Welcome back to Cookin’ It Right, the channel that takes home cooks to the Next Level! Today, we’re embracing the vibrant spirit of spring, the season where everything blooms and the world is awash with color.
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00:00:00 Springtime Welcome
00:00:52 Spring Pea Soup
00:02:25 Grilled Asparagus
00:04:18 Lemon Herb Chicken
00:06:05 Strawberry Salad
00:07:51 Springtime Pasta
00:09:31 Rhubarb Crumble and Lemon Bars
00:11:56 Wrap Up
welcome back to cooking it right the channel that takes home Cooks to the next level today we’re embracing the vibrant Spirit of spring the season where everything blooms and the world is a wash with color what better way to celebrate than by bringing that energy into our kitchens we’ve got seven spring inspired dishes lined up for you that are as bright and Whimsical as the season itself first up we’ve got a fresh and verdant spring pea soup followed by a perfectly grilled asparagus dish that’s got that delightful crunch our lemon herb chicken is a zesty main course that will make your taste buds dance then we’ve got a strawberry salad that’s like a celebration in a bowl our Springtime pasta is a light and flavorful dish that’s sure to please and for dessert we’ve got a Tangy rhubarb crumble and zingy lemon bars that will end your meal on a high note stay tuned as we delve into these delicious dishes that are perfect for a springtime Feast first on our list is a vibrant spring pea soup now this soup is a celebration of all things spring it’s as green as a Fresh Meadow and packed full of the sweet tender flavors that only spring peas can offer it’s also delightfully easy to make so let’s Dive Right In to start you’ll need about 4 cups of fresh or frozen peas if you’re using fresh peas you’ll want to Shell them if you’re using Frozen let them thaw before you start either way the result will be a soup that’s bursting with the taste of fresh peas next you’ll need some vegetable broth about 4 cups this is going to provide the base for our soup you can use chicken broth if you prefer but vegetable broth keeps the flavors clean and lets those peas really shine you’ll also need an onion a couple of cloves of garlic and a handful of fresh mint the onion and garlic are going to provide a Savory backbone to our soup while the mint brings a bright refreshing note that complement the peas perfectly now let’s get cooking start by sautéing your onion and garlic in a bit of olive oil until they’re soft and fragrant then add your peas and broth bring everything to a simmer and let it cook for about 20 minutes this is going to allow all those flavors to meld together beautifully once everything’s cooked it’s time for the fun part blending use a blender to puree your soup until it’s smooth and creamy then stir in a bit of cream or coconut milk if you like to add a touch of richness finally serve your soup garnished with a sprig of mint and a drizzle of cream it’s a bowl of Springtime goodness ready to enjoy with that our spring pea soup is ready to warm your hearts next up we have grilled asparagus a simple yet delightful side dish this verdant vegetable is a springtime favorite bursting with a unique flavor that’s both earthy and slightly sweet it’s a fabulous choice for grilling because it holds up well to the high heat and develops a wonderful slightly charred flavor to get started you’ll need a bunch of fresh asparagus look for stalks that are firm and bright green with tightly closed tips you’ll also need some olive oil salt and pepper for seasoning and a hot Grill if you want to add an extra layer of flavor consider some min garlic or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice the process is straightforward Begin by cleaning the asparagus rinse them under cold water to remove any dirt then snap off the tough ends here’s a fun fact the asparagus will naturally break at the point where the tender part ends and the tough part begins next it’s time to dress your asparagus toss them in a bit of olive oil just enough to lightly coat them sprinkle on some salt and pepper or any other seasonings you prefer remember the asparagus has a love flavor on its own so you don’t want to overpower it with too many spices now onto the grill they go lay them across the grate so they don’t fall through and let them cook for about 2 to 4 minutes on each side you’re aiming for Tender Crisp asparagus that’s lightly charred once they’re done pull them off the grill and serve them up right away you can add a final sprinkle of salt a squeeze of lemon or even a dusting of Parmesan cheese if you like the result a side dish that’s delightfully crunchy full of natural asparagus flavor and absolutely perfect for welcoming the spring season and that’s how you make a quick and tasty grilled asparagus it’s a recipe that’s as simple as it gets but it’s sure to impress the charm of this dish is in its Simplicity letting the fresh seasonal produce shine so go ahead give it a try and let the flavors of spring come alive in your kitchen moving on to our main dish the lemon herb chicken this delightful recipe is a symphony of flavors that will surely make your taste buds dance now let’s dive into the ingredients you’ll need you’ll want to get yourself a nice plump chicken we’re going for a whole chicken here because it’s not only delicious but also gives us more to work with next you’ll need the stars of our show fresh lemons and a generous bunch of herbs we’re talking rosemary thyme and parsley the aromatic Trio that’s going to give our chicken its wow factor you’ll also need some olive oil salt and pepper the first step is to preheat your oven we’re aiming for a nice toasty 375° while the oven is getting ready let’s prep PR our chicken you want to Pat it dry and then season it generously with salt and pepper don’t forget the inside now we’re going to create a herb paste just chop up your herbs squeeze in the juice of one lemon add some olive oil and give it a good mix rub this paste all over your chicken and again don’t forget the inside this paste is going to infuse our chicken with a delightful herbaceous and tangy flavor next stuff the chicken cavity with leftover herbs and lemon halves this will add ant exra layer of flavor from the inside then place your chicken on a roasting tray and pop it into the oven roast your chicken for about an hour and a half or until the juices run clear remember patience is key here you want to give your chicken enough time to cook thoroughly and soak up all those flavors once it’s done let your chicken rest for about 15 minutes before carving this allows the juices to redistribute throughout the chicken making it extra juicy and flavorful voila a zesty lemon herb chicken is served this dish is is not just a treat for the taste buds but also A Feast for the eyes with its golden brown skin and vibrant