Monday, May 18, 2015

Relation? Asparagus, Bowling Balls.

From Italy With Love Jules WakeI happened to be reading a review on Chick Lit Love and Laura was talking about From Italy with Love by Jules Wake. My ears pricked up, Wake, is of course our last name. Turns out that Jules’ son is called Matt Wake and her father in law was also called Matt Wake. Matthew is a very popular name in the Wake family which makes me think that there is definitely some relationship. It sounds like a very good story too so I must check it out. The story is set in the parts of France and Italy that I love and I would love to do the journey that the heroine undertakes in the book.

On Friday I asked several people if they would like me to pick up some asparagus for them. One was a bowling friend who said she would pick it up on Monday. It suddenly occurred to me on Saturday that we don’t bowl on Monday any more, the winter league having finished. So we wouldn’t be there til Wednesday by which time it would be close on 5 pina week old. She might just as well buy it from the store in that case. She agreed and came over to collect it. It’s going to take a while to adapt to Wednesday bowling instead of Monday. By the time I do, it will probably be back to winter league again. My friend Gary from Klahanie Blogspot wrote a post about Gutter Balls. Even though some of his readers also read my posts they still don’t seem to grasp the difference. 5 Pin bowling balls weigh in10 pin the neighbourhood of 3 to 3 1/2 lbs. NOT 10 lbs. up. 5 pin bowling is very different from 10 pin. Talking of 10 pin there is an alley quite close to us and they recently had a big fight there where people were chucking bowling balls at one another. I can hardly pick them up let alone chuck them at someone. You see how in the top picture the ball is being held in the hand. In the bottom pic the ball is much bigger and needs holes for the thumb and fingers to pick it up. The lowest weight I have ever come across is 8 lbs and that is still very heavy for me.

Here’s another fairly simple way of preparing my favourite vegetable

Asparagus and Endive Salad


1 lb fresh asparagus , trimmed and cut into 2 inch piecesAsparagus & Endive Salad
1/2 tsp grated orange peel
1 Tbs Juice, orange, fresh
2 Tbs seasoned rice vinegar
1 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs small shallots , minced
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dijon mustard
1/8 tsp black pepper
8 oz Belgian endive, fresh, head , cut lengthwise into 1/4 inch strips (2 heads)

1. Place 1/2 inch of water at the bottom of a 12 inch pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Add in asparagus and cook until tender yet crisp, about 2 minutes. Place in strainer, rinse under cold water, drain, and pat dry with paper towels.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the orange peel, orange juice, vinegar, oil, shallots, sugar, salt, mustard, and pepper until well combined.
3. Add the asparagus and endive to the bowl with the dressing. Mix well to evenly coat and serve.

Servings: 4

Source: dLife

Author Notes
Light and elegant salad combining asparagus and endive in a homemade orange Dijon vinaigrette.
Try using a sugar substitute instead of regular sugar.

Have a great day
Jo_thumb[2]

34 comments:

  1. Hi Jo, I have tried bowling before but not a good bowler. Thank you for sharing the asparagus recipe. I like asparagus.

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    1. Well you are not likely to be good the first few times you are out Nancy. Are you talking 10 or 5 pin?

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  2. Oh I once got a strike.....in the other lane! I can say I am not a bowler and I have to hold the ball with both hands and then let it go. If I do it the normal way I may dislocate my shoulder or wrist which I have done in the past. Needless to say I look a bit goofy but bowling is fun. Glad the lady got her asparagus

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    1. Way to go Birgit, even if in the wrong lane. What on earth were you doing. Sorry you have shoulder problems. I have a bad left shoulder - if it were my right I couldn't bowl anyway.

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  3. In Britain there is a pub game called skittles. It's similar to ten-pin bowling with spares and strikes but there are nine skittles. Most pubs have a skittle alley and there are proper leagues with home and away games. Do you play skittles in the US?

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    1. Yes, I remember skittles PL although I never played it. Don't think many pubs in the south played it. I lived most of my life in Kent. In fact I live in Canada but have never heard of skittles in the US.

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  4. Jo, I have some asparagus shoots about 2cm tall so far... am very much looking forward to harvest time- albeit a few years from now! :-)

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    1. When did you first plant them Lisa? It does take a year or two before you can harvest them, but it will be great when you can.

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  5. Five pin bowling would certainly be more within my ability - I couldn't even lift one of those ten pin balls. Pity we don't have five pin here.

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    1. Nowhere but Canada has 5 pin Helen. It was invented by a Canadian just over 100 years ago. It is more difficult than 10 pin and the game he invented was more difficult still. Luckily they have changed it slightly.

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  6. Those balls look about the same size as the ones used for candlepin and duck pin, which is popular in this area but not really heard of outside of Massachusetts/New England, except for the Seaside/Cannon Beach area of Oregon. I bought some asparagus last week but forgot to make them with dinner when Russell was home, so I guess I'll have to cook them up today.

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    1. I understand they play Candlepin in provinces like Nova Scotia. Not in Ontario though.

      Pity, they won't be that fresh JoJo.

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  7. I love asparagus and I'm always looking for new ways to cook it and new recipes. :)

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  8. I've never seen 5 pin bowling, or bowling balls that small. And a bowling ball fight? Now I've heard everything...

    That salad does look fantastic. Now if only I could find these endives I keep hearing about...

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    1. Only in Canada do they have 5 pin bowling Beer. Although from what JoJo says candle pin balls are the same size. Yeah, but they were fighting with the big balls, that's what gets me.

      Belgian endives should be available in any good grocery store.

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  9. Not sure I'd ever want to get into a bowling ball fight haha

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  10. That salad looks delicious! I'm going to make it sometime this summer; bet it would go good with steak.

    Haven't bowled in a bit but gutter balls sometimes were my friends.

    betty

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    1. You should make it while the asparagus is good and fresh Betty.

      I try to avoid gutter balls, don't like them.

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  11. That would be like a cannonball flying at you!

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    1. They were 10 pin balls Alex, so bigger than a cannon ball.

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  12. I love asparagus, and I know it's considered a super food. So good for you.

    And I think a flying bowling ball could do some pretty good damage. Ouch. I wonder what they were fighting over.

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    1. It certainly is a super food, especially when it's totally fresh Jay.

      I think alcohol came into it.- at lease one of them ended in jail I understand. Never seen a full report.

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  13. Do you want to go bowling? is a great pick up line. She'll either say yes or no thanks!

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    1. Well of course I would say yes Spacerguy.

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  14. I don't know if 5 pin is the same as candlepin bowling. Dan used to love to play it and I'm not so good at it. I much prefer 10 pin. I bowl now and then. Haven't done league bowling since before son was born--he's 20.

    I'm enjoying various aparagus dishes lately. :-)

    Sia McKye Over Coffee

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    1. Nope, quite different I am told. They play candlepin in Newfoundland I understand. enjoy 10 pin now and again but find the balls too heavy for regular play.

      It's that time of year Sia. Such a short season and then I pine all year til the season starts again.

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  15. I have not experienced in playing this game. So i have no idea on the weight of the ball...

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    1. In one version the balls are very heavy. Anything from 8 lbs up. In the other, the game I play, the balls way between 3 and 3 1/2 lbs.

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  16. The Fibro keeps me from bowling - both types.
    I can't remember what endive taste like (smile).

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    1. Pity Dixie. we love it.

      It's a slightly bitter veg. I love that too.

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