Hot on scent of splendid eating

Press, 19 December 1985, Page 38

Hot on scent of splendid eating

The heady perfume of Christmas lilies pervaded the flower section of the Christchurch markets yestarday. The lilies are blooming in time for Christmas and selling well, for $5 to $7 a bunch, depending on the number of blooms. For those who suffer hay fever or find the smell of the traditional Christmas lily too pungent, there was the Dutch Glory. This white lily is similar to the Christ- , mas lily, but scentless. The markets also proliferated with the colourful gladioli, selling from $4 to $5 a bunch, carnations, which fetched up to $2, and the latest arrival, English irises, in hues of cream, light blue and white. Christmas entertainers should have no problems finding traditional or exotic fruit and vegetables to feed their guests. Plenty of new potatoes, pumpkins and spring carrots were on sale. Although peas were in short supply yesterday, the stocks are expected to increase in time for Christmas. Those available sold for up to $22 a bushel case. Salad vegetables were also plentiful and selling at reasonable prices. Tomatoes sold for about $4 for 4.5 kilogram, lettuces for $3.50 a case, red onions for up to $6 a case, and spring beetroot for $2.50 to $4 a case. Cucumber, radishes and spring onions were readily available. Asparagus rose in price, perhaps due to the dwindling supply. It sold for up to $4 a kilogram. The paucity of mediocre quality broccoli was reflected in its price of $3 to $lO a case.

Mushrooms were very reasonable, fetching up to $l5 a tray. The new season’s garlic, from the North Island and Blenheim, was also on sale, fetching up to $lO a kilogram. Stone fruit and berries were abundant. The first of Alexandra’s apricots (Newcastle) were on sale, ready to eat, and fetching up to $2O a quarter case. Damson and Palliser cherries were available, and a variety of plums. Nectarines sold for up to $l5 a tray, and peaches, of excellent quality, from $5 to $8 a tray. It is the peak of the first crop of strawberries. They fetched from 50c to 75c a punnet. The raspberry season is well under way, so if planning to freeze them or make jam, now is the time to buy. They sold for about $1.40 a punnet. Now is also the best time for buying rhubarb for freezing. Cook with or without sugar to freeze. The rosy Red Delicious apples and Spartan apples from North America were still on sale at the markets, as well as Equadorian bananas, Australian oranges and Californian grapefruit. Tropical fruit, such as watermelon, rock melons, paw paw and pineapples were also available. The range of nuts included macadamia, peanuts coconuts, walnuts and mixed nuts. Today's recipes Gazpacho (chilled tomato and cucumber soup) 2M cups chilled water 1 medium cucumber

1 small green pepper 500 g tomatoes 1 onion 1-2 cloves garlic olive oil lemon juice or white wine vinegar Method: Dice vegetables. Blend till smooth, or rub through sieve. Beat in seasoning, olive oil and enough water to give a flowing consistency. Add lemon juice or vinegar to taste. Chill. Serve very cold. Fresh green peas 1 kilogram peas in pod 1 tablespoon butter 1 egg yolk 6 small pickling onions 150 mis cream Method: Shell the peas

and cook with a sprig of mint for five minutes. Drain. Melt butter in saucepan, add peas, onions and salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine and heat for a few minutes. Blend the egg yolk and cream together, add to peas. Allow to heat and thicken slightly but do not boil. Sprinkle with chopped mint. Christmas fresh fruit salad Method: Combine one cup each of fresh pineapple chunks, cubed paw paw, sliced strawberries and kiwi fruit. Sprinkle with one tablespoon of lime juice and two tablespoons sugar. Chill. Serve as appetiser or dessert.