Fresh Fruits and Vegetables of the Season

All over they world there are fruits and vegetables growing, each in its own season. While it can be stored or processed and shipped all over, nothing beats the taste of freshly picked, local produce. Here in the Northeastern United States, spring and early summer are a special season. Asparagus, strawberries, spring lettuce, radishes, young peas and other early season crops are available and at their best. Other parts of the country are already picking tomatoes, peppers and summer squash.

Sometimes the selection in supermarkets isn't the best and you'll see produce shipped in from afar instead of local. So seek out those roadside stands and farmer's markets. Get to know where your produce comes from. Look up a farmers market in your area on Local Harvest , USDA or the Canadian Farmers Markets websites. Plant a garden yourself to experience the freshest and best.

Low in calories and high in nutrition, vegetables and fruits should be the basis of our diets, according to the Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Food Pyramid. So lets have all we can eat of fresh spring greens, steamed asparagus, snow peas, lots of strawberries, and all the freshly picked bounty of spring and summer.

This week's recipes are for fresh fruits and vegetables of the season. Enjoy!

Quick and Easy!
Broiled Asparagus by member neishaa

A filling one dish meal featuring crisp/tender asparagus with tasty shrimp.
Shrimp & Asparagus Pasta by member lyndalyn

The classic French way to prepare freshly picked peas
French Peas by member clairelaine

Crunchy and tasty Oriental treat
Sesame Snow Peas by member javaqueen911

Cool and good for you!
Summer Berry Smoothie by member gwenevlyn

A great salad to take to summer picnics
Broccoli Slaw by member raft

It's hard to make anything low calorie with rhubarb, but this comes close
Patty's Rhubarb Cake by member rusticstudio