This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like them.
I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.

"Bruce" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 01:16:42 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> > wrote:
>
>>This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
>>expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
>>asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like them.
>>I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.
>
> I don't think he meant to say they taste the same, although I like
> both a lot.

He mentioned a mustard sauce that he said you would use on both. I have
made Hollandaise for asparagus. But that was a lot time ago. Might have
had mustard in it but I don't think so.

"Bruce" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 01:59:41 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> > wrote:
>
>>
>>"Bruce" > wrote in message
. ..
>>> On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 01:16:42 -0700, "Julie Bove"
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>>This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
>>>>expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
>>>>asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like
>>>>them.
>>>>I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.
>>>
>>> I don't think he meant to say they taste the same, although I like
>>> both a lot.
>>
>>He mentioned a mustard sauce that he said you would use on both. I have
>>made Hollandaise for asparagus. But that was a lot time ago. Might have
>>had mustard in it but I don't think so.
>
> I guess he was talking about green asparagus, not white. White
> asparagus is one of the few food items I can't find in Australia, by
> the way.

Aside from color, how are they different? I don't think I've seen white for
sale but I've also never looked. I do remember a restaurant having it. My
mom raved about how good it was. But then... She loved canned asparagus.
Blech.

On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 21:03:54 +1000, Bruce > wrote:

>On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 03:27:57 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Bruce" > wrote in message
. ..
>>> On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 01:59:41 -0700, "Julie Bove"
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>"Bruce" > wrote in message
m...
>>>>> On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 01:16:42 -0700, "Julie Bove"
>>>>> > wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
>>>>>>expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
>>>>>>asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like
>>>>>>them.
>>>>>>I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't think he meant to say they taste the same, although I like
>>>>> both a lot.
>>>>
>>>>He mentioned a mustard sauce that he said you would use on both. I have
>>>>made Hollandaise for asparagus. But that was a lot time ago. Might have
>>>>had mustard in it but I don't think so.
>>>
>>> I guess he was talking about green asparagus, not white. White
>>> asparagus is one of the few food items I can't find in Australia, by
>>> the way.
>>
>>Aside from color, how are they different? I don't think I've seen white for
>>sale but I've also never looked. I do remember a restaurant having it. My
>>mom raved about how good it was. But then... She loved canned asparagus.
>>Blech.
>
>Green tastes... greener and is firmer. White tastes creamier and it's
>softer. You wouldn't stir fry it, whereas green is great stir fried.
>You need to have the right sandy soil to grow white asparagus.

It's white because it is grown covered under earthenware bells. Well
they are probably plastic now.

On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 03:27:57 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

>
>"Bruce" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 01:59:41 -0700, "Julie Bove"
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>"Bruce" > wrote in message
...
>>>> On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 01:16:42 -0700, "Julie Bove"
>>>> > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
>>>>>expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
>>>>>asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like
>>>>>them.
>>>>>I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.
>>>>
>>>> I don't think he meant to say they taste the same, although I like
>>>> both a lot.
>>>
>>>He mentioned a mustard sauce that he said you would use on both. I have
>>>made Hollandaise for asparagus. But that was a lot time ago. Might have
>>>had mustard in it but I don't think so.
>>
>> I guess he was talking about green asparagus, not white. White
>> asparagus is one of the few food items I can't find in Australia, by
>> the way.
>
>Aside from color, how are they different? I don't think I've seen white for
>sale but I've also never looked. I do remember a restaurant having it. My
>mom raved about how good it was. But then... She loved canned asparagus.
>Blech.

Green and white are the same asparagus, white are grown with the
absence of light (in caves/sheds) to prevent chlorophyll from
developing... white cost more due to more intensive labor but they
taste exactly the same as green. I bought asparagus last week but
they were those thin ones from Mexico, it's a bit too early for local
asparagus here... I much prefer the thick ones. I tried growing my
own but growing asparagus is too much work. I enjoy canned asparagus
too, I find they have a more intense flavor, and I like their tender
fiberless texture... I just don't like their high price, occasionally
I'll buy a can as a treat. I like both fresh and canned. My favorite
way to eat fresh asparagus is raw with a sprinkle of salt, raw dressed
in salads, or raw marinated.

