Diminuendo
At the Start
Wow! I have just ate one, the first of many I hope. What a fantastic fruit. I saw them for sale today in my local fruit and veg shop and I thought i would give it a try. I will go back tomorrow for more....yummy!
Chinese Pears
- Thread starter Diminuendo
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S
solerina
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I've never had one Diminuendo but I'll certainly try to check them out . I had my own culinary first today . Has anyone ever cooked with Celeriac? I made a dauphinoise with potato and celeriac and it was gorgeous . Loads of double cream , nutmeg ,salt and pepper and it was divine . I've never used this veg before and when you cut it raw it smells quite strongly of celery but it's a bit like roasting garlic ,it makes it far more subtle . Definitely recommend it and you can use it pretty much the same way as a potato . Dice ,mash ,julien . Very impressed. 
S
solerina
Guest
:lol: Oh no I would never
Diminuendo
At the Start
Sols, Muttley cooks celeriac, I expect she'll post on here later as she is a fantastic cook and could give a few recipes for it.
Muttley
At the Start
:shy: Dims is too kind!!!
Anyway, I think my favourite way of cooking celeriac is in a rosti - yummy!!
Anyway, I think my favourite way of cooking celeriac is in a rosti - yummy!!
I think Chinese Pears are also known as Noshi fruit. If they are the same thing then i agree with Diminuendo, they are magnificent. You get a feeling that its good to be alive when you are eating one. Feels like an apple, juicy as a pear. nmom.
:lol: Krizon
:lol: Krizon
Shadow Leader
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Thought I'd dig this one up again as I've had celeriac a few times recently, including tonight. Mum used to cook it for us as kids and I was most amazed to see some for sale in Safeways in Gib. You can make a fantastic mashed potato with potato & celeriac mashed together, add loads of butter & nutmeg & it is fantastic - had some tonight. B)
Do you give them to the parrots peeled, or unpeeled, and let them pull the peel off for themselves, Mark? I love to see the way in which all kinds of birds handle their food. I note that while many species don't have the type of flexibility in their feet that parrots do, it's interesting to note which birds use their feet to hold their food, and which don't
All raptors restrain their food, especially if it's still trying to escape
, and apart from their talons, they seem to have feet made very similarly to parrots' - they can curl the toes, grasp their food fully, and yet it's still parrots who place their food into their mouths with their toes, while even the smartest other species use their beaks.
Then there are birds like pigeons, which very rarely ever seem to realise that if they hold down their food, it's not so likely to spring away from them. I see them trying to eat pieces of bread: if they held the bread down, it wouldn't fly about all over the place when they pull a piece off. They just don't seem to have got that sussed yet.
I note that the corvids understand the necessity of controlling food items with their feet firmly stomped on them, possessing them against snatchers, but, smart as they are, I've never seen them use their feet to put the food into their mouths.
All raptors restrain their food, especially if it's still trying to escape
, and apart from their talons, they seem to have feet made very similarly to parrots' - they can curl the toes, grasp their food fully, and yet it's still parrots who place their food into their mouths with their toes, while even the smartest other species use their beaks. Then there are birds like pigeons, which very rarely ever seem to realise that if they hold down their food, it's not so likely to spring away from them. I see them trying to eat pieces of bread: if they held the bread down, it wouldn't fly about all over the place when they pull a piece off. They just don't seem to have got that sussed yet.
I note that the corvids understand the necessity of controlling food items with their feet firmly stomped on them, possessing them against snatchers, but, smart as they are, I've never seen them use their feet to put the food into their mouths.
Krizon, only parrots and woodpeckers have the design of foot to enable them to hold their food, parrots and woodpeckers have two front digits and two back digits and similar ligaments to the human hand, this enables them to hold food in their foot in exactly the same way that we would hold a spoon for example.
Other bird species have three front digits and only one at the back, this is fine for birds of prey who use their strongest tallon, the back one for the kill, then the beak rips open at the flesh while the bird of prey is standing on it's kill.
All other bird species have never had need to hold their food, IE, seed eaters, insect eaters, scavangers etc but maybe in many many years time they will have evolved to the point where they are able to use, even if a bit clumsily, their feet like hands, they will have to really, more and more are moving into urban areas and will have to eat what is available
We give our parrots lychee's in their natural state, the birds peal the outer skin, eat the flesh and some of them crunch the stone, yes, marvelous to watch, they can use their feet as good as we can use our hands, even better when you think they can throw a piece of apple from quite a distance with uncanny accuracy smack bang in to the middle of my face. :lol: :lol:
Other bird species have three front digits and only one at the back, this is fine for birds of prey who use their strongest tallon, the back one for the kill, then the beak rips open at the flesh while the bird of prey is standing on it's kill.
