Well, Thursday we bowled again. I am still maintaining a good game at the moment although Matt did beat me a couple of times which meant he was bowling a lot better. He gets really down in the mouth otherwise. Even the owner said he prefers this Matt (bowling well) to the other one.
I showed you a picture of my new earrings. Today I wore them with a pair of amethyst studs we bought in northern Ontario at the amethyst mine. I also wore my two amethyst rings plus most of the time I have a lump of amethyst as a pendant around my neck. You could say I was dripping with amethysts today. It's not even my birthstone although it is Matt's. One of the rings we also bought at the Ontario amethyst mine. Fascinating place, only ever been there once but the mine actually tunnels under a lake and you can try digging for stones if you wish. It is about 40 years since we visited. Our first vacation in Canada we went up north. We bought a lump of amethyst rock too which ended up in one of our aquariums (we used to have 6) and I think we let it go when we sold the aquarium, I don't really remember. The picture of the polished stone looks like my ring which I bought from a friend who used to make jewellery; again, close to 40 years ago. I suspect the one in the picture is somewhat larger than mine although it is quite a chunk. In 2012 I invited Sia McKye to do a guest post and she chose to write about amethysts.
Even Kraft are in on the asparagus kick. Please remember it is pronounced Brusketta
Roasted Asparagus Bruschetta
Treat the family to a bistro favorite: a tasty bruschetta made with fresh asparagus spears layered on toasted ciabatta bread with cream cheese and arugula.
32 fresh asparagus spears (about 2 lb.), trimmed
2 Tbs olive oil, divided
1 loaf ciabatta bread (1 lb.), cut into 16 slices
1/3 cup (1/3 of 8-oz. tub) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese Spread
1 pkg. (4 oz.) ATHENOS Traditional Crumbled Feta Cheese
3/4 cup loosely packed arugula
1 tsp lemon zest
1. Heat oven to 425ºF.
2. Toss asparagus with 2 tsp. oil; spread onto rimmed baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Place bread slices in single layer on second baking sheet.
3. Bake asparagus and bread 8 min. or until asparagus is crisp-tender and bread is toasted, turning all pieces after 4 min.
4. Mix cream cheese spread, feta and 2 tsp. of the remaining oil until blended. Toss arugula with lemon zest and remaining oil.
5. Spread toast slices with cream cheese mixture; top with asparagus and arugula.
Servings: 16
Tips
Prepare using PHILADELPHIA Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese Spread.
For more tender asparagus, bake an additional 2 to 3 min. before placing over the toast slices.
Source: Kraft
.
Have a great day
I showed you a picture of my new earrings. Today I wore them with a pair of amethyst studs we bought in northern Ontario at the amethyst mine. I also wore my two amethyst rings plus most of the time I have a lump of amethyst as a pendant around my neck. You could say I was dripping with amethysts today. It's not even my birthstone although it is Matt's. One of the rings we also bought at the Ontario amethyst mine. Fascinating place, only ever been there once but the mine actually tunnels under a lake and you can try digging for stones if you wish. It is about 40 years since we visited. Our first vacation in Canada we went up north. We bought a lump of amethyst rock too which ended up in one of our aquariums (we used to have 6) and I think we let it go when we sold the aquarium, I don't really remember. The picture of the polished stone looks like my ring which I bought from a friend who used to make jewellery; again, close to 40 years ago. I suspect the one in the picture is somewhat larger than mine although it is quite a chunk. In 2012 I invited Sia McKye to do a guest post and she chose to write about amethysts.Even Kraft are in on the asparagus kick. Please remember it is pronounced Brusketta
Treat the family to a bistro favorite: a tasty bruschetta made with fresh asparagus spears layered on toasted ciabatta bread with cream cheese and arugula.
32 fresh asparagus spears (about 2 lb.), trimmed
2 Tbs olive oil, divided
1 loaf ciabatta bread (1 lb.), cut into 16 slices
1/3 cup (1/3 of 8-oz. tub) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese Spread
1 pkg. (4 oz.) ATHENOS Traditional Crumbled Feta Cheese
3/4 cup loosely packed arugula
1 tsp lemon zest
1. Heat oven to 425ºF.
2. Toss asparagus with 2 tsp. oil; spread onto rimmed baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Place bread slices in single layer on second baking sheet.
3. Bake asparagus and bread 8 min. or until asparagus is crisp-tender and bread is toasted, turning all pieces after 4 min.
