Photo: Mom's Killer Cakes & Cookies

While April showers (thunderstorms, heavy downpours and hail, actually) cross the country this week, we're taking comfort in these delicious foods, from the spring-iest macarons to one of Georgia's national treasures.

Cherry Blossom Cake Pops
If don't live in an area where these blooming pink floral beauties are on display, you can live vicariously...through Cherry Blossom Cake Pops, a Sakura Cherry Blossom Roll Cake or Cherry Blossom Macarons.

Morel Mushrooms
In most of the country, these mushrooms, which have an earthy, nutty, steak-like flavor, grow from early to mid-April through mid-June. (If you're The Great Lakes region, lucky you: this area tends to see the first morels of the season.) Check out this helpful more sightings map to see if anyone's spotted them near where you live.


Crispy Chicken Salad
Chef Zakary Pelaccio's signature style--Southeast Asian-inspired cuisine with French and Italian touches--is on full display in his new cookbook, Eat with Your Hands, out this month. Perfect example: Crispy Chicken Salad, which combines crunchy pieces of fried chicken, a cilantro-chili dressing and Thai basil leaves.

Grits
The official prepared food of the State of Georgia (really!) has its own festival in Warwick, GA, this month, complete with a cook-off and a grits eating contest. If you can't get there, make your own: here are recipes for Art Smith's Shrimp and Grits; vegan Savory Corn Triple-Corn Grits; and Cheese and Grits Souffle.

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