It’s time for Friday Five linkup with DC area bloggers Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed Up for What?!, and Mar at Mar on the Run!  Be sure to stop by their blogs and say hello!  While you’re there, be sure to check out other bloggers who are participating in the linkup, too.  This week, the DC Trifecta chose Favorite Springtime Foods as the theme…..

 

FavoriteSpringtimeFoodsPoster

“Are you sure the mango is a food?
Seems more like a spring tonic to me.”
~Miss Minerva

 

No doubt about it, spring brings a great opportunity for eating lighter, and filling the plate with colorful foods.  Farmers’ markets pop up with more and more fresh produce as spring wears on.  Warm weather and the lack of snow on the deck make it easier to grill.  In other words, spring makes it easier to put my favorite foods on our dinner table.

So what are my favorite springtime foods?  I’m glad you asked!

1.  Fresh Fruits – My favorite fruits are strawberries, blueberries, apples, and kiwi. In today’s world, we are fortunate that fruit is readily available year round, but it’s sweetest when picked right off the vine/bush/tree, and second best when purchased locally.

FruitBowl

2.  Grilled Meats and Seafood – Whether it’s shrimp, salmon, chicken, or steak, grilling just makes it taste better.

GrilledShrimp
3.  Roasted Vegetables – Year round, but especially in the spring and summer, I love to roast our veggies.  After tossing my veggie of choice in a tiny bit of olive oil, I sprinkle them with Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper and roast them in a 425° oven for ten minutes.

RoastedVeggies
4.  Salads – If we are traveling or need to grab dinner quickly, Panera Bread is our favorite quick and easy place to eat.  I just learned that their Strawberry Poppyseed and Chicken Salad will be back on the summer menu starting in May, and I can’t wait!

PaneraSalad
5.  Frozen Treats – There’s nothing like a bowl of cold ice cream on the first hot and humid day of spring, especially after coming inside from doing yard work.  I have absolutely no control when it comes to mint chocolate chip ice cream, so I don’t keep it around very often, but when I do, I enjoy it thoroughly!

IceCream
If you’ll excuse me, all of this talk about food is making me hungry, and I need to go have a snack – something spring-like of course!

 

  • Questions:
  • What are your favorite spring foods?
  • Do you grow any of your own foods?
  • Who is racing this weekend?