A wonderful idea to remember Jo by … and I’m inviting her down for my last birthday celebration for this year … I held it back!
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| Jo's logo |
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| A drink or two - Support Bubbles no less! |
I always have my asparagus plain and simple … with some (lots of) butter … a glass of quality vino or fizz … black pepper, occasionally with shavings of parmesan … to be eaten during the British (as we are at the moment) season … early/mid May to nearly the end of June.
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| Straight from Scotland |
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| Parmesan breaded crusted Asparagus |
But as she’s invited I’d make sure I’d ask her a
suitable recipe for both … and then make sure she had those to sample too …
We’d have to have a drink, or two … per my cards … and I have a bottle here for consumption at some stage …
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| Chocolate Roulade and Negro Chemise |
I guess … I’d have to have a chocolate dish … and that’d be chocolate roulade with Cornish cream …
Jo – now I’m hungry … but I’ve enjoyed you being here … amongst your English land … where Queen Anne style houses exist – and you were lucky enough to experience living in one …
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| These are Cornish Mudflats |
… then the Muddy Medway that you often remembered in
your comments on some of my posts … eg:
“Thanks for
the shout out Hilary. In fact the Mudway is much cleaner today and it is
another place where the fish are returning. Hoo is where we lived for a number
of years, just downriver from Upnor, which has a castle as I mentioned to you a
couple of years ago. The docks on the Medway are where Nelson's Victory was
built although today the docks are closed.” – to a post in
2014 on M for Marshes, Marsh Mallow, Marsh Samphire, Mudflats … as part of myCoast series.
Then we’d while away the afternoon nattering about all
things English … and you’d tell me about your trips and days with your parents
on their Dutch sailing barge … which you loved …
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| A card from my god- daughter ... telling me not to worry about age - it's IRRELEPHANT! |
It’d be a girls’ belated birthday feast for me with a wonderful meet up from you joining me … that’d be so much fun … one day, but sadly not on this planet …
… still here’s to the good life … and for being a friend to us all … and especially sharing that wonderful range of recipes with us …
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| You could come back for the G7 Summit in the summer - but I'd be surprised if you did ... |
Thanks to Alex and organisers of the IWSG
administrators for setting this tribute up for Jo …
Stay safe everyone …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
56 comments:
This is a lovely tribute post and I admit to tearing up a bit and I did not know her. Only ever saw references or some comments, but obviously a beloved blogger friend to many. You did her proud.
Jo would've loved to spend a couple days with you, wining and dining on all of those goodies. Thanks for joining our tribute to our dear late friend.
You are a woman after my own heart!
Fresh asparagus, butter, brown bread crumbs, ground black peppers and chilled white wine.. what more can a person ask for? I know... a second chilled white wine:)
This is a truly lovely tribute to Jo. Can I invite myself to this feast as well? Simple and delicious.
And of course thanks to Alex for such an appropriate tribute to Mother Dragon.
I'm all for these real support bubbles! This is a lovely tribute to your friend, Hilary.
Hari om
Very tasty...perfect tribute. YAM xx
Mmmm, that roulade looks delicious. What a lovely tribute to Jo - I didn't know her but she made an impact on a lot of people x
Your post is so meaningful, a great tribute.
I wish I could meet you in person. I don't say that about every person that I have 'met' in blogger town. Thank you for sharing your side of the world because I'll never get to see it in person.
Teresa
I can just see the two of you sharing stories over food and drinks.
I adore asparagus, and of course Norfolk is famous for it! The politics have made a sad mess of it though, with many dedicated pickers no longer returning, year after year. And I'll only eat it in season - which ends midsummer in Norfolk - normally to the longest day unless it's been a really late start.
I generally take it plain with a mayo dip, although I have a lovely recipe for a tart with swiss cheese. I used to make two or three and freeze them, bringing one out for Boxing Day or New Year for lunch :)
Great foodie thoughts today :)
I didn't know Jo, but I'm feeling today that I missed someone so very special. I love asparagus! Sliced, sauteed and tossed in pasta with a Parmesan cheese sauce with lots of cracked black pepper. Yum.
