour of this dish, yum! I too have little kitchen friend, except mine are a couple of curious squirrels.

Look at that adorable little puffball. What a great kitchen companion! Spring has sprung and this recipe, like all your work, just epitomizes the season: Fresh, nourishing, awake and alive. Glad to read things are all going so well for you at present; your blog continues to be a pure delight.

those are gorgeous photos of those birds! so sweet. and the pasta looks amazing.

Your little bird friends are adorable, I woke up this morning to a woodpecker pecking outside my window, I just love sights and sounds of spring.

Are the eggs used the same way as in a spaghetti carbonara, just to glisten and coat everything, or should they congeal? HS: Hi Caroline, quite honestly, somewhere in the middle. If I wanted things more glisten-y and coated I'd likely stir some reserved pasta water, broth, and/or cream back in with the eggs. But I was trying to keep things a bit less decadent for this particular meal.

ohh Heidi, what sweet little birdies. They know that you're a foodie and will eventually feed them a healthy birdie meal! They're call "bushtits" seriously?? LOL!!! :))))) HA HA! I'm laughing out loud over here, by myself....

This sounds perfect for the warm weather we've been having!

Just looking at your food makes me feel healthier. I love your approach to food, and how you're a master at bringing out the flavour from simple things in the healthiest manner possible.

Lovely - I like the carbonara-esque touch with the eggs. A good addition to the repertoire of ways to get protein into vegetarian dishes without adding a load of cheese. p.s making your quinoa patties from your delicious new book * tonight *

Definitely bushtits!

What cute fluffy little birds! Oh my, they are adorable. I can't wait for fresh local asparagus - I bet that would taste amazing!

Wonderful recipe, just in time for the farmer's market this morning! Looking forward to trying this. The pics of the little bird brought me much cheer as well!

Another beautiful post and proof that you're so special even the beautiful little creatures love you as much as we do.

Your book is so lovely, it certainly deserves it's good debut. The photo where the little fluff ball peeking in the window made me smile. Best, Jessica

The above should have read "zested some lemon". Not seated somelemon!

This email arrived at 11:32 am and I was making it at 11:40 am! It was fabulous, easy and best of all my children (5 and 7) were begging for more (a first). I made it with asparagus cut in small rounds and Cipriani pappadelle. I seated someclemon to add in the end, as well as a squeeze of lemon. And some freshly grated Parmesan before serving. Outstanding.

Love the addition of avocado and herbs on top. Makes for a nice alternative to a gluggy, creamy sauce, especially with all those delicate spring veggies!

Heidi - I could be wrong, being only an occasional backyard birder myself, but your little friends look like Bushtits. From "The Sibley Guide To Birds" - "This tiny distinctive species - a disheveled-looking, long-tailed ball of fluff - is seen in lively, chattering flocks except when nesting." From time to time a little clutch of them will come thru our yard and roost in the favored bird tree, gossiping and bickering away. They don't ever stay for very long - they seem to be the sort that prefer a busy social calendar. I'm sure if you put some bread crumbs or some of your left over cooking seeds, they'd pester you even more. A saucer of fresh water might even prompt a little bath! Thanks for another lovely post.

Looking forward to trying this recipe, Heidi. This morning, it's multigrain pancakes from Super Natural Every Day - loving every recipe. I think your adorable feathered friends are bushtits.

These little gray birds are a family group of full grown Bushtits. Common, breeding residents of Santa Clara Valley. Nests look like sweat socks dragged through a field of plant debris. High twittering little voices. Most field trips with Santa Clara Audubon are free-scvas.org. and there is a good chance you will see Bushtits.

As another person posted, those little birds are called bushtits (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bushtit/id). I see them in my yard all of the time, but rarely are they willing to hang around as close to a window as your little guys. They make a lovely little chirp that I find very calming. You are extremely blessed to have such a close encounter!

