Take a Leek for Saint Davy

leeks

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Today is Saint David's Day (Welsh: Dydd Gwyl Dewi). Saint David (Dewi Sant) is the patron saint of Wales. On this day many Welsh hie themselves to their local purveyor of leeks, take a leek, and affix it to their lapel or hat. Lacking a real leek, some will instead use Peter's Leek (Cenhinen Pedr), the daffodil.

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About that Leek:
The legend is that (St.) David instructed the Welsh soldiers to wear the leek on their helmets in a battle against invading Saxons (which also took place in a field full of leeks.). The idea was so that they could tell friend from foe in the close order melee to come. They won and the leek is their token.

About Leeks:
The leek is a vegetable, a member of the Allium family. Like its smaller cousin, the green onion, it can be regrown from the root end. When preparing one or more for cooking, simply leave about 3/4 to 1 inch of the base intact. Place it in a shallow container with enough water to cover the roots and place in a window sill. Change the water as needed and in a while it will begin to sprout a new top. Plant in decent soil and wait for your next leek.

I find that I cannot locate any good music about leeks, so, with apologies to the Cymru, I give you

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Lookout's picture

wasn't part of typical southern cuisine. The onion remain supreme here.

Oh the many layers of the allium family...

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

enhydra lutris's picture

@Lookout

potato soup, especially with some bacon or ham, there's no turning back.

be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

lotlizard's picture

@Lookout  
https://www.qwant.com/?q=ramp+festival+allium+tricoccum

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usefewersyllables's picture

Bestestmost mashed potatoes *evah* have garlic and leeks. And if you're in a hurry, do 'em in an Instant Pot.

Clean and chop leeks into fine strips kind of like a chiffonade, mince garlic, saute for 5 mins in a little oil in the pot- you're really sweating them, not so much caramelizing. Chuck in some Yukon Golds to taste cut into 1" cubes, and a cup or so of chicken stock. Seal it up and blast on hi for 10 mins. Mash, heap on butter and sour cream/buttermilk and chives and black pepper and whatever else is in the room to taste, and serve. Num num num. My mouth is watering.

The exact proportions of the ingredients have been omitted because they are chef's choice and subject to mood. Sometimes, I make mashed garlic and leeks with a little potato for garnish...

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Twice bitten, permanently shy.

enhydra lutris's picture

@usefewersyllables

these days. We usually make leek and potato soup or this cool Leek Fritatta with a polenta and bacon crust.

My normal mashed spuds include some garlic (whole cloves boiled and mashed with the spuds) and a lot of shredded cheddar stirred in at the end of the mashing process and then thrown in the oven for a bit just before serving.

be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

mimi's picture

When preparing one or more for cooking, simply leave about 3/4 to 1 inch of the base intact. Place it in a shallow container with enough water to cover the roots and place in a window sill. Change the water as needed and in a while it will begin to sprout a new top. Plant in decent soil and wait for your next leek.

Awesome, I will try it. Love leeks. Love green onions. Love mashed potatoes, love bacon. The recipes are like manna from heaven (Jeez, I can't stop being a theatrical diva).

PS I could swear I read the first headline as 'Take a leak for Saint Davy', again one of my
idiosyncrasy trying to read here and understand what I am reading. /s

Sigh, life is tough. But all the leaks will make you wise and sane Leak away.

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enhydra lutris's picture

@mimi

was intentional, so you are certainly forgiven.

be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

You are the BOMB, Baby!

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

enhydra lutris's picture

@on the cusp

be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

enhydra lutris's picture

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --