A Winter Spring Fusion

 Even though it is Spring the temps have a wintry chill to them. You  still need something warm and rib sticking. Yet you can have something satisfying but with hints of spring to it.

One of the best winter Spring fusion dishes is a cream based pasta primavera. This combines veggies with whole cream and milk.You can use the  fresh veggies that your grocery is offering right now or use frozen. TRy it with peas, broccoli and cauliflower. Saute the vegetables in butter or plant based butter and garlic . t Add the cream or plant based milk . You can use chicken , or vegetable broth to thicken the sauce along with cornstarch. A chunky pasta is the best with this, Think penne or bow ties. Another fusion dish would be a homemade veggie soup.Again you can use frozen or fresh vegetables for this. It can easily be turned into pasta e fagiole.Beabs and small pasta like macaroni or ditalini can be added. The base can be beef, chicken or vegetable broth . You can also make pea soup but add mint for a bright, fresh flavor. This is not like a traditional one with ham as a base.This has onion for more flavor along with a clove of garlic.One cup of fresh mint leaves (your grocery can  produce you with these) are the main flavor point here.

Roasts figure into this time as well however there not the heavy ones served on snowy cold days, Think a lighter meat sich as chicken or Cornish hen.The flavor is not as heavy and pares well with such early Spring vegetables as asparagus, Cornish hens can be glazed with orange marmalade for a crispy, salty and sweet skin. You can do the same with chicken too. Lamb has always been associated with the coming of the new season. You could roast a whole leg of lamb if you want, just to do a dress rehearsal for your Easter dinner. Lamb chops are an easier way to go.They can be grilled or roasted with lemon juice and herbs for a fresh flavor.What do you serve with any of these roasts? Nix gravies and stuffing. You can still have mashed potatoes but make try a garlic mash or potato croquettes or gratins (which you can buy at Lidl). Roasted carrots are always good too. They can be glazed or just brushed with butter and then roasted. Asparagus is ccming into its' own . Create a dish of steamed stalks drenched in butter and then sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, You could add sliced hard boiled eggs too.

This is the time of year when there's still a lingering nip in the air.Create Spring forward dishes that are rib sticking yet fresh. It's a nice way to keep warm but have a Spring greenness to it.

Lighten Up For Summer

 Memorial Day means one thing - it's time to eat light to fit into last year's shorts and bathing suits.After a winter and part of Spring eating heavy it's important to eat light especially in hot weather. it could be changing up your diet or even some recipes.

As much as we all like to snack, it's time to really look over what we've been snacking on. Most of us go for potato chips, After all they're fun to eat and that mix of oil ,salt and potato is too much to resist. Yet it's time to look into lighter fare. You may then want to reach for those tortilla chips and fresh salsa.Don't !!!! These have ten times the transfat as potato chips. A better choice is a place of already cut veggies. even grocery stores such as Acme and Stop &Shop have trays of broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and grape tomatoes. Some throw in celery too. These are the best nibble to eat if you're craving a crunchy snack. You can ignore the dip that comes with it and make your own light olive oil and red wine vinegar vinaigrette. A classic and always tasty low calorie snack is popcorn. Buy yourself a Colonel Popper.This is a silicon microwave popper that lets you make a big bowl of corn in in only a minute or two. Add olive oil, rosemary and sea salt for more flavor. what to drink with it? Diet soda works but a better choice is flavored seltzer .It's just as refreshing and full of bubbles as any cola.

Meals can also be lightened up too. You can still have pasta and pizza but don't add high calorie ingredients. Spaghetti sauce doesn't;t have to have sugar added. Use a tiny drizzle of honey to sweeten.Also try to use fresh veggies like grape or cherry tomatoes for a tasty burst tomato sauce or add some cauliflower and chopped bell peppers for a delicious spin on primavera sauce.even the rich Alfredo sauce can be turned into a light dish. It's just subbing in Greek yogurt for the heavy cream and using skim milk and broth as well to emulate the cream's consistency. What about a low calorie pizza? Yes it can be made!use baking soda flour and salt mixed with Greek yogurt for a thin crust.. As for the cheese sub in the vegan version .Vegan mozzarella has less fat and protein. Another must is having all vegan toppings. Think broccoli, and spinach fro a nice green spin or sliced baby Bella's and vegan pepperoni for something a bit heartier. As  for the sauce use a homemade one made with crush tomatoes, olive oil garlic and crushed basil. Again keep the sugar out of it As for fried foods, its time to use the air fryer, Try to eat air fried Impossible Burgers with air fried caulilfower instead of fries.

It's shorts and bathing suit season! It's time to fit into them!You can do this by eating right and healthy.

Recipes For The Campfire

 One of the best vacation experiences is camping. There's something about being out in the fresh air, enjoying all the aspects of nature. Another plus is food cooked out on the fire. There are some great recipes that are satisfying and tasty, perfect for the great outdoors.

