tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post8266535159185602042..comments2024-03-28T18:57:20.920+01:00Comments on Living the life in Saint-Aignan: Asperges blanchesKen Broadhursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04430899802705818716noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-89746710090391831982016-04-26T06:10:21.811+02:002016-04-26T06:10:21.811+02:00The weather is awful here this week. It's almo...The weather is awful here this week. It's almost wintry, but it's even worse in the United Kingdom, from reports I've seen. Enjoy the rays of sunshine that you get.Ken Broadhursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430899802705818716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-49685763415640559552016-04-26T06:08:42.891+02:002016-04-26T06:08:42.891+02:00You don't need to peel the very top of the whi...You don't need to peel the very top of the white spears, say the top 1 inch. But from about an inch down, peel the thin, tough skin off completely. BTW, the fresh mayonnaise is just as good with green asparagus.Ken Broadhursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430899802705818716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-38927303038901737672016-04-25T19:20:55.350+02:002016-04-25T19:20:55.350+02:00I think you can still buy mayonnaise in tubes here...I think you can still buy mayonnaise in tubes here (Netherlands), but we usually buy a jar. <br /><br />Looking forward to your recipe for home-made mayonnaise tomorrow, Ken. Asparagus is on the menu here later this week. Yours looks yum!elgeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16019214788976612822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-12579431845186325672016-04-25T15:10:15.503+02:002016-04-25T15:10:15.503+02:00The thick white asparagus freaks me out a little b...The thick white asparagus freaks me out a little bit. I had no idea you had to peel it because I've only ever eaten it in restaurants in France and haven't prepared it myself. I'll definitely be back to learn how to make mayonnaise. <br />I'd love it if you'd play along with Dreaming of France. <a href="http://paulita-ponderings.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Here’s my Dreaming of France meme</a>Paulita https://www.blogger.com/profile/14237320966048538408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-57868612502745266042016-04-25T14:06:53.706+02:002016-04-25T14:06:53.706+02:00I made my first mayonnaise at age 75, after you sh...I made my first mayonnaise at age 75, after you showed me how to do it. I made my first — and last, so far — <i>pâte brisée</i> at age 85. <i>Il n'est jamais trop tard pour bien faire !</i>chmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17765675930520613520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-54543983126387390232016-04-25T13:52:35.797+02:002016-04-25T13:52:35.797+02:00Thanks for the help. I spotted the Super U asparag...Thanks for the help. I spotted the Super U asparagus this morning but didn't have time to investigate.<br />I am looking forward to your mayonnaise recipe tomorrow although am not quite sure if I will be able to make it in the caravan!<br />Yes, we are having a lovely time, thank you. Would prefer warmer weather but are very cosy at night which is important with camping. We heard a noise like helicopters on Saturday night and the campsite owner tells us it is irrigation machines spraying the vines to stop them freezing on cold nights. I wonder if you hear those?Sueceehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10855614771291139032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-6168836868816808542016-04-25T12:45:38.771+02:002016-04-25T12:45:38.771+02:00And I meant to say, I think the white asparagus ha...And I meant to say, I think the white asparagus has a sweeter, less metallic or chalky taste than green asparagus. It just needs to be peeled and cooked until tender. White aparagus is "blanched" meaning it isn't exposed to sunlight during the growing period. Like Belgian endive.Ken Broadhursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430899802705818716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-42764358063920231332016-04-25T12:30:36.464+02:002016-04-25T12:30:36.464+02:00I wrote a follow-on comment here earlier but for s...I wrote a follow-on comment here earlier but for some reason it didn't post. The tubes are handy. I saw a website where a lot of Europeans living in NYC were looking for mayo in tubes but couldn't find it. They seemed to think it was better packaged that way rather than in jars.Ken Broadhursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430899802705818716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-29880496083202606062016-04-25T12:29:09.358+02:002016-04-25T12:29:09.358+02:00We cook it for even longer than 10 minutes. It dep...We cook it for even longer than 10 minutes. It depends on the diameter of the spears. We just text it by piercing it with a knife or skewer to see if it is tender all the way through.Ken Broadhursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430899802705818716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-49398578204135008852016-04-25T11:51:54.505+02:002016-04-25T11:51:54.505+02:00No wonder I gave up on cooking white asparagus in ...No wonder I gave up on cooking white asparagus in France. I didn't know about peeling it! Thanks Ken. I was told to cook it for about "dix minutes" by the market trader I once bought it from. Is that about right? <br />Also thanks for the info about mayonnaise being in tubes.Sueceehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10855614771291139032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-25636490178302780412016-04-25T10:07:19.194+02:002016-04-25T10:07:19.194+02:00I saw it at SuperU for €6,80/kg, but it was more a...I saw it at SuperU for €6,80/kg, but it was more at the market. As usual. Probably better quality too, but you can't always assume that.<br /><br />The industrial mayonnaise is often too sweet for my taste, and sometimes too vinegary. It has to be full of chemical additives to keep as long as it does.Ken Broadhursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430899802705818716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-71166496972204621292016-04-25T09:25:44.460+02:002016-04-25T09:25:44.460+02:00A tube might be more convenient for picnics...A tube might be more convenient for picnics...pottyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06834163803780455512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-90914607938410667442016-04-25T09:15:51.643+02:002016-04-25T09:15:51.643+02:00Years ago I was invited to join a friend's fam...Years ago I was invited to join a friend's family for Easter weekend in Bretagne. The mother was making mayonnaise and said to me, "I hear in YOUR country, you buy this in jars!" It's true that homemade is nothing like industrial.<br />Asparagus here is €6/kg for green, €7/kg for white.Taste of Francehttp://francetaste.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com