There’s much to smile about as late spring turns to summer 2021 – including the fun and danceable, multi-decade mix of pop/r&b/soul tunes in my latest playlist.

Smoked Salmon Spread is cool and creamy, bursting with the flavors of salty salmon and fresh herbs. Serve it with crackers or crudités, or as a sophisticated spread for sandwiches or bagels.

For the creamiest chicken salad, start with a warm, freshly poached whole chicken, shredded into the finest shards, then add a simple but flavorful, herb-flecked dressing.

Get ready for a new favorite rhubarb recipe. Raspberry Rhubarb Galette is tart and juicy in a delicate pastry crust, topped with melty vanilla ice cream.

Twice-Baked Potatoes are the ultimate comfort food, with a creamy, cheesy filling – rich with butter and sour cream – stuffed in a crunchy potato-skin shell.

This homemade version of Keebler’s Fudge Stripe Cookies is so much better than the original I remembered from childhood, with a tender butter cookie base dipped in and topped with a blend of premium milk and semisweet chocolates.

Quiche Lorraine gets a modern makeover, with pancetta in place of the bacon, a tender flaky crust, and the silkiest, creamiest custard filling,

On a still-chilly early Spring Saturday, we celebrated our first shot of the vaccine with this Tex-Mex themed feast of spicy marinated beef, restaurant-style salsa, crunchy chopped salad and a creamy cool chocolate pudding tart.

Chocolate Cream Tart starts with homemade Double Chocolate Pudding – dark and silky and supremely creamy – cradled in a chocolate cookie crust and crowned with fluffy whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Another playlist with my favorite blend: folk, indie, a little country, and soft rock. Perfect for “these days”, this year when the renewal of spring doesn’t even begin to touch how ready we are for a fresh start.