Asparagus = Food of the Gods

[Flaxbee]

You need not cast asparagus; instead, toss it lightly with olive oil, salt and pepper, and broil for 15-18 minutes (depending on stalk size).

Heavenly.

[Gonzo Gardener]

1. Indeed!

:hi:

We're picking and eating it as fast as it's sprouting here... a good sized bunch every other day or so! Same treatment (olive oil, salt & pepper), but we throw it on the grill for a few minutes then squeeze a little lemon juice over it.

I'm anticipating a bumper crop of, that other food for the Gods, strawberries soon!


Closeup


Strawberry Hill

[Flaxbee]

4. oh, I really wish we'd grown some --

we've been traveling a lot, and haven't had much time for a garden. How hard is it to grow asparagus?

I have a FANTASTIC strawberry dumpling recipe if you're interested...

Lovely garden! :hi:

[Gonzo Gardener]

11. Asparagus is a hearty perennial that requires little care after planting...

my favorite kind of plant!

I started my patch with a bundle of 50 roots. Just dig a deep 12"-15" deep trench in a sunny area, plant the long slender roots vertically, and fill trench (to cover the top of the roots) with a fluffy mix of sand, peat moss, and soil. As the roots begin to grow continue to fill in the trench until it is even with or a couple inches above ground level. You'll be able to harvest nice shoots after 1-2 years with increasing yields as the roots multiply and spread. Harvesting all the stalks for the first two weeks and then allowing most late sprouts to grow will keep your asparagus plants happy.

I'd love your strawberry dumpling recipe, THANK YOU!

Believe it or not Strawberry Hill started as a huge semi rotted maple tree stump. The area was unmowable (is that a word?) and there were too many big roots to plant anything of size. So, we tossed a few wheelbarrows of soil over it and set 10 tiny strawberry plants at the crown 5 years ago. They have spread into a large patch that feeds us (the 3 Green Meanies), a few neighbors, and the chipmunks for a couple of weeks each spring.

And here is the veggie patch...

[Flaxbee]

23. Lovely photos, thanks!

I think I spied a few wild strawberries the other day in our yard - we're in western NC, and have fruits and veggies growing everywhere naturally. I need to get my act together and take advantage of it more. Thank you for the advice re asparagus - we rent right now and hopefully will be moving soon; as soon as we do I'm going to plan where the asparagus will grow on our own land!

Anyway - I don't know if these are 'traditional' dumplings or not, but my grandmother made something very similar to this (I never got her recipe, but searched the internets for something close to what she made and came up with this). I love it - I hope you enjoy, too!

*************************************
Baked Strawberry Dumplings

1/3 c. sugar
2/3 c. water
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. sifted all-purpose flour
2 tbsp. sugar
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. milk
1 pint (approx. 2 cups) strawberries, rinsed and hulled
1 tbsp. sugar
Cinnamon to taste
____

Preheat oven to 450.

In a saucepan, combine 1/3 c. sugar with the water, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in vanilla; set mixture aside.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, 2 tbsp. sugar, baking powder and salt.
Cut in butter with a fork until mixture is crumbly. Add milk and stir just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Place strawberries in a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish.

Pour hot sugar mixture over berries

Drop dough evenly in 8-10 spoonfuls over berries, sprinkle dough with remaining sugar and some cinnamon.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until dumplings are lightly browned.

Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.

[arcadian]

2. I like asparagus with hollandaise

n/t

[Flaxbee]

5. my mom used to serve asparagus with mayonnaise -

so, similar idea. I like it that way, too, so I'd probably also like it with hollandaise.

[arcadian]

7. We do artichoke with mayo.

n/t

[BrotherBuzz]

3. Asparagus makes my pee smell...

It rates just below Brussels sprouts in my world.

[Flaxbee]

6. it makes everyone's pee smell -- is that why you don't like it?

:shrug:

It really has to be prepared well, just like brussel sprouts (or any vegetable, for that matter)...

[BrotherBuzz]

8. It does not make EVERYONE's pee stink

Genetic makeup determines whether your urine smells or not, and even if you can smell it.

A study published in the May 1989 British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that 46% of 115 people tested produced the odor in one group of British citizens, while 100% of 103 people produced it in a group of French citizens. Another study published in the same journal found that 10% of a group of 300 Israeli Jews could not detect the odor. In other words, a person's urine could smell, but he or she might not know it.

Asparagus grows wild on the levees eight miles from my house. I could pick bushels of the nauseous weed for free but I do not like the taste of it. The smell of my pee is just a reminder that I was forced to eat copious amounts of the shitty plant when I was a kid.

[Flaxbee]

9. lol, OK.

More for me, then.

[harmonicon]

12. That's got to be bunk.

I live in England and have known a number of Isrealis - these are the two nations most likely to claim that their shit (or in this case, urine) doesn't stink.

[BrotherBuzz]

14. I don't disagree

but what the hay.

Benjamin Franklin figured it all out a brazilian years ago in a discussion of bodily discharges: a few stems of asparagus eaten shall give our urine a disagreeable odor; and a pill of turpentine no bigger than a pea shall bestow upon it the pleasing smell of violets.

[shanti]

24. it is heavenly

and so short lived...like strawberries.

[av8rdave]

10. Better yet, grill it!

Brush it with olive oil and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on it as you grill. Just had some last night!

[harmonicon]

13. yeah, that's one of my favourite foods

It's kind of expensive though, so I can't have it too often. I make it just as you suggest, then mix it with some pasta with creamy pesto sauce, or just have it as a side dish.

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. I steam it and then drizzle with apple cider vinegar.

:hi:

[yellowdogintexas]

16. saute with red bell pepper and shallots. Toss with fresh spinach

and cherry tomatoes in a light viniagrette dressing

steam
stirfry with beef and lots of garlic, chiles, ginger and snow peas

[Lorien]

17. My neighbors and I just did some on the grill

olive oil, sea salt and pepper-YUM!

[Canuckistanian]

18. Prune Juice - Warrior's Drink

[Tabasco_Dave]

19. Lemon and melted butter on mine.

Also fresh ground pepper.:9 :9 :9

[ThoughtCriminal]

20. Tastes good. But what is that smell?

when I pee?

[bridgit]

21. hubby likes creme of asparagus soup...

he's got me liking it :9

[TheMightyFavog]

22. Creamed Asparagus on Whole Wheat toast.

Ambrosia of the gods! :9