Monday, May 11, 2020

Weather, Wildlife,

Are we sure spring is here? We had quite a bit of snow Friday night and everywhere was white, not just slightly, and then it snowed during the day. It was very odd weather in fact, it was sunny for a bit then thickish frog (melting snow) then the fog disappeared and it snowed a bit, etc. etc. Not only that it is pretty cold. Asparagus, of course, does not like this weather. Nor do I. I messaged the farmer that I would never doubt him again when he predicted the weather. I thought he was talking out of the back of his head when he said it would snow Friday night. Of course I couldn't go get any asparagus yet, if there was any, without a car. Please cross your fingers for me that I get it back today.

Reading David Gascoigne's blog today, I didn't realise we got Bald Eagles here on a regular basis although a friend did have one nesting in a tree in her back yard a year or two back, maybe there more often, but I saw it at that time. I do so miss the birds we used to see regularly at our feeders in our  back yard in North Carolina. We tried something similar on our balcony but were told it was not permitted. So now I consider myself lucky if I happen to see one fly past. We do see lots of squirrels around here though and I spotted a fox one night. I suspect if I sat outside at night I would see more of foxes as they are supposed to be making their homes in our urban areas.

Of course, not only is asparagus in season right now, but so is rhubarb. Matt can't stand the stuff so I usually buy enough for me now and again.

Roasted halibut with rhubarb-bacon jam

Roasted asparagus and a savoury rhubarb sauce make dinner a quick, healthy and colourful ode to
spring.

500 g halibut , in 4 pieces
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp hot-red-chili-flakes
1/4 tsp salt
500 g asparagus , trimmed, about 1 bunch
1 tsp olive oil
fresh pepper
4 slices bacon , finely chopped
2 cups chopped rhubarb
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 Tbs red-wine vinegar
1 Tbs butter

1. PREHEAT oven to 450°F. Spray a large baking sheet with oil. Pat halibut dry with paper towels. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with hot-red-chili flakes and salt. Arrange skin-side down on 1 side of prepared sheet. Toss a bunch trimmed asparagus with olive oil on other side of baking sheet. Season with fresh pepper. Roast in centre of oven until a knife tip inserted into thickest part of fish and  held for 10 sec feels warm, about 10 min.

2. COOK bacon slices in a medium frying pan over medium-high, until crisp, about 5 min. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Drain and discard fat. Return pan to medium. Add chopped fresh rhubarb, brown sugar and red-wine vinegar. Cook until rhubarb starts to break down and sugar dissolves, about  3 min. Stir in butter and bacon and gently boil until sauce is thickened, about 8 min. Drizzle sauce over halibut.

Yield: 4

Source Chatelaine

Have a great day, stay well, stay safe.
 

15 comments:

  1. We are chilly here too. With lazy winds (the sort that go through rather than round you). Those winds are definitely coming from the nearest snowfield - some sixty miles away.
    I love asparagus and rhubarb. Rhubarb was always known in our family as 'thumb' after a brother's mishap chopping it.
    Wasn't David's post a beauty? Nearly as wonderful as the foxes.

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    1. PS: I do hope you get your car back today.

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    2. Yes, but you are coming into winter Sue, this is supposed to be spring.

      Yes, it was.

      So do I

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    3. And it snowed again this morning

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  2. Cold here too ... I found a tiny bit of asparagus ... but will wait to buy more. I prefer stocky stalks, not tops - and those were the ones available: a treat certainly. I hope we can get rhubarb in too ... love it. Good luck with getting the car back ... stay safe - Hilary

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    1. We had snow again so not much likelihood of asparagus. I certainly need good luck Hilary. Thanks.

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  3. Cold and rainy here too. I live in a little weather bubble, so to speak, and though my sister and son both had snow, I only saw a few flakes go past. As for birds, I am seeing a lot of blue jays. Usually only one or two, but they are everywhere in the yard. There was one robin's nest in the tree in back. I must remember to check it out. Usually the d--- critters around here get in and destroy the eggs.
    Hope you get your car back, but, alas, I don't think you will be getting asparagus any time soon.

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    1. The weather is unbelievable Denise, heavyish snow again today. You were lucky. Pity if the Robins can't raise their chicks. You are so right about the asparagus.

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  4. Thanks for the link to my blog, Jo. it is white outside again this morning! This is really getting ridiculous in May. As for rhubarb, we enjoy it, and last year started to make chicken with a rhubarb sauce and it is really quite delicious. A guy in our naturalists club makes a fabulous rhubarb crumble and I am always happy when he brings that to a pot luck event. We spent an hour Facetiming my daughter and her family in Ottawa yesterday. Technology is amazing. We hadn't really planned dinner so we pan fried some chicken, and did a baked potato, and cauliflower and cheese sauce, and it was pretty damn good! Too bad I only had cheddar for the cheese sauce. They have a really good Asiago at Vincenzo's and if I have it on hand I use that and it is fabulous. I look out the window and you would swear it was January. Bah humbug!

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    1. Unfortunately Matt doesn't like rhubarb one bit so no sauces for me. Don't like crumbles though, my mother used to make them. Not my cuppa tea. I do so agree with your bah humbug David, this is ridiculous for May isn't it?

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  5. So many got snow this past weekend. We got down in the thirties which is just unheard of for May.

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    1. Seems to be the same all over Alex. the thirties, in May, in NC, is unheard of. Mind you we don't usually get snow in May but we had another good dollop when we got up this morning.

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  6. I had to cover my basil Saturday night as we had a freeze warning.

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    1. Incredible for NC Diane, did you get frost? Alex said the 30°s in his part of the State.

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  7. It's cold! It sucks! I hope this weekend will be better. I have a meeting now with work..ughhh

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