Organic Harvest Box for Easter Weekend, 2010

I love to see sunshine shining in my organic harvest box!! The weather has been so glorious this weekend that I am late with this week's post. I suspect those in Ottawa haven't noticed because you are very likely outside enjoying the beautiful weather with your families anyway.

With this gorgeous, summer-like weather hitting the nation's capital this long Easter weekend, I set out on a mission to find the perfect grilled sweet potato. The first thing I did was compile what I thought was a pretty decent list of recipes:

Grilled Sweet Potato Packets with Pecan Butter
Grilled Sweet Potato Fries
Grilled Sweet Potato with Apples
Grilled Sweet Potato Salad

I'll be posting my favourite recipe after I get a chance to try some of them out! If you have a favourite grilled sweet potato recipe that you're willing to share, be sure to let me know.

I came across some interesting recipes for cucumbers this week and I'm particularly liking the look of this Lentil and Cucumber Salad - sounds perfect for an unexpectedly warm, summery weekend. I think this Falafel and Cucumber Sauce also looks great and is a wonderful vegetarian alternative for a weeknight meal. Hot weather also brings people together for barbecues and backyard munching - why not serve up a giant tray of fresh veggies with this tangy Cucumber Ranch Dressing? Also on my radar is this Cool Cucumber and Dill Soup - I'm a gazpacho lover so I suspect a cool cucumber soup would be right up my alley.

Looking to make some small, healthy changes in your life? Me too! I came across two easy ways to incorporate healthier snacks into your day. Make a batch of this nutrient-packed Vegetable Salsa and snack on it when you're hungry throughout the day. It's fantastic served with whole grain tortilla chips or crackers. And one of my favourite healthy choices is smoothies - they are so easy to make, fill you up, and are a fantastic way to pack healthy goodness into your day. Martha Stewart's Whole Living offers up this Banana Yogurt Smoothie, but there are a dozens of varieties you can try. I often add a protein mix to mine (Vega Smoothie is my favourite), a cup or two of frozen berries, a tablespoon of almond butter, and a cup of soy milk. It's delicious and full of protein, offering up loads of energy to get you through your day.

I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful April long weekend!