Something for the Weekend ~ Signs of Spring Cooking

Hi! Is everyone ''blown away"? ---literally, with very high winds and, to the west, deep heavy snow! We have had two days of wind advisory and wind speeds over 30 mph inland, which means worse here on the water edge. Brrr.

And yet, in the grocery stores there are hints of spring. More than just tulips and green pencils of daffs, there are now beautiful artichokes and freshest stalks of asparagus, chartreuse scallions, what my mom called spring onions.

And then the first radish crop---

my goodness these are big guys. More tennis ball than golf ball. Not as spicy as I hoped but bright red and white and deliciously crisp.

I brought home a very large bunch of asparagus and some scallions yesterday. I decided I'd make another recipe from my new cookbook:

Here is the recipe, I think they meant frittata not tortilla? A blip in the translation from British to American usage?

I'm still struggling with the English terminology, weights not Cups, grams not pounds, Celsius not Fahrenheit etc. I printed out little charts to help me get my thoughts straight.

So--smaller lasagna pan, filled with thinly sliced white potatoes [2 large] and thinly sliced sweet potatoes [two small]; a large white sweet onion, also sliced very thin. Tossed with olive oil, sea salt, tarragon and black pepper;

roasted for a kitchen-warming half hour [I did 40 minutes bec maybe I don't slice as thin as expected, though I tried.]

Meanwhile I made the binding egg mixture---5! eggs! and 1/2 cup of mascarpone mixed with milk, bec my store doesn't stock creme fraiche. [Not a whole Cup of mascarpone, a dollop of it mixed into the milk to total 1/2 C.]

Pour that over the almost cooked potatoes, add the asparagus and a few scallions,

 and sprinkle with parm.

Bake another 30 minutes.

Doesn't it look delish!

I think mine compares favorably to the book's lovely version, at least visually, don't you?

book photo

mine

The recipe says serve hot or cold so I hope it's as good as it looks. I'll have it hot when I come in from Mo's walk, then it will be in the fridge for kids' to serve themselves, either hot or cold.

A glass of crisp white wine and a spring greens salad on the side for me.

EDIT: The casserole was good! It cuts and serves beautiful, like a terrine, all pretty green and white and orange.
The asparagus was excellent. But on all honesty, a big baked potato, a bit of sour cream or butter or grated cheese, with the asparagus on top would be as good or better/ no mess, no fuss.

 It did make nice leftovers, serve room temp, or reheat; not so good truly "cold". If I make this again, I'll add more black pepper, more onion, the juice of one lemon and maybe crumbled bacon. The potatoes are okay for gluten free, but the white potatoes aren't okay for low carb diets. I believe it is okay for vegetarian but NOT vegan.

.............

Poor Baby Mo, he fell down the long staircase the other night.

He was headed up and BOOM suddenly tumbled back down for me to catch him. He seems fine but I'm watching him carefully. I was so scared and so worried. We really do not want to go out tonight, the wind is bitter.

.....

Have a great weekend!

sneak peek for next-ish post: Shopping Spree!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.....

"summer afternoon, summer afternoon..."
We don't bother with spring fever here at the Beach, we go straight on to glorious summer!