I love living in San Diego. Especially when spring is in the air!
The lemon I used to create my earlier recipe for Raw Pasta Salad with Creamy Lemon & Herb Dressing used a lemon that came from a friend’s lemon tree.
And then, I was at another friends’ house and she had tons and tons of little Meyer lemons from her tree.
I felt guilty taking more than a handful since I already had locally-grown lemons on hand.
But I couldn’t resist these little golf-ball sized cuties.
I have a post that showcases some of my favorite Lemon Recipes. You’d be surprised all the savory ways and recipe in which I use lemons.
And ok, in raw vegan cheesecake, too.
And I love San Diego in the spring not just because of all the free, homegrown lemons I seem to be scoring, but because sometimes it will get usually warm for a day or two, and it actually feels like summer for a day or two.
Yesterday it was 82F and sunny with a light breeze during the day, but cooled off perfectly in the evening. Today it’s a little cooler, about 73F and sunny. Totally gorgeous.
I have posted before that I love where I live, but that it wasn’t always that way and it didn’t just “happen”. We chose to live here and have made sacrifices to do so, but it’s all worth it.
This is home and I could never imagine living anywhere else!
I love all the springtime flowers I am seeing, too.
And I’m loving spring time food…
Sweet and crunchy grapes. That were on sale for 88 cents/pound. Not locally grown but the produce in the grocery stores even seems better in the spring.
And I am craving lighter fare, too.
Like my Raw Pasta Salad with Creamy Lemon & Herb Dressing
I’m glad you enjoyed the looks of it and thanks for letting me know if you have a spiralizer, and if you’ve ever tried raw pasta before.
Thanks to everyone who complimented me on my photographs looking nicer. I’m trying!
I of course love Springtime Desserts. Oh wait, I love desserts year round.
Banana Coconut Cookie Bites (Vegan, GF, can make in the oven or dehydrator)
These are a nice springtime dessert. What I’d call a bridal shower or baby shower dessert.
And Vegan Peanut Butter Chex Mix, i.e. Puppy Chow makes for a nice springtime anytime chocolaty snack!
Questions:
1. What’s your favorite season?
Spring and Summer for me. I hate winter. Fall just means winter is on the way and so when I see the leaves turn and the pumpkins come out, I am not pleased.
2. Is spring in the air for you?
Yes:
The days are getting longer
Flowers are blooming more abundantly
The birds and crickets are chirping more
Produce in the grocery store just looks better
It’s getting warmer out!
3. What do you love about spring?
I love:
Longer Days
Warmer Weather
Being able to wear less clothes and not have to bundle up in coats and jackets
I just went for a run in a sports bra + shorts!
The fact that summer is just around the corner
And that we’re just entering into what I consider to be the “prime” six months of weather of the year! The 6 months of fall/winter are not “prime” to me.
Any signs of spring in your corner of the world?
It’s ALMOST spring here in the bay area…not quite yet. but I am a lover of summer!! i love hot hot weather!! :)) omg your vegan cheesecake looks sooo soo delish!! but i don’t have a vitamix…i don’t think i can get cashews to look THAT creamy in my blender. :( i so so want a vitamix!! :(
get a vita! it will change your life :)
My husband and I visited San Diego in September. We fell in love. San Diego is just so bright! I would love to live there. I couldn’t get enough of the flowers either.
I still have at least another month of snow here. I think I need to save up for some plane tickets.
yes, it’s super beautiful here :)
It’s not spring…it’s summer now!! Almost 90 degrees! Holy cow! I do love that I hear birds chirping later in the evening, though. :-)
I wish it was looking like spring here….snow is still covering all the mountains!! Love the pics from balmy san diego, though :)
I’d have to say I would love to live there too! Maybe just to own a avocado tree-and lemons would be pretty fantastic too!!!!! The sun and air….ugh….so envious right now! Soak some up for me!
I couldn’t agree with you more! Longer days, warmer weather = LIFE! Seriously, can’t stand the cold; I feel like I’m waiting to come back to life again. Turning the clocks this weekend will help, for sure. And seeing organic plums (albeit, from Mexico, but still, the first organic plums of the coming season) at the natural grocery store was a great spring sign for me! We’ve had a lot of rain in the NYC area lately, though, which has been killing the mood. Your San Diego pictures get me every time. So jealous! Coincidentally, many of my friends have moved to San Diego for work — I’ve never been but am going to visit in a few months, with serious considerations about staying. Very much admire your courage and nerve to make the necessary sacrifices to move. Any tips?? ;)
Look at those photos I see a HUGE improvement all ready!! So exciting :)
thank you honey!!!!!!!
:)
I can’t wait for spring! It starts for us (if we are lucky) in April. Sometimes we still have snow on the ground in June!!
Plus, my birthday is in April <3 I am very excited, although I will be in the midst of finals. Ever since I have started post-secondary education, a final exam ALWAYS falls on my birthday. Not this year. My birthday is on a Sunday!
Can I ask for your stylish California expertise? I put up some pictures on my blog of different hair colors I want to try and I need a second opinion!! I want to color my hair as celebration for finishing another semester, but I can't make a decision.
slightly darker to medium to lighter brown are all nice
a PRETTY blond, too.
NOT BRASSY and not orange. And no black/gothic hair.
Think classy, not flash in the pan, are my thoughts :)
How awesome that you’re getting fresh lemons–aren’t they the best? Do you have a little yard or something where you could have one, even in a pot? I knew people in CA who had them in pots and they fruited plenty.
It’s been springlike here lately: just above freezing, but so sunny, and in our cabin, with the sun coming in through all the south-facing windows it can get up into the high 70’s or even more–I just love that!
I adore the Mediterranean and subtropical climates, and I’m definitely a summer person, but winter is beautiful here too.
love
Ela
have tried the potted trees before..need to try them again :)
I’m definitely a spring/summer person too! It’s starting to get nice here… This morning it rained and in the afternoon the sun came out and I could walk outside with a light sweater! So nice. On Sunday we’re headed to Socal for a week (about an hour north of San Diego) and I’m excited to enjoy some warmth and sunshine!
That raw cheezecake is so good! Too bad I’m out of cashews right now.
have a great trip!
There is currently SIX FEET of snow on the ground in my hometown. It’s up to the roof of my mother’s bungalow. They’ve been getting blizzards every week now for months. Breaking all kinds of records. And that’s where I’ll be living in a couple weeks!!! Meanwhile, a little south in Toronto the streets are dry and the temp above freezing. It will be a culture shock for sure. We don’t get spring until April back home.
In other news, I loved your raw pasta photos too :)
thanks for the picture love. I submitted them to FGawker and TSpotting but got denied so re-subbed and still waiting.
BTW, do you use any photo editing software?
Spring has always been my favorite season. Its the starting fresh, the budding flowers, the promise of summer, the first time wearing flip flops (TODAY!!!), even the rainy days. I love a good spring thunderstorm. I’m actually really looking forward to those midwestern spring thunderstorms!
I can’t believe its only Thursday. This post made me feel like it should the be the weekend.
I wear flipflops 365 a year. I never put them away. Some days I also wear Ugg boots but the flips are a staple.
I have felt like it was the weekend, or should be..ALL WEEK!
ooooh I make a healthier version of puppy chow called bunny chow! i loooooove that!
bunny chow, that is cute :)
i just made zuke spaghetti tonight and it was amaaaazing! i mixed it in with spaghetti squash and some salmon with nooch and braggs! simple and deliiiiiiicious! i always forget about my spiralizer and then i remember it and i end up being thrilled that i did haha
your meal sounds AWESOME!!!
I’ve been reading through blog posts for the past hour with a hunger in my belly. I’ve already had dinner… but I wanted something sweet and delicious. Just so happens I have a jar of cashews in the fridge that have been soaking for over 24 hours. I’m marching downstairs right now to make a individual sized portion of your raw cheesecake! It looks SO delicious. Totally perfect.
enjoy your single serve cheezecake!
I absolutely agree with you about Spring. I am NOT a winter person by any means. Unfortunately its still freezing in NY. I cannot wait to wear flip flops again!