USVI-On-Line

I feel like a dope ...what are ramps?

AH

Here ya go:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium_tricoccum

I've never had them. They sound delicious!

AH wrote:I feel like a dope ...what are ramps?

AH

I had to google it myself. Count me in as a dope too! And I thought I had eaten my way through all the North American offerings. At least my butt looks like I did.

AH wrote:I feel like a dope ...what are ramps?

AH

Doping with ya - never heard of them, but they sound interesting. May have to try those.

Becky, the fish taco's look awesome. I just read that cilantro is a very healthy herb.

They are delicious, and at the Framingham Whole Foods at the moment. :)

From the Wiki link above in Minde's post:
"Allium tricoccum, commonly known as ramps, spring onion, ramson, wild leek, or ail des bois (French), is a member of the onion family (Alliaceae). Found in groups with broad, smooth, light green leaves, often with deep purple or burgundy tints on the lower stems and a scallion-like bulb strongly rooted just beneath the surface of the soil. Both the white lower leaf stalks and the broad green leaves are edible. They are found from the U.S. state of South Carolina to Canada and are especially popular in the cuisine of the US state of West Virginia and the Canadian province of Quebec when they emerge in the springtime. A common description of the flavor is like a combination of onions and strong garlic."

I grew up on a dairy farm in West Virginia... I have never eaten ramps. The ramps grew wild in the pasture fields and would be eaten by cows whose milk became ramp flavored for days and could not be sold. The cows smelled like ramps. The kids on the school bus and in the classroom whose families ate ramps smelled like ramps.
There are still "ramp dinners" in that area in the spring celebrating the ramp. My culinary tastes have grown in 60 some years, and I expect that the ramps sold in such places as Whole Foods have a more subtle flavor, but I have little interest in trying them. I'll just have any of the other alliums straight... please.

http://www.richwooders.com/ramp/ramps.htm
http://www.kingofstink.com/recipes.html

I haven't been here in a while because things have been pretty boring around our dining table. Tonight had a STJ flair so thought I'd share.

Strawberry, goat cheese and walnut salad:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/89321198@N00/4613478904/" title="Food II 425 by mbw1024, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/461 ... 31b49c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Food II 425"></a>

Ribs - I used 2 of my new favorite products from STJ Spice. Jumpin' Jumbie Season Salt in the rub and finished with Roasted Garlic Chipotle Sauce
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/89321198@N00/4612864119/" title="Food II 428 by mbw1024, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/461 ... 692cf5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Food II 428"></a>

Oh good golly Mis. Molly!
We have been traveling all day and that looks divine! Doubtful roomservice has anything near that appealing! We are on survivor finale countdown!!! Can't wait!

OMG MB, that salad looks wonderful! So do the ribs.

We are planning a massive STJ Spice shopping trip during this upcoming trip.

mbw - those pictures are making my mouth water! Yum-yum-yum-yum-yum!!!

We did a STJ Ruth Spice run, via USPS recently...and have been lapping up the goodies we got. Will use some of the curry tonight. It was like X-mas when we opened the box!

Last night's meal was really tasty. Grilled mixed vegetable salad with grilled jumbo shrimp:


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/4626039514/" title="grilled vegetable salad with skewered shrimp by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/462 ... 65a22e.jpg" width="500" height="437" alt="grilled vegetable salad with skewered shrimp"></a>

mmmmm I have been dying for some grilled shrimp! might have to get some at Wegmans tonight. don't trust myself to do it at home.

oh... you have a Wegman's? There's a rumor we are getting one here in 2 years.

That salad looks great ! Starving..

Wegman's is my regular shopping place. Love it!

Salad I made last weekend with lobster I brought home from Maine. I dressed it with a lemon herb vinaigrette instead of mayonnaise.

The avocados were perfect! Don't know why they look discolored in this photo. I need a food photography course.