Memories of spring beckon us north . . . morels, asparagus, greens, berries . . .

We're home again from wintering in the Caribbean where we frequent local markets, cook and eat local produce, and substitute local ingredients in favorite recipes. Sugarcane or tamarind syrup for maple syrup; canned mushroom pieces for morels; callaloo, local spinach and pigweek for spring greens; mahi, tuna, and snapper for trout and salmon; long beans for snappy green beans and asparagus; and for berries - what are they? It works but it isn't quite the same. One can purchase "imported" produce from the US and Europe, but tasteless and expensive, we pass them by in the grocery story: asparagus @ $8.00/lb, berries @ $10-$12/8 oz. As spring and summer approach our palates long to savor fondly remembered tastes. Our thoughts and cravings turn to what's up in northern Michigan. Gardens are planted, CSAs and farmers' markets open, picking season started, "hex" on the Boardman hatching - brookies and rainbow await. It's good to be home and getting our "up north foodies" fix.

Filed under Miscellaneous