Ways To Celebrate The Spring Equinox!
I don’t know about you, but this has been the LONGEST winter. So. Much. Snow. And not just that- I feel that most days we’ve been in Utah, it’s just been gray. Cold, cloudy, and gray. So many people I’ve talked to are craving Vitamin D and are so ready for winter to end! The spring equinox is on March 20, and I think this year it’s totally worth celebrating. Even if it’s a snowy, cloudy day, it still means that we’re headed for warmer, sunnier weather!! If you too are ready to say goodbye to winter and embrace Spring, here are some ideas to help with the celebration!
- Have a picnic! If the weather actually permits, go outside and enjoy it! What better way to celebrate than enjoying some tasty food in the sunshine?
- Make a fruit salad. Fruit salad is always tasty, but it’s also just a bright, happy dish- a great way to welcome spring! Throw in all the berries, some kiwi- all the summery fruits!
- Buy a bouquet of flowers. It’s amazing how much a vase of flowers can brighten up a space. The perfect way to embrace spring and show your gratitude for the changing season!
- Go for a family walk. Even if it’s a little nippy, you can bundle up and take a walk around the neighborhood, keeping an eye out for newly sprouted buds, bird’s nests, and any other signs of spring! If you have little ones, you could take this to the next level and create a small spring scavenger hunt (find a flower pot, a singing bird, a patch of blue sky, etc).
- Bake a cake or cupcakes and try your hand at decorating! There are a lot of ways to make flowers using buttercream, and even if they don’t end up perfect, the joy is in creating! (and devouring!).
- Easter and spring go hand in hand- they’re all about new life! Decorating cookies that are various shapes like bunnies, chicks, or lambs would be a fun way to celebrate the season of new birth.
- Host a little tea party! Why does cute little food make me think of sunshine? Even if you’re not a big tea drinker, host a little get-together and have various light finger foods and even different punches and lemonades. The perfect party to welcome spring!
- Make a lemon dessert. Lemon desserts are always so bright and cheerful! No matter what the weather is outside, a tasty treat like these lemon bars are a great way to guarantee some sunshine! These ones are even called “Sunburst Lemon Bars”!
Sunburst Lemon Bars
Ingredients:
Crust
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon grated lemon peels
Filling
4 eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon peels
Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice
Note: You'll need about two lemons for the juice/peel in this recipe. If you don't have enough lemon juice left for the glaze, add water until you get the right consistency.
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl with electric mixer, beat flour, sugar, butter, and peel on low speed until crumbly. Press mixture evenly in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown.
2. Meanwhile, in large bowl with wire whisk, lightly beat eggs. Beat in remaining filling ingredients except lemon juice and lemon peel until well blended. Beat in 1/4 cup lemon juice and peel.
3. Remove partially baked base from oven. Pour filling evenly over warm base.
4. Return to oven; bake 25 to 30 minutes longer or until top is light golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
5. In small bowl, mix 1 cup powdered sugar and enough lemon juice for desired spreading consistency until smooth. Spread glaze over cooled bars. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator, but allow bars to come to almost room temperature before serving.
Source: sleah-claire.com
2. Meanwhile, in large bowl with wire whisk, lightly beat eggs. Beat in remaining filling ingredients except lemon juice and lemon peel until well blended. Beat in 1/4 cup lemon juice and peel.
3. Remove partially baked base from oven. Pour filling evenly over warm base.
4. Return to oven; bake 25 to 30 minutes longer or until top is light golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
5. In small bowl, mix 1 cup powdered sugar and enough lemon juice for desired spreading consistency until smooth. Spread glaze over cooled bars. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator, but allow bars to come to almost room temperature before serving.
Source: sleah-claire.com
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
What will you do to welcome the spring season? I’d love to hear your ideas!
Camille Hoffmann
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2014
Email the author! camille@dvo.com