Bruce@Bullshit wrote:
>
>You need to have the right sandy soil to grow white asparagus.

Bullshit Alert! White asparagus are grown in the absence of light,
otherwise they are grown the same as green.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1412329.html
http://www.asparagusgardener.com/aspraguswhite.html

Brooklyn1 wrote:
>
> I bought asparagus last week but
> they were those thin ones from Mexico, it's a bit too early for local
> asparagus here... I much prefer the thick ones.

I bought a pound of those thin ones too the other day. I sauteed them
in a bit of olive oil and garlic for a few minutes. They were cooked
but still had some crunch factor. I liked them but I'm with you...I
prefer the larger kind. These were a little too thin.


> I tried growing my own but growing asparagus is too much work.

I do know that it takes a few years to get a good crop going. You have
the yard space, you should grow some if you really like it. Also...why
no fruit trees on your property? And also, with all your space and
you like deer, geese, ducks, etc. Why not plant a small cornfield off
in some corner? Eat some yourself in season and let the rest just sit
there and the critters feast.

On 2016-04-15 8:47 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> Bruce@Bullshit wrote:
>>
>> You need to have the right sandy soil to grow white asparagus.
>
> Bullshit Alert! White asparagus are grown in the absence of light,
> otherwise they are grown the same as green.

All asparagus prefers sandy soil. We have sandy loam in this area and
asparagus grows wild in some places. There used to be an asparagus farm
around the corner from me.

On 4/15/2016 1:16 AM, Julie Bovine wrote:
> This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
> expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
> asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like
> them. I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.


Julie, you know you'd rather have a whole bucket's worth of candy bars.
Who you kiddin'?
LOL

On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 08:35:11 -0400, Brooklyn1
> wrote:

>On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 03:27:57 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Bruce" > wrote in message
. ..
>>> On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 01:59:41 -0700, "Julie Bove"
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>"Bruce" > wrote in message
m...
>>>>> On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 01:16:42 -0700, "Julie Bove"
>>>>> > wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
>>>>>>expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
>>>>>>asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like
>>>>>>them.
>>>>>>I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't think he meant to say they taste the same, although I like
>>>>> both a lot.
>>>>
>>>>He mentioned a mustard sauce that he said you would use on both. I have
>>>>made Hollandaise for asparagus. But that was a lot time ago. Might have
>>>>had mustard in it but I don't think so.
>>>
>>> I guess he was talking about green asparagus, not white. White
>>> asparagus is one of the few food items I can't find in Australia, by
>>> the way.
>>
>>Aside from color, how are they different? I don't think I've seen white for
>>sale but I've also never looked. I do remember a restaurant having it. My
>>mom raved about how good it was. But then... She loved canned asparagus.
>>Blech.
>
>Green and white are the same asparagus, white are grown with the
>absence of light (in caves/sheds) to prevent chlorophyll from
>developing... white cost more due to more intensive labor but they
>taste exactly the same as green. I bought asparagus last week but
>they were those thin ones from Mexico, it's a bit too early for local
>asparagus here... I much prefer the thick ones. I tried growing my
>own but growing asparagus is too much work. I enjoy canned asparagus
>too, I find they have a more intense flavor, and I like their tender
>fiberless texture... I just don't like their high price, occasionally
>I'll buy a can as a treat. I like both fresh and canned. My favorite
>way to eat fresh asparagus is raw with a sprinkle of salt, raw dressed
>in salads, or raw marinated.

Years ago, we used to drive the highways and byways here and look for
wild asparagus growing in the ditches. It isn't safe to do that any
longer since the sprayer guy is hired to spray all those ditches for
weeds. I like canned asparagus too.
Janet US

On 2016-04-15 9:41 AM, Janet B wrote:

>
> Years ago, we used to drive the highways and byways here and look for
> wild asparagus growing in the ditches. It isn't safe to do that any
> longer since the sprayer guy is hired to spray all those ditches for
> weeds. I like canned asparagus too.


Do they still do that there? Spraying for aesthetic purposes is all but
a thing of the past here, and the only weeds our town sprays for is
poison ivy.

