Napa #3

So I decided I could call this post Napa #3 as I had refrained from calling either of my first two posts Napa #1 and Napa #2.  For obvious reasons.

The official title of my 3^rd Napa experiment was “Steamed Organic Eggs with Green Garlic, Asparagus, and Spinach with Pain de Mie Croutons”.   If they had simply added “Salt and Pepper” in the title you would pretty much have the entire ingredient list.  But I guess they wanted to save something for a surprise.  Hehe.

Anyway, I went on a quest for green garlic and was not able to find any before the asparagus and spinach I had purchased were nearing their expiration.  I did the unthinkable-I substituted plain old garlic.  I’m making a list of elusive spices and veggies and going to add them to next year’s garden. 

The recipe was pretty simple-sweat the garlic, add the asparagus and the spinach.  Wilt the spinach.  Add some salt.  Brown the croutons.  Cool the spinach.  Wait, cooling wasn’t mentioned in the title!  Dang it!  That was the surprise they threw on me.  Hmmm…..guess I’ll cool the spinach and this will be lunch tomorrow. 

Tomorrow lunch rolls around and finally I’m so close to tasting the fruits of my labor that I can smell it!  Actually I think it was the strong aroma of all the garlic. 

I toasted up a fresh batch of croutons while the eggs steamed because the ones I made the night before were eaten.  Right out of the skillet.  I’ve been making homemade croutons for years.  Whenever I serve them they come with a warning-once you eat a homemade crouton, you will forever be a crouton snob.  If you eat a homemade crouton, do not hate me.  I did not force feed you.  You willingly ate them after you were warned.  I serve homemade caramel with the same warning. 

Finally!  The dish which has taken as long to make as it has to type the title, is ready.  It was ok and there were certain elements I loved.  The croutons of course.  And yes the asparagus and spinach with garlic was delicious and would make a great side dish on its own.  Somehow though, when I put it all together, it just didn’t take any of it over the top.  So I rated it a 3.  My husband wouldn’t even try it and the fact that it had asparagus, it was already starting at below zero for him. 

Now, to find some fava beans for the next recipe.