Awwww...I miss having the world outside visit me through the kitchen window. My apartment is one of those built like a hotel where all my windows face other peoples windows. Those birdies are so cute, and funny. Seems so much like a Cinderella story of sorts. It was so nice to see you yesterday at Mrs. Dunnaway's. I was going to ask you for a photo but thought it would be too much. I just adore everything about your style of writing, living and cooking. You have truly been my Julia Child, and I tell everyone about your site. Congratulations on getting a spot in Whole Living too, how wonderful. And, this recipe looks delicious. I love the green! It reminds me of your Orzo Pasta Salad. Thank you for being an inspirational woman in my life! Peace and Love!

I've never thought about adding avocado to pasta before, but I am excited to have a creamy, dairy-free addition to a bright, springtime dish.

OK, that first image of the tiny bird peaking in at your window just about floored me. So sweet! Congratulations on your well deserved success with Super Natural Every Day, Heidi!

Love your new friend! I never know what to do with leftover pasta; thanks for the inspirations. Seems like this would go nicely with a "kitchen sing" (i.e. clean out the fridge) salad as well. This is my current favorite: http://noshesthoughtsreves.blogspot.com/2011/01/happy-new-year-and-tofu-nicoise-salad.html.

Hi Heidi, The birds are so cuteee... I live in Mumbai - India.. I have a crow which comes to my window and literally bullies me... I have named him Kali (black in Hindi) have a good day!

Cute Bushtit in your window. I'm a new follower, and I have been cooking from your site daily the last few weeks, I really love your recipes!

Hi Heidi! Your recipe sounds lovely and springy! I think your little birds are Bushtits. We used to live in Danville, CA on a property with lots of trees. I loved watching all of the birds there- we had dozens of different kinds. We are in AZ now and have lots of birds also, including a pair of cardinals that we named Carlos and Consuelo. They come to my back patio and chirp for raw peanuts! Happy Sunday!

they look like baby juncos...

ohhh these little birds:) wonderful pictures!!!!

Awww, that bird is so adorable! I've never heard of that pasta, but I will keep an eye out for it. I love a simple sauce of butter and olive on pasta with fresh veggies. Delicious!

wow, what a wonderful post, amazing pictures!!! thank you as always!

The previous comment accidentally posted as Anonymous. It was me, sorry!

I am so incredibly proud Super Natural Every Day is at #6! You deserve it--there's a lot of love in those recipes and it shows. It was so great seeing you again yesterday! P.S. Sorry I called you ma'am. Old habit. I say ma'am to someone I respect, not to someone I think is old. Glad I could get that off my chest :) HS: I love it when my southern friends break out with a ma'am. Totally irresistible.

This pasta is beautiful and looks like a perfect spring meal. What cute little birds, I wish I had fun spring visitors. Thanks for sharing and congrats on your book, I loved the first one and cannot wait to check out the latest!

Your pasta looks delicious -- I love asparagus! And you new little friend is adorable. Congrats on your book doing so well!

Dear Heidi, Lovely post, as always. I especially loved the bit about the birds - they're such cute little feather balls! I'm writing because I'm so sorry that I missed you yesterday at Mrs. Dalloway's. The bus was delayed by an hour and so there were tons of people getting on and off at every stop...meanwhile I was sitting there impatiently and checking my watch every few seconds. I ran in the door at Mrs. D's at 5:58 and they told me you had just left...is there any chance you'll be doing another signing in the near future? Thanks! HS: Oh Maggie, I'm so so sorry to hear that. We must have absolutely just missed each other. I left so quickly to get to a dinner back in SF :/ I'll definitely let you know when I do another Bay Area signing. I think I'm scheduled to do some cooking at the Ferry Building later this summer.

Heidi, this looks great. I wanted to let you know that I have already cooked three recipes out of your new cook book and all three were great. Tonight my husband is going to cook me one of your recipes, the wild rice casserole. I cant wait to try it. I am sure it will be wonderful. Thank you so much for all of your recipes. You have really changed the way I think about food and they way that I eat for the past year. Thank you

I am loving your cookbook. I'm making the wild rice casserole for Easter dinner. Can't wait to enjoy it!