Asparagus in May
Right at the front corner of Nana’s bungalow garden at Crake Trees there is a small patch of Asparagus Fern .
Laura picked a bunch for a wedding flora demonstration she did at Debenhams,Carlisle.
There lurking in amongst the ferns were some lovely small asparagus shoots.
These proved too tempting to leave and flower so I had a bunch of tender Westmorland asparagus to enjoy.
Growing at 700 feet above sea level, would the asparagus be edible? or too tough as it had to survive an exposed westerly plot.
But the wonderful sunshine of April, together with no rain, meant the shoots were short , slim and snappy.
I had some puff pastry in the deep freeze and needed to make a tray full of savouries for a party supper at St Lawrence’s Church down in Crosby Ravensworth,
So here are 2 recipes for Spring time party nibbles
Goats Cheese and Asparagus Bites
Cut pre rolled puff pastry into approx 3 ins squares
Nip up the corners to make then stand up
Chop a block of Hootenanny Cheese from The Appleby Creamery
Sprinkle the cheese onto the squares
Followed by a dab of Pesto sauce ( Aldi fresh pesto is best)
Two pieces of asparagus that has been blanched for 2 mins
And a tiny vine tomato cut in half
Drizzle with olive or rape seed oil and cook in HOT oven
Roast Vegetable Bites
Use pre rolled puff pastry as above or make some rich pastry with half butter to Splet flour from The Watermill at Little Salkeld.
Roast in the oven , on a flat tray with olive oil
Red Onion , Courgettes, Yellow Pepper, Garlic plus mushroom if liked
Pile onto the pastry squares , sprinkle with walnuts and some fresh herbs
Cook . on the floor of top Aga oven, or similar.
Great with a glass of sparkly
