Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Ice Shelf, Asparagus. Spring.

ice-shelfThis is, to me, very scary news headlines. Apparently there is a huge ice shelf in the Antactic where Glaciers in West Antarctica’s Amundsen Sea Embayment  are collapsing past the point of no return. Once this ice sheet breaks away and heads into the open ocean, eventually melting, it embodies enough water to make sea levels rise several feet. Not inches, feet. Luckily, it won’t happen fast, hundreds of years, but nothing can be done to stop it collapsing. My first reaction, glad I don’t live on the coast. This made me think of Hilary Melton-Butchers A to Z posts about aspects of the British Coast. She was already talking about erosion of the coast line, this ice sheet will have a big effect on that. In fact, I think one or two feet would have quite an impact on small places like Britain.

On a more cheerful note, I got me some fresh asparagus yesterdaBarrie Bros. Signy morning.  I immediately made two lots of soup. Asparagus Almond and Barrie’s Mom’s Asparagus soup. Tim Barrie being the asparagus farmer. This is the entrance to the farm and below is a picture of Tim in the fields with his dog. Much to my surprise Barrie'syesterday the dog is still with them at 14 years. A bit infirm and elderly, but still there. I was quite surprised to see her. They still don’t have a lot of asparagus yet, the weather is still being unkind. They are allowing people $5 bags. I had some for my lunch yesterday and it was heavenly. A year is such a long time. Once the asparagus is really producing, I plan to freeze a lot more this year. It isn’t the same, but it’s better than none. As is the pickled but I have never tried that. They sell it of course.

On our way to the farm this morning I suddenly noticed, it's spring. Lots of trees are beginning to leaf and showing that tender green that only comes in spring. Everything seems to be rushing to catch up and daffodils have sprung up in profusion - it was a wonderful feeling. The trees in the park outside our windows are copying the others and showing off their spring colours. If only the asparagus would decide it needs to do a lot more growing. Makes me feel like singing that song from 7 Brides.

This is one of the soups I made yesterday, it is delicious and freezes well. I always make it wrong, I put all the stock in with the asparagus and then make a kind of white sauce with the butter, flour and milk, works just as well. Typing this I realised I forgot the lemon juice too, duuuh.

Barrie's Asparagus Soup Recipe

My Mom's Famous!!!

Asparagus soup
1 lb asparagus chopped
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cups chicken broth
2 Tbs butter or margarine
2 Tbs flour
1/2 tsp salt
dash pepper
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream or yogurt
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
fresh chives for garnish

1. In a covered saucepan, boil the asparagus, onion and 1 cup of chicken broth. When the asparagus is tender and still bright green, blend to a purée (this purée can be frozen and used for future batches of soup.
2. In a large saucepan heat the butter and flour on medium to make a paste. Cook until golden. Stir occasionally as you add the 2nd cup chicken broth, making sure lumps don't form.
3. Stir in the salt, pepper, purée, milk. Bring to a boil.
4. Take soup off heat. Measure the yogurt or sour cream into a bowl and stir in spoonsful of hot soup, little by little. Now, carefully stir this warmed yogurt or sour cream mixture back into the pan of soup.
5. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice, or to taste.
6. Serve in individual bowls, sprinkled with chopped chives.
7. (makes 3 1/2 to 4 cups of soup)

Servings: 4

Have a great day’'
Jo (2)

17 comments:

  1. Hi Jo - thanks for the mention ... if the sea rises lots of cities will have some problems ... Armageddon could materialise ... New York to Bangladesh ... Louisiana to the Netherlands ..

    BUT I'd rather think on asparagus ... so pleased the season is here - I love it and enjoy seeing your recipes ...

    Have some happy eatings! Cheers and I hope I'm not submerged next visit! Hilary

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    1. Hi Jo - interesting .. that link took me to the .ca blogspot site! But if I click on one of the other posts .. it reverts to the .co.uk site ...

      I've no idea - but just thought I'd note out of interest ... cheers H

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    2. It won't be rising that much whilst you and I are still around so I don't think you will be worrying about wet feet any time soon.

      Enjoying my asparagus. More recipes coming of course.

      Will check out the links. Thanks for telling me

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  2. Spring!
    An extra foot of water will make a big difference here on the East coast.

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    1. Yes I know it will. We went into "flood plains" maps a lot while we were down there, more because of hurricanes, but that much water and most, if not all, of the current coastline of NC would disappear. As would most, if not all, of the islands. We personally won't have to worry but for later generations.....

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  3. Asparagus is the one vegie I cannot grow to like. Oh and brussel sprouts.

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    1. As you can see I am nutty about asparagus. Brussels Sprouts I have always enjoyed although there are many who don't. A lot of people have only tried the frozen Brussels and they are, in my opinion, disgusting. Fresh is best.

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  4. I absolutely love asparagus, Jo! Thank you so much for sharing this. Perfect for a chilly day like it is now in Montreal. :)

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    1. Yes it is. I also make lots for the freezer so we have plenty to last for a while.

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  5. Pickled asparagus is actually really tasty, just like pickled artichokes - not nearly as good as fresh, but works well on salads and such. Your soup sounds delicious. Yes, it's spring...sorry the farmers are having such a tough time of things with the weather so far this year. I've heard some horror stories from family in a few states about this. Life happens in cycles, and I'm really glad they take so long (every several hundred years), because you're right, it is scary.

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    1. I agree, I love pickled asparagus. Never done it though, I just buy it from the farm. Don't really have the equipment.

      We are hearing all the horror stories up here too. The States is really being pounded by bad weather at the moment.

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  6. It's scary how much of Greenland has melted too, and Glacier National Park in Montana is dangerously close to having no glaciers at all. When all this melts, where I live will be underwater.

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    1. There's an awful lot of areas which will be underwater JoJo. Even well inland. Answer is buy a boat. Luckily we won't have to worry about it. Or shouldn't anyway.

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  7. You're lucky to have proper seasons. Up in North Queensland we have nine months of hot humid weather and three months of perfect 23 degree C days. Enjoy your lovely Spring!

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  8. North Queensland makes me think of cutting cane? I couldn't live in a climate like that, silly thing to say I guess, one can get used to living anywhere. Spring is lovely. Wish I could send you some of it.

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  9. That soup sounds amazing, and easy. I'm going to have to make an asparagus folder inside my Jo's Recipes folder...
    Wow, can't imagine what a foot of water will do the the British coast line. I think I read most of her posts, and the variety of interconnected species is amazing, and the devastation to them would be horrid.
    Tina @ Life is Good
    On the Open Road! @ Join us for the 4th Annual Post-Challenge Road Trip!

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    1. It is both Tina. You missed yesterday's which is a super way to prepare asparagus.

      Two foot. I don't know what it will do to a lot of coastlines, A lot of the east coast would disappear.

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