SPRING IS HERE!

The calendar definitely says Spring...so where are my local farmers' delicious asparagus spears???

There are so many foods that conjure up Spring ...... not just my favorite food in Spring of locally grown asparagus but artichokes, and other foods of Spring such as salmon and lamb which are available all year round and not just at Springtime but I'm still a big fan and I think it's always best to enjoy certain produce that come to market in their season and locally grown or grown as close to where you live as is possible!

Do you recognize what is in the photo?  A true sign of Spring - they are Ramps - or wild leeks.  They're mostly found at farmers' markets (I've not seen them sold in supermarkets - if you have, please let me know where) I simply sauté the cleaned ramps (root end removed just as on a scallion) in a dash or two of olive oil, salt & pepper and cook until the green leaves are wilted and even slightly browned - your choice. Sautéed leeks are terrific as a side dish with grilled salmon.  Leaves and white bulbs can also be cut into 2-inch pieces and added to a stir fry of a variety of vegetables, or added to a protein based stir fry.

That's one of the many reasons why shopping at a farmer's market is my favorite activity and why I SO look forward to Spring and all of its particular bounty.  It's just glorious to see asparagus that was cut that morning or at the latest the day before and peas in their pods as well very young garlic coming to market.  I'm fortunate to be able to shop at the fantastic Union Square Greenmarket in Manhattan that provides New Yorkers with locally grown produce as well as locally raised beef, fish and lamb.

Pea and Asparagus Risotto
Grilled Salmon with Balsamic Glaze with Mesclun Greens
Baby Carrots, Baby Pattypan squash, Haricots Verts
Lemon Curd in Nut Tarts

PEA AND ASPARAGUS RISOTTO

In a large pot, bring chicken stock to a simmer; reduce heat and keep on low. Heat olive oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add asparagus pieces and sauté for 3 minutes; remove asparagus to a plate and reserve.  Add peas and sauté for 2 minutes; remove peas and reserve with asparagus.  Add more oil if pan looks dry and sauté shallots until they are softened.  Add rice and coat with the oil and shallots.  Begin adding hot stock 1 cup at a time and stir constantly until liquid is absorbed with each addition of stock.  Rice should  become tender, yet still firm to the bite and the mixture should be creamy.  Cooking time should be approximately 25 minutes.  With the last addition of stock to the rice, add the reserved asparagus and peas. When the last addition of stock has been absorbed, stir in grated cheese and parsley.  Taste and adjust seasoning with ground white pepper and salt if desired.   Yield: 6 servings  Recipe adapted from the Bearfoot Bistro in Whistler, British Columbia.

GRILLED SALMON FILLETS WITH BALSAMIC  GLAZE

For Glaze

Combine glaze ingredients in a medium saucepan. Boil until reduced to 1/3 cup about 15 minutes. Season glaze to taste with salt & pepper.

Prepare a charcoal, gas or stovetop grill to medium heat and brush salmon with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Grill salmon flesh side down for approximately 5 minutes; turn and grill on the other side for 2 - 3 minutes more. Transfer salmon fillets to a platter (or on individual plates) and drizzle balsamic glaze over each portion. Yield: 6 servings

BABY CARROTS AND BABY PATTYPAN SQUASH

Allow 3 baby carrots per serving (18) and 3 yellow baby pattypan squash per serving (18) and allow 6 Haricots Verts green beans per serving (36).  Peel baby carrots and trip the ends leaving some of the green stalk for appearances.  Baby pattypan squash should not need any trimming, but if the ends and tips are dried, trim them.  Trim the stem end of the Haricots Verts beans leaving the pointed end for presentation appearances. 

Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil.  Add enough sea salt or kosher salt to season the water.  Have a large bowl of ice and water ready to "shock" the vegetables when they are finished cooking.  Add the vegetables one variety at a time  to the boiling water- boil baby carrots for approximately 3 minutes; remove carrots and dunk into the ice water.  Add baby pattypan squash to the boiling water and cook for approximately 3 minutes - test for doneness and add 1 minute to cooking time if necessary.  Transfer cooked pattypan to the ice water.  Next add the Haricots Verts to the boiling water and cook for approximately 3 minutes - test for doneness and add 1 minutes to cooking time if necessary.  Transfer cooked beans to the ice water.  When all vegetables have been cooled in the ice water, remove them to a strainer lined with paper towel.  Remove as much of the water from the vegetables as you can. 

To re-heat vegetables, melt two tablespoons of butter in a large skillet.  When butter is hot and foaming, add the cooked vegetables and sauté until just heated through.  Yield:  6 servings

Note: Vegetables cooked in this manner can be prepared in the morning.  Store in a covered dish in the refrigerator until needed and re-heat as directed above.

LEMON CURD

You will need to double the recipe to have sufficient lemon curd to fill six 4-inch tart shells

Yield: approx. 1 pound - Source: English Country Cooking at Its Best, Caroline Conran Villard Books 1985

NUT CRUST

(double the recipe to make enough dough for 6 individual tart shells)

In the bowl of a food processor, mix flour and sugar with chopped nuts using 2 or 3 on/off turns. Cut in the butter using the steel blade, again using the on/off button for 5 - 6 turns. Add the egg and mix again until the egg is incorporated. Remove dough mixture fit one 10-inch tart pan or 6 individual 4-inch tart pans with removable bottoms, evenly spreading and  molding the dough to the bottom and sides of the 6 tart pans.