ribboned asparagus salad with lemon

I've personally always eaten asparagus cooked.  When I saw this recipes from a favorite food blogger to eat it raw, I was intrigued.  I made it for lunch right after buying some from the farmer's market last weekend.  My mom and I ate it ALL in one sitting.  Then I made more for her before going home so she had it for the week.  Needless to say, we are obsessed!

 {ribboned asparagus salad with lemon}

{close up of the salad}

ribboned asparagus salad with lemon
from smitten kitchen

makes 4 servings

1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted and cooled
1 pound local asparagus, rinsed
1 lemon, halved
Olive oil
Coarse salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 to 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, shredded

1. No need to snap off the tough ends of your asparagus. Lay a single stalk on its side on a cutting board. Holding onto the tough end, use a vegetable peeler to shave off thin asparagus ribbons from stalk to tip, peeling away from the tough end in your hand. Discard the tough ends once you’re done peeling.
2. Gently pile your ribbons on a medium-sized serving platter. 
3. Squeeze some lemon juice over the asparagus, drizzle it with a bit of olive oil and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. 
4. Toss gently to coat. 
5. Sprinkle with Parmesan and almonds. 
6. Eat immediately. 

Have you eaten raw asparagus?  How did you like it?  Will you try this recipe?  (oh pretty please do!)

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what's in season | May

Yay May!  Local produce is beginning to make its way to the market, and I couldn't be more excited! 

 {My mom buying local asparagus over the weekend}

Here's what you should look for at your farmer's market:

Asparagus (already eating tons and have a recipe to share tomorrow!)
Greens
Lettuce
Kohlrabi (end of May)
Green onions
Peas (beginning mid-May)
Radishes
Strawberries (beginning mid-May)
Turnips (end of May)

Have you been to your local market lately?  I personally cannot wait for strawberries to come in because I have a strawberry-rhubarb soda I am dying to make for my mom!Pin It

monthly munchies | May

I hope that you had a great weekend!  A royal baby was born, Derby was fun, and the weather was wonderful here in the bluegrass state!  I couldn't ask for much more!

{sometimes, what you need is strawberries, yogurt and chocolate instead of a real dinner}

Any way, what's happening this month?  I have some recipes lined up with coconut including bread, brownies, and curry sauce for fish (a bit obsessed with coconut for some reason....)  Also, I will be featuring some delicious burger combinations in preparation for your Memorial Day cook-out. 

Nothing else new and exciting really.  Getting a little personal here, but the last few weeks of life have been a wild (WILD) ride ending with us getting new car this weekend.  Needless to say my stress and anxiety have been through the roof over the last few weeks so I really didn't plan ahead much.  I should be much better this month with pre-planning for June!

I also went to see my doctor for a physical, found out I had gained about 10 pounds since last year, and promptly bought a fitbit (LOVING it by the way).  So this month I will be focusing on healthy dishes.  It won't be hard since local produce is beginning to show up at the farmer's market (check out my what's in season post tomorrow for May's produce list).



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KY Derby | country ham balls

Kentucky has a great country ham scene, and why not highlight it with this delicious recipe?  Not only is it easy and delicious, the meatballs can be made ahead of time then baked when you need them!

 {country ham balls}

 {these are so delicious!  I have made them several times over the last 6 months, and they are always a favorite!}

country ham balls
adapted from Sterling Bits

makes 24-36 balls (depending on how you roll them)

2 pounds local country ham, diced into 1/4 inch pieces
2 pounds local pork sausage
1 1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 local eggs, beaten
2 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon mustard
1 cup white wine vinegar

1. Mix country ham, sausage, bread crumbs, and eggs together until well combined.
2. Roll out meat mixture to golf-ball sized meat balls.  At this point, the meatballs can be cooked or frozen for future use.
3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350.
4. Meanwhile, combine brown sugar, mustard, and vinegar in a pot.  Boil until rolling and allow to boil for 2 minutes.
5. Place meatballs in a 9x13 casserole dish and pour hot sauce over meatballs.
6. Bake for 20 minutes, turning balls at least once, or until done.
7. Serve.

I hope that these and the other recipes that I shared this week will inspire your Derby party!

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