At long last, spring is in the air. For many of us, a few days of warm weather is an excuse to turn on the grill. Wake up your heavy winter palate with these bright recipes featuring our robust roasted spices – cumin, coriander and cinnamon. This menu is simple enough for a family meal yet special enough for entertaining – just include the appetizer and desserts.

To start, pass shrimp with a quick and easy Remoulade sauce for dipping. Make it even easier by purchasing precooked shrimp. For the main course, served grilled steaks coated with an aromatic spice rub of brown sugar, roasted cumin, oregano and cayenne pepper. To maximize flavor, coat the steaks in the spice rub at least 2 hours before grilling. A lively rice and chickpea salad brings a bold citrus accent to the plate. Finish with cool creamy roasted cinnamon-spiced ice cream. Make dessert more decadent by including a bite-size serving of brownies with a raspberry-flavored truffle topping. For added convenience, make both these desserts ahead of time.

Grilling season and the casual entertaining that goes along with it is making a long-awaited return.