ASPARAGUS WITH CHIVES AND BLOSSOMS

   1 pound Asparagus, washed
1 Tablespoon Olive oil
1 Tablespoon Sesame Seeds
2 Tablespoons Fresh Chives, snipped
16 Chive Blossoms
1/2 teaspoon Soy Sauce
Salt & Pepper to taste

   Blanch the asparagus in lightly salted boiling water for about 3 minutes or until crisp-tender; do not overcook. Refresh under very cold water and drain well. Remove the chive stalks to separate the flowers. In a skillet, heat the oil over medium heat and add the sesame seed. Stir for 1 minute, add the snipped chives, and stir for 1 minute more.
Add the asparagus and soy sauce to the skillet with a few pinches of salt and generous grindings of pepper; stir well, cover, and cook for a minute or so. Remove the lid, sprinkle the chive blooms over the asparagus, and cover for 1 to 2 minutes so that the chive blooms steam briefly.
Stir lightly and taste for seasoning. Serve hot. Comments: Bright lavender chive blossoms begin to bloom in the garden about the time the asparagus bed is at its peak. Hence, this is a natural combination and a simply tasty dish. Since chive blossoms are so strong in flavor, add them at the last minute in this recipe.

   Source: FLOWERS IN THE KITCHEN by Susan Belsinger (c)

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   GOAT CHEESE & SPINACH TURNOVERS

   1 Tablespoon Olive oil
1/2 cup Diced red onion
2 cloves Garlic, minced
2 bunches Fresh spinach, stemmed and chopped
2 ounces Soft fresh goat cheese
1/3 cup Toasted pine nuts
3 Tablespoons Grated parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon Minced fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon Grated lemon peel
4 Frozen phyllo pastry sheets, thawed
1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, melted

   Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and saute 5 minutes. Increase heat to high. Add spinach and saute until wilted, about 5 minutes. Drain spinach mixture, pressing on solids to release as much liquid as possible. Transfer to bowl and cool completely. Add goat cheese, pine nuts, parmesan, rosemary and lemon peel. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place 1 phyllo sheet on work surface. Cut lengthwise into 3 strips. Brush with butter. Place 1 rounded Tablespoon filling at 1 end of dough strip. Starting at 1 corner, fold pastry over filling, forming triangle. Repeat, folding up length of pastry as for flag. Brush with butter. Repeat with remaining pastry, butter and filling. Transfer turnovers to baking sheet. Cover and chill. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake turnover until golden, about 12 minutes. Cool slightly and serve. Makes 12

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   CHICKEN BARLEY STEW WITH HERBS

   2-3 LB chicken breasts on the bone
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 LB leeks (3-4 large ones, 4-5 little ones) thickly cut. May substitute onions
4 cloves garlic, chopped fine
6 oz barley
3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 3/4 cups water
2 bay leaves
1 Tablespoon dried sage

   Comment: This is originally an Anglo-Saxon recipe. The original calls for rabbit, but chicken is just as good. In a large Dutch Oven, melt the butter, then fry the leeks and garlic in the butter. Add the chicken and brown. Add remaining ingredients, reserving the sage. Bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer for 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Remove chicken from pot and let cool. Remove meat from bones and add back to the pot. Add sage. Stir well and serve. Leftovers freeze well. Serves 8

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   MAY WINE

1 bottle of German White Wine
1/2 cup Fresh Strawberries, sliced
12 sprigs of fresh woodruff

   Pour wine into carafe or wide mouth bottle. Add strawberries and woodruff and allow to blend for at least an hour. Strain and serve well chilled. Garnish with thin orange slice. The strawberries add a wonderful flavour and the woodruff adds sweetness.

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   MEADE

   1 gallon Water
4 pounds Honey
6 Cloves
2 Sticks cinnamon
Juice & peel from one lemon
1 teaspoon Activated dry yeast

   In a large nonreactive pot, add the next four ingredients to the gallon of water. Boil all together for 30 minutes, then strain into a crock that will hold it with a little room to spare. When cooled, add the yeast, dissolved in some of the liquid. Allow to ferment in a cool place - 55 degrees is ideal - until it ceases bubbling and the liquor clears, then bottle, cap tightly and store in a cool, dark cellar. It should not be used for at least a month, and longer is better. This meade, unlike many other drinks, does not improve with really long aging, so it should be consumed within a year of the time it was made.

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   WILD IRISH NETTLE SOUP

   12 oz nettle leaves and young, tender stems (use gloves to collect)
3-4 oz butter
6 oz (2 oz each) leek, onion and celery, roughly chopped
2.5 pints chicken stock
1.5 lbs potatoes, sliced
.75 pint cream
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

   Comment: from the Ashford Castle Hotel - County Mayo, Ireland Wash the nettles. Melt 3 oz of the butter in a heavy based pan and sweat the leek, onion, celery and the nettles for 5 to 6 minutes without browning. Add the chicken stock and bring to the boil, then add the potatoes. Cook over a low heat for about 40 to 50 minutes. Put soup in blender and puree, then return it to the pan, and add the cream. Salt and pepper to taste, reheat gently and check the consistency. Some extra butter may be whisked in for a richer, smoother finish. Garnish each serving with a blanched nettle leaf. Serves 8

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   OATCAKES - IRISH

   6 ounces Oatmeal (preferably fine)
2 ounces Flour
1 teaspoon Salt
10 fluid ounces Warm water

   Mix flour and salt together. Slowly add warm water. Roll out on a floured board to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into triangles. Cook on a pan or griddle until golden on both sides. Dry out in a cool oven (300 degrees) until crisp. These cakes are eaten buttered, with a glass of milk, for supper, but are also terrific with wine and cheese.

