RAMPS HIT THE TABLE

IT WAS JUST ME AND THE GIRL AROUND THE HOUSE TODAY. RANA WAS OFF TO A BABY SHOWER AND SO Q AND I HAD SOME ADVENTURES TO ATTEND TO. CALLED MY PAL MITCH TO SEE IF HE WANTED TO STOP IN FOR COFFEE AND A HIKE AND SO HE DID AND ALONG WITH HIM CAME SIX FRESHLY CAUGHT TROUT. WE SET OURSELVES UP ON THE BACK PATIO AND QUINN AND I WATCHED AS MITCH SET INTO CLEANING AND FILETING HIS CATCH. HE DID A FINE JOB AND VERY GENEROUSLY OFFERED UP HALF OF THE FILETS FROM THE SWIMMERS.

AFTER SOME CLEANUP AND A CUP OF COFFEE THE THREE OF US HEADED INTO THE WOODS TO GO VISIT THE NEIGHBOR'S HORSES AND TO STROLL THROUGH THE CLEARING TO THE POND. AS SOON AS WE ENTERED THE WOODS WE CAME UPON A THRIVING LITTLE STAND OF FRESH TENDER RAMPS. I SQUEALED AND EXCLAIMED AND PROCEEDED TO FILL MITCH IN ON THE NATURE OF OUR FIND. WE COMMITTED TO FORAGING AFTER OUR HIKE IN ORDER TO INTRODUCE THE WILD LEEKS TO THE LOCAL TROUT. IT WAS A FINE DAY FOR A HIKE -- WE DRIFTED AROUND THE CLEARING, CIRCLED THE POND, FED GRASS TO COWBOY THE MULE AND STROLLED BACK TO THE HOMESTEAD.

UPON OUR RETURN WE GATHERED UP A TROWEL AND RANA AND WE ALL LUMBERED DOWN THE HILL TO MY OWN RAMP PATCH AND DUG A BUNCH FOR OUR DINNER AND A BUNCH FOR MITCH TO TAKE FOR HIS. MITCH TOOK HIS LEAVE AND WITH Q UNDER FOOT, I GOT DOWN TO BUSINESS. I MADE A BASMATI RICE PILAF WITH RAMPS, CARROTS AND PEAS. ATOP THE PILAF I POSITIONED THE PAN GRILLED TROUT FILETS WHICH HAD BEEN DUSTED WITH SALT, PEPPER AND CORNMEAL. FOR A VEGETABLE I ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH GARLIC GREY SALT AND PEPPER AND A SQUEEZE OF FRESH LEMON. THE TROUT WAS SPARKLING FRESH AND DELICATE AND THE RAMPS CAME THROUGH JUST RIGHT IN THE PILAF -- EARTHY AND UNIQUE. RANA AND I AGREED THAT THE ONLY FLAW IN OUR MEAL WAS THAT THE ASPARAGUS WAS NOT FROM OUR OWN GARDEN. NEXT YEAR THAT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.

FOR AN ACCOMPANIMENT I OPENED A BOTTLE OF 2005 SELAKS MARLBOROUGH NEW ZEALAND SAUVIGNON BLANC. IT WAS LIGHT AND BOYANT AND PERFECT FOR THE MEAL. CITRUS NOTES OF LEMON AND GRAPEFRUIT AND MINERAL CRISPNESS.