@ Joanne – thank you … yes she was special … and I know we had much in common …
@ Alex – yes … we’d have both loved to have spent time together with so much in common with our back-stories … I’m delighted to have joined in – thanks for setting it up …
@ Hels – oh great … we’d definitely enjoy a few lunches, with some vino, together … perhaps one day …
@ EC – of course you may come over to join us – and what a pleasure that would be … sadly I was never a part of the Mother Dragon group … but so pleased I was around with Jo for ‘so long’ …
@ Nila – I don’t have a support bubble – being single … but I meet up with odd people for a walk, or in the street when shopping … but the Prosecco I’d be there for, and fortunately being in a low-infection area …
@ Yam – thank you … I’d enjoy it … and her company if she was still around …
@ Annalisa – yes the roulade I’ve made for years … I guess if we’re foodies: we were part of Jo’s spread of blogging contacts …
@ Teresa – many thanks … I’d love to meet you too – I know I owe you a garden mowing visit! Perhaps one day I’ll get over to the States again … unlikely … but a good thought. I’m just delighted you enjoy joining me in my back-blogging yard … always good to see you …
@ Diane – yes … I know – it’d have been good to have had that chance to meet – sadly not to be …
@ Jemima – it’s desperate about the lack of vegetables and fruit pickers – I hate to think what is going to happen … perhaps another U-turn. Yes – I only eat things in season – being brought up that way. Yes that timing of mid-summer’s day is usually the end of the season.
Yes sometimes I have a change with a lemon-mayo dip … but I’d love to try your tart with Swiss cheese – sounds delicious. Well done on freezing extra for an end of year treat … thanks re the ‘foodie thoughts’ …
@ Liza – yes she certainly was a tremendous character and had some amazing recipes – loving her food!
All the best everyone – and just enjoy your food, as Jo would … new Spring greens will be on their way very soon – good for our health! Stay safe - Hilary
Hi Hilary,
I didn't know her but reading through your blog post, let me know she was indeed a great person and will be missed by many who loved her.
Take care and stay safe.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Thanks for this remembrance of Jo, Hilary. She was a feisty old broad - and I say that in the best of ways - and she would have chuckled at the description. She was fanatical for asparagus and made annual pilgrimages to a local grower - Barry's Farms. She lived about twenty-five to thirty minutes from Barry's and I live about twenty minutes north of where she lived, so I used to pick up my asparagus from a local deli, Vincenzo's, a place I patronize regularly, and they bought their asparagus wholesale from Barry's. She still used to rail against me and tell that hers was picked 30 minutes before she was on her way home with it, and mine had been picked at least a day earlier, maybe two, and then had been in transit, and it just wasn't as good. And she was probably right, but it sure tasted great to me! And here is a final sad note - she asked me, when COVID was over whether I would pick her up and take her to see and hear Red-winged Blackbirds, and reminded me that she used a walker and it had to be an easily accessible spot. I had the perfect place picked out, and I had thought that I would take her to sushi restaurant for lunch afterwards. Of course that will never happen, but when I hear the first Red-winged Blackbird of the spring calling from the marshes, I will think of Jo. May her memory be a blessing.
How sad, you lost a good blogger friend. And then wrote this beautiful tribute to her. I read some comments and she was a beloved friend to many. I am so sorry for your and your blogger friend's loss.
Oh, am I ever hungry now. Of all the things you mentioned, it's the asparagus I'm graving. Simple with lots of butter. I need to get some of that, soon.
Well that is a tasty meal, Hilary. I accept!
A delightful tribute and one I'm sure she would enjoy reading if only she could. Thanks to you, I've now got to pop around the corner to my local greengrocer to bag some asparagus!
Jo provided a home away from home for many. I loved her blogs, not always into the recipes, but I have a damaged sense of what tastes good. :)
She was a wonderful lady, and I shall miss her always. Whenever I was away from the goings-on for whatever reason, her blog was always the one I came back to first!
We went to a restaurant in Bruges several times and on one occasion they served a four-course asparagus menu - including asparagus ice-cream for dessert. My three companions loved it but I chose something else as the attraction of asparagus has somehow passed me by! We can't afford to go there recently, since they were awarded a Michelin Star.
CLICK HERE for Bazza’s accidentally adept Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
So sorry to hear about Jo. I think it's nice that people are sharing recipes in honor of her.
You've got me teary-eyed. I didn't know Jo well but we had some good conversations around dementia.
Every time I make asparagus I'm going to think of her. My fave is when it's roasted and sprinkled with a touch of balsamic vinegar and feta cheese :)
Lovely tribute. I didn't know Jo, I sorry I didn't get a change to meet her. I'm sorry for your loss.
I did not know Jo but this is a fabulous tribute to her, well done.
