Monday, April 27, 2009

fiddle me this

one of the more peculiar and elusive vegetables of the spring harvest, fiddlehead ferns get their name due to the resemblance they bear to the scroll of a violin. the "fiddlehead" stage is common to all fern species, and refers to the unfurled fronds of a young plant. although alien in appearance, these little critters are actually rather ubiquitous all over the world. in north america, the most popular species harvested for human consumption is the ostrich fern. fiddleheads should NOT be eaten raw, as they contain shikimic acid that is bitter and may lead to stomach issues if not properly neutralized by the application of heat. several online resources recommend blanching fiddleheads in boiling water for 8-10 minutes, however, i only blanched mine for about 5 minutes and i'm still standing.

the flavor profile is something along the lines of a shot of asparagus with a wheatgrass chaser. i didn't do much with them on this run because i just wanted to get a feel for their flavor. next time i'm going to take it to the next level and hit them with some high heat, butter and lemon zest after a quick blanch.

© 2009 c. c. villani @ "mission: insatiable" - http://missioninsatiable.com/

9 comments:

  1. Any designer purse, even a Coach Purses On Sale, can make or break your image based upon your own personality and personal wardrobe. Coach Outlet Clearance has a wide variety of qualities that may make it suitable for someone desiring to improve their outward appearance. The Coach Outlet Store Online was originally founded in Italy at a saddlery shop in Florence Italy. One of the unique aspects of the Coach Outlet Store was the bamboo handle that was used on all of their purses to give it a distinction from all others. Even Jackie Onassis Kennedy was photographed with a Coach Outlet Online 80 Off which was later renamed the Official Coach Outlet Online and honor of its famous carrier. Coach Outlet Coupons, like all other purse companies, have several products including backpacks, evening bags, and shoulder bags. If you decide to purchase Clearance Coach Bags, do not purchase it based upon the name. Coach Outlet Online Store are no different than any other bad, however, they do offer a unique quality and appearance that many have come to love. If you are looking for more information on Coach Bags Factory Outlet,click here.

    ReplyDelete