On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 09:45:54 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>On 2016-04-15 9:41 AM, Janet B wrote:
>
>>
>> Years ago, we used to drive the highways and byways here and look for
>> wild asparagus growing in the ditches. It isn't safe to do that any
>> longer since the sprayer guy is hired to spray all those ditches for
>> weeds. I like canned asparagus too.
>
>
>Do they still do that there? Spraying for aesthetic purposes is all but
>a thing of the past here, and the only weeds our town sprays for is
>poison ivy.
>
>
I just assumed that it was still done. I occasionally see signs that
a property owner has placed in the ditch "no spray zone."
Janet US

On 2016-04-15 9:57 AM, Janet B wrote:
> On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 09:45:54 -0400, Dave Smith
> > wrote:
>
>> On 2016-04-15 9:41 AM, Janet B wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Years ago, we used to drive the highways and byways here and look for
>>> wild asparagus growing in the ditches. It isn't safe to do that any
>>> longer since the sprayer guy is hired to spray all those ditches for
>>> weeds. I like canned asparagus too.
>>
>>
>> Do they still do that there? Spraying for aesthetic purposes is all but
>> a thing of the past here, and the only weeds our town sprays for is
>> poison ivy.
>>
>>
> I just assumed that it was still done. I occasionally see signs that
> a property owner has placed in the ditch "no spray zone."


It may still be done. Ontario banned the use of pesticides and
herbicides for aesthetic purposes a few years ago. The highways
department used to use a lot of weed spray for controlling noxious
weeds, but I remember there being no spray zones years ago and it was my
understanding that they were monitoring the natural regeneration to see
if it was really necessary.

In article >, says...
>
> This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
> expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
> asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like them.
> I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.

You probably misunderstood him. In French, a common nickname for leeks
is "l'asperge des pauvres", poor man's asparagus.

It's just an idiom meaning leeks are a favourite food of poor people.
It doesn't imply leeks taste like asparagus.

Janet UK

On Friday, April 15, 2016 at 9:21:08 AM UTC-6, Janet wrote:
> In article >, says...
> >
> > This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
> > expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
> > asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like them.
> > I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.
>
> You probably misunderstood him. In French, a common nickname for leeks
> is "l'asperge des pauvres", poor man's asparagus.
>
> It's just an idiom meaning leeks are a favourite food of poor people.
> It doesn't imply leeks taste like asparagus.
>
> Janet UK

Julie doesn't understand idioms or the subtleties of the English language...she's American.
======

In article >,
says...


>
> On 4/15/2016 1:16 AM, Julie Bovine wrote:
> > This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
> > expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
> > asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like
> > them. I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.
>
>
> Julie, you know you'd rather have a whole bucket's worth of candy bars.
> Who you kiddin'?
> LOL

Julie has "forays with leeks"? LOL! What a stupid ****!

--

Mustaffa

On 2016-04-15, Janet > wrote:

> It's just an idiom meaning leeks are a favourite food of poor people.
> It doesn't imply leeks taste like asparagus.

An "old" idiom, no doubt used by poor home gardeners, in France.

I don't know what yer paying, but there is nothing "poor" about either
the price or the ppl who CAN afford leaks, here in the USA. At least
asparagus goes on sale during its peak season. Recently, I saw it fer
$1.50/lb. Whereas leaks, much like Belgian endive, are almost never
put on sale, here, so "poor" ppl can afford them like they can afford
Champagne and caviar.

I remember my late brother's girlfriend, who was from Belgium. She
was astonished that B. endive was so outrageously expensive, here.
She told me she never paid more than $0.50/lb, in Belgium. I think
she paid $4.50/lb in Sacto, CA. This over 10 yrs ago!

I've NEVER seen leaks fer less than $3.89/lb and that's with HUGE
grn leaves still attached. Consequently, I've rarely made leak/potato
soup.

BTW, noticed lately, how brocolli crowns continue to be sold with
ever longer stems?

nb

On 4/15/2016 9:03 AM, Mustaffa Sheboygan wrote:
> In article >,
> says...
>
>
>>
>> On 4/15/2016 1:16 AM, Julie Bovine wrote:
>>> This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
>>> expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
>>> asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like
>>> them. I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.
>>
>>
>> Julie, you know you'd rather have a whole bucket's worth of candy bars.
>> Who you kiddin'?
>> LOL
>
> Julie has "forays with leeks"? LOL! What a stupid ****!
>

Julie is waxing metaphorically. She is like a cow grazing in the
pasture for tender tidbits amongst the rough.

