Easy Spring Recipes With Seasonal Produce

Now that spring is finally here, it's time to look at cooking with seasonal spring produce. Most of the fruits and vegetables in season now can be found year round at grocers around the country, but they reach their full potential during the spring. Artichokes, asparagus, avocados, beets, blueberries, fava beans, peas, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, spring lettuce, spring onions and strawberries are some of these tasty fruits and vegetables that peak in the spring. Check your local farmers market to find out what produce is available in your area. Cooking with these fresh seasonal ingredients brings out a stronger and/or sweeter taste to your recipes that you would not experience at any other time of the year. So go to your local farmer's market or grocer, pick up some seasonal produce, and try out some of these quick and easy spring recipes. rnJen's Asparagus rnWhat you need: 3 bunches of asparagus, cut into bite sized piecesrn2-3 squirts of lemon juicern1/4 -1/2 stick of butter (2 T - 4 T)rnSaltrnblack pepperrnlemon pepperrngarlic salt What you do: Heat butter in a large dutch oven, skillet or wok. Add asparagus and lemon juice. Add salt, garlic salt, black pepper and lemon pepper to taste. Stir fry on medium heat until asparagus is tender; serve. rnBacon Avocado Dip rnWhat you need: 5 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbledrn2 medium avocados, pitted and peeledrn2/3 c sour creamrn2 t minced onionrn2 T lemon juicern1/2 t salt What you do: Mash avocados with fork. Combine with sour cream, onion, lemon juice and salt; mix. Refrigerate until chilled. Mix in bacon and serve. rnBlueberry Muffins rnWhat you need: 2 c flourrn2 eggs, slightly beatenrn1/3 c butterrn3/4 c milkrn1 c fresh blueberriesrn1/2 c sugarrn2.5 t baking powderrn2 T vegetable oilrn1/2 t salt What you do: Combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix eggs, butter, milk and oil; add to flour mixture and mix until moist. Fold blueberries into batter. Take muffin tin(s) and fill 12 cups with muffin paper. Evenly distribute batter to all cups. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden. rnEasy Spinach Salad rnWhat you need: 10 oz package or 6 c fresh spinach, washed with stems offrn6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbledrn1-2 medium tomatoes, choppedrn1/2 c radishes, slicedrn1/2 c red onion, choppedrn3 boiled eggs, slicedrn1 carrot, gratedrnvinegar and oil based dressing What you do: Combine all ingredients except dressing and toss. Serve with dressing per taste. rnRhubarb Cake rnWhat you need: 31/2 c fresh rhubarb, dicedrn1 package yellow cake mixrn1 c sugarrn2 c whipping cream, not whipped What you do: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cake mix per box directions. Pour into a greased 13 x 9 inch pan. Add rhubarb on top of cake mix. Evenly distribute sugar on top of rhubarb. Pour cream over rhubarb and cake. Bake 50 - 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. rnStrawberry Banana Smoothie rnWhat you need: 2 c strawberries with the tops cut offrn2 large bananas, peeled and slicedrn1 c vanilla yogurtrn3/4 c milkrn4 ice cubes What you do: Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth; serve.