Fix Up a Flavorful Spring Table
Finding the perfect recipe to share with loved ones can prove to be a year-round challenge. These tasty dishes that include a flatbread appetizer, shrimp main dish and a favorite seasonal dessert made with strawberries can help you serve up a meal perfect for any spring gathering.
Visit Culinary.net for more tips and recipes to make your springtime gatherings as nutritious as they are delicious.
HEARTY AND FLAVORFUL
Make your meal a hearty, tasty one by starting it off with this recipe for Herbed Veggie Focaccia Bread, a pizza-esque flatbread that’s a delicious alternative to all-too-common unhealthy appetizers.
Topped with mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers, olives and onion, this delightful small plate packs a nutritious load of veggies. Find more nutritious recipes at AICR.org.
Herbed Veggie Focaccia Bread
Reprinted with permission from the American Institute for Cancer Research
Servings: 12
Dough: 1 cup whole-wheat flour 1 cup all-purpose flour, divided 1 package (1/4 ounce) quick-rise yeast 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup warm water, 125-130 F 1 tablespoon canola oil
Topping: 7 medium fresh mushrooms, sliced 3 plum tomatoes, chopped 1 small green bell pepper, slivered 1/2 cup sliced black olives 1/4 cup chopped red onion 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano 1/4 teaspoon thyme 1/4 teaspoon basil 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder Nonstick cooking spray 2 teaspoons cornmeal
Heat oven to 475 F.
To make dough: In mixing bowl, combine whole-wheat flour, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, yeast and salt. Add water and oil. Beat until smooth. Stir in remaining all-purpose flour to form soft dough. Place onto floured surface and knead by hand until consistent and elastic, about 4 minutes. Cover and let stand 15 minutes.
To make topping: In bowl, combine mushrooms, tomatoes, green bell pepper, olives, onion, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, basil and garlic powder.
Coat 15-by-10-by-1-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle with cornmeal. Gently press dough into pan. With fork, generously prick dough.
Bake 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cover dough with topping mixture. Bake additional 10 minutes, or until edges are golden brown.
FAST, FLAVORFULFISH DINNER
If warm spring weather has you in the mood for a simple fish dinner, look to your humble sheet pan. Follow these simple tips from Dr. Wendy Bazilian, McCormick Health Advisor and Registered Dietitian, to enjoy tasty seafood recipes you’ll want to make all year long.
Sheet pans are perfect for simple fish dinners because they require minimal cleanup and everything is baked on one pan.
While lemon is a great complement to seafood, think about pairing with other citrus flavors like orange and lime. Try marinating shrimp in a mixture of lite coconut milk, lime extract, ginger and red pepper.
Add colorful vegetables like zoodles or asparagus to your sheet pan to boost both seafood and vegetable servings. You don’t need a spiralizer to make zoodles because many grocery stores offer pre-made zoodles in the produce section.
Explore more recipes to enjoy during spring and beyond at McCormick.com, or look for McCormick Spice on Facebook and Pinterest.