You guys. . it’s April 1st?! We’re officially in spring. . woot woot!!! And April 1st is my wedding anniversary so happy anniversary to me and Paul! (and no, I am not joking).
Spring, for me, means two things: in-season yummy spring vegetables and spring cleaning. And I’m excited about both.
I cannot get enough asparagus these days . . it’s my fave spring vegetable, not only for it’s looks but also for how versatile asparagus is .. and delicious.
I blanch them, sauté them, roast them, bake them. . and yesterday, these babies were literally my dinner. Like, this was all I ate. Because I ate almost the entire bunch.
For dinner. Because they were soooo good.
Have you guys ever roasted asparagus with lemon zest? This was my first time doing it and now I’m wondering what the hell took me so long. I got the idea from my friend, Jen, who always squeezes a little fresh lemon juice over her veggies when she roasts them. I usually just use extra virgin olive oil and kosher salt, and no pepper if it’s for the kids.
The lemon zest is magical.
Magical! and delicious.
Easter is on Sunday and I’m making this again, only this time, I’m roasting 2 lbs. of asparagus. One pound for me and one for everyone else.
I love this time of the year .. the weather is gorgeous, the sun is out and kids are actually playing outside. It’s also just a few months before summer so we try to tidy up and get organized around the house. I started with my pantry towards the end of last year and then it kind of stopped there.
But now I have some of the best OXO cleaning and organization tools for my kitchen!
Can I tell you how excited I am for this compost bin?! I’ll admit it, I used to compost all the time when I lived in Washington but ever since moving here to Wisconsin, I haven’t done a thing. And do you know how much I cook?! and how much I could have composted? Thank goodness I have this compost bin from OXO now. No more food scraps in the garbage over here! I’m so excited!
OXO also sent me this Good Grips Expandable Utensil Organizer!
I love how large it is and the adjustable dividers help you organize more utensils in less space by allowing them to fit in opposite directions in one compartment. You can also adjust the location of the dividers to accommodate utensils of different shapes and sizes, or remove the dividers completely for open compartments.
Completely customizable! I love it!
And there’s even room for all my extra OXO gadgets and kitchen tools!
The other OXO kitchen organization tool I got that I am in love with is the Foldaway Dish Rack! We totally needed a new dish rack and one that features a plate rack that holds plates or bowls neat and upright, and is safe for delicate dishware, like my favorite plates that I use all the time when I photograph. The ones that I always hand wash! When the plate rack is folded down, it leaves the middle of the Dish Rack open to accommodate large bowls, cookware, and more. The convenient cup racks hold cups, mugs or wine glasses inside the rack to prevent dripping on the counter.
Since we just got home from Dallas, I haven’t had a chance to get my kitchen sink organized, but that is on my list for Friday!
Have you finalized your Easter menu yet? If not, you’ve got to add my Roasted Asparagus with Lemon to your menu! You will be so glad you did. Trust me.
Roasted Asparagus with Lemon
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. asparagus tough ends removed or broken off
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt to taste
- Freshly ground pepper to taste
- Zest of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Lay your asparagus on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Drizzle on the extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle on some salt and freshly ground pepper. Lastly, sprinkle on the lemon zest over the asparagus (you can just use your grater/zester right over the asparagus).
- Roast until the asparagus is tender and just turning golden, for about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and enjoy!
Disclosure: I was selected to be a part of this campaign (#OXOSpringCleaning) through OXO’s Blogger Outreach program. This is not a paid post. All opinions expressed here are my own.
