Salad ingredients plentiful and of good quality

Press, 5 October 1984, Page 2

Salad ingredients plentiful and of good quality

Summer salad vegetables are again plentiful at Christchurch markets. Cooler weather and some rain has not affected most crops and this is reflected in the quality and price.

Good supplies of lettuce were available at the markets yesterday both local and from Nelson, at $4 to $l4 a case. Spring onions and radishes were $3 to $5 a dozen bunches.

Locally grown cabbages were $4 to $9 a bag of about eight and drumhead cabbage from Pukekohe were to $10.60 a bag of 12 to 14. New-season carrots also from Pukekohe were available at $l4 to $lB a 20kg bag. Locally grown old carrots were $4 to $l5 a bag. Asparagus, which can also be used in salads, was plentiful again this week. The local season is underway and supplies are also available from Nelson. A kilogram ranged in price from $2.50 to $3.50.

Cucumbers have eased in price from earlier in the week. Telegraph were $4 to $l2 and shorts were $7 to $l2 a case. Celery is scarce at $3 to $l2 a case. Broccoli, mainly from Oamaru, was also scarce at $9 to $l3 a carton of about 6kg. Silver beet was plentiful at $1 to $2 a case and hothouse spinach, excellent in quality, was to $9, also

for a case. North Island kumara increased in price to $l9 to $25 for a carton of about 18kg. Capsicum were still scarce at $2O to $3O for a 3kg carton.

Good supplies of potatoes were available at $1 to $2 a 20kg bag and new season potatoes, from Pukekohe, were to $l5. Pumpkins are again plentiful at $4 to $lO a bag and swedes from South-

land were $6.50 a bag. Yams were $1 to $2.20 a kilogram or $5 to $lO a bag.

Tomatoes were in demand at $l9 to $24 a 4.5 kg carton and mushrooms were $9 to $l3 a tray of about 3kg or $3 to $4 a kilogram. A wide variety of summer fruit was available yesterday. Good-quality strawberries, grown both locally and in the North Island, were $3.50 to $6.10 a punnet.

Avocados increased in price to $24.50 to $33 for a tray of 16 to 30 fruit. Babacos were at the markets again yesterday and were to $3 a tray or $1 each.

Citrus fruit was plentiful with oranges at $ll to $lB a bushel, grapefruit at $lO to $l3 a bushel, tangelos at $l4 to $2l a bushel, and lemons at SIQ to $l5 a bushel. Ecuadorean bananas were well supplied and of excellent quality. A fresh shipment of Tongan produce should arrive next week and will include watermelons, taro, and possibly capsicum. Today’s recipe CREAMED CHICKEN AND ASPARAGUS 1 tbsp butter 1 tbsp flour 2 cups milk 1 cup grated cheese 2 cups cooked, diced chicken 240 g cooked, chopped asparagus Tomato slices

Method: Melt butter, add flour. Gradually add the milk, stirring all the time. Simmer three to four minutes. Add half-cup of the grated cheese. Pour the mixture over the chicken and asparagus. Garnish with sliced tomato and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Brown in a moderate oven 20 to 30 minutes.