4. Mix cream cheese spread, feta and 2 tsp. of the remaining oil until blended. Toss arugula with lemon zest and remaining oil.
5. Spread toast slices with cream cheese mixture; top with asparagus and arugula.
Servings: 16
Tips
Prepare using PHILADELPHIA Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese Spread.
For more tender asparagus, bake an additional 2 to 3 min. before placing over the toast slices.
Source: Kraft
.
Have a great day
I as so impressed with the variety of asparagus menu items since I found your blog. I don't have any amethysts but I bought my daughter-in-law some earrings for Christmas one year.
ReplyDeleteSusan, tomorrow, I am not posting asparagus for my Saturday recipe - I thought I would give the asparagus haters a break.
DeleteI love amethysts and would like more and more of them. My excuse being it's Matt's birth stone. I wouldn't mind more of my own stone either, sapphire.
I love amethyst! We used to have a huge chunk like that sitting on our hearth. Dad brought back from one of his many travels. (I love geodes, too. ;)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking we should go up north for a trip again and maybe visit the mine again Melissa. Haven't spent a lot of time exploring Ontario.
DeleteHa ha! I think it's funny there's two different types of Matt - and even the bowling center owner knows it :)
ReplyDeleteBrusketta?? I was allllways under the assumption (even after working years in restaurants) that it was "brush-shetta"
Hey, as long as it tastes good, call it what you want :)
I know Mark, most of us used to pronounce it that way. However the Italian way is the k sound.
DeleteYes, I guess that's true. You can.
I love the amethyst. It is such a rich colour and so pretty. My birthstone is the pearl and alexandrite. I must be hiding under a rock (hahaaa!) since I did not know about the mine. That would be fun to visit.
ReplyDeleteOh you should visit Birgit, it's a fascinating place. It is also fun digging for your own rock. The mine has a shop and then there is another gift shop actually in Thunder Bay
DeletePearl AND Alexandrite? I used to have an alexandrite ring which was a lovely rich purple colour.
I love amethyst! Such a pretty purple stone. And that asparagus recipe looks fantastic. I don't think I've ever had arugula though. I've heard of it but I don't know what it tastes like, unless it was in a salad ordered at a restaurant.
ReplyDeleteIt is a pretty colour JoJo. Arugula is slightly peppery tasting. They call it rocket in England.
DeleteThe crystals are always a beautiful surprise to any rock hound. Enjoy your collection.
ReplyDeleteI wish still had my "lump" of rock Susan. I will enjoy it thanks.
DeleteI've been on a red water melon fast all week to atone for my chocolate eating sins. I am simply starving after reading this. PS - I nominated you as a creative blogger I hope you don't mind. I posted more details in my most recent blog post. Enjoy the weekend, Jo
ReplyDeleteA red water melon fast Guy? It doesn't sound very healthy. I eat chocolate every day but don't feel I have to atone for it.
DeleteThanks for the nomination.
I think hubby's stone is amethyst. I should know but I'm so tired right now, I could be wrong. :) Poor Matt, hope his game continues to improve. I got to see Jurassic World today, fun movie, but could never be as good as the first. Really enjoy the raptors. Have a good weekend, and tomorrow at the farmers market I'm getting some asparagus!
ReplyDeleteIf his birthday is in February, then yes it is an amethyst.. It was better on Thursday so maybe the tide has changed for him. Alex didn't think much of Jurassic World, nor did a friend in exercise class. Glad you are getting some asparagus, do enjoy it. As you know I do and am going to be crying at the end of the month for another year.
DeleteI used to call it 'brooshetta'. I won't any more. Sapphires are your birthstone aren't they?
ReplyDeleteI prefer emeralds to sapphires even though they're my birthstone too.
I agree about the emeralds Pinky. My mother liked those best of all so had an eternity ring, emeralds and diamonds. Guess who has it now? I have some sapphires, ring, earrings, pendant, none of them very big mind you.
DeleteI've never thought about buying amethysts. Don't know why but I suspect it's because they are usually paired with silver here and that doesn't suit my skin tone. After seeing that photo of the cut and polished one, though, I can't see why it couldn't be set in gold. Looking for it might be something else to justify my fascination with jewellery shops.
ReplyDeleteThey do look best with silver I think Helen. I love jewellery stores too.
DeleteGlad to hear he is bowling better. That's wonderful news. And the amethysts are so pretty. I love where you wrote that you were dripping in them.
ReplyDeleteSo am I Ivy. He gets so down when he isn't bowling well. They are pretty although they all seem to be different colours, different qualities I guess.
Delete