Shrimp in Tomato and Green Garlic Sauce on Angel Hair Pasta; My Hoopoe

Last year about this time I did a post about our Processionarias or Processional Caterpillars... Those very pretty, very nasty and potentially deadly critters I'd seen nose-to-tailing it past our garden gate.

You'll never guess what came tap tap tapping on my kitchen window last week.

A hoopoe.

The only known predator of those nasty little caterpillars.

He flew around the window, sat on the sill and tapped and tapped and tapped on the window.

He likely saw his reflection and thought there was another hoopoe hiding in the glass.

This is the first one I've seen here and only the second one I've seen ever, so they are not very common.

I assumed he was merely stopping off on his bi-annual trip from Africa to wherever it is he spends his summer.

He came back the next day and spent some time on Juliette's balcony, allowing me to sneak up to the window again, camera in hand.

The sun was shining on him, giving me a better photo - still through the double-glazing, though.

Yes, the balcony is a bit rusty..... All things in time.

I'm hosting Presto Pasta Nights this week.

You have until midnight on Thursday your time to get your entries to me.

Send them to: thyme2.kate

(at) gmail (dot) com with a copy to founder Ruth, of Once Upon A Feast at ruth

(at) 4everykitchen (dot) com

• My entry for this week's Presto Pasta Nights:
• (It's spring, of course there had to be green garlic in it!)
• Shrimp in Tomato and Green Garlic Sauce on Angel Hair Pasta
• 12oz (350gr) shrimp, cleaned
• 3 slices streaky bacon
• 4 green garlic
• 2 tbs tomato paste
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 4oz (125gr) angel hair pasta

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving a bit of pasta water.

Clean shrimp. Trim green garlic, slicing off the root and removing 1 layer. Thinly slice as much as you can, including the green tops.

Fry bacon until crisp; remove and drain on paper towels. Crumble when cool.

Pour off any remaining fat. Add olive oil to skillet. Add paprika and sauté a few seconds. Add green garlic, shrimp and sauté until shrimp curl and turn opaque. Stir in 2 tbs pasta water and tomato paste. Heat through. Add yogurt and stir over heat for 1 minute. Remove from heat, add pasta, crumbled bacon and toss to combine and serve.

So.....

Send me your pastas!