There is a Certain Celebration

In the north country it is spring and there is a certain celebration... --Mary Oliver







Forget the calendar. While it's been "Spring" for almost a month now, this week has treated Virginia to the kind of sunny, warm weather and lingering evening light that makes me confident we're irreversibly on track towards Summer.

Springtime hosts its own celebration. Bedecked in flowery finery, bathed in gorgeous, glowing lights, the earth beckons us to leave our desks, our stovetops, and our television sets to breathe it all in. Then out come the delicious seasonal treats -- fresh greens, herbs, beets, radishes, strawberries -- our hors d'oeuvres for the party.

In honor of Spring and all the outdoor activities on offer, including Garden Week, soccer games, and the first Fridays after Five, here are a few of my personal favorite portable picnic recipes. Even if they're destined for a tupperware lunch at your desk as you gaze wistfully out at dogwood blossoms, they're a delicious way to partake of Springtime's feast!

Please take the time to post any of your favorite springtime recipes (or activities) to the comments, especially those that fit well into a picnic basket!

Radish and Avocado Salad (One-Click Relay recipe)*

Spinach with Peas and Scallions (One-Click Relay recipe)*

White Bean Burgers (with parsley, carrots, and spring herbs)

Honey Balsamic Bean Salad (delicious with Down Branch’s delicate romaine)

Grilled Cheese and Fried Egg Sandwiches (perfect for fresh free-range eggs!)

Coconut Macaroons (look great for a portable picnic treat)

*You may have noticed on our Facebook page that Relay has just launched one-click shopping recipes in concert with Bella Eats, a beautiful cooking and photography blog by Charlottesville's own Andrea Hubbell. If you check out the new recipes tab at Relay, you can find Andrea's gorgeous recipes linked up to Relay's best local ingredients!

Crocuses and the taste of summer

Do you feel the sunshine hit your skin and instantly rush up through your blood into your heart causing one hard beat that ripples all the way up to your face turning the corners of your mouth up to meet the squinting corners of your eyes into that nearly forgotten sunshine smile? This was a long winter in Charlottesville…it made life heavy and thick--dreams of warm soup prevalent and a warm blanket the only reprieve. But here we are, midway through March (really?!), the crocuses are in full bloom, birds are singing into kitchen windows and the slow stroll of winter life is turning into a spring sprint.

Seems like these days all I have time for is a good ol’ five-minute peanut butter and jelly sandwich. While running into the house to let my dog out and gobble my rushed lunch, I saw all of my crocuses gently dancing in this unexpectedly chilly spring breeze and literally stopped in my tracks. I fixed my PBJ with my new favorite raspberry jam from Brightwood and got down on the ground to take a few minutes of peace with my summer sweet berry jam and my early spring purples, oranges and whites.

If you’ve never tried Susan Vidal’s jam from Brightwood, you need to. Until I tried it last week I would have probably gotten into a physical fight with anyone who tried to tell me that my grandmother’s jams and jellies weren’t the best in the whole world…but sorry Meem, you’re out. While sitting with my flowers, my dog and a sandwich full of pure, organic summer raspberries, I think I actually transported 3 months into the future when the berries are so ripe they look like they're about to explode and the very slightest brush with a red-stained finger makes them fall into my hand (which leads directly to my mouth...).

For 10 years Susan and Dean Vidal have been striving to be good stewards of the land on their 100-acre farm and vineyard in Madison County. Their diversified farm is home to chickens, goats, sheep, donkeys, certified organic berries, grapes and veggies all thriving in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Plus they recently renovated a cottage overlooking the Robinson River into an eco-friendly bed and breakfast get-away…delightful, really. I do believe I visited it in my summer daydreams.

Get outside, stretch that sunshine smile, taste a little summer, bond with your crocuses and enjoy the spring sprint!