CHINESE FOLK TALES: The Miserly Farmer

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'cause I eats me Spinach

"I'm strong to the finich, ‘cause I eats me spinach, I'm Popeye the Sailor Man!"

It’s a refrain from my childhood … along with punchlines and catchphrases from all the children’s cartoons of the time. (Hong Kong Phooey, Scooby Doo, The Hair Bear Bunch, Tom and Jerry.).

Amazing how much one takes for granted growing up.

I was never quite sure whether I liked Popeye the Sailor Man. I certainly would watch it, and even had a 45 E.P. with his theme music song on it. But I wasn’t sure about the eternal love triangle with Olive and Bluto and the essential premise that eating spinach would make you grow strong.

In fact, I don’t think we ever ate spinach as kids. It was not on the menu. And if it did appear, then it was hideous over boiled straggly mass.

Now … as one gets older … tastes change.

I think my first forays into Europe changed things for me ... living in Belgium, and falling in love with creamed spinach which was a dietary revelation, along with most things to be honest.

It’s the magic of cooking isn’t it. Take random ingredients which together may not excite the taste buds and then create something fabulous from them.

Of course in this technological age, some pitfalls have fallen by the wayside.

Photo © Rob Jones

Frozen blocks of spinach are a big plus. They take away the possibility of waterlogging the spinach and turning it into a green smear.

For this highly enjoyable snack, I sautéed some onions and garlic, popped in the spinach and covered the pan to let it steam. Once all the blocks are melted, a good stir, then I swapped out cream for Greek yoghurt, with a little pepper and salt to season.

Some recipes talk of adding dill, or other Mediterranean herbs, but I don’t think it’s needed.

I added a topping of fried off lardons, garlic, celery and pine nuts. A squeeze of lemon.

I’ll leave you with a Popeye fact:

Popeye once told his nephews that he was descended from Hercules who originally got his strength from inhaling garlic.

Don’t try this at home.

R

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Fasolada - Greek Bean Soup

After yesterday’s Coronation Quiche-Fest …

I was in need of something a little more exciting, and yet retaining a tenuous Royal connection.

Really enjoyed the Greek influences during the ceremony yesterday .. a tribute to the late Duke of Edinburgh. Brought back memories of walking around Corfu town, near Mon Repos where Prince Philip was brought up.

It was also a timely prod to use up my cannellini beans which had been haunting my kitchen cabinet for a couple of months awaiting ‘The Call.’

So here’s my take on Fasolada - Greek Bean Soup - with Bacon.

You’ll find it as φασολάδα on the menu.

Ingredients:

Standard pack of Cannellini Beans - soaked overnight, then rinsed and boiled till just short of soft to the bite.

The rest of the ingredients are really to taste, depending on your likes/dislikes,

Mine was as follows:

• Three roughly chopped red onions.

• Half a dozen cloves of garlic.

• Two celery stalks, fine sliced.

• Passata.

• A Pinch of Smoked Paprika.

• Pepper to taste.

• Optionally I added some ‘cook’s bacon’ chunks which I pre cooked in the Air Fryer.

• A pint of broth made from Miso paste.

• Optionally some diced Carrot, though I did not. The dish is orange enough.

• Obligatory Oregano

For the method:

Fry the onions, garlic, and celery in large pan. Add the wet ingredients and seasoning.

Add the beans and simmer till it begins to thicken.

Add the bacon at the last minute.

Serve sprinkled with Feta and with some crusty bread.

R