Springing into Green
Published May 5, 2023
Kicking off the Spring season welcoming warmer days with light, yet flavorful, recipes that suit any occasion - full of brightness, warmth, and colorful greens.
The Bubbly Pear
Splashing right into the weekend, and just in time for Cinco de Mayo, this tequila spritz is super light and refreshing made in a larger batch to serve a crowd.
For the pear simple syrup
3 cups water
1 cup sugar
3 pears, sliced
Dissolve sugar into water in a medium pot on the stove over medium-high heat. Add sliced pears and bring to a boil. Strain out the pears and set aside to cool.
For the drink
1 cup tequila
2 limes, juiced
2 cups simple syrup
2 cans Peach-Pear La Croix Sparkling Water
In a pitcher combine tequila, lime juice and 2 cups of simple syrup. Mix well. Pour into individual glasses filled with ice and top with sparkling water.
Spring Pappardelle
Is there anything better than fresh pasta? Not in my opinion – only if it’s covered in a lemon butter sauce topped with dabs of creamy goat cheese and crunchy walnuts. And this foolproof quick pasta dough recipe works like a charm every time, thanks to the amazing Bobby Flay.
For pasta dough
2 cups flour
3 eggs
1 egg yolk
Add flour and eggs to a food processor and blend for 60 seconds or until dough ball is formed. Knead lightly on a floured surface and form into a disc. Wrap with plastic wrap and let it rest for 15 minutes. Once rested, cut into quarters. Working with one quarter at a time, lightly flour the dough and flatten with rolling pin or palm of your hand. Attached a pasta roller for sheet pasta to your stand up mixer. Run the the flattened dough through your largest setting. If you're looking to achieve a silkier pasta texture, fold the dough in half and pass it through the largest pasta roll setting - repeat a few times. Continue running the dough sheet through the pasta roller, reducing the width each time. I prefer the smallest, thinnest setting (number 8 on my kitchen aid attachment). Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and cut strips of your desired width and length. Lightly dust with semolina flour to prevent sticking, carefully lay flat onto a cookie sheet with parchment paper or twist into small nests, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside until ready to use. Repeat until all the dough has been rolled and cut. Boil a large pot of water on high heat. Add a dash of salt and oil to the water. Once boiling, add pasta and cook until done, about 3 minutes.
For the sauce
1 1/4 cup of butter (20 tablespoons), cubed (I prefer unsalted so I can season myself but salted is fine)
Juice of half a lemon
½ cup walnuts halves and pieces
3 cups baby spinach leaves
150g goat cheese, cut into pieces
1 - 2 tbsp freshly grated lemon zest
Fresh grated parmesan to serve, optional
Lemon peel garnish, sliced thin, optional
Dill for garnish, optional
Salt and pepper to taste
Melt the butter over medium heat until it just starts to sizzle. Add the walnuts and toss to coat. Lower heat to medium and add the lemon juice and zest. Whisk vigorously until emulsified. When the pasta is almost cooked, add ¼ cup of pasta water to the sauce and whisk vigorously, again. Season the butter sauce to taste if using unsalted butter. Transfer the pasta straight from the pot to the sauce. Add the spinach, mix gently. Continue to cook over medium heat until spinach has wilted slightly. Transfer to plates and top with goat cheese, lemon peel, dill, freshly cracked pepper and finely grated parmesan.
Honey Pear Upside Down Cake
With so many Spring birthday celebrations in our family, it's hard to come up with new dessert ideas. But recipes by Courtney Rich of Cake by Courtney never fails. Honey infused cake layers, caramelized pears, and layers of cream cheese buttercream makes for the perfect spring or fall dessert that pairs well with a light glass of wine that will warm you up on a crisp evening. Needless to say, it was a hit.
If you're looking to prevent the pears from turning brown once cut, a sweet mix of 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of honey will do the trick. Mix water and honey in a small bowl, soak pear slices for 30 seconds, remove, and pat dry.
Recipe by Cake By Courtney https://cakebycourtney.com/honey-pear-upside-down-cake/
Spring Table Setting
Dishware, napkins, napkin rings, plates, glasses: William Sonoma
Floral arrangement: Ethan Allen
Table runner: Amazon
Enjoy!
Renée Meuse Lovley