Take it easy and stay safe, Diane
I would love to join that celebration if you make it in the open field, so my dragonly large body don't destroy anything. Jo was such a extraordinary lady. We will miss her greatly, but I am still glad for this chance to say Hi, again. Hi and Dragon Hugs.
I love doing this tribute as I get to know more about Jo with each post I read about her. She was a wonderful cook/chef, and I was inspired by her to try things I normally wouldn't. Thank you Hilary, for sharing this bit of her, and your fair country, with us.
What a sweet and tasty tribute you paid to Jo. Food is a great bond that people share, so it was delightful that you gave us such a variety of choices here today.
What a wonderful tribute to a dear friend. It made my heart swell.
Stay safe. Be well.
I didn’t know Jo - but what a lovely tribute.
Sounds like it'd've been a great meal.
I've heard other friends of Jo mention that she loved asparagus. Your meal sounds yummy. It sounds like Jo was a special friend who will be missed by her friends.
I love my asparagus plain and simple too.
I'll take that chocolate dessert, though. Yum!
Your picture of chocolate deserts is pure temptation. I'm salivating. Give me, give me, give me!
Such a lovely remembrance for Jo. So glad to see so many honoring Jo today. She definitely deserved it. (How is it I was not following your blog? Well, that's been rectified.)
A lovely tribute and condolences for your friend's passing. And what a lovely feast Hilary. You had my mouth watering at 'chocolate roulade'. Hugs, and stay safe! <3
Hi, Hilary - I didn't know Jo, but your post made me feel as if I did. What a beautiful, beautiful tribute!
@ Pat – yes, Jo was a special friend and we had lots in common …
@ David – you’re right … you’ve described her perfectly … well what I think I’d have met if I’d actually met with her … ‘feisty old broad’. Wasn’t she fanatical about asparagus – so agree there!
Barry’s Farms – yes … she delighted in going out there … I just looked up Mask Island, where Barry’s Farm is situated … gosh I’d love to visit. She would have been looking forward to that trip out with you and being able to hear and see the Red-Winged Blackbirds and she’d so have enjoyed the Sushi restaurant. But also the marshes would have reminded of her early years around the Kent marshes.
Like you and many others we will remember her with much pleasure and fun …
@ Inger – it is sad … but I have lovely memories of her and her thoughts via comments over the years … glad you enjoyed the tribute …
@ Dan – sorry … but am delighted you enjoy asparagus – but please wait to buy now … a few months more then it’ll be seasonally fresh – though I know so many vegetables came up from Mexico …
@ Jacqui – great looking forward to you joining us …
@ Keith – yes I think she’d be happy to share this meal with me – if we could. I see asparagus is available in the greengrocers … but I wonder where it’s come from …
@ Yolanda – great you enjoyed reading her posts, even if you weren’t happy with her tastes … some I’d agree with you! Good to know you always returned to her blog after you’d have a sojourn away … it was a lovely read for so many of us …
@ Bazza – how interesting to try the four-course asparagus menu – asparagus ice-cream would be interesting … I’d enjoy it once I think … but can quite understand if you don’t like asparagus … you’ll need to eat something else – especially if it’s such a special restaurant as the one you went to in Bruges … and now with a Michelin Star – yes a few quid or Euro added to each course …
@ Sherry – yes the tribute to Jo is a wonderful idea … so I’m glad it was set up …
@ Jemi – I know she really appreciated your Dancing with Dementia book … and yes when the asparagus season comes around …I’ll be remembering her; that recipe of roasting it with balsamic and feta … love feta! And this sounds delicious …
@ Holly – thank you … hers was a fun blog and especially so if you enjoy asparagus …
@ Diane – thank you … food is easy for me to write up – and Jo made a huge impact on me … so this was a pleasure …
@ Father Dragon – great to see you … you’d be welcome to join us! We have a few fields around here … so still room to move! Yes … you obviously had a great rapport with her and I know she was always happy ‘chatting’ with you …
@ Lisa – it’s fun to see what other bloggers have written up about her … and yes, she knew her stuff … and it’s great she inspired you to try different recipes … and delighted you enjoyed joining me over here for a short while!
@ Lee – yes food can really join us together across this blogosphere, can’t it … and so pleased you enjoyed the post and its contents …
@ Sandra – thank you … it was fun to write up …
@ Anabel – so pleased you enjoyed the tribute …
@ Liza – we’d have had fun … that’s for sure!
