Asparagus with Pignioli Feta

Hello everyone! Long time, no see!

Things have been RIDICULOUS at the restaurant; since the Penn State students have returned to school (the end of August), we've just been hopping like crazy. In addition, we've had three Penn State (Home) football games in a row. Lots of students, and alumni, ordering their Tailgate Lunches!

Tomorrow I'll be back to work, from about 11 AM until about midnight. Yes, it's a long day (Monday Night Football season, too). So I didn't want to miss the opportunity to "touch base" here on the Blog.

Of course, I haven't let my work schedule interfere with my cooking at home. I still have to eat! I've been working, and re-working, many recipes that I'm going to post in the coming days. Now that Fall is almost upon us, I thought it was time to start including more "inside" recipes. I know, I've said it before: grilling is a year-round affair. But I'm working on a lot of side-dishes, which can be prepared whether it's 8 or 80 degrees outside.

Here's something that I'm having tonight. I'm serving alongside some grilled beef ribs.

Asparagus with Pignioli Feta


about 1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and rinsed

1/2 cup Chicken broth

2 TBS pignioli (pine nuts), crushed and toasted

1-2 TBS chopped fresh cilantro (or parsley)

3 TBS feta cheese, crumbled

1 clove fresh garlic, minced (or 1/8 tsp garlic powder)

1/2 tsp lime juice

1/4 tsp salt (or less...chicken broth is salty, so taste before adding more salt)

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

(1 drop yellow and 1 drop green food coloring, optional)

Steam the asparagus until just crisp-tender, about 3-5 minutes depending on thickness. When done, drain the asparagus and plunge it into ice-water. Allow it to cool for about 5 minutes, then drain it (again), and wrap it in a towel. Leave the wrapped asparagus in a cool oven...the idea is to serve it at room-temperature.

In a small saucepan, bring the broth to a boil over medium heat. Add the garlic, lime juice, and feta cheese. Allow the mixture to boil again, briefly. Cover the saucepan tightly, and remove it from the heat.

(At this point, the food coloring may be added. It's purely cosmetic, however. The dish will look and taste delicious without it)

Allow the mixture to stand, covered and off-heat, for about 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, return to medium-low heat, and stir the mixture thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Do NOT use a whisk! The feta doesn't melt completely, and it will "clog" a whisk very quickly. You can "mash" some of the bigger chunks of feta, if desired.

Taste the sauce for seasoning; add the black pepper, and (if necessary) a bit of salt.

Plate the asparagus, and JUST BEFORE SERVING, add the cilantro to the sauce. Use a metal tablespoon to pour the sauce over the asparagus.

Serves 2 as a side dish.

Time to Help

Hello Everyone

Tonight, I'm not going to post any recipes (sorry...tomorrow, I promise!).

Instead, I'd like to take a moment to talk about something that's been on everyone's mind recently: the awful disaster that hurricane Katrina has caused.

Unless you live in a cave, or on a remote island somewhere, you're probably familiar with the situation down in Louisiana (especially around New Orleans), and in surrounding areas. There are literally tens of thousands of families who are now homeless, and will likely remain that way for the better part of a year (or more). In addition, there are countless people who require medical attention, food, water and clothing. In other words, the basic necessities of life.

And aside from the PEOPLE whose lives are turned upside down, there are the pets. Now, I'm not suggesting that the welfare of cats or dogs or hamsters (or whatever) should supersede the needs of human beings. Not at all. But as an animal lover, I certainly "feel" for the pets who, in addition to being just as hungry (or dehydrated or uncomfortable) as their human counterparts, also have NO IDEA what's going on.

This is a time for "us folks here in the U.S. of A." to really pull together. We've had times like this before. You probably remember at least a couple of them. And as members of "Team USA", we've managed to forget about our own concerns---for a little while, at least---and rally to support our neighbors.

Next Tuesday (September 6), I'll be going down to the local Red Cross office, and I'm going to donate some blood. They run a Blood Drive every Tuesday, anyway. I haven't donated since last Fall sometime, but I figure now's as good a time as any. It just so happens that my blood type is O-positive, which (they tell me) can be given to just about anybody. I hope that whoever gets it feels better afterward.

I'm also going to write a couple of checks...not that much money, because as usual, I'm broke. And I'm going to mail the checks to a couple of very worthy organizations (their web links are below).

I encourage---in fact, I'll go ahead and BEG---my readers and friends to follow suit.

Not everyone is able (or willing) to donate blood; not everyone is able to make a whopping monetary donation. Even fewer people (I'm among them) are able to actually go to where the problem is, and try to help first-hand. But I think everyone---EVERYONE---can do a little something. Even if it's simply a few words of support, or donating clothing (or blankets, or canned goods) to a Relief Effort.

We've done it before. And if necessary, we'll do it again.

Link to The Habitat for Humanity website:
http://www.habitat.org

Link to Noah's Wish, which provides rescue and shelter for animals during time of crisis:
http://partners.guidestar.org/controller/searchResults.gs?action_gsReport=1&partner=networkforgood&ein=35-2167619

(and there are LOTS and LOTS of other programs, too. Look around, you'll find them)