Peonies

I have been MIA again !   BUT not voluntarily.  Freaky weather was the cause - June thunderstorms were very destructive this year. There were flash floods, hailstones and even cyclones.  Needless to say, we were not spared.  2 weeks ago, dark clouds appeared in the afternoon and within 30 mins. lightning zapped and we had power failure.  What's worse, our phone went dead and no internet connection. That's penalty for contributing to greenhouse effect on global warming.
It took almost 2 weeks to get the whole 'communication system' working again. 

I wanted to post this before the disaster - these peonies are long gone but I caught them at their peak with my camera.  The best time for viewing these beauties and experience their fragrance is between early to mid June. There are astoundingly 1400 varieties of peonies, colours ranging from white, red to yellow. To lengthen the bloom, I cut them and put them in water, in shallow plates and vases after I've shaken off ants and insects/beetles.  The fragrance filled  the house for days.

Quiche (Lorraine)

Do not be intimated by it's name - Quiche Lorraine,  a classic french dish.  Do not fret.  It is only an open tart with filling of custard and savoury ingredients like ham, onions and cheese.  

I was rummaging through the fridge, trying to find something that would whet my disinterested appetite when I came across some whimpy carrots, a slightly shriveled leek.  What would I do to use them before they expire.  Going shopping was no option so I have to make do with whatever I had lying around the house/fridge.  My eyes finally settled on a tart tin and I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to put together the receipe for R & D.

Instead of going through all the trouble of measuring, kneading flour and butter for shortcrust pastry, I used ready made flaky pastry.
 Please excuse the quantities stated - they're between 'about, some, roughly, abit of.........'

Beer gardens (Germany & Vietnam)

Beer gardens are always Germany's 'water-hole' in the summer months.  The folks love to spend their time in fresh air, surrounded  by nature, with traditional atmosphere of umtata music, simple food of Weißwurst with sweet mustard, pretzels and Spanferkel (roast piglet).  It is not surprising that such traditions are spreading over every corner of the world.
Let's have a look and compare.......

In Munich

In Vietnam

Munich - You even have the city major 'helping' with the tap 

Vietnam

Entertainment - Live show
Vietnam : Live show with music from scratchy grammaphone
Germany : Live umtata music (anybody watching ?) 

  

Now comes food - Spanferkel 
Roasted over open pit.  Paper thin crispy skin.

Vietnam - NO COMMENTS !!

Asparagus with Hollandaise sauce

Spring is asparagus season.  A very simple preparation involving heat and water.  Boil potatoes (and some carrots)and asparagus.  Serve with ready-made hollandaise sauce from 'Mr Thomy' :-)
Here, they're wrapped with cooked ham.

Frankly, I prefere asparagus crispy,  regardless whether they're white or green. - cooked the asian way.

Herbal Lunch

I was out in the garden looking for mint to make a refreshing chai.  Strangely, not a leaf in sight.  It must be the weird weather, hot and dry during the day with frosty nights.   Other herbs were sprouting quite happily and since herbs are healthy, curing every kind of sickness under the sun, I decided to make a herb salad for lunch.