Simple Springtime Recipes

It's time to polish up the patio furniture and set the table outdoors, because today on Zeena Uncovered, we're sharing simple springtime recipes to perk up your palette! Spring is one of our most favorite times of year. Aside from the self-distancing rules that are keeping everyone indoors, we've been making it a point to spend at least an hour outside everyday to breathe in the fresh air (*and take a break from virtual learning with the kiddos!). Whether it's taking a stroll around the neighborhood or challenging the little ones to a basketball game, staying positive through these strange times means searching for a silver lining each and every day. And since the weather is finally warm enough for us to fire up the grill, we decided to make mealtime special with a healthy date salad, delicious garlic linguini pasta with grilled shrimp and to top things off, a refreshing, alcohol-free strawberry daiquiri. We hope you enjoy!

Amany's Healthy Date Salad

Sometimes called "Moroccan Salad", this tantalizing appetizer is rich with energizing greens and crunchy cucumbers. Topped with roasted pine nuts and goat cheese, you'll love how these flavors come together to brighten up mealtime.

Ingredients:

1 head of butter lettuce

1 peeled and chopped cucumber 

Caprese tomatoes (or cherry tomatoes)

Fresh cilantro

Dates

Pine nuts & butter

1/8 cup balsamic vinegar 

1/4 cup olive oil

Salt/pepper to taste

Goat cheese (optional)

After washing the lettuce, finely chop the leaves to forkable sized pieces. Peel the cucumbers and chop them along with tomatoes, dates and cilantro. Sauté pine nuts in a tablespoon of butter until golden. Remove from heat and add to salad warm, making sure to pour all the remaining butter from the pan. In a separate bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Dress salad and toss. Top with a few crumbles of goat cheese. Serve.

Bayan's Garlic Linguini Pasta with Grilled Shrimp

Creamy garlic, zingy lemon and freshly grilled shrimp make this family favorite you'll want to prepare all season long. Although it only calls for half a lemon, sliced thinly, you may use the rest as a gorgeous garnish next to the basil leaves. A toasted baguette is the perfect compliment to soak up the last bits of savory sauce glistening on your plate.

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Ingredients:

1 pack of uncooked refrigerated linguini

15 pieces of raw shrimp, shelled

3-5 cloves of garlic

Olive oil

1/4 cup fresh basil

Salt & pepper

1/2 lemon, squeezed

1 tablespoon vinegar

Boil pasta for 2-3 minutes and let sit in strainer for about 10 minutes to rest. Heat olive oil in a skillet over low heat and add 3 cloves of garlic and a small bunch of basil until glossy. Add pasta to the oil mixture and remove from heat. Add salt and pepper to taste with another small bunch of basil.

To prepare shrimp, in a separate bowl, soak the shrimp pieces in vinegar for about 10 minutes. Add 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil, half the amount of lemon juice, 2 cloves of garlic, salt, and pepper and mix well. Grill the shrimp on medium heat for 2 min on each side, or if you prefer, heat the olive oil in a skillet on the stovetop. Add shrimp in an even layer and cook without stirring for 1 minute. Then turn over for another minute until it begins to turn pink. Add the remaining lemon juice and garlic. Ready to serve and plate immediately over a bed of linguini. 

Alcohol-Free Strawberry Daiquiri

So quick and easy, you'll wonder why you don't make them everyday! Add your own personal twist to these springtime drinks by substituting lemon-lime soda for club soda or use frozen daiquiri mix instead of fresh berries. No matter how you mix it up, there's no need for dessert with this sweet n' sour slushie!

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Ingredients:

4-6 fresh, hulled strawberries

1/2 cup white sugar

8-10 ice cubes

2 tablespoons of lime juice

2 cups chilled lemon-lime soda

Crush strawberries, sugar, ice and lemon juice in the blender. Add soda and mix until smooth. Garnish with a mint leaf or sliced strawberry. To make a sugar rimmer, swipe the edge of each glass cup with lime juice and press, upside-down into a bowl of sugar. Fill each glass and serve with a paper straw. Serves 4.

 We can't wait to hear how these simple springtime recipes turn out for you! Share your thoughts in the comments below! See you next time!