Asparagus Stock / Pasta with Asparagus Stock

June 2019: Asparagus "Stock" Revisited

Asparagus Stock/Pasta with Asparagus Stock has never been one of my favorite recipes, rather thrifty use of a spring gift come winter.  This spring there is still a lingering quart in our freezer.  Then as I was making still another batch of stock, I realized why. A friend of mine professed not to like asparagus, then I discovered her mother had cooked it until it was almost gray!  That's exactly what I was doing with this recipe, no wonder it was not my favorite (sorry edible Aspen).  How to cook shorter but get tender?  I shredded the stalks with a steel blade in my food processor, put the mixture in a small pan just barely covered with water and cooked, like I cook whole asparagus (small stalks) for three minutes.  The result was a bright green mixture that looked and smelled great.  To get it finer I used the immersion blender and for some reason this was a messy and additional process. Next time I chopped much finer in the food processor and then microwaved. Voila:

Put in food processor

12 oz*

Blend until quite fine, then add

3 T water

Blend again until mixture is pureed.

Put mixture in a glass bowl and heat, stirring frequently to just boiling about 3 minutes on high,

* I don't like to keep asparagus ends in the refrigerator for more that 5 days, and amount varies each time. adding about a tablespoon of water per 4 oz of asparagus makes for a good puree.  Stay tuned for recipes using this or try your own adaption (more water and some additional cooking may be required) of the pasta recipe below.

Long before the current trend to use the whole animal or the whole plant, I saved the tough ends of my local asparagus stems.  Local asparagus is so spectacular I could not bear to assign the less tender portions to the compost pile.  I made stock from these stems and turned the resultant stock into soup.  The soup cried for cream and since this was a weekday staple, I did not answer the call.  Pasta cooked in asparagus stock is a great dinner on its own, no cry for cream and could only be improved by perhaps a bit of chopped parsley or grated Parmesean.

After several years of this practice, I find I have company.  Headline from a May 22, 2015 article in the Wall Street Journal:

Vegetable Scraps Go Haute: How to Cook Root to Stalk

Save those stems! Across the country, chefs are getting very good eating from parts of our produce we typically trim away. Here are their tips for using every part of the vegetable, plus recipes mindful of making the most of your market haul*

And an article in the Spring 2015 issue of edible Aspen, "The Skinny on Asparagus", included a recipe for asparagus stock and directions on how to cook pasta in stock.  

With the asparagus season fast approaching some asparagus stock still left in my freezer, I remembered the pasta recipe.  I used whole wheat linguini fini with excellent results.  The whole wheat pasta makes a heartier, less delicate but healthier offering than white pasta.   

ASPARAGUS STOCK

The edible Aspen asparagus stock recipe is pretty close to the one I have been using for several years, except it finishes the stock using a food processor and then a food mill.  I find the food processor or even easier an immersion blender sufficent.  I collect the asparagus trimmings over the course of a few meals. Often I cook for only two but we eat a lot of asparagus so it does not take long to fill the quart container I keep in the refrigerator during asparagus season.

Place the asparagus stem pieces (I do a quart of 1 -2 inch stems at a time) in a medium pot and cover with water.  Bring to a boil over medium heat, cover and gently boil until the asparagus is very soft, about 45 minutes.  Add more water if necessary to keep stems covered.  Let cool and then puree with a food processor or immersion blender.

I freeze and save for use after asparagus is no longer in season.

PASTA COOKED IN ASPARAGUS STOCK

"Cooking pasta in stock is a fabulous alternative to using your stock for soup. The pasta absorbs the flavors from the stock and leaches out starch, which thickens the sauce to create a savory sauce.."**

Serves 3

Heat until boiling: 

1 quart asparagus stock 

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Add

8 ounces pasta, linguini fini or spaghettini works best

The pasta will be stiff and probably not all fit in the stock initially. Gently push down on the pasta until it softens and collapses into the stock.  Stir constantly to avoid strands from sticking together. Cook the pasta until it is al dente. Time on box/bag will not be accurate as pasta is being cooked in a significantly reduced amount of liquid and not water.  You will have to taste for doneness. During cooking, stock will thicken. Add a little water if sauce gets too sticky.  Divide into bowls and serve immediately.

This combination stands well on its own but could be garnished with 

finely chopped parsley 

and/or

grated Parmesean

* I don't subscribe to the WSJ so only saw the headline, not recipes.

