Hello April! Ideas for Welcoming in Spring

Isn't spring such a lovely time of year? And it really has sprung in recent days as the sun has come out, the temperatures have warmed up, and all of the blossoms and spring flowers have appeared.

Here at Wares of Knutsford, we're busier than ever taking in new deliveries of glass jars and bottles to our warehouse, and making sure we're stocked to meet all our customers' needs. So, what do you need to know about April and all of the inspiration it brings?

April's Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables

Let's start by looking at the fruits and vegetables in season this month. Two of the most prominent are rhubarb and asparagus. April is the peak season for asparagus, and this delicate treat tastes wonderful lightly steamed with a little butter and seasoning.

Rhubarb is also in season, and although it's technically a vegetable, it's perfect for those crumbles and pies. Check out other early season arrivals, such as spring onions, radishes, rocket, spinach, broccoli and even some early strawberries, which might occasionally appear to mark the warmer months.

Seasonal Recipes for April

Roasted asparagus is so easy to make, but the results are positively restaurant-worthy. For this recipe, you'll need to arrange 400g of trimmed asparagus stems in a single layer on a baking tray. Scatter over a thinly sliced garlic glove and a couple of teaspoons of drained capers, then add a sprig of thyme leaves and 40g of blanched, chopped hazelnuts. Season the recipe well with salt and freshly ground pepper, and then drizzle a good quality olive oil over the top to coat the asparagus stems.

Roast in a hot oven for up to ten minutes until tender and then squeeze half a lemon over the dish, and a scattering of parmesan shavings. A little roughly chopped parsley will also taste delicious and really round out the dish. Serve your asparagus as a delicious side dish with a lamb or salmon dish. This would be a great side dish for your Easter dinner next month.

See the full recipe here at BBC Good Food: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/roast_asparagus_19717.

Spring Ideas with Glass Bottles and Jars

Now is also the perfect time to decorate your home with the beautiful daffodils, narcissus and tulips that are appearing in the garden. If you love cut flowers, keep them simple and enjoy spring posies in glass bottles or glass jars. These are packed with country charm, and you can easily decorate them with a pretty ribbon. Glass bottles look lovely in a row with stems of different daffodils, and you could mix up coloured glass bottles and jars, too, to make the most of blue and amber shades amongst the clear glass.

The beauty of glass jars and bottles at home or in your business is that they are eco-friendly, great to look at and very affordable. We sell pallet sizes of small glass bottles and jars for wedding tables, posies and for favours at spring events, so you can save even more on larger volume sizes https://www.waresofknutsford.co.uk/bottles/small-and-miniature-glass-bottles/.

Rhubarb Gin Recipe

Speaking of wedding favours, this rhubarb gin is a wonderful project to make now if you're planning a spring or summer event. It makes use of this early-season staple, and the resulting gin is a beautiful, delicate pink, which will look so pretty in our miniature glass bottles.

You'll need to use the early forced rhubarb that is now available and a bright pink colour. To capture the colour and sweet flavour, allow at least a week to pass between making it and drinking the results. To boost the flavour even more, you can add a little zest from a blood orange, half a vanilla pod or a star anise.

Begin by tipping a pound of trimmed, washed and sliced forced rhubarb into a wide-necked glass jar, along with 250g of caster sugar. Stir it well and then add half a split vanilla pod, four slices of fresh root ginger, the zest of a blood orange and two star anise. Cover the mix with a lid and place the mix aside for at least 12 hours, shaking the jar occasionally. This will draw the juice from the rhubarb and allow the sugar to dissolve.

Add 500ml of dry gin and then set the mix aside for between 1-4 weeks, shaking it every so often. When the gin's ready, strain it and decant the drink into sterilised glass bottles or jars. Serve with plenty of ice and your mixer of choice, or use for delicious spring cocktails.

All the Glass Jars and Bottles You Need At Wares of Knutsford

Whether you're looking for small glass bottles to make spring posies, or large wide-neck jars to make rhubarb gin, you'll love our huge range of glassware at Wares of Knutsford. We have glass bottles and jars in all sizes from miniature to oversized, with a wide range of caps, lids and other accessory items. We also sell a range of plastic-free kitchen and gifting essentials for home and business needs. Discover the Wares difference today!