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John Scheepers
Bantam, CT
This is one of those family dinner recipes that we make when we all need comfort food and we don't want anyone slaving in the kitchen right before dinner: perfect leading up to the holidays. It is a bit of a 1950's throwback (not that there is anything wrong with that) since it includes condensed canned soup. But I suppose we are allowed to make something like this every once in a while, particularly when it is such a feel- and taste-good concoction. It is a wonderful casserole to bring to a friend's home or for a family get together when you don't know exactly how many people are coming. A hug in every bite.

Odessa Piper, Chef-Proprietor
L'Étoile Restaurant
Madison, Wisconsin
One of the most talented chefs in the US, Odessa Piper is famous for marrying fine cuisine with the honest fruits of the land. She employs compound butters in L'Étoile's menu every season. She loves the last minute spike of flavor, color and texture they add to perfectly cooked vegetables. To contact L'Étoile for reservations, call (608) 251-0500. (We also make our own version of her Compound Butter that we freeze and use for cooking: we incorporate freshly minced garlic into the butter with a selection of fresh herbs.)

Coneflower Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Seed Spacing:1”-2”
Plant Spacing:18”-24”
Days to Germination: 10-20 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

Echinacea purpurea. Start Coneflowers indoors before the last frost date to promote first-year blooms. Soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours, and then sow in a good seed-starting medium. Provide 65° to 75°F temperatures and uniformly moist soil until seedlings emerge. Introduce strong sunlight. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant to larger, deeper pots for full root system development. After all danger of frost has passed and seedlings are 4" tall, harden them off by gradually acclimating them to the outdoors over 7 to 10 days. Transplant out 18" to 24" apart or direct-sow in rich, well-draining soil and full to partial sunlight. Water regularly and mulch to deter weeds and retain ground moisture. Deadhead old flowers to promote c

Coreopsis Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/8”
Seed Spacing:1”-2”
Plant Spacing:12”
Days to Germination:10-25 days
Germination Temperature:55°-70°F

Coreopsis grandiflora, Tickseed. An easy-to-grow perennial (even in poor soil), Coreopsis will produce little, daisy-like flowers amid feathery foliage the first year if started early enough, 8 weeks before transplanting out. But it may be sown outdoors anytime from early spring up until 2 months before the first fall frost. Sow seeds shallowly, pressing them firmly into the soil surface, barely covered, as light is needed for germination. Provide even moisture and strong light during germination. Harden the plants off by gradually acclimating them to outside conditions over 7 to 10 days. Prepare a garden bed in full sunlight with well draining soil. Thin or carefully transplant the seedlings, planting them 12" apart. Coreopis should be kept moderatel

Coriander Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”-1/2”
Row Spacing:12”-18”
Seed Spacing:3”-6”
Plant Spacing: 12”

Herbs may be either direct-sown outdoors after the threat of frost has passed, or started indoors for transplanting or container gardening. Herbs require moderately rich, well-draining soil with at least 5 hours of bright sunlight. To start indoors: sow lightly in sterilized seed mix, lightly moisten and cover with plastic wrap until germination takes place. Do not water again until sprouts emerge. Remove plastic wrap once sprouted. Transplant outdoors when the threat of frost has passed. Some perennials like Lavender, Catnip or Savory prefer to be started indoors. Others such as Chives, Sage or Fennel prefer to be direct-sown outside once the soil has warmed. Most herbs dislike chemicals or over-fertilization. Feed lightly with kelp or fish emulsion once seedlings are well established. Keep lightly

Corn Cockle Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/2”
Seed Spacing:2”-3”
Plant Spacing:10”-12”
Days to Germination:7-14 days
Germination Temperature:60°-70°F

Agrostemma githago. Easily grown, it should be direct-sown after all danger of spring frost has passed. Corn Cockles may also be started indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out after the threat of spring frost has passed. Use individual peat pots or seed-starting cells to avoid root disturbance. Provide even moisture, strong light and air circulation. Prepare a bed in full sunlight with loamy, well-draining soil. Harden off the seedlings by gradually acclimating them outside for a week to 10 days before transplanting out. Thin or transplant to 12" apart. Keep the bed well-weeded and moderately watered until the plants are established. A British cottage garden favorite, it yields abundant 5-petaled, 11⁄2" fuchsia-pink flowers with black-whiskered white centers

Jo-Anne van den Berg-Ohms
John Scheepers * Bantam, CT
Clafouti, a classic French dessert, is essentially an egg and cream custard poured over chopped “stone” fruit like apples, pears, peaches, cherries (or any other fruit with pits). One night, the corn was so tender and so very sweet that I thought it could have been dessert. That is when I thought of recreating Clafouti into a corn and Gruyère savory dish. It kind of tastes like a cross between a popover and quiche. Baked in individual ramekins and gently removed and placed on each plate, it makes dinner a special treat with almost no effort. I get it all ready to bake in advance and chill it until 50 minutes before dinner when I pop it in the oven.

Cosmos Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/2”
Seed Spacing:1”-2”
Plant Spacing:9”-24”
Days to Germination: 5-10 days
Germination Temperature:68°-85°F

Cosmos bipinnatus. A tremendous cut flower, easy-to-grow Cosmos prefers to be direct-sown in the garden after the last frost date. Plant them 1⁄2" deep in well-draining soil with full sun. Keep uniformly moist until the seedlings emerge, about 10 days after sowing. If you must start Cosmos indoors, you may plant them 1⁄2" deep in a good seed-starting medium at 68° to 85°F about 5 to 7 weeks prior to the last frost date. Provide even moisture, strong light and good ventilation. Once established, thin to the strongest seedlings. Once 3" tall, transplant seedlings 9" to 24" apart in the garden. Quite forgiving, mature Cosmos plants will thrive in infertile or dry soil. Prized for wildflower meadows, their delicate flowers and feathery foliage belong in every h

Cottage Pinks Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Seed Spacing:1”
Plant Spacing:6”-12”
Days to Germination:14-21 days
Germination Temperature:70°F

Dianthus plumarius. Hardy, this low-growing favorite may be started indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost date. Start in a good seedstarting medium at 70°F with even moisture, strong light and good ventilation. Once the seedlings are well-established, thin to 2" to 3" apart and grow on indoors at a lower temperature, about 55°F until they are 3" tall. Prior to transplanting, acclimate the seedlings by gradually exposing them to outside conditions for 1 to 2 weeks. After the last frost, transplant out 6" to 12" apart in the garden. A perfect border or rock garden plant growing in low mounds, it prefers well-draining, sandy to loamy and average to slightly alkaline soil in full sunlight. A good cut flower, it is also regarded as a decorative edible. S

John Scheepers
Bantam, CT
I concocted this between Christmas and New Year's when I wanted to serve something kind of special but nothing time consuming or tricky. It is also nice because you can prepare it in advance and freeze it. Just add the grated gruyere after you thaw it and before popping it into the oven. It is lovely served with a lightly dressed green salad and warm crusty bread.

Jo-Anne van den Berg-Ohms
John Scheepers * Bantam, CT

When summer Corn is at its peak, there is nothing better than this long time favorite~now, or over the winter. To prep the corn for winter soup making, cook the cobs for 5 minutes, dip them in an ice bath, remove the kernels from the cobs, scraping down to catch as much of the Sweet Corn "milk" as possible. Freeze the corn in 2 cup portions. The crab can be switched to bite-sized pieces of shrimp or lobster if you like.