The abundance of spring’s seasonal foods may not be in the market yet, but February Seasonal Eating can still be a delicious experience. Winter’s plentiful harvest is enough to ensure a month of delicious, seasonal dishes. So start cooking…
February Seasonal Food
If you’re having the winter blues, eating your way through them might help get you over the hump. We’re so close to spring and luckily February is only twenty-eight days in length. Lots of foods from January Seasonal Eating are also still in abundance, so there is some crossover. It’s always good to feast on foods that are ripe and ready to go. Not only is seasonal food healthier it’s so much cheaper. You might as well enjoy the benefits.
And even though hot chocolate, warm and fuzzy blankets and snowflakes might rule the landscape, your meals do not have to be potato and onion centric. All you need is a bit of advanced planning and a creative palette to enjoy so many of winter’s fresh fruits and vegetables.
Roasted Radish and Potato Salad
Radishes: These are a big favorite in my house and I’m pretty sure I add them to every salad I make. Try roasting them, they are even more amazing. Radishes are a powerful detoxifier, which means they purify the blood and help eliminate toxins and waste. Since radishes are considered roughage, composed of indigestible carbohydrates, they help facilitate digestion issues and water retention problems. They are also great for dieting since they are very filling and have a very small calorie count. Add them to your diet.
Cauliflower: It’s packed with health benefits and I hope it’s already part of your diet. I kind of make it every which way, roasted, raw and sauteed are my favorites. Did you know cauliflower is packed with Vitamin C and K? Cauliflower’s abundant supply of health-promoting phytochemicals, high levels of anti-inflammatory compounds, and ability to ward off cancer, heart disease, brain disease, and even weight gain…it doesn’t seem like there is much cauliflower can’t do.
- Honey Garlic Baked Cauliflower
- Cheesy Habanero Cauliflower Bake
- Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Oven Roasted Cauliflower with Raisin Vinaigrette
- Baked (Low Carb) Parmesan Cauliflower Bites
Cabbage: Not only is cabbage healthy and in abundance this time of year, it is also very budget-friendly. Cabbage is loaded with vitamins and minerals (especially vitamins C and K and folate), fiber, antioxidants, and anti-carcinogenic compounds called glucosinolates. I love cabbage sprinkled in tacos for crunch and sauteed with bacon and ham for a heavier meal.
- Sweet and Sour Cabbage Rolls
- Cabbage Soup with Rice
- Tennessee-Style Mustard Coleslaw
- Garlic Roasted Cabbage Wedges
- Pineapple Coleslaw
Pineapple-Fennel Salad with Ginger-Sesame Dressing
Fennel: It’s slightly sweet, very crunchy, and extremely healthy. The licorice flavor comes from a compound known as anethole, which has been shown to reduce risk of certain cancers, help with digestion, suppress inflammation, and naturally thin blood to prevent clots . Fennel is also packed with vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and copper. It’s time to make fennel part of your regular diet.
- Creamy Baked Fennel
- Baked Shrimp with Fennel and Feta
- Roasted Fennel with Parmesan and Chives
- Potato-Fennel Gratin
- Grilled Fennel Tarts
Pomegranate-Balsamic Glazed Carrots
Carrots: Give me all the carrots is what I usually say. A hardy, winter vegetable you can never go wrong with the carrots sweet taste and crunchy texture. Thank goodness they are available year-round, but the carrot most definitely finds its way into so many of our cold-weather meals.
- Coconut-Mango-Carrot Smoothie
- Carrot-Parsnip Ginger-Lime Soup
- Spiced Carrot Cake
- Tangy Shredded Carrot Salad
- Carrot Cake Oatmeal
Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Orange-Ginger Gravy
Oranges: An orange can easily brighten the winter blues and using orange juice in recipes is quite versatile. Smoothies, salad dressings, marinades, and dessert are just a few of the ways to enjoy fresh oranges or their juice. Citrus consumption has been linked to lower risk of developing so many ailments. Get your fix this winter!
- 5-Ingredient Orange Glazed Pork Chops
- Orange and Avocado Salad
- Cranberry-Orange Coffee Cake
- Orange Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Baked Orange Chicken Meatballs
Four Years Ago: My New Coffee Table
Five Years Ago: Baked Crab and Almond Dip
Six Years Ago: Asian Lettuce Wraps
Seven Years Ago: Tacoritos