**  edible Aspen, No. 30 Spring 2015, page15.

May 2017: It's asparagus season again, and I still have stock left in the freezer. Why not pasta cooked in asparagus stock garnished with fresh asparagus. Yum!









Reviewed 5/30/2017
Revised : 6/6/2019  - note at top of post

Alex's Almond Pancakes

One Sunday morning this January Henry crawled into bed with me and announced we were having pancakes for breakfast.  Alex's turn to cook.  My pancakes cannot compete with hers. I looked forward to breakfast along with Henry.

This recipe serves 4 adults and 1 pancake loving toddler, with maybe one pancake leftover for a mid-morning snack.

Preheat a pancake griddle, and preheat oven to low (250 degrees F)

In a large bowl, mix together:

3 c all-purpose flour
1 T + 1 1/2 t (4 1/2 t) baking powder
1/2 t salt

Beat together

3 eggs
2 1/4 c milk (may need as much as 3 c milk or combination of milk and yogurt - see beow)
3 T melted butter
1 1/2 t almond extract

Then gently stir in the dry ingredients.  If the batter seems thick, add more milk or yogurt. The thickness of the batter determines the thickness of the pancakes, the more liquid, the thinner the pancakes.

Butter or oil a hot griddle then ladle or pour the mix onto the griddle. Turn pancake when bubbles form across the surface. Adjust heat as necessary, subsequent batches may require less heat then the first batch. When both sides of pancake are browned, remove to the warm platter in the oven and hold until all batter is cooked.

Serve with warm maple syrup.





Reviewed 5/8/17

Egg White Puffed Pancake

If cholesterol is no issue, it is hard to beat Baked German Pancake (right, photo at left, left, photo below) made with real eggs and butter for a weekend breakfast. Over the years I have tried a variation of this pancake using various brands of "egg product", some working better than others in achieving a puffy pancake. Recently the only "egg products" I was able to find were  boxed egg whites.  I searched for advice but could find no on-line recipes for puffy egg-white pancakes so decided to experiment.

Mixing the ingredients together I became skeptical.  Instead of a golden yellow, I had a white batter (see bottom two photos).  What would the finished pancake look like?  Not to worry, the pancake was very puffy and golden brown!  (left, photo above, right photo at left) Of course not as rich tasting as the Baked German but quite delicious with warm maple syrup.  Next time, thinking of Alex's Almond Pancakes, I added some almond extract, a definate plus.

The third iteration (photo at left) was to use fresh egg whites rather than the boxed pastuerized egg whites.  I immediately noticed that the fresh whites have much more body than the boxed whites.* This was evident in the texture of the pancake too.  Not as much body and popover-like texture as the pacake made with whole eggs, but signifagantly more body and texture than the crepe-like pancake made from boxed whites.


Serves 2, maybe 3?

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

In a medium bowl combine:

1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c fat-free milk
3/4 c egg whites (preferably from fresh eggs)
1 t almond extract
1 T vegetable oil spread such as Earth Balance

Put cast iron skillet (~9'' diameter) or glass pan  (~6' x 10"/~60" sq) in hot oven. When pan is hot add vegetable oil then return pan to oven until spread is melted but not burned!  Meanwhile beat ingredients well with a whisk until batter is smooth and bubbly. Remove pan from oven and tilt until bottom surface and sides are evenly coated with melted oil. Pour batter into pan and cook until pancake is puffed and brown, about 25 minutes.

Remove from pan, slice into servings and serve with warm maple syrup.          

* Bottom photo shows mixture made with fresh egg whites, 2nd from bottom photo shows mixture maded with boxed egg whites.

Reviewed 5/11/17

Dan's Birthday Pudding Cake

This blog is full of family favorite birthday cakes. Now that Dan is living near us, we finally got a chance to try his childhood, and still favorite, birthday cake.  This is Alex's adaption of Dan's Mom's recipe. The original recipe calls for Kalua instead of some of the milk. Making a cake for a child, Dan's Mom just used milk.  The chocolate - Heath Bar - whipped cream combination is similar to Heath Bar Cake.

Make the cake

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Butter the bottom of a 9-inch diameter cake pan, cover the bottom with a circle of parchment paper, then butter the top of the paper.

