Is it Spring Yet?

So I realize that it is New Years Day and we really are in the thick of winter – but I am ready for SUNSHINE and of course spring. Totally over weeks of gray and the occasional drizzle of rain.  Every year at about this same time I start to crave warmer weather.  I change my desktop background to a beach scene, flip through photos of previous vacation, and start cruising through specials on Expedia in search of the perfect opportunity to visit someplace beachy and tropical.  For those of you living outside of Seattle you may wonder why – well let me explain to you the two seasons of Seattle:

• Sprummfall: Starts out a little wet, transitions to sorta warm, then stays warm but not too hot, back to warm, and then back to rain.  Favorite season and the reason I live here - when it is nice (and it typically is) it is amazingly beautiful.
• Fawinter: Rain. Gray. Rain. Gray. Gray. Cold. Gray. Gray. Gray. Have I emphasized that it is gray yet? Blue sky may peek out a bit here and there but it is always coupled with chilly weather.

Seattlites do not despair – we can find sun either with a plane or staying put and getting a bit creative.  Here are a few suggestions to beat the winter blues:

Take a tropical vacation. Most obvious and most expensive of the options I am offering you – but there is nothing better than hopping on a plane when it is 40 degrees outside and landing in Kona where it is a sunny 80 degrees F.  Mexico, Belize, Jamaica, and Hawaii you name it – there is nothing better to beat the winter blues than an adventure to a tropical destination.  If you can swing it – get on the plane!  Doesn’t this view of a beach north of Kona look inviting:

Listen to Reggae!  If you are a KEXP fan - tune in on Saturday morning to listen to their mix of reggae, ska and dancehall on their Positive Vibrations show.  Regardless of if you are at home or in a car - reggae always makes me think of summer, driving with the windows rolled down and warm weather.  Here are a few artists that I recommend checking out for your Caribbean listening pleasure:

• Eek-a-Mouse.  Totally not that new but learned about these guys from this fabulous Belizean bartender Andreas.
• Bob Marley and the Wailers.  Classic and always makes me think of summer.
• Toots and the Maytals.  Makes you want to get up and dance.  Enough said.

Mangez des agrumes.  Conveniently in season in the winter – citrus seems to always make me think of warmer weather and tropical climates.  Perhaps this is the case because even tomatoes barely grow in Seattle and when I visit anywhere south of me citrus grows like weeds!  Is there anything that smells more amazing than the fragrance from a Meyer lemon tree? ☺

If you are in need of a good recipe for citrus – check out this orange and avocado salsa recipe on Cookinglight.com.  We made this for New Year’s Eve as a dip for chips (homemade of course is always better) and plan to use it over grilled halibut today. To make it interesting we used blood and naval oranges, and ruby and white grapefruit.

Visit Swanson’s nursery.  You might think this is silly but I love this place!! Whenever we are in a winter funk, my husband and I love to visit their indoor plant room.  It is warm, lush, and dense with plants that make you think you might be in a tropical paradise.  Come here to find a little piece of paradise  - be that a fragrant hibiscus, rubber tree, or some other brightly colored plant that you can bring home with you to make your house look a little more like Ambergris Caye or Maui.  Our plants typically survive a yearish before the cats eat them – so be sure to find non-toxic options if you have pets at home. 

Find a bottle of Rose.  Near and dear to my heart rose always makes me think of spring, new beginnings, and sitting in my backyard in an Adirondack chair soaking up a few rays of sunlight.  Which Rose to pick? I am eagerly awaiting the JM Cellars Bramble Bump Rose - we tasted it after its first press and it had a slightly white fruit tea taste which promises to be delicious this summer!  Few more recommendations for you:

• Efeste Babbitt Rose.  Depends on the vintage but this is typically slightly off dry and best when served just slightly chilled.  I find if it is too cold it ends up tasting like pretty much nothing.  When slightly chilled it is pretty amazing with an extra sharp cheddar cheese or crumbly aged Gouda.
  
• Triennes Rose. Dry rose from Provence, perennial favorite, and seriously does not get more delicious than this bottle.  Its bright, hints of citrus and if chilled just a bit it is crisp and perfectly refreshing.  We typically pair this with grilled salmon or grilled veggies tossed with balsamic with feta sprinkled on top.
  
• Zaca Mesa Rose.  This is a special bottle - it changes every year and in 2010 it was all about Cinsault - it is ridiculously delicious.  Bone dry with a nose that reminds you of a Meyer lemon tree blossom.  I might be biased I have a soft spot for anything with Cinsault - but definitely if you can find it buy it and try it.  Promise it will make you think of summer at least a little bit
  

Host a Caribbean inspired theme dinner. Think plantain chips and salsa, grilled coconut shrimp, a frothy Piña colada and maybe spicy jerk chicken.  As my friends will attest, I love themed dinners, as most of my amigos love to cook picking a consistent theme allows a potluck dinner to sort of have cohesive menu.  It also gives foodies a challenge to prepare the perfect accompaniment to your main dish.  I completely heart this cumin scented rice recipe I found on the Food Network site.  Try it in a rice cooker - totally works and keeps it super easy.  So invite your friends over, pull out the blender, and turn on the grill.  

Just a few ideas for you if you are like me, little tired of the gray and ready for warmer weather.  Now I am craving jerk chicken – off to the kitchen for me.

à bientôt mes amis