There is something that I find really unappealing about celery. The fact that you use up more calories crunching on it than you actually absorb tells me everything I need to know. If it was so fantastic wouldn't millions of dieting men and women be marching round celery stick in hands? I did learn one interesting fact - apparently Gillingham Football Club had to introduce body searches for celery in the 90's because some fans were waving the green sticks in their hands and singing an obscene song. It must be the only vegetable to be banned from a football match. Unfortunately for Freddie it can't be banned from the Great Big Veg Challenge as the rules state all vegetables must be tried - stringy or not.
The plastic fruit and veg collection made a reappearance in our garden on our first really sunny day this year. Freddie and Alexandra run an excellent garden restaurant with hand-written menus.
Note that in London, spring does not mean skipping lambs and buds bursting out but something far less prosaic. Having said that the plastic veg looked a lot more appealing than the real-life celery...recipes please!
Peeling the outer skin of the celery makes it more palatable. Those tough fibers that get caught in your teeth are concentrated in the outer part, so getting rid of them reveals a different vegetable.
ReplyDeleteNot many recipes calling for celery all on its lonesome. Try doing a search for celery salad at Food Network. Cream of celery soup could also be a winner for you.
I personally don't care for celery, but my mom and sister eat it with peanut butter spread in the curve, and if you add raisins, in the US we call that "ants on a log." Again, not so appealing to me because I don't care for either celery or raisins, but some people love it.
ReplyDeleteDear Freddie ~
ReplyDeleteI really think your Mum needs a good talking to. Doesn't it sound like she's got a really closed mind about this celery? Ha. Maybe she needs her own project! Because isn't the whole idea to keep an OPEN mind? Because you never know that vegetables can taste good unless you try them?
You tell her, from me, that celery can be simply sublime. (Is that a new word? If so, if you like my celery recipes, then I think you should look it up and see if you think it applies to celery, too.)
Okay, here are my suggestions. Maybe a Simple Braised Celery or perhaps a nice hot bowl of Cream of Celery Soup?
Or wait, you like apples, right? And you can mix vegetables and fruit, right? So how about Celery & Apple Salad?
But you tell your Mum, okay, that she totally needs a new attitude.
Your friend in vegetables,
The Veggie Evangelist
The you burn more calories than you absorb isn't actually true (but it's close) ya know ;-).
ReplyDeleteAs for things to do with itI would go for Prawn Creole which is my favorite dish, with celery in it.
Unfortunately, I don't have access to my recipe for it atm (due to the recipe book being in boxes).
With luck I will have it before you move on. (I would ask Mum, but she's in the UK for 2 weeks and her version of the cookbook is in her kitchen in Spain)
Lee/Riocaz
I don't mind the stringiness of celery, though you can peel it a bit to reduce some of the outer, thicker "strings".
ReplyDeleteAs for celery recipes, the only "celery" focused one that comes to mind is the classic "Ants on a log":
Make sure the celery is dry and spread peanut butter down the center. Top the peanut butter with raisin ("ants") Slice into 4" logs and eat. Tasty snack!
Usually I just used celery in things like soups and salads.
Sorry - don't like celery at all so sitting this round out on the recipe front!
ReplyDeleteHannah
xxx
I was brought up in the fenland of Cambridgeshire - so I'm passionate about proper fen grown English celery. It's not really in season now but if you find a celery recipe you like, try it again when the English celery is in season from October to January.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite celery recipe is Celery, Bacon and Chestnut Risotto. Make it just like the Asparagus Risotto recipe on your blog but with the chopped onion fry some chopped bacon (some good English smoked dry-cure is best) and slices of celery (5mm thick little crescent shapes) 2 to 3 sticks. When almost all the stock (good chicken stock is best for this) has been used up add some sweet chestnuts - the whole cooked vacuum packed ones are excellent.
Sprinkle with a little grated cheese before serving.
I love this on a chilly dark autumn evening but it would also make a lovely weekend supper or lunch at any time of year.
all the best
C
Hi Freddie
ReplyDeleteI've left you a celery recipe on my Blog which you will love - no promises of course!
Good luck and hapy munching
Cheers
David
www.bookthecook.blogspot.com
David
ReplyDeleteThank you for leaving me a recipe - well leaving my mum a recipe. I like recipes that cover vegetables and I like cheese so I may like your recipe.
We will make it soon and let you see whta it looked like.
Freddie
Alanna
ReplyDeleteI know - hands up - this is Freddie's mum. I have a negative relationship with celery. But Im working on it, culinary therapy and all that...
And with the help fo all these superb recipes we may overcome it...
Charlotte
We used to make a thing we called waldorf salad, although I don't know how it compares with a real waldorf: chopped celery, apples and walnuts and shredded ham all combined with mayonnaise. I substituted grated cheese for ham when I stopped eating meat. Both versions very nice: crunchy, fresh and light.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the ideas/...
ReplyDeleteCelery is a challenge.
GBVC