Flora, The Goddess of Springtime

In Roman Mythology, Flora is the Goddess of Flowers and Spring. She represented rebirth and invited everyone to a celebration marked with dining, dancing, drinking and flowers.
My daughter Katy and I went to Paris last week where Flora was flipping her skirts about town.
Abundant sunshine, music, flowers and picnics marked our visit.
A musician with a movable piano provided lilting French music
while we enjoyed gelato scooped to resemble yet another flower.
Upon return to New York we found we were playing hide and seek with Flora. We wanted try to coax her out with a quintessential spring repast. The menu had be irresistible to our fickle Goddess.
We decided on spring lamb, to represent birth, golden beets and carrots to honor the sun
and beet greens to encourage the grass and leaves.

While shopping we caught the scent of mint and thought a mint chutney would be a perfect accompaniment.
We put it all on a bed of cardamom scented Basmati rice, Thanks to Thibeault's Table for the perfect rice recipe. I tell you the woman's a genius!

Katy thought Ina Garten's Coconut Cupcakes would be perfect for this goddess, since she seemed to shine every time we had pastry in Paris.
Last night we had a wonderful dinner honoring this Goddess and it worked! Today she has graced us a beautiful spring day!

Written and photographed by Pam

Download recipe for Mint Chutney (pdf)
Download recipe for Beet Greens (pdf)