On 2016-04-15 11:21 AM, Janet wrote:
> In article >, says...
>>
>> This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
>> expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
>> asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like them.
>> I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.
>
> You probably misunderstood him. In French, a common nickname for leeks
> is "l'asperge des pauvres", poor man's asparagus.
>
> It's just an idiom meaning leeks are a favourite food of poor people.
> It doesn't imply leeks taste like asparagus.

Leeks must be a lot cheaper over there than they are here. That
reminded me of the time my wife came home from the fish store with
monkfish and she had been told at the store that it often called poor
man's lobster. It wasn't any cheaper than lobster.

On 2016-04-15 12:01 PM, Roy wrote:
> On Friday, April 15, 2016 at 9:21:08 AM UTC-6, Janet wrote:
>> In article >, says...
>>>
>>> This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
>>> expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
>>> asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like them.
>>> I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.
>>
>> You probably misunderstood him. In French, a common nickname for leeks
>> is "l'asperge des pauvres", poor man's asparagus.
>>
>> It's just an idiom meaning leeks are a favourite food of poor people.
>> It doesn't imply leeks taste like asparagus.
>>
>> Janet UK
>
> Julie doesn't understand idioms or the subtleties of the English language...she's American.
>

Don't blame Americans. I am not sure she is even from this planet.

On 2016-04-15 12:05 PM, notbob wrote:

> I've NEVER seen leaks fer less than $3.89/lb and that's with HUGE
> grn leaves still attached. Consequently, I've rarely made leak/potato
> soup.


The last time I bought leeks was about 5 years ago and they were more
than a buck a piece then. At the time, asparagus was about $2 per pound.

>
> BTW, noticed lately, how brocolli crowns continue to be sold with
> ever longer stems?
>
They must be trimming them. I rarely get a stem more than 4" long. I
just picked up some brocolli this morning and and there was almost no
stem at all, and it was not being sold as brocolli heads.

In article >,
says...
>
> On 2016-04-15, Janet > wrote:
>
> > It's just an idiom meaning leeks are a favourite food of poor people.
> > It doesn't imply leeks taste like asparagus.
>
> An "old" idiom, no doubt used by poor home gardeners, in France.
>
> I don't know what yer paying, but there is nothing "poor" about either
> the price or the ppl who CAN afford leaks, here in the USA. At least
> asparagus goes on sale during its peak season. Recently, I saw it fer
> $1.50/lb. Whereas leaks, much like Belgian endive, are almost never
> put on sale, here, so "poor" ppl can afford them like they can afford
> Champagne and caviar.
>
> I remember my late brother's girlfriend, who was from Belgium. She
> was astonished that B. endive was so outrageously expensive, here.
> She told me she never paid more than $0.50/lb, in Belgium. I think
> she paid $4.50/lb in Sacto, CA. This over 10 yrs ago!
>
> I've NEVER seen leaks fer less than $3.89/lb and that's with HUGE
> grn leaves still attached.

Fresh, trimmed leeks sell for about 1 UKP per kilogram here.
That's about 70 US cents per pound.

It's leek, btw.

Leaks are a problem in your plumbing.

Janet UK

On Friday, April 15, 2016 at 1:02:41 PM UTC-4, Janet wrote:
> In article >,

> > I've NEVER seen leaks fer less than $3.89/lb and that's with HUGE
> > grn leaves still attached.
>
> Fresh, trimmed leeks sell for about 1 UKP per kilogram here.
> That's about 70 US cents per pound.
>
> It's leek, btw.
>
> Leaks are a problem in your plumbing.

He probably got smacked by his spellchecker and didn't notice. It
happened to me a couple weeks ago. I'm grateful nobody (and I
believe I was replying to one of your posts) seemed to notice.

Cindy Hamilton

On 2016-04-15, Janet > wrote:

> It's leek, btw.
>
> Leaks are a problem in your plumbing.

