What are your favorite spring recipes?

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Now that spring is coming, what are some of the best dishes that you like to serve?

[Chef Mark]

Anything made with fresh peas. I love the fresh ones so much I don't even want to cook them. I add them to salads, especially spinach salads.

Oh and I love fava beans. If your market is lucky enough to carry them I would make them. A lot of work. You have to peel the pod and then each individual bean but their flavor is unmatched in the bean world. Simply simmer them with some butter or make a fava bean puree to put on crostini.

And then there' morel mushrooms and fiddlehead ferns. See my article here on mom'smenu entitled "Spring delicacies" for fiddlehead fern and morel recipes:

http://www.momsmenu.com/food_for_thought/fiddleheads.shtml

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Chef Mark, is there any way that you can describe fava beans? I have never had them. I don't know if I could ever get them, but in case I do, it would be good to know if it would be worth my time. lol

I too LOVE fresh peas that I don't cook them. They are so good to add to a salad.

We cook out often too from spring on the late fall. We like anything cooked out on the grill. I can eat anything "salad." The other day I had a marvelous cucumber salad that reminded me of the one my grandmother made, except it didn't have onions in it. The one from my childhood was made with vinegar, water and sugar and sliced cucumbers and onions were soaked it it for several hours. Now I am in the mood for that. lol

[Bilby]

A newish salad for me ...
Broccoli salad
1 package of bacon, cooked to a crisp
1 head of fresh broccoli, just the florets
1/4 cup of red onion, chopped (optional)
1/2 cup raisins (sultanas)
1/4 cup of sunflower seeds
1 cup of mayonnaise
1/2 cup of white sugar
3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar


Place bacon in a large skillet, cook until crispy. Drain on paper towel, crumble and set aside.
Chop broccoli florets into bite size pieces. In a medium mixing bowl, combine broccoli with the red onions, raisins, crumbled bacon and sunflower seeds.
In a small bowl, wisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar and sugar. Pour over broccoli mixture and toss until well combined.
Refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving.

[Bilby]

Another I like is
4-6 raw grated carrots
1/4 cup shredded/flaked coconut
Handful of raisin or sultanas.
Either Coleslaw dressing, mayo (thinned with a bit of milk and a sprinkle of white sugar) or miracle whip.
The proportions are adjustable to how you'd like it,
Don't pop dressing in to early.

[blessedmomof04]

Tomato Asparagus Salad


3/4 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces

3 plum tomatoes, halved and sliced
3/4 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette

Place asparagus in a steamer basket; place in a saucepan over 1 in. of water. Bring to a boil; cover and steam for 5-7 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water. Drain and pat dry.
In a large bowl, combine the asparagus, tomatoes and onion. Drizzle with vinaigrette and gently toss to coat. Serve with a slotted spoon.