asparagus - - Page 2

by gansie

Always Do a Lap Before You Commit

Hallelujah! My neighborhood far mar, Mount Pleasant Farmers’ Market, is opening this Saturday. I’m working there the first day and cannot wait to be surrounded by spring’s fresh vegetables. But I just couldn’t wait and headed to FRESHFARM’s Dupont far mar this past Sunday. A little sneak peak, if you will.

I listen to Cher and always do a lap before I commit (see last quote), checking options, quality, prices and variety around the far mar. I selected the spring staple asparagus, as well as spinach. And then I made my one out-there purchase: peppercress. I’d never heard of it before. My rule at market is if I haven’t heard of it I’m allowed to buy it and will try not to buy something else that I’ve already discovered.

I tasted the mirco-green and holy crap, it’s like eating horseradish. It has that fantastic harsh heat, sort of like a radish as well. I was stoked but wasn’t at all sure how I’d like to use it. And then I went with my standby: whiz it into a sauce.

Recipe, with mysterious berry, after the jump.

by gansie

Asparagus, Strawberries and Fava Beans! Oh My!

With farmers’ markets all over the country re-opening for spring’s bounty, Endless Simmer put together a guide on what you should be cooking for the next few months. Don’t get tomato envy yet – we have plenty of ideas for the year’s first round of vegetables.

Below are some highlights from our archives, which we’ll sure to be updating as we try out new far mar finds, including <wait for it> peppercress. (I hope I’m not the only one addicted to How I Met Your Mother.)

Endless Simmer’s Spring Recipe Guide

Asparagus and Cannellini Bean Salad
Pasta salad is so 1973. Beans are where it’s at for a party dish.

Edamame Radish Spring Salad
Bright pink radishes, bright green edamame, bright bright flavor.

Pickled Ramp Vinegar
Ramps do live up to the hype.

Roasted Poblano and Garlic Scape Dip
Zesty. Smoky. Creamy. Just Right.

Sesame Enhanced Fava Bean Puree
Take the trouble to peel, boil and peel again those darn little fava beans.

(And if you wanna take a look at all of Endless Simmer’s cooking experiments – try our Recipe Index.)

in Recipe 0 comments

by gansie

Continuation: The Allure of the Twirl

It’s that fucking twirl. In March I identified that part of my pasta obsession revolved around the act of twirling. Twirling long strands around my fork and piling it into my mouth. In that March meal, Ricotta-ed Spinach with Noodle Onions and Parsnips, I omitted the pasta altogether and satisfied my twirl craving with butter-enveloped long, thin onion strands.

Last night, however, I doubled the twirl intake. I bought extra tall spring onions at the Mount Pleasant Farmers’ Market and decided they should not be chopped. I should honor their slender ways and keep them intact.

in Cheese / Recipe / Veggie 2 comments

by gansie

The Punishment for Being Late

It’s become my rule. Invited to a BBQ? Bring something not for the grill.

I’ve learned my lesson. I’m a late girl. I come from a late family. We are late. Always late. So if I want to bring something for the grill, I always get there too late. The grill is taken.

That is why I bring a side. Sure, it’s more cooking then bringing marinated eggplant rounds, but people expect more from me anyway.

This past weekend my coworker threw a party for her daughter’s middle school graduation. It was a cook-out. So while I longed to be lazy and just bring my fresh bundle of asparagus bought that day from the Mount Pleasant Farmers’ Market to throw on the grill—I didn’t. I whipped it into a salad instead.

in Cheese / Recipe / Veggie 7 comments