Smelly wee season is nearly here......

[EcclesCake]

I try to be good and only eat vegetables that are in season but I have weakened. I've bought some Spanish asparagus that I'm going to eat with Hollandaise sauce for my supper this evening.

I can't wait for the English season to begin, I'll be eating 2-3 times a week.

Do you look forward to a fruit or veg coming into season?

[sunny-dave]

Fresh english peas - podded straight into pan, quick boil and then serve with butter .... mmmmmmmmmmm

[joggerjayne]

Sorry, WR ... LOL

But it's only really asparagus that makes your wee ponk.

[EcclesCake]

Prudie, a huge dollop of rich, thick cream is essential on the first strawberries of the season. After that I play around with mint, balsamic vinegar, black pepper - although not necessarily at the same time.

[pillj123]

Sunny -dave....I agree...yummy fresh peas...BUT...I eat them fresh from the pod.....so moreish!

[EcclesCake]

I absolutely hate peas in general but if I can pick them and eat them straight from the pod I really quite enjoy them.

[joggerjayne]

Eccles ... yes, black pepper is the best thing ever on strawberries.

[seadogg]

Purple sprouting broccoli isn't bad is the smelly wee dept. Easy to grow and not popular with most pests, it likes to remind you later of your acquaintance, sometime explosively too.

[joggerjayne]

"sometime explosively"

Okaaay

[sunny-dave]

Hmm - 'explosive' - remind me to avoid PSB vindaloo then, the combination could be ... interesting ;)

[vodkancoke]

Asparagus, peas, parsnips, melon, fresh figs, raspberries and strawberries

[sunny-dave]

Yes vodka - had forgotten about how good parsnips suddenly become after the first hard frosts of the winter - sweet & aromatic :)

[EcclesCake]

Mmm, figs. I have a friend with a mahoosive fig tree, she hates them and gives them away; I have been known to nip round to her house and do a spot of scrumping!!!

Her neighbour has an equally mahoosive asparagus bed that I have also been known to raid.

[looobylooo]

rhubarb... goosgogs and blackberries, for me :o)

[vodkancoke]

My gran grows figs in Italy. They are delicious.

I keep trying to get my dad to grow asparagus, but the temperamental Scottish weather puts a stop to that! lol

[sunny-dave]

Recipe Time :

1 large parsnip - sliced very thinly
3 medium tomatoes - sliced
12oz grated strong cheddar cheese
1 pint double cream
a few pinches of sugar (each layer)
couple of tablespoons of fresh breadcrumbs
salt and pepper
fresh rosemary

- heat some oil and butter in a pan and gently saute the parsnips till golden on both sides

- layer them along with the tomatoes, cream and grated cheese into a casserole dish, sprinkling herbs and salt and pepper with each layer, the top layer should be grated cheese with the breadcrumbs mixed in

- bake at about 180C -200C for 40 - 50 minutes until golden

Brilliant with sausages or other grilled meat

< cheffy dave >

[jd_here]

Broad beans.....yum, yum

[EcclesCake]

You can grow asparagus in Scotland but it does need a lot of nurturing. I'm lucky that I spend a lot of time in Kent and around the Vale of Evesham which are both fantastic asparagus growing areas.

[sunny-dave]

Quite a few farms around here in North Warwickshire grow a bit of asparagus - not really a commercial crop, more a 'nice little earner' for farm-gate and farm shop sales

[mccfluff]

fancy aspargus now with a poached egg

[rowanwitch]

Asparagus, jersey royals, real blackberries not those huge tasteless cultivated ones, greengages, apricots, .....