Spring is officially here and while it might not feel like it, soon we will have access to so much great fresh and local produce that it’s almost embarrassing. I love shopping at my local farmers markets and I’m super excited about some of the things I’m going to make with all that fresh produce. Today I’m sharing five of those things since this week’s Friday Five is food and drink themed.. Don’t forget to check out Cynthia and Mar and some of the other folks who link up with us – and please don’t forget to link to your hosts if you are participating!
- Caprese salad. I love a good caprese salad but with fresh tomatoes from the farm? Oh my, yes. This is my favorite meal in the summer once tomatoes come in. It’s so easy and SO delicious. And it doesn’t require an oven. I hate using the oven in the summer. It just ain’t right!
- Dessert. I am a cook, not a baker and so I really only make dessert when fresh fruits are in season. I make an awesome cobbler – you can check out the recipe here.
- Grilled asparagus. Grilled everything, basically but I really love simple grilled asparagus. I even bought this grill tool that makes it easier to grill asparagus (and other fruits / veggies) without losing them between the grates.
- Grilled pizza. So I’ve never actually tried this but REALLY want to this spring /summer. Anyone have any tips or tricks I should know before giving this a shot?
- Spinach and strawberry salad. As you can see, I love simple things when the weather gets warm. Spinach, strawberries and a nice vinaigrette is the start of a great meal. Sometimes I’ll add a protein or some walnuts to the salad for crunch, sometimes not. Delicious either way!
What’s your favorite thing to make once the cold weather breaks?
Yes to everything!! I just picked up some strawberries for a salad this week. Speaking of berries… interested in berry picking in a couple of months? I need ALL the blueberries.
Yes please! I’m in!!
HAND RAISED!! I had a blast last summer!!
Rats! I looked at my calendar wrong and wrote about running Ragnar DC again this fall. Thanks for the linkup, even if I can’t follow directions! 😉
I haven’t made that delicious strawberry and spinach salad for a couple of years. Thanks for the reminder! I also love adding red onions and caramelized pecans. Yum!
Debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…Five Reasons Ragnar DC Is Going To Be Epic
Oh no worries – it’s tricky because we go live Thursday and this month the first Friday was the 1st day of the month 🙂
I look forward to tons of salads this summer. I love to just throw every veggie in the house on a bed of lettuce and call it dinner. I’m ready for salad season instead of soup season, but we have one more weekend to get through. ;o)
MCM Mama Runs recently posted…Brewery Run Clubs in Northern Virginia
Caprese salad is one of my favorite but only seems to turn out good when the tomatoes are in season. I love asparagus grilled. It gives it such a good flavor and less mushy and stringy.
I love salads as well for the summer! I like to do a strawberry and spinach salad with just a little bit of feta and some nuts. It adds such a nice salty and crunchy component! I’ve never tried grilled pizza, but it sounds delicious!
We grow our own tomatoes and love Caprese salad too. I also grow basil and other herb which make summertime cooking more fun. My husband is the grill master and one of my favorite things he makes is grilled sweet potato slices with a spice he puts together.
You officially have me excited for grilling season. But then, I don’t don’t if our new place has grilling stations! CRAP
Grilled pizza is really tricky but so excellent when it works! I love grilled salmon and we’re doing that already!
I also love a good spinach & strawberry salad. I add goat cheese, almonds, and balsamic vinegar & oil as my go-to summer salad!!
Apparently, I thought it was fitness Friday! Ooops….
I’m looking forward to warm weather foods. That is, if the warm weather ever comes!
I am with you that running the oven in the summer just feels wrong!
I have never grilled pizza before, but that is on our list of things to try this summer! I also love fish on the grill…mostly because you can cook it without your whole house smelling like fish 😉
Happy Friday!
This all sounds good. I love asparagus on the grill!
I haven’t grilled pizza before, but it sounds delicious! I like to add a little bit of feta and some nuts to a strawberry and spinach salad, it gives it such a nice crunch!
Spring? I have heard of it but it seems to have passed Chicago by 🙁 Freezing and blustery here today. I can’t wait for the Farmer’s Markets to open in a few weeks!! Have a great weekend!
I sometimes make caprese salad on a stick if I’m going to a cookout. It’s easy to make and it’s easy for individual servings. It seems quite popular too since I don’t really have to take any home afterwards.
Spring and summer means strawberries!! I love your salad idea with strawberries. Strawberries in anything is yummy for summer! I love doing pizzas on the grill too! Grilled pizza is great for highlighting fresh spring and summer produce!
Kara (MaineGirl2Runs) recently posted…Friday Five: Nutrition and Fueling Finds
I looooooove caprese salad, and I’m totally with you that it’s so much better with fresh tomatoes. I can’t wait to walk over to Eastern Market on the weekends (when the weather stops being a jerk) to pick up fresh produce. And I agree, I hate using an oven in the summer!!
Jen@bubblyrunner.com recently posted…I Had My First Run Date+How Running Has Changed My Eating
Have you tried making individual sized pizzas on Naan bread? Its the perfect size for individual portions and they’re easy to grill because the bread doesn’t stick to the grill like traditional pizza dough does.
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Friday Five – Potpourri v. 13
Yum, I love grilled asparagus! And I tried a grilled pizza last year that was a failure. But I’m going to try it again this year 🙂
Chaitali recently posted…Friday Five – easy food
I actually had no idea you could eve grill pizza. That’s fascinating! I can’t wait to hear about that one. I’m excited to grill vegetables myself.
Hollie recently posted…Does Running Ever Get Any Easier?
Ramps, garlic scapes, burrata with tomatoes and basil (it’s like caprese but even better). I usually go straight from Saturday runs to the farmer’s market on my way home to stock up for the week ahead in the late spring/summer. And I’m looking forward to growing tomatoes, peppers, and herbs in my own garden.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the spring fruits. Things can ripen very fast. I never know what I will find at the farmer’s market but I know there will always be something great. April to June is my favorite time of the year.
I do love spring and summer for the fresh produce. We grow a lot at home, so there will be many options for salads, sides, etc. I made a tasty soup chock full of veggies yesterday… but it was all canned.
Grilled asparagus is the absolute Best!
I’m definitely with you on the grilling. Anything grilled in the summer is the best. Burgers, dogs, veggies…
I love caprese salad and all of these things too. Anything on the grill is delicious in my opinion. I’ve wanted to grill pizza as well. I’m intimidated!
Me too – but I figure the worse that can happen is I ruin dinner, right?
though I’m not big on tomatoes I love me a good Caprese salad!! and spinach, and strawberries – oh my! Can’t wait for warmer weather and salads all the time 🙂
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…5 Favorite Sick Time Recovery Foods
Yes! I can’t wait for grilling season! My favorite is grilled veggie kabobs. Yuuuuum.
I love Caprese salads, well really any type of salads. I actually crave them sometimes.
I am right there with you on dessert! I just made chia seed brownies last week. I need to post the recipe soon because they were delicious!
My crockpot gets a great workout all summer long – keeps the kitchen from getting too hot when I’m too busy to grill out! I also recently started baking again. I think we all get burnt out baking for the holidays and it seems to take a bit of a hiatus during the winter months.
To me, there is nothing better than a wonderful caprese salad in the summer time 🙂
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I loved this post! Make sure to let us know how the grilled pizza goes. I have always been intrigued to make it, but just never had access to a grill at the right time. Enjoy! 🙂
I will definitely report back! 😉
I love the idea od preparing these recipes, Courtney! You make cooking very enjoyable!