By the time spring arrives, everyone is looking for lighter, healthier options to break the routine of comforting winter casseroles. It’s time to crank up the grill and invite friends over to enjoy the new season with warmer days and still-cool evenings.
Our Saturday mornings consist of my favorite family activity: going to the farmers’ market. We stroll across the street, and people laugh and “aww” as Emmaline eats tomatoes like apples, with juice running down her face, arms, and shirt. Our stroller looks like a pack mule loaded down with a huge basket of CSA vegetables, boxes of donuts, glasses of fresh lemonade, bags of fresh pasta, and baskets of berries. I spend the rest of the afternoon washing vegetables, stocking our fridge, and planning our meals for the week.
Your local farmers’ market is the best place to get not only fresh, seasonal produce and meat, but also ideas and inspiration for family meals. I usually go to the market with no plans, buy whatever looks beautiful, then go home and create a meal around it.
• Gluten-Free Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
• The Ultimate Skinny Margarita
• Spiked Pomegranate Mint Lemonade
• Grilled Avocados with Pico de Gallo