Spring! What are Your Favorites?

Spring is finally here... except it's snowing where I am. I'll still count it because the grocery stores are bursting with spring specials like asparagus, strawberries, broccoli rabe, artichokes. I think this is my most favorite time of the year, food-wise!!

What are your favorite spring fruits & veggies, and how do you like to serve them?

When the local strawberries come in, I'm in heaven.  Florida strawberries run a close second and are available earlier.  I don't like the gigantic California berries.

The price of asparagus is good this week so I got a big bunch. 

Baby lettuce, locally grown is alway nice, and radishes.  I can't wait for our local farmer's market to start up in May.

I wait with baited breath for the fresh local strawberries and asperagus! Each one is absolute heaven!

definitely asparagus.  I eat them with chopped ham on buttered bread.  Sometimes, I would drizzle them with olive oil and pop them in the oven and eat as a side dish.  

strawberries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  lol.  soo gooood.  the fruit is so yummy!

I LOVE all fresh fruit and veggies.  I love this time of year for the produce deals too.  Asparagus is my favorite veggie of all time.  I like to spray a little cooking spray on it and throw it on the george foreman grill with a big of garlic powder. 

Also for breakfast I like to chop up veggies and put them in a pan and saute just a bit, then I scramble some eggs (mostly just the whites) with some skim milk and pour in the pan over the veggies (should just about cover them) and cook them over low heat.  It is like a lazy fritata.

I am also a big fan of mangoes and in celebration of them coming back into season I have bought a mango corer which is like the apple corers that you press down on but the shape in the middle is meant for the mango seed.  I am excited to give it a try!

My sister just found some apples that are AWESOME! They are called cameo apples and I really like them! They are crispy but not tough to eat like red delicious, and sweet, but not so sweet that you get the sweater feeling effect on your teeth!

SO GOOD! I found them at Giant Eagle so if you can find them out there, I would suggest that you try them! :)

I also love canteloupe, blueberries and strawberries

strawberries and asparagus, for sure!  kory23, thanks for the suggestion!  I sometimes roast asparagus in the oven with olive oil but that doesn't fit into my new meal plan -- I'll try your way!

I  love berries  (strawberries, rasberries, blackberries, blueberries) - wait are these more of a summer fruit?? I eat them for desert plain =). As for veggies I luck squash and zucchini cooked out on the grill with olive oil and fresh herbs.

Asparagus!  I make asparagus risotto with brown rice, light cream cheese, soy milk and fresh herbs that are starting to peek out of my garden.  ;-)

And fresh strawberries ... then cherries ... then apricots ... then nectarines and peaches ... I love this time of year!

Does anyone else love broccoli rabe? It's one of my favorites, except that it's only good this time of year.. other times it is too bitter.

And what about artichokes? They are in our store now. I have a favorite soup recipe that you make with canned artichokes. Not sure I know how to cook the fresh ones... anyone?? Obviously I can't dip them in butter! Looking for ideas???

Corn is so good this time of year! So sweet it doesn't need butter!

Strawberries....

Can you eat asparagus raw? I mean, I usually eat them as a side on my prime rib?

You probably could, but it might be hard to digest.  I'd recommend blanching it ... drop the stalks into a pot of boiling water for about 30 second until they turn bright green, then drain and serve.

Asparagus and Fiddleheads! 

There is a farmer's market that operates 500 ft from the entrance to my apartment complex.  I can't wait.

Now, if only it weren't 30 degrees in April.....stupid Chicago.