There are simple ways to add some springtime into your evenings, and you might just be surprised how easy it is.
One of the signs of spring for me is when my cravings for certain foods begin to come out of their winter dormancy. Examples of these foods can range from potato salad to grilled chicken even to big leafy salads.
During winters we tend to think more about stew, hot soups, and anything that will add a few degrees to our bodies. For the first time in many months, I had the urge for a glass of iced tea. A true sign my body is ready for springtime.
But what Italian dishes help signify the entrance of spring? Here are a few suggestions from my own recipes found in my recipe box page.
- Cold salads. Antipasto is a perfect example. Add in the cannellini beans to make it more robust.
- Pasta dishes using fresh seasonal vegetables. Did you ever notice Italians do not use the same vegetables all year round? The reason is because they don’t have access to them all year round – unless they shop at large grocery stores that import them in. They use what they have available. Spring vegetables are peas, beans, lettuce, asparagus, carrots, spinach, garlic and artichokes. Sure there are more, but that is a few.
Summer vegetables are more plentiful with zucchini, squash, eggplant… oh man my mouth is watering. I can’t wait to make my eggplant and zucchini pasta again soon. Nothing beats fresh!
- Cold pasta salads. I’m not a fan of cold pasta salad to be honest. Perhaps it is going to too many parties where pasta salads have been terribly abused by the dousing of generic store bought Italian dressing. I’ll need to work on this one and when I perfect it, I’ll post my recipe. But nonetheless, cold pasta salads are a sign of spring.
- Lemon. Lemon is a flavor that adds a “brightness” to your meals. An example is my chicken piccata recipe which uses lemon and capers. Is it time for dinner yet? I’m getting really hungry…
- Don’t forget the Decor! What flower symbolizes spring to you? For here, daffodils do. We brought in our first handful yesterday and it doesn’t matter what kind of mood you are in – these babies add some sunshine even on a rainy day.
Let’s raise a glass of ice tea and give thanks, for Spring is now here!
Liz
Related posts:
- Welcome Spring into Your Home with Pasta Primavera Today is the first day of Spring. What a perfect time to talk about a springtime meal called Pasta Primavera....
- Eggplant, Zucchini and Pasta? No, I don’t usually think of eating eggplant or zucchini with my pasta, I don’t even like eggplant lasagna. Eggplant Parmesan...
- Using Zucchini Pasta In Place of Pasta If you try and look for zucchini pasta in a store, you will not find anything that reads zucchini pasta. ...
- A Simple Pasta Dinner That is Healthy With summer quickly approaching, it is no wonder I’ve been craving more fresh vegetables. I’ve got my green thumb in...
- Zucchini, Basil and Eggs This week I posted another recipe in my recipebox. It uses zucchini, basil, eggs, garlic, and olive oil, but really...