garnish up next we have a refreshing strawberry salad this dish is a celebration of spring bringing together the juiciness of fresh strawberries with the crispness of salad greens now the ingredients you’ll need are quite simple fresh strawberries of course you’ll also need some mixed salad greens I like to use a blend of spinach arugula and roma but feel free to get creative for the dressing we need some good quality balsamic vinegar extra virgin olive oil a touch of honey for sweetness and a pinch of salt and pepper to make this salad start by washing your strawberries and salad greens thoroughly once they’re clean haul the strawberries and slice them up set them aside and let’s move on to the dressing in a small bowl whisk together the balsamic vinegar olive oil and honey season it with a pinch of salt and pepper then give it a good stir until it’s well combined now comes the fun part assembling the salad in a large bowl toss together your salad greens and sliced strawberries drizzle over the balsamic dressing and toss everything together until the salad is evenly coated and there you have it a simple yet vibrant strawberry salad what I love about this salad is the balance of flavors the sweet and tart strawberries work in harmony with the Tangy balsamic dressing while the salad greens add a refreshing crunch it’s a perfect side dish for any spring meal or a light lunch on its own and let’s not forget It’s A Feast for the eyes as well with its vibrant Reds and greens there you have it a refreshing strawberry salad to cleanse the pallet this is a dish that truly embodies the essence of spring with its fresh ingredients and vibrant flavors and the best part is it’s so easy to make you can whip it up in no time so go ahead give it a try and bring a touch of spring to your table now let’s whip up some Springtime pasta a dish that embodies the spirit of the season with its lightness and abundance of spring vegetables first off the ingredients you’ll need some fresh spinach fetene a medley of spring vegetables including English peas asparagus and cherry tomatoes some garlic olive oil fresh basil and of course A Generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese let’s get started by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil while we’re waiting for that let’s prep our veggies snap the Woody ends off your asparagus and cut them into bite-sized pieces shell your peas and have your cherry tomatoes now once your water is boiling add in the fetene cook it according to the package directions until it’s Al Dente remember you want it to have a bit of a bite not too soft when it’s done drain it but keep about a cup of the pasta water we’ll be using it later while your pasta is cooking heat some olive oil in a large Skillet over medium heat add in your garlic and sauté until it’s fragrant then toss in your asparagus and peas cook them until they’re just tender then add your cherry tomatoes they’ll only need a minute or two now it’s time to bring it all together add your cooked pasta to the skillet with your veggies toss it all together adding a bit of the pasta water if things are looking too dry tear up some fresh basil leaves and throw them in giving everything a good stir and last but certainly not least sprinkle over a good helping of Parmesan cheese let it melt into the pasta creating a creamy cheesy sauce that ties everything together and there you have it a vibrant and flavorful Springtime pasta this dish is not only delicious but also a celebration of the fresh flavors of spring now for the sweet finale we have rhubarb crumble and lemon bars nothing screams spring like the tartness of rhubarb in The Zing of lemon all wrapped up in two delightful desserts first up our rhubarb crumble rhubarb with its vibrant pink stalks is a true Herald of spring this tart vegetable Yes you heard that right vegetable becomes a sweet delight when baked with sugar and a buttery crumble on top to start off we’ll need fresh rhubarb stocks sugar flour and butter for the filling the crumble topping is a simple mix of flour brown sugar and more butter the magic happens when this mixture bakes in the oven and transforms into a crunchy golden topping that contrasts beautifully with the soft sweet tart rhubarb filling underneath now the secret to a great rhubarb crumble is balancing the tartness of the rhubarb with the sweetness of the sugar this is where you can play around a bit adding more or less sugar to suit your personal taste once everything is combined and nestled into a baking dish it’s into the oven it goes after about 45 minutes you’ll be greeted with a bubbling aromatic dessert that’s just begging to be paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream moving on to our lemon bars these little squares of sunshine are sure to brighten up any spring day with a buttery shortbread base and a zesty lemon filling they are a perfect balance of sweet and tart for the base all we need is flour sugar and butter The Filling is a vibrant mix of eggs sugar flour and of of course freshly squeezed lemon juice the shortbread base bakes first creating a firm foundation for the lemon filling once the filling is added back into the oven it goes after cooling a dusting of powdered sugar adds the final sweet touch the tartness of the lemon bars is a wonderful Counterpoint to the sweetness of the rhubarb crumble making them a perfect pair to round out our spring feast and there you have it folks two desserts that encapsulate the bright fresh flavors of springtime they’re simple to make but oh so delicious and are sure to impress at your next spring Gathering as always the key is in fresh quality ingredients and a whole lot of love and with that we conclude our spring Feast with two delightful desserts thank you for joining us on this culinary Adventure through the flavors of spring remember the best part about cooking is that there are no hard and fast rules so feel free to put your own spin on these recipes what a feast we’ve had today we kick things off off with a vibrant spring pea soup bathing your taste buds in the Green Goodness of the Season then we moved on to grilled asparagus a simple yet flavorsome dish that truly embodies the freshness of spring our next stop was the lemon herb chicken a light and zesty Mane that’s as refreshing as a spring Breeze then we tossed up a strawberry salad a sweet and tangy Delight that adds a pop of color to any table our Springtime pasta was a real star intertwining the earthy flavors of the season with the comfort of a classic pasta dish and finally we ended on a sweet note with a rhubarb crumble and lemon bars the perfect desserts to encapsulate the tart and sweet tastes of this joyous season what a delicious Journey it’s been capturing the essence of spring in each delectable bite keep cooking it right and we’ll see you next time