In a small saucepan or double boiler on the stove or a glass cup/bowl in a microwave* melt:

1 1/2 ounces chopped unsweetened chocolate

Using an electric mixer, cream until smooth:

4 T (one-half stick) unsalted butter, softened

Then gradually add and beat until light and fluffy:

1/2 c sugar

Beat in;

1 egg yolk

Then add

1/2 t vanilla extract

Add the melted chocolate.  Mix well then, to be ready to whip the egg whites in optimum time, remove the wisk from the electric mixture and wash throughly being sure to remove all traces of oil. If the chocolate mixture is in the only mixing bowl that works with the mixer, transfer this mixture to another bowl and wash the mixing bowl well.  In a small bowl combine:

1 cup (4.5 oz) all-purpose flour
1 t baking powder
1/4 t baking soda
1/4 t salt

Add the dry mix to the chocolate mix by hand a little at a time, alternating with:

1/2 c plus 2 T milk

Stir just until smooth.

Beat until it holds soft peaks:

1 egg white

Then fold gently but throughly into the batter using a spatula.  Pour mixture into the prepared cake pan and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Cool.

Make the pudding

Heat in a double boiler (saucepan or microwave)*

2 oz chopped unsweetened chocolate

In a small saucepan combine:

1/2 c sugar
3 T cornstarch
pinch of salt

Mix together
2 1/2 c whole milk
3 eggs

Stir this mixture into the dry mixture over medium heat. Wisk to eliminate lumps then stir constantly until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Add meltled chocolate and

2 T unsalted butter, softened
1 t vanilla extract

Cool.

Make the pudding cake

Cut the cooled cake into 1 inch chunks.

In a glass bowl, approximately 8 inches in diameter. layer the cake cubes and the pudding.

Top with

whipped cream
crushed Heath Bars

And birthday candles!

* If using a sauce pan, cook over low heat, stirring frequently. If using a double boiler cook over hot, not boiling water, stirring occasionally.  If melting chocolate in a microwave, use high power but in very short intervals 10-15 seconds, stirring after each interval.  This is the easiest way to melt the chocolate but requires diligence to prevent chocolate from burning.

Reviewed 5/11/17

Baby Food

I started this post over a year ago prompted by 2 articles in the October 8 New York Times Magazine (Food Issue), a visit to Portland where our grandson Henry was just beginning to eat solid food, and a vist to the Portland Farmer's Market.

At the time, October 2014, I wrote:

With babies and then children it is all about good choices when it comes to food. Since this had been on my mind again, I found these two articles particularly relevant.

Getting Your Kids to Eat (or at least Try) Everything
Rise and Shine What kids around the world eat for breakfast

When we were in Portland last week we were waiting for coffee at a small shop enroute to the Farmer's Market, a favorite destination whenever I am in Portland.  A man and two small boys were at a table near us..The man had a moderately healthy looking breakfast sandwich and coffee. The boys each had a very sugary looking pastry and pink sugary drinks. After indulging in more than one almond croissant at Ken's during the past week I was in no position to be critical. However, when I was enjoying a delicious local veggies brunch at the Farmers Market (photo left) an hour later I could not help thinking about the scene at the coffee shop and all the healthy alternatives that for the same price or less now surrounded me.

Our grandson, Henry, is beginning to eat solid food and I am delighted (but not surprised) to see the wonderful meals his mom, Alexandra (1980 photo top left), is preparing for him.  I remember making pureed chicken (put chicken and a bit of broth in a food processor and process until smooth), pureed carrots (likewise carrots and water) and a few other pedestrian offerings for Alexandra and later Christopher. To store, I would fill an ice cube tray and freeze.  Alex does the same but with many more foods including Oregon plums, apples, peaches, as well as spinach and peas (not Henry's favorite) and freezes the pureed food in ice cube trays that come with their own top.  Feeding Alex in a pre-microwave era I heated the food in an egg coddler.

Henry is feeding himself at an early age.  This is the tend, Alex tells me. In fact some of Henry's friends have gone straight from nursng to "finger foods".  At the time of my visit to Portland avocadoes were a real favorite.

Alex also cooks pieces of carrotts and pears until they are tender and then gives Henry the pieces to eat.

Flash forward a year later, Henry has left his Portland daycare and, with his parents, is living with us until they find a house in the Boston area. I am making his lunches before he heads off to nursery school/daycare. Mindful that his old daycare provided healthy meals and tried to introduce many new foods I try (sort of) to maintain that goal.