Coulda been worse. My first draft read "chives".

nb

In article >,
says...
>
> On Friday, April 15, 2016 at 1:02:41 PM UTC-4, Janet wrote:
> > In article >,
>
> > > I've NEVER seen leaks fer less than $3.89/lb and that's with HUGE
> > > grn leaves still attached.
> >
> > Fresh, trimmed leeks sell for about 1 UKP per kilogram here.
> > That's about 70 US cents per pound.
> >
> > It's leek, btw.
> >
> > Leaks are a problem in your plumbing.
>
> He probably got smacked by his spellchecker and didn't notice.

notbob's abbreviations burned out his spellchecker years ago.

Janet UK

On 2016-04-15, Dave Smith > wrote:

> They must be trimming them. I rarely get a stem more than 4" long.

In my world, if it has a stem --of ANY length!-- it's not a crown and
I will not pay "broccoli crown" prices.

I realize in the world of rip-off supermarkets, a "crown's stem"
prolly has a min/max length. Gotta have some way to gouge the
customer.

nb

On 2016-04-15, Janet > wrote:

> notbob's abbreviations burned out his spellchecker years ago.

LOL!.....

I cannot dispute such a claim.

nb

Gary wrote:
>Brooklyn1 wrote:
>>
>> I bought asparagus last week but
>> they were those thin ones from Mexico, it's a bit too early for local
>> asparagus here... I much prefer the thick ones.
>
>I bought a pound of those thin ones too the other day. I sauteed them
>in a bit of olive oil and garlic for a few minutes. They were cooked
>but still had some crunch factor. I liked them but I'm with you...I
>prefer the larger kind. These were a little too thin.
>
>> I tried growing my own but growing asparagus is too much work.
>
>I do know that it takes a few years to get a good crop going. You have
>the yard space, you should grow some if you really like it.

I have the space but as I said asparagus requires a lot of labor for
how few you get... it's a ground crop that requires constant weeding,
and has such a short harvesting season that it's just not worth it...
now if I could have a dozen buxom senoritas working my fields. . .

>Also...why no fruit trees on your property?

I have fruit trees, plums and apples, but again maintaining an orchard
is a lot of labor... it's not just pick and eat... there is much
pruning and spraying, the spraying is not just for insects, fruit
trees are susceptible to many fungi diseases, one I learned about two
years ago:
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/notes/oldnotes/fd4.htm
http://nysipm.cornell.edu/factsheets...ases/bk/bk.asp

>And also, with all your space and
>you like deer, geese, ducks, etc. Why not plant a small cornfield off
>in some corner? Eat some yourself in season and let the rest just sit
>there and the critters feast.

Again, I don't need all that extra work, I can buy corn for cheap at
local farm stands... and I'm not a big fan of corn, If I buy two dozen
ears a season it's a lot. I've planted corn, it's really not worth
the labor and expense. To feed wildlife I buy 50 pound sacks of dried
cracked corn for about $8, birds like it, especially larger birds... I
mix it 50/50 with my more expensive bird seed. I have more than
enough gardening and outside chores, I don't need extra. Actually I
planted fruit trees much more for spring blossoms and fall foliage
than fruit, so I much more prefer ornamental fruit trees.... I planted
lots of crabapple trees, they're gorgeous, and they feed wildlife. I
planted ornamental pear trees too.
Redspire pear in spring:
http://i66.tinypic.com/2r5qk39.jpg
Redspire pear in fall:
http://i63.tinypic.com/qn5o9k.jpg
A pair of several crabapples:
http://i63.tinypic.com/etfh4w.jpg

On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 07:57:05 -0600, Janet B >
wrote:

>On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 09:45:54 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:
>
>>On 2016-04-15 9:41 AM, Janet B wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Years ago, we used to drive the highways and byways here and look for
>>> wild asparagus growing in the ditches. It isn't safe to do that any
>>> longer since the sprayer guy is hired to spray all those ditches for
>>> weeds. I like canned asparagus too.
>>
>>
>>Do they still do that there? Spraying for aesthetic purposes is all but
>>a thing of the past here, and the only weeds our town sprays for is
>>poison ivy.

