Fresh and tasty spring dishes to try with your loved ones this spring

There’s nothing like spring vegetables and fruits to wake us up to a new season after the cold, cozy, sleepy days and nights of winter. Bright flavors and bold recipes can quickly make your weeknight meals exciting again. Some of our favorite in-season fruits and veggies include lemon, strawberry, asparagus, and parsley–all ripe for the picking!

We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite spring recipes to share with your loved ones, particularly your friends and family at our retirement communities in Massachusetts. If you’re one of our residents, consider hosting a potluck with your neighbors and sharing one of these recipes. Or take an afternoon to prepare some of these dishes and host your friends or family for a meal! You can also always cook together; it’s a great activity for bonding and for creating memories. Check out our favorites below and add them into your weekly meal-planning schedule. We’re sure you won’t be disappointed.

Blueberry Lemon and Thyme Cake

Kicking it off with a bright and zesty favorite, this loaf cake from Half-Baked Harvest screams spring. Citrus flavors are wonderful because depending on the way they are prepared, they can really be the base for any seasonal dish. In our opinion, the best way to use citrus in the spring is to tie it together with earthy herbs and sweet fruits, and this iced cake does just that.

While we don’t recommend having cake for every meal, as a once-in-a-while food, this is a surprisingly nutrient-rich cake. With antioxidant-rich blueberries and both lemon and blueberry being high in Vitamin C, the fruits pack not only a flavor punch but a health punch too! The thyme gives this cake immunity-boosting properties and a deliciously unexpected layer of flavor.

Asparagus Pasta

Asparagus is one of those vegetables you love or hate (or love to hate!). But for those of us who really love it, this asparagus and lemon pasta dish is one you can’t miss. Nothing pairs together quite like asparagus and lemon. But throw in some delightfully flavorful parmesan cheese, and you have a real winner. This creamy and truly satisfying recipe is the perfect meal for family dinners and very easy to pack up for leftovers to bring to work or school for lunch the next day. Our favorite thing about this dish is that it is one of those “ridiculously easy to make, but truly impresses a crowd” types of meals. Give it a whirl when you’re feeling like you need something new!

Strawberry Tabouli Salad

One of the most universally loved fruits, strawberries are juicy little nuggets of heaven that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. We love to add strawberries to a salad to break up the monotony of vegetables and fats. This spring take on tabouli salad mixes nutty quinoa and fresh herbs like peppery parsley, which adds bite to the dish. Sprinkles of almonds add crunch, and the juiciness of the strawberries brings an entirely new flavor profile to this staple of Mediterranean cooking. Eat it on its own, pair it with an entree, or use it as a dip for pita chips or homemade tortillas. Packed with nutrients, this delightful spring dish should absolutely be a go-to recipe for years to come.

Spring is one of the best seasons to experiment with new flavors, especially because you can take advantage of so much in-season produce. Our Chef incorporates locally sourced proteins and locally grown produce, including some from our own community gardens, into our menus whenever possible! We hope you try one of these tasty dishes –and of course, let us know if you liked it!

If you are interested in learning more about our amazing senior apartments in Massachusetts, give us a call. We’re happy to give you a virtual or in-person tour!

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