With this springtime saying
April Showers Bring May Flowers,
I am posting one of my favorite things in this
month (it is actually the last week for this tropical-like April heat
which according to German news is the hottest April since 1901 with
a recorded temperature ranging fro 26 to 36 degrees Centigrade).
But more on global warming later.
April in Germany means the start of the season of
Asparagusor
Spargel in German which they named as king of
vegetables which is not the explanation why Asparagus is one of my
favourite things dating back since pre-Be (Blogging Era).
Another explanation reads that it is a member of the lily family
which includes onions, leeks and garlic! Watch out for those water
lillies still floating on Pasig River...it might be as delicious
as these wonderfully tasting spears. Anyway.
I bought yesterday about three pounds which was about 1 and half kilo
of white asparagus...(wonder what is the plural form...asparagi?)
for 12Euro which was stilll cheap according to another girlfriend
who bought half a kilo asparagus for 10Euro. Not that she has
what the Germans call a
Tick
for designer's label
but asparagus could really cost a fortune depending on its quality
and the name of the supermarket, of course.
For tips on how to cook asparagus, please ask your favourite neighbor
for her secrets and this is a good communication skill to keep good
vibration with the rather 'aloof'
kapitbahay.
My other German girlfriend who is not hooked on blogging yet,
gave per phone call this tip: Boil water with a teaspoonful of sugar
and salt,a spoonful of butter. Put in the asparagus to cook for
about 25 minutes.I told her that I also put some slices of lemons
to the water,and she said she would try that, too. At least I was
happy to share one piece of wisdom in cooking Spargel while she paid
for the expensive Telecome calling bills.
Our call lasted more than an hour talking about the political
economy of growing and harvesting Asparagus. We talked on topics
like more and more Polish seasonal workers are quitting work in
German asparagus fields for better pay in France and on the effort
of German employment agencies to attract unemployed Germans and
recipients of
Hartz IV unemployment benefits to work in asparagus fields.
In the meantime, the kingly spears were waiting to be cooked and served.
To go with these edible ivory pieces, we just enjoy the simplest mix
of boiled potatoes, Parma ham and butter sauce or what they called
Holland butter sauce.
If interested, click on this
website for info related to
Asparagus Officinalis:.
Below are some flash info about the king of the lily family:"
*China is the largest grower
*South Africa and Spain are asparagus powers with US and Peru.
*Japan is the world's importer of asparagus.
And while or rather before we enjoy our delicious Spargel, let us
say these blessings for those workers who start as early as
six in the morning in the asparagus fields for 4.78Euro hourly
working rate, amen.
Tita Bee