All other bird species have never had need to hold their food, IE, seed eaters, insect eaters, scavangers etc but maybe in many many years time they will have evolved to the point where they are able to use, even if a bit clumsily, their feet like hands, they will have to really, more and more are moving into urban areas and will have to eat what is available
We give our parrots lychee's in their natural state, the birds peal the outer skin, eat the flesh and some of them crunch the stone, yes, marvelous to watch, they can use their feet as good as we can use our hands, even better when you think they can throw a piece of apple from quite a distance with uncanny accuracy smack bang in to the middle of my face.
:lol: :lol::lol: Now that would make a nice video clip for 'You've Been Framed!'. Thanks for the info on toes, that explains it.
But I regularly see crows and other corvids holding down food, then pulling pieces off a beakful at a time. They must have learned that this was the easiest way to manage their food, just as they've learned that if they stand at the side of a busy motorway, especially in summer, all of the insects killed by the cars will be punted their way! I like to see the way that gulls and crows have quickly cottoned onto easy winter eating by following NH horses around the track, picking out the worms that the divots have uncovered. Very clever, though not a lot cleverer than following a plough or haymaker, I suppose.
But I regularly see crows and other corvids holding down food, then pulling pieces off a beakful at a time. They must have learned that this was the easiest way to manage their food, just as they've learned that if they stand at the side of a busy motorway, especially in summer, all of the insects killed by the cars will be punted their way! I like to see the way that gulls and crows have quickly cottoned onto easy winter eating by following NH horses around the track, picking out the worms that the divots have uncovered. Very clever, though not a lot cleverer than following a plough or haymaker, I suppose.
As we're on an avian theme, as I was driving into Welllington y'day pm through the common (a wooded area with SSSI status) I was fortunate enough to see a buzzard making a kill of a sizeable rat, and take off with his tea through the trees. I tend to associate buzzards with open country (we have a pretty big population of these predators) and it's amazing to see such large birds be so deft when flying through what is a densely wooded area.
Shadow Leader
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It's great to see that buzzards are thriving at the moment (in my area of the UK at least) & there are generally many more birds of prey to be seen nowadays, it's great. On our way to Cheltenham last month as we drove through West Ilsley we drove past a buzzard sitting about 5ft off the ground on a tree branch that was only 2ft away from the road - he wasn't in the least bit worried about us driving past & sat there happily, drinking in the attention!
Heartbroken - on the way to Lingfield on Saturday, saw a dead barn owl on the side of the road. Noooooo.... 
sadly, there are often dead pheasants and other birdies on that bit of road, as I think they fly over the road from woods growing on a hillside opposite. I know, I shouldn't think his or her life to be more special than any other bird's, except that they're so beautiful and rare, having suffered much persecution.
On a happier note, the starlings are putting on a fantastic aerobatic massed flight display at sunset, swooping in hundreds over the shoreline before disappearing in a trice to their night roosts.
sadly, there are often dead pheasants and other birdies on that bit of road, as I think they fly over the road from woods growing on a hillside opposite. I know, I shouldn't think his or her life to be more special than any other bird's, except that they're so beautiful and rare, having suffered much persecution.On a happier note, the starlings are putting on a fantastic aerobatic massed flight display at sunset, swooping in hundreds over the shoreline before disappearing in a trice to their night roosts.
A
Ardross
Guest
Aunty K - I wish you would stop this deleting lark of yoursNice to know that you girls know so much about birds
We were recently at our friends farm in Warwickshire which she has turned into a small zoo, one visitor, a young man said look at that cuckoo over there, I looked and saw this bird flying six inches above the hedge backwards and forwards, I said to the young fella, similar colours but that is a cock sparrow hawk, he said how do you know it is a cock bird ? I replied because the cock is blue/grey in colour and the hen is darkish brown, however, he still thought it was a cuckoo, I asked him to watch, I had only just said the last word when a greenfinch popped it's head from above the hedge and was instantly snatched by the hawk, a cuckoo eh and this man is thinkinking of taking up falconry duh I would suggest he spends time with a competant falconer and read many, many books, you girls know far more than him
Songsheet, birds of prey with the exception of owls are masters of flight, their body produces a type of laquer or wax the feathers are very hard, it is like running your hand over very tight canvas, it has to be this way so they are able to twist and turn flip over backwards at magnificent speed, the peragrine falcon has been recorded as flying at the speed of 283 MPH.