@ Natalie – yes … she almost worshipped asparagus! I know we’d have both enjoyed this get together … pity it won’t happen …
@ Lynda – oh great … asparagus plain and simple … then we can savour it … while chocolate dessert once in a while is really special.
@ Olga – the recipes are here … I never made the Negro Chemise … but regularly make the chocolate roulade …
@ Jeff – it’s wonderful being able to travel the blogosphere and read other memories to Jo – she was a special blogging friend … Thank you for following …
@ Debby – lovely to see you … Jo was special … while chocolate roulade – she’d have loved that … so glad you appreciated the thought of it …
@ Donna – thank you … it was a pleasure to write up as a tribute to Jo … delighted you enjoyed it …
Thanks everyone … I was really happy to write this up for Jo – she’ll be missed. Stay safe and look after yourselves … all the best to each and everyone of you … Hilary
Well it's been a while for various reasons but now I have the time to catch up on your always interesting blog. I will just add I loved wild asparagus which is often available here in the ditches of southeastern Minnesota. And as the famous lady chef who brought French cooking to America often said putting butter on anything will make it edible. Of course asparagus is highly edible in any case anyway. Ray
Wonderful tribute post! Thank you for sharing.
This is such a lovely tribute.
That's a lovely tribute, and I want that asparagus in your picture!
Beautiful tribute to Jo - such a pleasure to read and to look at.
What a lovely tribute, to plan a full menu! I'm most tempted by the dessert, of course :-)
A beautiful tribute, Hilary. I'm not much of a fan of asparagus, but oh my, you do tempt me with that chocolate dish! Yum! I hope you're safe and well. :)
@ Ray – good to see you again. Brilliant if you can get wild asparagus … but I do love it in season. Julia Child is your woman … bringing French cooking to America – and even today top chefs use lots of butter … I don’t complain.
@ Tyrean – thanks so pleased you enjoyed the tribute …
@ Nas – many thanks … she was a character … but a stickler for getting things right!
@ Rebecca – you may have that asparagus in the photo … simple to do – just need to wait for the asparagus season – sadly …
@ Kalpana – thank you … and so pleased you enjoyed the read through with its images …
@ Deniz – many thanks – well if she’s coming down to this earth again – I’d better be prepared! Yes – I knew chocolate would tempt many, especially those not particularly enamoured by asparagus …
@ Christine - ah yes ... my comment solves your asparagus problem ... there'll be extra chocolate puds! All well here thank you.
Thanks everyone … so good to see you … I’ve a few goodies in the flat – in case the snow clouds come swamping us down! Stay safe - Hilary
Every time I eat asparagus, I will think of Jo.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
What a lovely tribute to your friend and blogging buddy. The meal sounds delicious- and made me hungry. I do love asparagus! Yum! :)
~Jess
I seem to be the odd man out here. I love asparagus and have dozens of ways I love to prepare it. It seems Jo will be missed terribly. These posts are a wonderful tribute to her.
What a beautiful tribute to Jo! I didn't know her, but through your tribute, I feel as though I do now. May she rest in peace. Thanks, Hilary!
What a wonderful tribute to Jo! I love asparagus prepared just about any way, and now I'll be sure to think of her the next time I have any.
@ Melissa – I know … I always think of her and asparagus – she was a special person …
@ Jess – thank you … she was always interesting and attentive … sorry about the meal – but definitely if Jo might be there … it had to be delicious …
@ Lee – I don’t entertain that much now … but simple is easier for me – and quicker to get to eat! Thanks … there’s lots of us who will be missing Jo … so it’s been fun to write up and see others’ entries …
@ Victoria – thank you … yes I hope she’s resting in peace … she just loved her blogging friends …
@Lynda – thank you … there’ve been some amazing tributes to her … but I think now we’ll always be thinking of Jo during asparagus season …
Thanks for your visits – take care and all the best - Hilary
Aw Hilary, I'm so sad to read your post - I've been away from blogger for a while and although I knew Jo wasn't well, I didn't know she had passed. I always enjoyed her posts and tried several of the recipes. Rst in Peace Jo.
Hi Fil - thanks for popping by to read a little about Jo - she enticed many with her recipes and commentary on life ... Sad to see her go ... and yes - rest in peace ... Hilary
What a lovely tale! I am not a "fish" eating person, but I do love a good story and this is one!
Thanks Lisa - I think you're referring to my Star Gazy Pie story for "The Kiss" WEP prompt - but delighted you love the good story ... many thanks - Hilary
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