Are you hungry for Spring and could you use help coming up with some new recipes?

 

Take a moment to think about all the beauty of spring. When a new season of nature emerges from winter, the landscape becomes alive with color, birdsong, and bees. Many possibilities also emerge for making recipes and meals from early spring foods such as spinach, kale, Swiss chard, garlic shoots, spring onions, radishes, asparagus, green peas and a little later, strawberries. Here are 3 recipes to add spring freshness to your meal plans with the special foods of spring. And, to make life easier, here are grocery shopping lists to match each recipe.

3 Recipes for Spring & Shopping Lists to Match

Recipe 1: Oven Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan – 4 servings

Shopping List: Asparagus, EVOO, Parmesan cheese, black pepper

• 1 pound                            Fresh asparagus
• 1 teaspoon                       Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• 2 tablespoons                  Parmesan cheese, grated
• Pinch                                 Black pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
2. Rinse asparagus in cool tap water and pat dry.
3. With a cutting board & sharp knife, cut off about 1 inch from the stem end of each piece of asparagus and discard or compost.
4. Lightly spray a sheet pan with cooking oil spray.
5. Lay asparagus onto the sheet pan in a single layer.
6. Brush the olive oil onto asparagus.
7. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and black pepper.
8. Roast in the oven for 5-8 minutes, or until tender. Thicker asparagus will take longer to cook.
9. Test doneness of the asparagus by poking with a fork.

Recipe 2: Spinach & Strawberry Salad – 4 servings

Shopping List: Garlic, spinach, red onion, strawberries, balsamic vinegar, EVOO, salt

• 1 clove                Garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon     Balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons   Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• Pinch                  Salt
• 5-6 cups             Fresh spinach, washed and patted dry
• 1 small                Red onion, peeled, thinly sliced
• 1-2 cups              Fresh strawberries, washed, patted dry, sliced

1. Make dressing by combining garlic, vinegar, EVOO, and salt into a small measuring cup. Set aside.
2. Get out a medium to large bowl and add the spinach, gently torn into bite-size pieces.
3. Scatter the red onion and strawberries on top of the spinach.
4. Stir or whisk dressing ingredients until well mixed. Drizzle over top of the spinach-onion-strawberries.
5. Toss salad before serving.

Recipe 3: Radish and Spring Onion Dip – 4-6 servings

Shopping List: Radishes, Spring onions, lemon, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt

• 1 cup                         Radishes, washed and chopped
• 1/4 cup                     Spring onions, washed and chopped, white and green parts
• 1 cup                         Greek yogurt, plain nonfat
• 1 teaspoon               Lemon, zest only
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon   Garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon           Salt
• Pinch                        Cayenne pepper

1. Get out a small to medium bowl.
2. Add all ingredients to bowl. Stir to mix well.
3. Garnish with a few radish slices and chopped Spring onions.
4. Store covered in the fridge until ready to serve with crackers or raw veggies.

Enjoying Every Season’s Recipes

Every new season gives us new flavors and textures at mealtime and snack time. So, be sure to take full advantage of the 3 Spring Recipes above. Here are 3 earlier blogs to ponder as well:

• 10 Tips for Healthier Nutrition All Year Long
• A Healthier Mediterranean Pantry 
• Healthier Comfort Food for All Seasons

Will you take charge of your lifestyle and upgrade it with consistent and delicious nutrition? Once you make the decision then you will never turn back.

Which Spring Recipe grabs your attention and why?