Asparagus

I am not a fan of Asparagus but I do have family members who are. So I have looked up ideas to cook them up.


Food Network has a great site for recipes: http://www.foodnetwork.com/

Baked Asparagus

2 bunches asparagus, washed
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
Coarse grained salt and cracked black pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Place asparagus in a large plastic bag. Drizzle half the olive oil over the asparagus, seal the bag and shake until asparagus is coated evenly with the olive oil. If necessary, add only enough of the remaining olive oil to coat the asparagus. Place the asparagus in a single layer on a cookie sheet, season with salt and pepper. Bake until tender or crunchy depending upon your preference, about 12 to 20 minutes.

Tips: (Shortcut chef) Toss asparagus with oil, salt and pepper as directed below and store in refrigerator until you're ready to bake it off. Get into the habit of spending 5 to 15 minutes prepping tonight or tomorrow's dinner during the day and you will be eating in more than out. The weight will come off quicker with home cooked healthful meals and you know it.

Tip: From mom's lips to your ears: You forgot to tell them to snap off the woody bottoms. Tell em to hold asparagus, one at a time, in their hands near the cut end and snap it like kindling. Mother Nature saw to it that the asparagus breaks in just the right spot, save the ends for stock.

Morph: Serve one other simple veggie side and a piece of oven baked fish such as salmon and dinner is all done. Cook off extra asparagus and throw it into a frittata, polenta, or pasta later in the week.

If the Queen's coming for dinner, toss cooked asparagus with fresh lemon, plate and garnish with thin curls of Parmesan.

Tip: Asparagus starts losing its sweetness the minute it's cut, therefore, as always; look for the freshest stalks possible. Skins should be smooth and bright colored with tightly formed heads.

© 2014 Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.


My mother is a fan of Asparagus and bacon, so this will be a treat.

Asparagus Bundles

Recipe adapted from Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood (c) Clarkson Potter 2010

2 pounds fresh asparagus ends trimmed
12 slices bacon
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Divide the asparagus spears into 12 bundles. Carefully wrap 1 piece of bacon around each bundle, starting about 1/2 inch from the bottom of the tips. Secure the bacon-wrapped spears with a toothpick. Lay the bundles in a low-sided casserole dish.

In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, soy sauce, garlic salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Pour the hot sugar mixture over the asparagus bundles. Transfer the dish to the oven and roast until the spears have begun to wilt and the bacon looks fully cooked, about 25 minutes. Remove the toothpicks before serving.

© 2014 Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Asparagus and Cheddar Quiche

Recipe courtesy Aaron McCargo Jr.

1 (11-inch) store-bought pie dough
3 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 bunch asparagus, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
Pinch cayenne
Kosher salt and cracked black pepper
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped chives
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
4 eggs
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 1/2 cups shredded white Cheddar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Roll out pie dough and mold into an 11-inch pie dish, crimping the edges to make ridges. Pierce the dough with a fork several times. Bake in the hot oven until slightly browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool. Turn the oven down to 325 degrees F.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the butter, onions, asparagus, cayenne and garlic. Sprinkle with a pinch salt and a pinch pepper. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes until the asparagus is soft and mixture is fragrant. Remove from the pan to a bowl and let cool.

In a large bowl, add the chives, Dijon mustard, eggs, heavy cream, nutmeg, a large pinch salt and a large pinch black pepper. Whisk together until well combined.

Add the asparagus mixture to the pie shell, then pour in the egg mixture. Top with the Cheddar and bake until the eggs are set, about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven, cut into wedges and serve.

 2014 Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.