Before you go make sure you have the necessary utensils and cooking apparatus. Pots and pans are a must as are spatulas and stirring spoons. A small chopping board is another must bring and a good chopping knife. You could bring a paring knife too.Also pack a colander for rinsing and pot holders  for lifting red hot pots and pans. Bring matches too. Sometimes rubbing two sticks together doesn;t always bring about a fire. A cooler to store drinks and perishables like eggs and bacon is also necessary. as for food yourself, look into the local farms. They not only will have fresh fruit and veggies but also honey, eggs, and a wide variety of baked and pickled goods. some may even have dairy like fresh milk, butter and cream. A plus is writing down eveyone's requests. You know s'mores are going to be on the list as hamburgers. Chopped meat is a must. You can not only make easy to cook  hamburgers but also loaded nachos. This is a great dish cooked in a Dutch oven.This also has easy to carry black beans and cheese.It's hearty and tasty, perfect after a day of kayaking or hiking.Mexican street corn and tacos are easy makes too and fun for a lunch.

Grilled foods are a must on a camping trip. Try chicken layered with cherry tomatoes and chunks of  bell peppers and onions. Marinate in a mix of olive oil and lemon  juice and serve with Greek tzatziki sauce. Foil packets are excellent for campfire cooking. Cleaning is minimal because these are made in aluminum foil packets. (and please bring that and Saran wrap too for storing). You can create one with shrimp and andouille sasuage for a Cajun twist. Try one with chicken ,black beans and chili powder for a tasty spicy dinner.Surprisingly you can also make a tasty pot of pasta on your camping holiday, Baked mac is the perfect dish on a cool night.It has steamed pasta with cheese poured over it. The cheese mixes with the water to form a sauce. You can also make a yummy pasta primavera too.It's first chopping up veggies such as tomatoes , squash and zucchini and lightly sauteing them. They're taken out and then the pasta is cooked with water. the two are combined once the pasta is all cooked. Add a creamy cheese like a goat one  to creat the Alfredo sauce.Desserts can also be made. Bananas boats are an easy make.Split the fruit in half and fill with eveyrhing form chocolate to fruit to caramel. Top wiht nuts for crunch. You can also make an easy peach cobbler too using a Dutch oven.

Cooking on the campfire is a fun, tasty adventure. You can make anything, from savory to sweet. The food is fresh and good, perfect for those al fresco meals.

Add Veggies Make Sauce

 You don't have to spend time to make sauce for pasta.Nor do you need just tomatoes. You can use anything to create a great sauce for any kind of pasta.It just takes some creativity and whatever in the vegetable crisper.

Tomatoes have always been the basis of Southern Italian sauces. This wasn't always the case until the Sixteenth Century when the Spanish introduced these Mexican beauties into the Italian diet. They taught the Italians how to fry them in a pan along with onions, squash and eggplant , a sort of prototype of ratatouille. The ingredient caught on because it could flavor other foods without having to use spices which were  costly and rare at the time. Tomato sauce can be good, especially homemade but it does take time to make. You can make a crockpot version if you want. I feel this is fine during the fall and winter when you need a heavier sauce for spaghetti and even gnocchi, The Spring and summer call for a different , much lighter sauce. I am a big fan of Sam Sifton's burst tomato sauce. This is a fresh take and I've add a twist to it. Fresh spinach leaves not only give it color and flavor but also much needed iron and folate. The recipe is super easy.It's just sauteing grape  or cherry tomatoes in a mix olive oil and butter (I use Melt) Add some chopped and washed spinach leaves. About ten minutes in start bursting or popping the tomatoes. The juices will mix with the oil and butter and create a wonderful tasting sauce.There's a light ness and freshness.

You don;t have to have tomatoes  to create a great sauce. One of my favorites involves baby bellas and spinach. This sauce is a nice change up from the traditional tomato sauce. Again this starts with sauteing washed and chopped spinach leaves in an oil and butter mix. Baby bellas are added and cooked until there's a crispness to them. Add about half a cup of either chicken or veggie stock to give it that saucy quality. You could add chicken breasts if you want to give it more heft. You could also go the arriabiata route and give it a dash of red pepper. A Spring primavera sauce is always a nice change up. This has a whole slew of fresh veggies that can compliment any kind of pasta. The basic sauce is a mix of red onions, carrots,  broccoli, bell peppers, squash and zucchini. Tomatoes and garlic are also added but you can omit the tomatoes if you want. The veggies are sauteed in olive oil (but add a knob of butter for more flavor) and mixed into the cooked pasta. Another fresh idea is asparagus and peas. Both are sauteed in olive oil with shallots and garlic. The sauce is ready when the asparagus turns a bright green.

All you need is veggies, garlic and olive oil to create the perfect pasta sauce. See what's in the fridge and run with it.Be creative. You'll wind up with a tasty, fun sauce for any type of pasta.