For this recipe, you will need
1 Pepe Romero
1 Neville Mariner
1 Chamber Orchestra of the Academy of St. Martin In the Fields
(If Messrs. Romero and Mariner are otherwise engaged, or if you haven't room for the orchestra in your kitchen, a recording of Mauro Giuliani's Guitar Concerto No. 1 in A Major, Opus 30 can be substituted. Fresh is always better, but we make do with what we can. Look below the fold for You Tube selections of these pieces.)
4 Tablespoons olive oil
2 or 3 large cloves of crushed garlic to taste (substitute ¼ teaspoon garlic powder per clove)
1 teaspoon mustard seed, crushed
1 Tablespoon rosemary leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried sage
2 teaspoons paprika
1 Tablespoon dill
1 large yellow onion
6 to 8 cups diced red potatoes
1 half-pound Baby Portobello Mushrooms (substitute your favorite variety but don't use canned - they will overcook!)
1 pound fresh asparagus spears
Crumbled feta or bleu cheese (garnish)
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350°F
When the orchestra strikes up the Allegro maestoso, combine the olive oil, crushed garlic,mustard seed, rosemary, thyme, sage, paprika and dill in a large mixing bowl.
As Mr. Romero's fingers sketch out the landscape on the canvas the orchestra has prepared, peel the onion and cut it into coarse chunks, separate the layers and place them in the bowl. If perhaps your tears fall on the onions, go ahead and weep, but save a few drops for the Andantino.
You must be gentle as you wash the mushrooms. Let your touch be as soft as Anna Wiesenberger's as she caressed Mauro's face in Vienna's long autumn shadows. Carefully trim the stems and quarter them into the bowl.
Scrub and cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces, leaving the skins on as you add them to the bowl. The the tender, earnest, passion of the movimento siciliano will be reflected on the moistened red surface of the tubers. And you thought fiber was dowdy and dull!
As the Polonaise begins, joyfully toss the potatoes with the other ingredients to thoroughly coat them with oil and seasonings. Set the bowl aside to let the flavors mingle a bit as you rinse the asparagus spears and pat them dry with a paper towel. With a slotted spoon, distribute the contents of the mixing bowl evenly in large (4 to 5 quart) glass baking dish. Gently toss the asparagus spears in the residue of olive oil and seasonings left in the bowl. Add a few drops of oil if necessary. Place the asparagus spears in a single layer on top of the potatoes and drizzle any remaining oil over all.
How long do we bake this dish? The asparagus and mushrooms will give up quite a bit of liquid early on and we want most of that water to evaporate. A full hour will leave the asparagus very soft. If you prefer it a bit firmer, blanch the asparagus, plunge it in cold water and drain it while you roast the potatoes for 30 minutes. This should leave you time to toss the spears in oil before you remove the dish from the oven. Turn the potatoes, then place the asparagus on top and return the dish to the oven for another 20 to30 minutes. Yes it's a bit of extra fuss, but our friend Pepe is worth it.
You might prevail on Senor Romero to fill any remaining prep/cleanup time with Giuliani's Gran Sonata Eroica in A Major and a glass of Telmo Rodriguez Basa White, 2013.
If it's a CD, what the hell, have a bottle of Bell's Two-Hearted Ale while you set the table.
Serve with a salad and sprinkle each serving with crumbled feta or bleu cheese. If this is a vegetarian main dish, you will have enough for four servings. The '13 Basa White would be pretty good with it. If you prefer a beer, the Bell's Two-Hearted is a nice choice, but drink whatever pleases you. if you will be serving this as a side dish with meat, you can get six servings out of it. If that's your choice, let the meat guide you choice of beverages.
As always, Strauss goes well with dessert. Perhaps a pair of crepes with a hot plum sauce and a poof of confectioner's sugar?
Here's a poem to go with it:
Twigs of Pear and Apple
Cool orchard morning soaked your feet.
The dry marsh hay beyond the fence whispered and hissed.
White blossoms and the scent of your hair filled my head.
How could I not kiss you there, in the glory of May?