What a cool find. There must be some Flat-topped Aster somewhere near you because these butterflies only exist near their host plants. These caterpillars will overwinter, which can be tricky because there is a high risk of them drying out. (I tried to overwinter a few one year--failed and didn't want to try it again because I didn't want to harm the local populations). I guess I would encourage you to find the stand of asters somewhere and release most of the caterpillars. They make a web and feed together--hundreds (so you will need a lot of the plant); they stop feeding about August and rest at the base of the plant for the fall/winter. They re-awaken in spring and resume feeding about the time the host plants have re-leafed. There are resources about rearing overwintering caterpillars. If you search on this site for a Ladobe's posts, he gave a detailed explantation of a technique he used to get most overwintering larvae to survive winter. Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: Overwintering techniques

There is always Tiramisu. Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table ======== This is my recipe. I have been making it this way for many years Most Tiramisu recipes are made with raw eggs. This one starts with cooked custard 1 Custard recipe (follows) 1 500g tub of mascarpone cream cheese 1/2 Cup whipping cream 1 Cup fresh strong espresso 1/4 Cup cognac or rum 1 Package ladyfingers ground chocolate 1/2 Pint whipping cream Creme Anglaise (optional) Custard 1/2 Cup sugar 3 Tablespoons flour 1/4 Teaspoon salt 1-1/2 Cups hot milk 3 egg yolks 1 Tablespoon butter 1 Teaspoon vanilla . Combine sugar, flour and salt in saucepan. Gradually stir in hot milk. Cook over low heat stirring until mixture comes to a boil. Continue cooking for 1 minute. Beat egg yolks slightly. Gradually stir in about 1/2 of thickened sauce. Add this mixture back into saucepan with remaining sauce. cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and blend in butter and vanilla. Place plastic wrap on surface and refrigerate. Cool completely. Beat Mascarpone cheese with whipping cream. Add cooled custard and mix well. Dip ladyfingers into coffee and cognac mixture and place one layer in bowl of choice. Cover with half of cheese mixture. Repeat with another layer of ladyfingers and finish with cheese mixture. Prepare one day ahead. Before serving cover with whipping cream and ground chocolate. To serve. prepare a Creme Anglaise recipe and pour some on to plate, place two scoops of tiramisu on the sauce and drizzle with warm chocolate sauce. Add a few fresh strawberries or raspberries Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table ==================================== Carmelized Pears with Tiramisu Cream This scrumptious dessert from HeartSmart Cooking for Family and Friends will make dinner guests think you're a professional chef, and the fact that it's low-fat makes it even more attractive. http://www.canada.com/vancouver/features/tasteofbc/recipes/carmel_pears.html Ingredients: 4 medium pears, firm but ripe (preferably bartlett or bosc) 2/3 cup (150 mL) granulated sugar 2 tablespoons (30 mL) chopped candied ginger 1 lemon, sliced very thin Filling 1/2 cup (125 mL) part skim ricotta cheese, drained (see note) 2 tablespoons (30 mL) granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon (2 mL) vanilla extract 2 teaspoons (10 mL) dark rum, coffee liqueur or extra-strong coffee 2 tablespoons (30 mL) chopped bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate 1 tablespoon (15 mL) icing sugar, sifted . Preparation: Cut pears in half lengthwise. Scoop out cores (a melon baller works well). Sprinkle 2/3 cup (150 mL) granulated sugar over bottom of large heavy frypan that will hold all the pears in one layer. Cook, uncovered, on medium-high heat for 2 minutes or until sugar begins to brown and melt, stirring occasionally (be careful not to let burn). Remove frypan from heat. Add pears cut side down. Sprinkle with ginger and arrange lemon slices over top. Place over low heat and cook for about 10 minutes. Cover and remove from heat; let rest for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare filling: In small bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 2 tablespoons (30 mL) granulated sugar, vanilla and rum. Place chopped chocolate in strainer to remove any chocolate "dust" (this prevents the ricotta from discolouring). Stir chocolate pieces into filling. To serve, place a pear half, cut side up, on each plate. Spoon about 1 tablespoon (15 mL) cheese mixture on to each half. Drizzle pear and plate with any syrup remaining in frypan. Arrange a cool lemon slice on each and dust with icing sugar. Makes 8 servings. Note: Put ricotta cheese in sieve set over bowl and let drain for 1 hour before using. Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table Fresh Strawberries with Black Pepper and Vanilla Mascarpone =========================================================== Source: Gordon Ramsay Some foods are natural partners, and in the same way that fresh ginger accentuates the flavour of melon, black pepper brings a real kick to strawberries. 750g fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced in half 2 tbsp icing sugar 125g mascarpone cheese 2 vanilla pods, split, seeds removed Coarsely ground black pepper . 1 Place the strawberries in a fruit bowl and dust with icing sugar. Leave to stand for 30 minutes to allow the juices to bleed. 2 Mix the mascarpone with the vanilla seeds and season with a pinch of pepper. 3 Divide the strawberries between four serving plates and place a generous spoonful of the mascarpone on top. Season with more black pepper to taste and serve. Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table Chicken with Pesto and Mascarpone Sauce ======================================= Adapted from a recipe by V. Little 2 Tablespoons Olive oil 1 small onion finely chopped 1 clove of garlic, minced 4 slices pancetta, chopped 1 cup fresh bread crumbs 1/2 cup parmesan cheese 3 tablespoons parsley, chopped zest from small lemon 1 egg 4 large Chicken breasts 1/2 cup white wine 1/2 to 1 cup chicken broth 2 to 3 tablespoons mascarpone 2 tablespoons homemade pesto . Saute the onion and pancetta in the olive oil until golden. Add the garlic, and stir for 30 seconds. Remove from the heat. When cool empty the mixture into a food processor along with the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, egg and lemon zest. Pulse until well combined but not pureed. Stuff mixture until the skin of chicken breasts. Rub with a little olive oil and roast in a shallow roasting pan at 400F until done. Remove chicken from pan. Add 1/2 cup white wine to pan and simmer until reduced to a 1/4 cup. Add 1/2 the e chicken broth and simmer for a few minutes. Add the mascarpone and stir until well blended. Stir in the pesto. Add more chicken broth if you like a thinner sauce. Serve over the chicken.

Here's a list of egg subs,courtesy of PETA... ** Eggs-citing Eggless Eggs One egg (or even two) in a recipe can often simply be skipped, but there are also many tried and true substitutes that work wonders: Binding for burgers and loaves: Mashed potato or avocado Moistened bread crumbs or rolled oats Tahini (sesame butter) and nut butters Baking (each substitute replaces one egg): Commercial egg replacer (for example, 1 1/2 tsp. ENER-G + 2 Tbsp. water) 3 Tbsp. tofu blended with the liquid in the recipe 2 Tbsp. cornstarch, potato starch, or arrowroot mixed with 2 Tbsp. water 1 heaping Tbsp. soy flour + 2 Tbsp. water 1/2 banana, mashed 1 Tbsp. flax seeds + 1/2 cup water blended for 1 to 2 minutes or until the mixture is thick and has the consistency of beaten egg whites Here is a link that might be useful: Egg Subs

This is a toughy, for me, anyway! My tendency is to just skip them. Are they a big part of the recipe? If so, what about using extra firm (not silken) tofu, maybe with a sprinkle of herbs like you use for fake egg salad (there are many recipes) or something like Fantastic's Tofu Scrambler (I use it to make too-lazy-to-pull-out-herbs fake egg salad). Or what about going another direction - like chopped mushrooms? I think those would be good in empanadas. Maybe some more creative minds will have some better ideas. Good luck, and happy eating!