Simple side - asparagus tossed with a garlicky buttermilk dressing, perky radish sprouts, lots of fresh cilantro, and a handful of cooked posole.

Posole for the new year - it has a vegetable broth base, lots of blossoming corn kernels, avocado and mung beans. Topped with chopped olives and toasted almonds it's A+...

A big pot of red posole made on a stormy day. A brick-red brothy sauce surrounds the posole, and individual bowls are topped with thin wisps of pan-fried tortillas, a pinch of toasted Mexican oregano, and a bit of crumbled feta.