And then later in the week, my favourite plant, a little plum tree let its colours show. I just adore this tree - I've never seen plum blossoms like it!
Showing posts with label spring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spring. Show all posts
Sunday, May 15, 2011
An explosion of flowers
This week, the trees of Toronto have burst into bloom. On Monday night, I went to bed surrounded by bare trees. Tuesday morning, I awoke to this outside our carpark:
And then later in the week, my favourite plant, a little plum tree let its colours show. I just adore this tree - I've never seen plum blossoms like it!
And then later in the week, my favourite plant, a little plum tree let its colours show. I just adore this tree - I've never seen plum blossoms like it!
Saturday, April 09, 2011
Asparagus with Satuéed GrapeTomatoes
The first asparagus of spring are always exciting to get on the table. In my last trip to the grocery store, I walked out with two pounds worth, and, in the end, they all went into making the same recipe (on two different nights).
This is one that will go into regular rotation here. And, over the next few weeks, I rather suspect a few more bunches of asparagus will find themselves going into this dish too.
The key here is to get some great, super sweet cherry or grape tomatoes. They'll play off the balsamic vinegar in the dish.
Also, if you can, get your hands on some sheep's milk feta. The original calls for goat's cheese, but I think the bright saltiness of a sheep's milk feta is far tastier than the earthy creaminess of soft goat's cheese. If you're in southern Ontario, I recommend getting your hands on some stuff from Ewenity. They're an awesome farm cooperative that produces all sorts of sheep's milk products.
Asparagus with Sautéed Tomatoes
(adapted from Cooking Light)
Ingredients
1 pound asparagus, woody ends trimmed off
1 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups halved grape tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar (you can use regular balsamic if that's what you have)
¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
1. Cook asparagus in a pot of boiling water for about 2 minutes. You want the colour to be bright and the asparagus to be no more than tender-crisp.
2. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet. Add in tomatoes and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes. Add in balsamic vinegar and cook for an additional 3 minutes
3. Arrange asparagus on serving platter, and top with tomato mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and black pepper. Serve immediately.
It's supposed to serve 4. Phil and I may (or may not) have eaten it all.
....
....
We ate it all.
This is one that will go into regular rotation here. And, over the next few weeks, I rather suspect a few more bunches of asparagus will find themselves going into this dish too.
The key here is to get some great, super sweet cherry or grape tomatoes. They'll play off the balsamic vinegar in the dish.
Also, if you can, get your hands on some sheep's milk feta. The original calls for goat's cheese, but I think the bright saltiness of a sheep's milk feta is far tastier than the earthy creaminess of soft goat's cheese. If you're in southern Ontario, I recommend getting your hands on some stuff from Ewenity. They're an awesome farm cooperative that produces all sorts of sheep's milk products.
Asparagus with Sautéed Tomatoes
(adapted from Cooking Light)
Ingredients
1 pound asparagus, woody ends trimmed off
1 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups halved grape tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar (you can use regular balsamic if that's what you have)
¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
1. Cook asparagus in a pot of boiling water for about 2 minutes. You want the colour to be bright and the asparagus to be no more than tender-crisp.
2. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet. Add in tomatoes and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes. Add in balsamic vinegar and cook for an additional 3 minutes
3. Arrange asparagus on serving platter, and top with tomato mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and black pepper. Serve immediately.
It's supposed to serve 4. Phil and I may (or may not) have eaten it all.
....
....
We ate it all.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Longing for Spring
Last Friday, as I was walking back from an unsuccessful attempt to find freeze-dried strawberries from the St. Lawrence market, Toronto was in the throes of its first hint of spring.
It was 9 degrees and gorgeous.
Practically t-shirt weather, I tell you.
And now, with the threat of snow looming, all I can think about is this:
The picture above was taken in my tiny little Japanese village back in 2006. This particular tree was down the hill from my house.
I just love these double blossom sakura trees. They have these huge pink puffball blooms. Gorgeous.
While I loved the trees in my town, the most beautiful, magical cherry blossom experience though was, hands down, found in Kyoto.
We had a picnic this trip along the river of the Philosopher's Walk. Crackers, wine, prosciutto, cheese (real cheese!), olives, cookies. It was heaven on earth; the perfect hanami party.
Hanami (花見) literally means flower viewing. In short, people go out to sit beneath the trees, eat lots of food and get quite drunk all in celebration of the fleeting beauty of the cherry blossoms. Lanterns get strung up, trees are illuminated. If you're watching the flowers at night, it's called yozakura (夜桜), which literally means night sakura. At this point, you'll probably see a few businessmen stagger down the streets singing at the tops of their lungs.
Even on a hazy day, Kiyomizudera looked pretty awesome.
But, best of all, was the night we arrived in Kyoto. The trees were in full blossom and totally illuminated. It was, hands down, one of the most magical, otherworldly experiences I've ever had.
I remember thinking to myself as we walked down the perfumed streets, blossoms gently falling in the wind, that this was what walking through Narnia must have felt like for Lucy. I don't know that I've ever felt so full of wonder and joy by a place.
It was 9 degrees and gorgeous.
Practically t-shirt weather, I tell you.
And now, with the threat of snow looming, all I can think about is this:
 |
| Sakura tree |
I just love these double blossom sakura trees. They have these huge pink puffball blooms. Gorgeous.
While I loved the trees in my town, the most beautiful, magical cherry blossom experience though was, hands down, found in Kyoto.
 |
| The Philosopher's Walk |
Hanami (花見) literally means flower viewing. In short, people go out to sit beneath the trees, eat lots of food and get quite drunk all in celebration of the fleeting beauty of the cherry blossoms. Lanterns get strung up, trees are illuminated. If you're watching the flowers at night, it's called yozakura (夜桜), which literally means night sakura. At this point, you'll probably see a few businessmen stagger down the streets singing at the tops of their lungs.
Even on a hazy day, Kiyomizudera looked pretty awesome.
 |
| Kiyomizudera |
 |
| Kiyomizudera |
I remember thinking to myself as we walked down the perfumed streets, blossoms gently falling in the wind, that this was what walking through Narnia must have felt like for Lucy. I don't know that I've ever felt so full of wonder and joy by a place.
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