Debbie Arrington recently retired from her post as News & Review publications editor. What is she doing with her free time? She released her first cookbook. “Taste Spring! Delicious seasonal recipes from your garden” contains 64 recipes for dishes that feature fresh produce available in backyards and farmers markets this time of year.

Along with Kathy Morrison, Arrington is co-creator of the popular blog Sacramento Digs Gardening. Approaching its fifth anniversary, the blog features seasonal recipes every Sunday. “Taste Spring!” – available free online via the blog website – is a compilation of the blog’s spring suggestions. Recipes include appetizers, main dishes, soups & salads, breakfasts & desserts, and more.

These are recipes with gardeners in mind – ideas are often pulled from their backyards along with fresh vegetables and fruit. Arrington and Morrison are both credentialed gardeners (Morrison is certified as a UCCE Master Gardener and Arrington is an ARS Master Rosarian) and terrific home cooks (with decades of food writing and editing experience). Arrington is also an award-winning garden writer and member of the Sacramento chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, the women in food society.

Sacramento Digs Gardening circulates a daily e-newsletter featuring all-local articles on gardening tips, techniques and Sacramento-area events as well as weekly recipes. To subscribe to the free newsletter and check out the cookbook, visit https://sacdigsgardening.californialocal.com/.