Shadow, you mention the buzzard, one of my favourite birds excellent rat killers :lol: You saw one in or near cheltenham, Oh Gloucestershire what a lovely county, all birds are on the increae in numbers in the UK inclusive of birds of prey, the eagle owl has crossed over the north sea from sweden, they are breeding in north yorkshire, they have been found in our neighbour county shropshire, wow I have mentioned gloucesterhire, warwickshire, and shropshire, England still has many lovely parts if you now where to look
Shame about the dead birds Krizon but they were possibly this years youngsters who had not required the survival skills, very much a shame but it happens.
Never told you I think of one of my other interests, SPIDERS, very intelligent little creatures, I can remember as if it were yesterday, I was aged 3/4 my late father let a spider from his shed walk up and down his arm, I asked if I could have the spider, he put it in my hand, it walked around my hand up and down my arm, I giggled, I appreciate that many, many people suffer from aracnophobia but I like the little gems, if there is a spider in our home I am asked to move it, it does not bother me the size I will happily pick up any none venemous spider, yes I have had a few nips from spiders but you can not compre this to a parrots bite that leaves you with blood dripping down your fingers ouch, I know I am a little obscure but it does not bother me to be the court jester
I am glued to the TV watching David Attenboroughs new programme.
If We have heavy snow fall I guess the kids will make snowmen, snowmen so clich'e so, I intend to be different, not surprised are you :lol: I am going to be very different and construct a five foot high snow parrot and a life size snow horse, I can hear the neighbours now, Oh that Mark always has to be different, you bet your life, I love to be different. :lol: :lol: :lol:
We were recently at our friends farm in Warwickshire which she has turned into a small zoo, one visitor, a young man said look at that cuckoo over there, I looked and saw this bird flying six inches above the hedge backwards and forwards, I said to the young fella, similar colours but that is a cock sparrow hawk, he said how do you know it is a cock bird ? I replied because the cock is blue/grey in colour and the hen is darkish brown, however, he still thought it was a cuckoo, I asked him to watch, I had only just said the last word when a greenfinch popped it's head from above the hedge and was instantly snatched by the hawk, a cuckoo eh and this man is thinkinking of taking up falconry duh
I would suggest he spends time with a competant falconer and read many, many books, you girls know far more than him Songsheet, birds of prey with the exception of owls are masters of flight, their body produces a type of laquer or wax the feathers are very hard, it is like running your hand over very tight canvas, it has to be this way so they are able to twist and turn flip over backwards at magnificent speed, the peragrine falcon has been recorded as flying at the speed of 283 MPH.
Shadow, you mention the buzzard, one of my favourite birds excellent rat killers :lol: You saw one in or near cheltenham, Oh Gloucestershire what a lovely county, all birds are on the increae in numbers in the UK inclusive of birds of prey, the eagle owl has crossed over the north sea from sweden, they are breeding in north yorkshire, they have been found in our neighbour county shropshire, wow I have mentioned gloucesterhire, warwickshire, and shropshire, England still has many lovely parts if you now where to look
Shame about the dead birds Krizon but they were possibly this years youngsters who had not required the survival skills, very much a shame but it happens.
Never told you I think of one of my other interests, SPIDERS, very intelligent little creatures, I can remember as if it were yesterday, I was aged 3/4 my late father let a spider from his shed walk up and down his arm, I asked if I could have the spider, he put it in my hand, it walked around my hand up and down my arm, I giggled, I appreciate that many, many people suffer from aracnophobia but I like the little gems, if there is a spider in our home I am asked to move it, it does not bother me the size I will happily pick up any none venemous spider, yes I have had a few nips from spiders but you can not compre this to a parrots bite that leaves you with blood dripping down your fingers ouch, I know I am a little obscure but it does not bother me to be the court jester
I am glued to the TV watching David Attenboroughs new programme.
If We have heavy snow fall I guess the kids will make snowmen, snowmen so clich'e so, I intend to be different, not surprised are you :lol: I am going to be very different and construct a five foot high snow parrot and a life size snow horse, I can hear the neighbours now, Oh that Mark always has to be different, you bet your life, I love to be different. :lol: :lol: :lol: