Twice a year, the earth is neither tilted toward or away from the sun and for just a moment, (this year, around 17:32 Coordinated Universal Time) the earth's equator aligns with the center point of the sun before it begins to list again. Darkness and daylight are in perfect balance for a day and for us in the Northern Hemisphere, this marks the beginning of spring.
The vernal equinox has been celebrated for thousands of years and there is no lack of traditions and rituals surrounding the coming of spring.
For most ancient civilizations, the vernal equinox was the start of the New Year. The Roman year began on the ides of March and the astrological year begins on the first new moon after the equinox, which brings in the first astrological sign Aries, the ram. The Greek God Ares, the god of the ram, is the equivalent of the Roman Mars for whom the month of March is named. The Persian New Year, Nawruz also falls on the spring equinox.
The Saxons had a spring festival celebrating the goddess, Eostre (from whose name we get the direction East and the holiday Easter). Eggs were one of the symbols of this festival and represented new life and potential. During the equinox, there’s supposedly a certain gravitational pull that makes balancing an egg on its point possible. Thus, we have the tradition of the Easter egg.
All these different cultures had their own food traditions based essentially around the same idea: They survived the gray and bleak winter! Time to forage for something that hasn’t been in the root cellar for three months.
Although it is often anything but springy here in the northwest in March, rivers are teaming with the Steel Head run and a couple edibles things are beginning to poke through the soil. Asparagus, rhubarb, young herbs, leafy greens, wild onions/garlic and fiddleheads are coming soon.
Winter is over. We made it. Happy Spring!
Welcome to your weekend. -KB
These large hickory grilling planks are great for adding smoky flavor to big cuts of game and beef.
Choose alder grilling planks in our most popular size (5.25" 11.75" net size), for entrees like planked salmon, steelhead or halibut.
Maple grilling planks add much to the flavor of salmon, other fish and meats.
Who says you have to be perfect? grab a bundle of our Cedar Grilling Plank seconds and save a bundle. They are fully functional planks that just aren't as pretty as the rest... (5.25" x 11.75" net size)
This is a little wider grilling plank than our 5.25". They give you more room to add extras alongside your favorite grilled meat. They are seconds so they have minor flaws but they are still great for grilling.
This is our best selling grilling plank. It's a great all-purpose plank. Keep some on hand. (5.25" x 11.75" net size)
When using Cedar Skewers make sure to cook the meat separate from the veggies as they cook at different rates!
Try cherry grilling planks in our most popular size, next time you grill bratwurst or any other sweet sausages.(5.25" x 11.75" net size)
Perfect size for sharing! If you are grilling for two these are perfect for smaller portions. And they are less than $1 per plank!
