Hey Friend,

I am writing this to you from Bogotá, Colombia, and I have to tell you, this country has completely captured my heart. I've traveled to several places since arriving and the food, the people, the color of everything. It has been one of those trips that changes how you see the world. More on that below.

But first, two spring recipes I think you're going to love. Strawberries are peaking right now and asparagus is at its very best, and I have a recipe for each that could not be simpler.

FROM THE KITCHEN:

Homemade strawberry fruit roll-ups (one ingredient, no sugar added)

Here's a confession: I used to cringe every time my kids asked for fruit roll-ups. Sugar, artificial dye, ingredients I couldn't pronounce. Then I realized I could make them at home with exactly one ingredient, fresh strawberries, and they would taste better than anything from a box.

I know how that sounds, but I'm not exaggerating. The first time I made these, the kids ate the entire first two trays before I could get a single photo. I had to go back to the store for more strawberries.

The process is simple too, it just takes a little time. Your house will smell incredible all morning, and you'll have a genuinely healthy snack that works just as well for road trips and hikes as it does for after school. You can also make these with frozen strawberries, or swap in mango, raspberries, or mixed berries for different flavors.

Grilled salmon and asparagus in foil packets

This one is my go-to the moment asparagus season hits, and it works whether you're cooking on your backyard grill, in the oven, or over a campfire. Everything goes into one foil packet (salmon, asparagus, garlic, lemon), you seal it up, put it over medium-high heat for 8 to 10 minutes, and dinner is done with almost zero cleanup.

A tip I learned the hard way: line your foil with parchment paper before adding the food. It prevents aluminum from leaching into the fish during cooking and makes it even easier to get everything out cleanly. I also always place the asparagus under the salmon in the packet so it gets the full heat and cooks all the way through, especially if the stalks are on the thicker side.

FOR YOUR SPRING PROJECTS: Lowe's

Spring cooking and spring home projects have a lot in common. Both are better when you have the right tools and you're not scrambling at the last minute. If you have a patio, garden, or outdoor space you've been meaning to get to before the summer heat arrives, now is the time.

I'm looking forward to some spring clean up and sprucing up when I get home.

Lowe's has everything from garden supplies and grilling equipment to outdoor furniture and project materials, and this is the season when it's all in stock.

FOR QUALITY PROTEIN: ButcherBox

The salmon recipe is even better when you're starting with quality fish, and ButcherBox delivers exactly that — wild-caught seafood alongside 100% grass-fed beef, organic chicken, and heritage breed pork, straight to your door. New customers right now get free protein plus $60 off. That is one of the better new customer offers they've run and worth taking advantage of if you've been on the fence.

(Affiliate link. I have used ButcherBox for years and recommend it genuinely.)

FROM MY ETSY SHOP: Route 66 Bucket List

If you have a summer road trip on the horizon, or a Route 66 adventure on your someday list, I have a printable Route 66 bucket list in my Etsy shop that makes a great trip planning tool and an even better keepsake. Whether you're doing the whole route or just a stretch of it, it's a fun way to track what you've done and what's still ahead.

FROM MY TRAVEL DESK: Writing to you from Colombia

I am sitting in Bogotá right now as part of a SATW Canadian Chapter trip, and I am completely, genuinely in love with this country. I have traveled to several places since arriving and every single one has surprised me in a different way. The food alone has been worth the trip; arepas, fresh fruit at every turn, flavors I was not expecting at all. I even tried ant at dinner last night!

Cartagena's walled city is one of the most beautiful places I have ever walked through. The colors, the history, the heat, the energy on every street corner. And Bogotá has a creative, culinary, and cultural energy that I did not anticipate. Colombia has so much more going on than most travelers realize, and I am going to have a lot to write about when I get home.

Follow along on Instagram @lilfamadventure for real-time dispatches while I'm still here.

What spring recipe are you making this week? Hit reply and tell me. I read every one.

Until next week,