Rites of Spring
It’s certainly not the official start date, but I think of today as the real no-turning-back beginning of spring. Granted, there will probably still be one of those freak snow storms in our future, but for the most part, the light jackets have been pulled out of the closet and we’re already dreaming of floating cotton dresses.
Do you have a ritual that takes you from winter to spring? A commemorative reading of the artichoke section in Mastering the Art of French Cooking? Snapping off the woody ends of 1,000 asparagus spears? Or something that doesn’t have anything at all to do with food, like swapping out the woolen sweaters for the cotton blouses that have been stored under the bed?
I ask because I find myself very interested in rituals these days: the way they mark the passing of seasons, days, and even the smallest occasions. Rituals make the ordinary sacred — like the grandmother and grandfather of a friend who always sit down together for a glass of wine before dinner each night. So many of our rituals correspond with holidays, but wouldn’t it be fun to ritualize, say, Wednesday? Or the first of each month? And if you did ritualize April, spring, or just an ordinary day, what would you do?
The simplest, frequently recurring ritual of any kind is dinner itself (or breakfast and lunch, for that matter). The recipe for this quiche sounded like the most springy thing I could imagine (and I am a sucker for any dish featuring gruyère), so as soon as I saw the first decent bunch of asparagus, I knew just what I was making. This would be so good served at room temperature for a brunch.
Asparagus Leek and Gruyère Quiche
from Everyday Food
Serves 6
1 tablespoon butter
1 leek (white and light green parts only), halved and thinly sliced, then well washed
coarse salt and ground pepper
1 bunch (1 pound) asparagus, tough ends removed, thinly sliced on the diagonal
4 large eggs
1 1/4 cups half-and-half
ground nutmeg
Our Favorite Pie Crust, (I used my favorite) fitted into a 9-inch pie plate, well chilled
1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese (4 ounces)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, with rack in lowest position. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium. Add leek and asparagus; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until asparagus is crisp-tender, 6 to 8 minutes; let cool.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, 1/2 teaspoon salt, teaspoon pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Place pie crust on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with cheese; top with asparagus mixture. Pour egg mixture on top.
Bake until center of quiche is just set, 50 to 60 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. (To store, let cool, then refrigerate, up to 1 day. Reheat at 350 degrees until warm in center, about 30 minutes.)
Cordelia: My food-related ritual involves a big, leafy salad and a glass of iced tea with fresh mint leaves. My ritual not related to food is painting my toenails–must get those feet nice and pretty for spring sandals!2 years ago
Carly: Taco Tuesday! When we were on our honeymoon in Maui, the nearby Mexican restaurant had a Taco Tuesday event with big margaritas and tasty food, made all the better by the view of the beach and the sunset. Since then, we made taco tuesday ourselves. It isn’t always tacos, but it is usually something in the bean and tortilla realm. And margaritas only come out with the warmer weather (hurry up spring!). It is such a nice way to call to mind those glorious two weeks on a random Tuesday night.2 years ago
Cordelia, The spring pedicure is always a great kick-off to the season.
Carly, That is the best idea ever! I love, love, love it. I have a friend who would do Meatless Mondays, but it certainly doesn’t have quite the same fiesta-like flair of yours!2 years ago
Sara Rose: I love quiche. My mom makes homemade quiches and serves them all the time at her restaurant. I may make this quiche this weekend for brunch with Dutch babies (let’s make it indulgent, shall we!)
Our rituals are rather boring. We rake up winters refuse, do deep spring cleaning, clean up the porch, pull out planters, talk about what we’ll be planting, etc. I make more brunches, we take more walks, and smile more.
We have one night a week where we play Dominos or Scrabble in our bed. WE eat things like brownies and play something till very late in the evening. We also ALWAYS listen to St. Paul Sundays on NPR every Sunday morning without fail. Our Sunday breakfast is always donuts and coffee. Those are our little rituals.2 years ago
Jora: I love this post. I am trying to incorporate more traditions into my kids’ lives. I love hearing other people’s ideas….those are always the best starting point.
For me, spring has not sprung until I bake a strawberry-rhubarb something. I’ve baked two strarberry pies in the last week, but I need to find some rhubarb and get to baking something with that.2 years ago
katrina: My ritual, although I didn’t realise it was one until now, is to walk into town (Look! It’s warm enough to walk!), wearing something springlike (ballet pumps instead of boots and a light jacket in place of a winter coat is enough of a difference), window shop in interesting vintage boutiques, and then lunch alone, with a magazine, outside somewhere. Preferably, it would be a quaint pub and I would have something like a crayfish and rocket sandwich and a lager or Gin and Tonic. God I’m so British!
