Friends in Texas…
Well, after having re-entry from Texas in Barcelona where mama saw all of the baby-thises and baby-that’s of artichokes (alcachofas), sweet peas (guisantes), fava beans (habas), carrots and lettuce and more, she came back to her own outdoor market where the sweet organic vegetable lady was selling the first crop of tiny peas and mama brought home a 2-kilo bag and proceeded to shell peas all through the Sassuola-Roma soccer match (Roma won, 2-0, thank heaven and papa didn’t yell so loud this time and wake up the dead!) and guess what she came up with? THIS:
About enough for 1.5 servings! Beaucoup de WORK, but spring peas, nonetheless.
Also these little succulent beets, just out of the ground, and of course, the ubiquitous (love that word!) baby artichokes to slice thin, thin and deep-fry in olive oil…num, num.
(I don’t eat these because they make my tongue turn red, haha.)
Actually, I love the olive oil right from the bottle, so to speak, not the beets or artichokes, but I do love the dish the peas are served in because when they are gone, there is a nice little coating of butter to lick and so I feel I’ve had necessary minimum daily requirement of veggies, haha.
Do you remember that old rhyme (that mama’s mama used to recite to her at the table): “I eat my peas with honey—I’ve done it all my life. It makes the peas taste funny, but they do stay on my knife!” We loved that she did that each time.
What riches at our local market. Mama also brought home for our neighbour a jar of thick, creamy honey called Miel de Printemps, which is supposed to be NOW, but it’s freezing outside and I cannot roll in catnip so guess where I am? Hah, I’ll bet you can’t guess. Maybe if you’re good, I’ll tell you tomorrow! Here’s a hint:
My favourite pillow…