Hummus is a hit. But while his mom and uncle dipped celery and carrotts in the hummus, Henry likes to eat it with a spoon. The token carrot or celery stick I packed with the hummus came home untouched.  Since food is about color and how it is presented, it was hard for me to pack just a blob of hummus.  I had some fresh pomegranate seeds in the fridge and put some on top.  The snack box came home empty and since then Henry has enjoyed many more hummus-pomegranate lunches.

Other favorites are grilled cheese sandwich, cut in small cubes, (left), Baked Beans, Apple Keam (but without the keme for school), Meat Loaf, plain whole milk yogurt mixed with blueberries, pancakes, string cheese, and almost any fruit.

Toddlers will have a favorite food and then (temporairly) refuse to eat it, most often right after a large supply of the "favorite food" has been purchased. Happend with avocadoes, happened with grilled cheese sandwiches and cheese-spinach omlettes. Henry is now eating avocadoes again, though her prefers them in Guacamole,

Listen to your toddler. After Henry started eating cheese omlettes again, Alex offered him a cheese-spinach omlette. Not such a hit. A few weeks later Henry and I had grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch, or actually I had a grilled cheese and arugula sandwich. Henry looked at my sandwich and immediately asked for green in his as he has since.  This morning I was going to make him a cheese omlette. As I was getting eggs out of the refrigerator, Henry spotted a box of arugula. "In omlet", he said as he handed me the box.  We are working back to the cheese-spinach omlette.

Henry's former school provided fruit popsicles on each child's birthday. Henry's current school leaves the treat up to parents.  Since the celebration is mid-morning rather than after lunch, Alex did not think popsicles were the best option and instead sent mini Blueberry Muffins which were a hit with all.  Okay, they contain sugar but so does birthday cake and the cookies I sent to school for Chris and Alex's birthdays.


May 13, 2019: Excellent article on this topic in today's New York Times:

Reviewed 9/21/2017

December Tomatoes

If one wants to eat local in New England, November and December are the Brussels sprouts, apple, cranberry and root vegetable months. That is until Chris arrived this December with a box of tomatoes from his loft in Somerville (MA). After putting his outdoor garden to bed this fall, Chris decided to give indoor tomatoes, grown hydroponically a try.

"They just keep coming", he said, as he handed several to me, and frankly I'm getting a little sick of them."  What a treat!

Unfortunately he had harvested all his basil and made pesto a few weeks ago (not offered) so I had to purchase some basil to make pasta with fresh tomatoes.  Yumm! A delicious treat, full of summer, on a cold winter evening.








Reviewed 9/14/2017

Apple Keam

This recipe is for Henry. Apple Pie/Apples and Ice Cream  = (Apple Keam)

Henry's favorite dessert is Apple Pie, which Chris brings for holidays and occasionally just for dinner. I've begged Chris for the recipe, not that I'll ever be ambitious enough to make it, mostly because I could never successfully match Chris's pie, but just because it is so good.

Most of the time Henry has to settle for my simpler Apple Crisp and Apple Cranberry Crisp or when I'm in a hurry this easy version of "Apple Keam" (rhymes with "team").

It's not just that this is easy to make, it is also pretty healthy. Compared to the alternatives, the sugar is minimal. The sugar is mixed with cinnamon (a lot in this recipe because Henry loves cinnamon - adjust accordingly) and flour to give the apples a "pie filling taste" and to help evenly distribute the small amount of sugar.

Peel, quarter and thinly slice

4 small apples or fewer larger ones (about 1 1/4 pounds total)
If using larger apples, cut slices in half to make them "bite-sized".

Put apples in a medium sized bowl* and toss with
1 t lemon juice

In a small bowl combine:

1 t sugar
1 t ground cinnamon (adjust to your/child's tatse)
1T flour

Mix and add to the apple - lemon juice mixture and toss until well mixed.

Put mixture into a pie plate.

Microwave on high for approximately 4 minutes, stirring every minute, until the apples are soft but not mushy.  Cool and serve plain or with with vanilla/ginger ice cream, or yogurt (apples and cream)!

These are also one of Henry's favorite lunch treats.

* Or to save dishes, mix the apples and lemon juice in the pie plate in which they will be cooked.

28 January 2016: Apple Pie is now a family "Birthday Cake".  This was Henry's "cake" of choice for his second birthday  He joins my brother, who instead of cake, chooses to celebrate his birthday with a Strawberry Rhubarb Pie.








Reviewed 5/17/17