Thinking about it now, the whole thing revolves around being outside; when it’s cold, aimless wandering and seeing new shops or displays you hadn’t noticed before (basically, rediscovering your town or nieghbourhood), just isn’t appealing. When the sun comes out, its a lovely and inexpensive way to lose an afternoon. It’s what I should have done today, come to think of it.2 years ago
Sara Rose, More walks and more smiles sounds like the perfect way to usher in spring.
Jora, I don’t have kids and I’m still trying to ritualize more! It seems to me that it’s a great way to add meaning to the day in-day out of being alive. There’s a great book aimed towards parents called Festivals, Family and Food that you might find helpful as you brainstorm stuff for your kids.
Katrina, You do sound British and it sounds heavenly! I’ve been holed up in my apartment for so long that I’ve forgotten how much I do love wandering to rediscover the neighborhood. The next warm day, I just might crib this idea.
2 years ago
Kate: Oh wow, that quiche looks delicious! I find myself making a lot of quiches at this time of year … I think the transition from heavy warming winter dishes to lighter springlike dishes really marks the changing of the season for me.2 years ago
Kristina: Ah, yes. Springtime rituals. For us, it’s our first meal of homegrown salad or snap peas, and the first night it’s warm enough to dine al fresco, on the side porch. That day hasn’t come yet, but soon.2 years ago
Sarah Jane: It’s a little offbeat but the start of spring ritual I love is going to Goodwill, rummaging through the men’s tees and hacking them up until they are cute tank tops for spring. Also eating strawberries and relishing the post work daylight.2 years ago
miss fae: yum! can i come over for a slice?2 years ago
Karen: That looks absolutely delicious! In the hopes that Spring is here to stay, I’ve been wearing skirts for the past two days — a staple in my Spring/Summer wardrobe. It’s still a little chilly, but hopefully I don’t have to break out the heavy pants and boots again until Fall!2 years ago
Charlene D.: One of my absolute favorite recipes to make the moment spring asparagus starts popping up in the stores is an asparagus & gruyere pizza…it is soooo good! I like to do this with a cornmeal pizza crust, which I brush with olive oil, crushed garlic, a little salt and red pepper flakes. I add grated gruyere and then add the asparagus, cut in about 1 inch pieces. Very lightly drizzle the asparagus with olive to prevent burning & cook for about 14 minutes…you won’t even believe how delicious something that simple to make tastes!2 years ago
anita: Just wanted to let you know I posted about your blog on my blog. I know we are from two different worlds but I do love your blog a bunch!2 years ago
Sharon: My spring ritual usually begins in the fall. I place some bulbs in labeled brown paper bags and toss them in the garage and forget about them. Then in late Feb. or early March, when I am all skiied out, shovel weary and done with being the hockey mom. I get out the nice flower pots, soul soil and and old shower curtain. We plant the bulbs in the pots, and make a big earthy mess. The kids have taken to doing their own flower pots as they don’t like my “obsesively organized clusters of colour”. We put the pots in the windows and then by spring we have our own indoor garden. I don’t know if it helps pass the long cool days until the warms winds of spring but it feels nice to touch the dirt again.2 years ago
Christine S.: With my children, as soon as the winter chill has been shed, we, regardless of age, hit the playground behind our townhouse. We are fortunate that we live in an “urban fringe” area where there are playgrounds and parks abounding. At ages 11, 15, and dare I say, 41, we hit the swings as often as possible. Some days, while the kids are throwing a ball around (yes, the magic still exists at their ages!:), I will catch up on magazine reading or fit a chapter of a book into the time on the park bench outside.
This may not seem ritualistic, but it sure makes the entrance of spring brighter for all 3 of us!2 years ago
caitlin: so this took me a while to think of, and i didnt even realize it until i was doing it: listening to belle and sebastian. i think they’re a little too light for the winter, so i don’t listen to them in the bleak months. once the weather warms up i love listening to them on my ipod as i bounce down the street. it reminds me of when i started listening to them, the spring semester i spent in paris.2 years ago
Carly: I made this quiche last night for Easter dinner and it was delicious and super easy! And red potatoes with rosemary complimented it perfectly. Thanks for posting this great recipe!2 years ago
Carly, That’s what I had with it too! Roasted red potatoes with rosemary! Man, great minds really do think alike!2 years ago
Tea_Austen: Our family spring brunch (which may or may not be held on Easter) is my marker of spring. Now that I have nieces, the rituals seem more important. I want them to grow up with these events (also, little girls in cute flowered dresses, how can you go wrong?).
http://teaandcookies.blogspot.com/2008/03/spring-brunch-otherwise-known-as-easter.html
I also mark the first skirt with bare legs day, the first sandal day (sadly often also the first blister of spring day), the first bike ride, picnic, and swim in the lake. It’s all good.
Thanks for a great topic to think about.2 years ago