Thursday, June 11, 2015

Popcorn, Rhino News, Bowling, This and That.

My apologies to those of you who ended up with Popcorn as an 'ear worm' yesterday. I was reminded the song was performed by Hot Butter. I had forgotten that.

Great news from the World Wildlife Fund that rhinos in Nepal are on the increase and they have had zero poaching in the last year. Although this doesn't happen every year, it is becoming a more frequent occurrence. There is an interesting article if you click on this link. I blush to admit I didn't even know there were rhinos in Nepal, but I am delighted they are doing well. This chart gives you some idea of how serious
their population numbers got at one point. Mostly because of poaching. Governments in Asian countries are trying to convince their peoples that rhino horn has no medical benefits whatsoever (after all it's just compressed hair) but I am not sure they have got very far. One park in South Africa has a rhino who's horn was stolen and she has been bandaged. At the moment she seems to be doing OK. The report said she was camera shy, bearing in mind what happened I would have thought she was people shy. I hate to tell you what Matt says he would do to the people who do this kind of thing.

Well, of course, Wednesday is Summer League bowling and for once I bowled really well - I seem to save it for non league play, but not this week. Wish I could say the same for Matt, but he had a very bad day. I think my average went up about 5 points so I am pretty chuffed about that. Thursday we have been asked to go in later as they have half a million kids bowling over the lunch hour apparently - OK I'm exaggerating, quarter of a million!  We also took a vote and the League have mostly opted to play on July 1 which is Canada Day. Matt and I are delighted as we don't do anything special ourselves. No family after all. Plus we would miss our bowling and our exercise by doing the bowling. I'm pretty sure there will be no in house exercise class that day either. I introduced another bowling friend to farm fresh asparagus today, I will be interested to know what she thinks of it. One friend said she was freezing some. I tried that last year but was not very successful. The problem is that we cannot flash freeze in home kitchens so it doesn't work as well. I might have over cooked them whilst blanching too. When I ate them later, they came out awfully limp.

This is an interesting sounding recipe from Hellman's. Obviously you can use any mayonnaise you wish, but I have always found Hellman's the closest thing to homemade. I used to always make my own mayonnaise at one time, then I discovered Hellman's and haven't made any since. And no, I am not paid to advertise for them. I wish.  I love using Leeks too. I make a lot of Leek and Potato soup or I braise them as a vegetable for supper.

Leek and Asparagus Tart

Add Hellmann’s® Mayonnaise to this tasty tart filling for super moist, egg-y goodness. Brunch is served.


  • Recipe serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 (23cm) frozen unbaked deep dish pie crust
  • 1/2 lb. fresh asparagus, cut into 5 cm pieces
  • 1 leek, (white part only), sliced
  • 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup Hellmann's® Real Mayonnaise
  • 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup milk

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Partially thaw pie shell (about 10 minutes). Pierce pastry bottom with fork and bake 10 minutes.
  2. In skillet, cook asparagus and leek in oil over medium heat until tender, about 5 minutes. Place on bottom of baked pie shell. Top evenly with cheese.
  3. In small bowl, whisk together eggs, Hellmann's® Real Mayonnaise, mustard and seasonings. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth. Pour over cheese in pie shell and bake 35 minutes, on lower rack, or until set and lightly browned.

Have a great day
 

30 comments:

  1. I didn't know there were rhinos in Nepal either till one of my friends went to Asia on a month long trip and saw them at a wildlife park. As for mayo, it's only Hellman's for me too. I don't like Miracle Whip or the local brand, Cain's. Did you know that out west Hellman's is known as Best Foods? When I first moved there, I saw the commercial, 'Bring out the Best Foods and bring out the best!' and I thought, 'wow, Hellman's could sue for them stealing their jingle'. Then I read the label that said 'Known as Hellman's on the East Coast'.

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    1. Interesting JoJo, I didn't know that about Hellman's. I don't like Miracle Whip either, horrid stuff.

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  2. It's a shame the lies we believe at the expense of amazing animals. I hope they do turn it around permanently.Congrats on the new average.

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    1. I hope these are not lies Yolanda.

      Thanks.

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  3. Poaching of rhino horns and elephant tusks makes me so angry. Glad Nepal seem to be winning the battle.
    Never heard of Miracle Whip but love Hellman's!

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    1. Me too Pam. It is dreadful and very distressing.