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   OATCAKES - SCOTS

   1/2 cup Shortening
1 cup Oats or quick-cooking oats
1 cup All-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
1/4 teaspoon Salt
2 - 3 Tablespoons Cold Water

   Cut shortening into next four ingredients until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Add water, 1 Tablespoon at a time, until it forms a stiff dough. Roll until 1/8 inch thick on lightly floured surface. Cut into 2 inch rounds or squares. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 375 until they just start to brown - 12 to 15 minutes. To griddle bake; bake on a hot griddle or frying-pan until the edges begin to curl. Turn over and cook the other side. Do not let the oatcakes brown; they should be a pale fawn colour. Put on a wire rack to cool. They are delicious served with cheese.

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   DONNEGAL OATMEAL CREAM

   15 fluid ounces Milk
1/2 cup Medium oatmeal - cracked, not rolled
1 Large egg (beaten)
rind & juice of 1 orange
2 teaspoons Sugar (to taste)
1/2 ounce Gelatin
2 Tablespoons Water
8 ounces Heavy cream, whipped
Fruit sauce of choice

   Soak the oatmeal in the milk for 30 minutes, turn all into a pan and stir until it boils. Then simmer 3-4 minutes. Pour mixture into a bowl and add the beaten egg, grated lemon rind, and sugar to taste. Dissolve gelatin in the orange juice and water, add to the mixture when it's cooled, and then fold in the cream. Pour the whole mixture into a glass bowl and leave to set. Serve with 3-4 T of chosen fruit sauce on top.

   Sauce: Take your favorite jam and thin with 3-4 Tablespoons of water.

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   MEDALLIONS OF PORK WITH RIESLING SAUCE

   12 ounces Pork tenderloin, cut into 1" rounds
Flour
4 Tablespoons Unsalted butter
1 Onion, thinly sliced
3 Garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup Dry Riesling wine
1/2 cup Raisins
3 Tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
1 Tablespoon Green peppercorns, ground
1/2 teaspoon thyme, minced
1/2 teaspoon oregano, minced
1/4 cup butter, chilled & cut into pieces
1/4 cup Pine nuts, toasted

   Season pork with salt and pepper. Coat in flour; shake off excess. Melt 2 Tablespoons butter in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sautÈ until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer mixture to bowl. Melt remaining 2 Tablespoons butter in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork and sautÈ about 4 minutes per side. Transfer pork to plate; tent with foil to keep warm. Add onion mixture, wine, green peppercorns and herbs to same skillet and boil until sauce thickens, about 4 minutes. Add pork to skillet and heat through. Divide pork among plates. Add 1/4 cup chilled butter to sauce in skillet and whisk just until melted. Mix in pine nuts. Spoon sauce over pork and serve.

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   SAVORY CHEESE SCONES

   2 cups Flour
2 teaspoons Baking powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/8 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups Grated cheddar cheese
3 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup Butter
1/3 cup Milk
2 Eggs

   Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine all dry ingredients, stir in cheeses and toss well. Cut in butter. Combine eggs and milk, add to flour mixture and gently knead to form a stiff dough. Cut dough ball into halves and pat each half into an 8" diameter, 1/2" thick circle. Cut into wedges, place wedges on a baking sheet and bake 15 to 17 minutes, until lightly browned.

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   IRISH SODA BREAD

   1 1/2 cups All-purpose flour -- unbleached, enriched
1 1/2 cups Whole wheat flour -- stone-ground
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
1 1/4 cups Buttermilk

   Set the baking rack in the center of the oven and place a baking stone (if available) on the rack. Preheat the oven to 375. In a mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Mix to incorporate. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the buttermilk. Mix quickly to incorporate the milk evenly. It may be easier to mix with the hands than with a spoon. Form the dough into a loaf shape and place in a nonstick 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2" loaf pan. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, until well browned and a skewer inserted in the center comes out dry. Remove from the oven and the baking pan. Place on a wire rack to cool.

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   SAND TARTS (OLD GERMAN STYLE)

   2 1/2 cups Sugar
2 cups Butter
2 each Egg, well beaten
1 each Egg white
4 cups Flour
Pecans
Cinnamon

   Cream the butter and sugar together. Slowly add the flour, working it in well. Add the well-beaten eggs and mix thoroughly. Chill over night. Roll out thin on lightly floured board; brush cookies with the egg white which has been slightly beaten, sprinkle with sugar and a little cinnamon and press 1/2 pecan into center of cookie. Bake at 350-F about 10 minutes.

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