Any spray for poison ivy means a total defoliant. Rock salt kills
poison ivy, so none grows along roadways here

>I just assumed that it was still done. I occasionally see signs that
>a property owner has placed in the ditch "no spray zone."
>Janet US

Here lots of salt is put down all winter, then in summer tractors come
by and clear road shoulders of brush with big sickle bars, I've never
seen any spraying.
http://www.befco.com/products/hayequ...sicklebar.html
http://www.tractorspot.com/attachmen...s#.VxEuhBHyC1s

On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 09:31:57 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>On 2016-04-15 8:47 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>> Bruce@Bullshit wrote:
>>>
>>> You need to have the right sandy soil to grow white asparagus.
>>
>> Bullshit Alert! White asparagus are grown in the absence of light,
>> otherwise they are grown the same as green.
>
>All asparagus prefers sandy soil. We have sandy loam in this area and
>asparagus grows wild in some places. There used to be an asparagus farm
>around the corner from me.

Asparagus grows best in deep rich well tilled top soil that's high in
organic matter. Asparagus doesn't grow well in sandy soil as it is
too dry and offers little nourishment:
http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/hom...scenee3ed.html
Actually no vegetable gardening likes sandy soil... sandy soil
requires constant irrigation and vegetable plants don't like their
tops wet, especially not asparagus. If you have sandy soil grow
spruce trees, they love high and dry.

On 15 Apr 2016 16:05:15 GMT, notbob > wrote:

>On 2016-04-15, Janet > wrote:
>
>> It's just an idiom meaning leeks are a favourite food of poor people.
>> It doesn't imply leeks taste like asparagus.
>
>An "old" idiom, no doubt used by poor home gardeners, in France.
>
>I don't know what yer paying, but there is nothing "poor" about either
>the price or the ppl who CAN afford leaks, here in the USA. At least
>asparagus goes on sale during its peak season. Recently, I saw it fer
>$1.50/lb. Whereas leaks, much like Belgian endive, are almost never
>put on sale, here, so "poor" ppl can afford them like they can afford
>Champagne and caviar.
>
>I remember my late brother's girlfriend, who was from Belgium. She
>was astonished that B. endive was so outrageously expensive, here.
>She told me she never paid more than $0.50/lb, in Belgium. I think
>she paid $4.50/lb in Sacto, CA. This over 10 yrs ago!
>
>I've NEVER seen leaks fer less than $3.89/lb and that's with HUGE
>grn leaves still attached. Consequently, I've rarely made leak/potato
>soup.
>
>BTW, noticed lately, how brocolli crowns continue to be sold with
>ever longer stems?
>
>nb

You're not saying that you discard the stems, are you? I wish I could
find broccoli with the stems attached. I've got to pay top dollar for
all that fro-fro stuff on top. Broccoli crowns are a rip-off. They're
taking the stems and making slaw with it and still charging you for
eating the leftovers.
Janet US

On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 13:00:48 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>On 2016-04-15 12:05 PM, notbob wrote:
>
>> I've NEVER seen leaks fer less than $3.89/lb and that's with HUGE
>> grn leaves still attached. Consequently, I've rarely made leak/potato
>> soup.
>
>
>The last time I bought leeks was about 5 years ago and they were more
>than a buck a piece then. At the time, asparagus was about $2 per pound.
>
>>
>> BTW, noticed lately, how brocolli crowns continue to be sold with
>> ever longer stems?
>>
>They must be trimming them. I rarely get a stem more than 4" long. I
>just picked up some brocolli this morning and and there was almost no
>stem at all, and it was not being sold as brocolli heads.
>
>
the only place around here that I can get broccoli with stems is at
Trader Joe's.
Janet US

On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 01:16:42 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

>This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say.

Jacques Pepin needs help if he thinks leeks are in any way similar to
asparagus.

>He said that asparagus was
>expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
>asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like them.
>I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.

I love asparagus but don't see the similarities.

On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 16:21:02 +0100, Janet > wrote:

>In article >, says...
>>
>> This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
>> expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
>> asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like them.
>> I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.
>
> You probably misunderstood him. In French, a common nickname for leeks
>is "l'asperge des pauvres", poor man's asparagus.
>
> It's just an idiom meaning leeks are a favourite food of poor people.
>It doesn't imply leeks taste like asparagus.

That makes more sense.