      Miracle Whip is a Kraft product I believe and I find it very sweet.

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  4. I didn't know that Nepal had rhinos, either. I am glad that they are prospering there.
    We don't use Miracle Whip at all. I don't like the sweetness of it.
    I planted asparagus this year. They are two year old crowns, so I should have asparagus in the spring. They are growing beautifully. I can't wait!

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    1. What an informed bunch we are Maggie. I am glad too.

      Yes, way to sweet. A lot of people here seem to prefer it, no idea why.

      Lucky you. I had a bed in the UK but not since. But then you cut down your artichokes. Horror.

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  5. Miracle Whip was all we ever used when I was growing up. I think the whole of the Midwest used Miracle Whip, period.
    My husband's family use mayo, hate Miracle Whip. Not very bright.

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    1. Sorry, but I hate Miracle Whip too Susan. Always made my own mayonnaise at one time as I said, and Hellman's is almost exactly the same.

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  6. Hey Jo - Today I bought 2kg of asparagus because you inspired me. I ate some of it today with bone marrow and other veggies, garlic and Kosher salt. Not too bad. Some of the asparagus caramelized but some of it didn't.

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    1. From the store or a farm Ivy? Odd combination, haven't had bone marrow since I was a child anyway. What caused it to caramelize?

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    2. Sad face, the local market :-(

      I'm not sure what caused it. Maybe the sugar in the carrots mixed with the fat in the marrow? I dunno. Good question.

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    3. What a pity Ivy, although the market is probably better than the store.

      Interesting to find out.

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    4. I had the oven on 350F/180C (non-fan), open pan.

      Though I don't know I would bake them with marrow again, I did enjoy it, if that makes sense. But then today, with eggs, onions and one rasher of bacon, they were delish.

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    5. Yes, you can certainly enjoy a meal but not be anxious to repeat it for some reason. Your latest seems like a good combination Ivy.

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  7. I wonder how the myth about Rhino's horns started. I had no idea they were in Nepal either. Cold potato and leek soup is delicious. Your tart looks tasty too :)

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    1. Chinese medicine has a lot of odd things Pinky, where the rhino horn idea came from I cannot imagine. Vichysoisse when cold, Potage Parmentier when hot. It does look good. will have to get some pastry, not good at that.

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  8. I got a new batch of farm fresh asparagus today. Do believe I 'll try this recipe too. The angel hair pasta asparagus from a few days ago was very good. I am not a pie crust fan but I am used to making crustless quiche. I'm sure this will turn out well without the crust. Grew up with Miracle Whip. About 20 years ago, I was introduced to Hellman's and I never looked back. ( ;

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    1. I never thought of making it crustless dynnamae. - good idea. I am not a big pastry fan. I am not surprised you never looked back. It staggers me how many people do like Miracle, but I am definitely not one of them.

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    2. I made this today with a couple tweaks and it was so good. Added sauteed baby bella mushrooms, used wild leeks, spicy brown mustard and Emmentaler cheese. It was perfect in a Corning ware 1.6 lt round casserole as a quiche. Thanks for these recipes.

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    3. Not big tweaks but enough to make a slight difference. Glad you enjoyed it dynnamae

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  9. I am with Matt completely because I would also think up some things that could be done to people who are cruel to animals or kill them for their fur, paws or horns. It needs education too. I am happy the rhinos are doing better and I wish that was happening around the world. People are more cruel than any animal.

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    1. Me too Birgit. If only we could get hold of these people. Well if as many of us as possible help to fight the good fight.

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  10. Frozen is better than canned, that's for sure. Our grocer carries frozen grilled asparagus that's edible.

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    1. Trouble is we can't buy frozen round here Melissa. Could in NC and I agree it is better than canned.

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  11. Having experienced all kinds of superstitions first hand. It's not surprising, that it is difficult to eradicate them. Those who believe in them are not the kind of people who respond well to logic.

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    1. You are right Guy, we have all kinds of silly superstitions ourselves, one shouldn't be surprised that people believe in the medicinal powers of horn. I wonder how much they actually pay for the stuff at the receiving end.

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    2. Just googled for cost of rhino horn - $65,000 per kilogram. Simply crazy

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    3. No wonder it's such big business. I wonder what the guy on the street has to pay. A lot I imagine. Thanks for googling Guy.

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