This recipe is a T&T one, and everyone adores it. Well, almost everyone. DH doesn't because he doesn't like caviar. But try it...uses 4 hb eggs. Avocado and Caviar Pie I donÂt know who created this recipe, but I wish I could take credit for it! IÂve been making it ever since my days with Judith at the Chicago Caterers. It takes a few minutes to put together, and it costs a few pennies, but it¹s a real crowd pleaser. Write more textures. Softness opulence what? Chef June Jacobs, C.C.P. Makes one 7-inch pie Ingredients: 1 package unflavored gelatin 1/4 cup cold water Egg Layer: 4 hard cooked eggs, chopped 1/2 cup homemade mayonnaise (see Basics) 1/4 cup chopped parsley 1 large green onion, chopped pinch of salt dash of hot pepper sauce pinch of white pepper Avocado Layer: 1 medium (9 oz) avocado/diced 1 medium (9 oz) avocado/pureed 1 large shallot, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons homemade mayonnaise 1/2 teaspoons salt dash of hot pepper sauce freshly ground black pepper Sour Cream & Onion Layer: 1 cup sour cream 1/4 cup chopped onion 4 ounces black, red or golden caviar (I don¹t think I¹d use Beluga for this, but almost anything else goes. Actually, I prefer salmon roe for its unctuousness.) Fresh lemon juice one thin slice lemon Pam a 7-inch springform pan. Soften gelatin in cold water in measuring cup. Liquefy gelatin by setting cup in pan of hot water or in microwave for about 20 seconds on low. Egg layer: Combine all ingredients with 1 TABLESPOONS of gelatin. Taste and adjust seasoning. Neatly spread egg mixture into prepared pan. Smooth top. Avocado layer: Combine all ingredients with 1 TABLESPOONS gelatin. Spread evenly over the egg layer. Sour cream layer: Mix with rest of gelatin. Spread over the avocado layer. Cover pan tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Just before serving, place caviar in fine sieve and rinse gently under cold water. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Drain. Spread evenly over sour cream. Garnish with a thin slice of lemon. Nancy

Aahhh, We have little palmate newts I have decided, and they have started making their presence known. As the taddies are hatching we will be having some very very fat palmate newts! There are Great Crested Newts about a mile away, so I keep hoping! If you crossed your male frogs and newts, would you get frewts? It is too late in the evening... Chip

Tried, but my computer won't let real player download and need to get hubby to sort. Looking forward to spotting your hair--any hints on identification? Speaking of identification, I can't decide if I have common or palmate newts. Each time I think I'm sure I get my doubts. They are very unspotty on the belly, and rather small, but none of them have the big back feet. Any thoughts? A couple are getting very fat gorging on all the tadpoles!

I still don't have a digital camera! Don't ask! Aren't you lucky being able to see everything. I have so much greenery these days. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens to my 'egg.' Unfortunately I was really late doing the barley straw earlier this year and the blanket weed's been spreading because of the sun. I have to be really careful while I'm using my twizzle stick (actually a plastic rod from a blind, which is ideal) not to pull anything out. If ever I proved to myself that barley straw works, it was this year. My pond water is also really clear and I don't have a pump or a filter in sight! I put it down to the barley straw because I don't know what else it could be.