On 15 Apr 2016 16:05:15 GMT, notbob > wrote:

>I don't know what yer paying, but there is nothing "poor" about either
>the price or the ppl who CAN afford leaks, here in the USA.

Plumbers make like bandits over your way?

"Bruce" > wrote in message
news
> On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 03:27:57 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> > wrote:
>
>>
>>"Bruce" > wrote in message
. ..
>>> On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 01:59:41 -0700, "Julie Bove"
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>"Bruce" > wrote in message
m...
>>>>> On Fri, 15 Apr 2016 01:16:42 -0700, "Julie Bove"
>>>>> > wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
>>>>>>expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
>>>>>>asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like
>>>>>>them.
>>>>>>I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't think he meant to say they taste the same, although I like
>>>>> both a lot.
>>>>
>>>>He mentioned a mustard sauce that he said you would use on both. I have
>>>>made Hollandaise for asparagus. But that was a lot time ago. Might
>>>>have
>>>>had mustard in it but I don't think so.
>>>
>>> I guess he was talking about green asparagus, not white. White
>>> asparagus is one of the few food items I can't find in Australia, by
>>> the way.
>>
>>Aside from color, how are they different? I don't think I've seen white
>>for
>>sale but I've also never looked. I do remember a restaurant having it.
>>My
>>mom raved about how good it was. But then... She loved canned asparagus.
>>Blech.
>
> Green tastes... greener and is firmer. White tastes creamier and it's
> softer. You wouldn't stir fry it, whereas green is great stir fried.
> You need to have the right sandy soil to grow white asparagus.

Okay. Thanks.

"Janet" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, says...
>>
>> This is what I heard Jacques Pepin say. He said that asparagus was
>> expensive in France so the poor buy leeks and serve them as they would
>> asparagus. Granted my forays with leeks have been few but I do like
>> them.
>> I can't stand asparagus and can't see the similarities.
>
> You probably misunderstood him. In French, a common nickname for leeks
> is "l'asperge des pauvres", poor man's asparagus.
>
> It's just an idiom meaning leeks are a favourite food of poor people.
> It doesn't imply leeks taste like asparagus.

I didn't misunderstand him.

"notbob" > wrote in message
...
> On 2016-04-15, Janet > wrote:
>
>> It's just an idiom meaning leeks are a favourite food of poor people.
>> It doesn't imply leeks taste like asparagus.
>
> An "old" idiom, no doubt used by poor home gardeners, in France.
>
> I don't know what yer paying, but there is nothing "poor" about either
> the price or the ppl who CAN afford leaks, here in the USA. At least
> asparagus goes on sale during its peak season. Recently, I saw it fer
> $1.50/lb. Whereas leaks, much like Belgian endive, are almost never
> put on sale, here, so "poor" ppl can afford them like they can afford
> Champagne and caviar.
>
> I remember my late brother's girlfriend, who was from Belgium. She
> was astonished that B. endive was so outrageously expensive, here.
> She told me she never paid more than $0.50/lb, in Belgium. I think
> she paid $4.50/lb in Sacto, CA. This over 10 yrs ago!
>
> I've NEVER seen leaks fer less than $3.89/lb and that's with HUGE
> grn leaves still attached. Consequently, I've rarely made leak/potato
> soup.
>
> BTW, noticed lately, how brocolli crowns continue to be sold with
> ever longer stems?

Yeah. Leeks are not cheap here which is why I rarely buy them. I did have
some dried ones once that I used in soup.

On 2016-04-15, Jeßus > wrote:

> Plumbers make like bandits over your way?

When they're working.

Yes, union trades make mucho $$$$. They also do not work steady. My
late FIL was a union electrician in the IBEW. It was feast or famine.
Lotta famine. 8|

nb

On 15 Apr 2016 20:13:04 GMT, notbob > wrote:

>On 2016-04-15, Jeßus > wrote:
>
>> Plumbers make like bandits over your way?
>
>When they're working.
>
>Yes, union trades make mucho $$$$. They also do not work steady. My
>late FIL was a union electrician in the IBEW. It was feast or famine.
>Lotta famine. 8|

That's the trouble with such things, better to have a steady income or
perhaps find a way to work around the quiet times.