Herbed Ricotta Pasta with Corn & Zucchini

Hello, Spring! So nice to see you finally (we'll just pretend that there isn't the possibility of snow again this weekend).

Spring is the perfect time to try out light and bright new recipes. The thought of swimsuit season just around the bend, somehow seems to motivate many people to shape up their diet and we are no exception. This Martha Stewart recipe is delicious and screams Spring time.

Truffled Mushroom Bruschetta

I saw this recipe come across my email a few weeks ago from a new recipe newsletter called Pure Wow.  (Yes, it's mainly a chick website - but they have a decent recipe section.)

I filed it away in the "make this soon category" and incorporated it into this weeks menu.  The Wife's words summed it up "I'm seriously obsessed with this."

Lemon Rosemary Orzo with Grilled Shrimp

This recipe is light and healthy - and can be served immediately, or chilled for a picnic.  And it would probably pair pretty well with a tart Sauvignon Blanc.  I say probably because, as you'll remember, The Wife and I gave up meat and wine for Lent.

Thai Red-Curry Squash Soup

This no meat thing is definitely forcing me to cook outside my comfort zone. Though we are doing a lot of seafood, I'm making a conscious effort to try an equal number of vegetarian recipes as well. I've had this Food & Wine recipe for quite some time now and this seemed like the perfect time to try it out.

Greek Shrimp & Asparagus Risotto

Despite the possibility of a snow storm tomorrow, I am very excited that the first day of spring is less than two weeks away.  For some reason, the bright green of vegetables like peas and asparagus screams Spring and Easter to me.

This recipe from Cooking Light is a great way to kick off the Spring season.

Double Bean Burger Patty Melts

Both the Husband and I have been having food dreams recently. I promise, this isn't a normal occurrence. Not for me anyways. I'm blaming it on the meatless (AND WINE-LESS) diet we've been on since Ash Wednesday.

Burgers and hot dogs have had starring roles (and for the record, these are not normal parts of our everyday diet outside of Lent!). So, I figured a different kind of burger might be just what the doctor ordered.

Whole-Grain Greek Salad

Unfortunately, I'm not one of those people that loves to work out. So I need Pandora and at least a magazine or two to get me through my hour on the treadmill.

This past week I ran across a recipe for this delicious looking Quinoa salad in a section with healthy recipes to change up your diet. I think it was Fitness magazine, not positive though. When my workout came to an end I snapped a quick pic of the recipe from the page I had bookmarked. Not even 48 hours later, I quickly whipped this up for lunch.

Mini Cream Cheese-Stuffed King Cakes

Obviously, we are just a tad bit past Mardi Gras. But, if you are anything like me, it doesn't matter because you're always on the look out for a great recipe regardless of its seasonality. So bookmark, print out or pin this one - because when Mardi Gras rolls back around you'll definitely want to try this recipe from Confections of a Foodie Bride.

S'more Cups

These little darlings are S'mores dressed up. Trust me, they are every bit as delicious as the ones made out by the fire pit or campfire, just not as messy!

This great recipe from Texas Cottage turns a childhood favorite into the perfect party food.

Spinach & Sun Dried Tomato Dip

I love when a recipe does double duty. Like when a perfect roast chicken makes a second appearance in  enchiladas or when pickled red onions are paired one night with a Greek dish and the next night they serve as a pinto beans topping. 

When I came across this Chef in Training recipe and saw that it could be served hot or cold, I knew I would be trying this. We served this as a cold dip one night and earlier in the weekend as a hot spread on crostini. And guess what? It was delicious both ways