With daffodils popping through the moist cool ground and the confines of hibernation melting away with warming temps, I feel a little giddy with  the anticipation of Spring.  March struggles to catch its bearings, finding itself in a weather tug-of-war, one foot lingering in winter and the other eager for Spring.  We wait and watch for indications that Winter has gone to bed for yet another year; that it is safe to pack away the coats, scarves, and gloves.  I find myself in my own tug-of-war between leaving behind the slower, reclusive life of Winter, and the birth and awakening of a new season.  I am anxious to feel the soil between my fingers as I place new plants in my flower beds.  I will soon be able to pull the covers off abandoned patio furniture and welcome J home from New York to the warmer climate of Southern California.  Most of all, my taste buds are beginning to stir for the long awaited Spring fruits and vegetables at the farmers market and the possibilites they hold for new recipes. Continue reading →