A Kick In The Asparagus Food

CHILLED ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• I like asparagus al dente, slightly crunchy. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot over medium heat. Add salt until it tastes like mild seawater. How will you know? Take a little water with a spoon and taste it, then add the sugar.
• Prepare an ice bath by filling a bowl, large enough to hold the asparagus, with cold water. Add some ice cubes. Plunge the asparagus into the ice bath before cooking. This will help to bring any limp stalks back to life. Remove from the ice bath, plunge them into the boiling water and allow them to cook, 2 to 3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the water, transferring them immediately to the same ice bath. Allow them to sit in the ice bath for a few minutes, swirling them gently in the water to assure they are all cooling quickly in the cold water.
• The most important step for this dish? Drying the stalks once they are removed from the ice bath. Taking care that no water gets into the final salad is the best way to assure that the maximum flavor will be enjoyed! Transfer the asparagus to a large plate or platter lined with a kitchen towel and refrigerate.
• In a medium bowl, combine the lemon juice, white wine vinegar, honey and mustard. Stir to blend. Whisk in the olive oil in an even, steady stream. When all of the oil has been integrated, taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed.
• When ready to serve, remove the kitchen towel from the asparagus and simply toss the asparagus in the dressing to coat them completely. Arrange the stalks on plates and serve.

CHICKEN ASPARAGUS ROLL-UPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Grease a baking dish. In a bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, tarragon, salt, and pepper until the mixture is well combined. Set aside.
• Cook asparagus in the microwave on High until bright green and just tender, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Set the asparagus spears aside. Place a chicken breast between two sheets of heavy plastic (resealable freezer bags work well) on a solid, level surface. Firmly pound the chicken breast with the smooth side of a meat mallet to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Repeat with the rest of the chicken breasts.
• Place 1 slice of provolone on each chicken breast, and top the cheese with 4 asparagus spears per breast. Roll the chicken breasts around the asparagus and cheese, making a tidy package, and place, seam sides down, in the prepared baking dish. With a pastry brush, apply a coating of the mayonnaise mixture to each chicken breast, and sprinkle each with panko crumbs, pressing the crumbs into the chicken to make a coating.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the crumbs are browned and the chicken juices run clear, about 25 minutes.

PENNE RUSTICA WITH A KICK TOSSED WITH ASPARAGUS & TOPPED WITH CRISPY PANKO

Steps:

• • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. • Once boiling, add penne to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 9-11 minutes. • Reserve ½ cup pasta cooking water (1 cup for 4 servings), then drain.
• • Meanwhile, wash and dry produce. • Trim and discard woody bottom ends from asparagus; cut stalks crosswise into 1-inch-long pieces. Dice tomato. Mince chives. Zest and quarter lemon. • Melt 1 TBSP plain butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add panko and almonds; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until golden brown, 3-4 minutes. • Turn off heat. Stir in a pinch of lemon zest and a pinch of chili flakes. Transfer to a small bowl.
• • Heat a drizzle of olive oil in same pan over medium-high heat. Add asparagus and cook, stirring often, until bright green and tender, 2-4 minutes. • Add tomato and cook, stirring, until slightly softened, 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• • Add drained penne, garlic herb butter, half the Parmesan (save the rest for serving), and 1⁄3 cup reserved pasta cooking water (½ cup for 4 servings) to pan with veggies; stir until thoroughly combined. Season with salt and pepper.
• • Add half the chives, remaining lemon zest, 1 TBSP plain butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings), and as many remaining chili flakes as you like to pan with pasta. Cook, stirring, until everything is thoroughly coated in sauce, 1-2 minutes. TIP: If needed, stir in more reserved pasta cooking water a splash at a time. • Turn off heat; stir in a squeeze of lemon juice to taste. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
• • Divide pasta between bowls. Sprinkle with panko mixture and remaining Parmesan. Add a drizzle of olive oil over bowls. Garnish with remaining chives and serve with any remaining lemon wedges on the side.

ASPARAGUS WITH HORSERADISH BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in middle.
• Toss asparagus with oil and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a 4-sided sheet pan. Roast until just tender, about 10 minutes.
• Mash together butter, horseradish, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Toss asparagus with horseradish butter.

ROAST ASPARAGUS WITH GARLIC AND CAPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F
• Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Add the asparagus and boil for 2 minutes until crisp, but beginning to go tender.
• Drain and refresh under cold water. Dry on kitchen paper.
• Pour the oil into a shallow roasting tin and roll the asparagus in it to coat.
• Scatter over the garlic slivers and capers and roast for 8-10 minutes until the asparargus is tinged brown and cooked through - test by inserting a knife in a few spears.
• Sprinkle with orange juice, season and serve warm.

LEMON ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• In med saucepan, saute onion and celery in butter until tender.
• Dissolve cornstarch in water.
• Add cornstarch mixture and bouillon cubes to saucepan.
• Bring to boil over med heat; cook and stir 2 minute.
• Add asparagus and reduce heat.
• Simmer, covered, until asparagus is crisp-tender, approx 3-4 minute.
• Add milk and spices.
• Cover and simmer 25 min, stirring occasionally.

A KICK IN THE ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Mix everything except asparagus and set aside.
• Cut one inch off the bottom of the asparagus, or trim with a veggie peeler.
• In a shallow 9 inch casserole dish, place the asparagus in the dish and cover with the above marinade.
• Let sit one to three hours.
• Prepare the grill for the direct heat method.
• Grill the asparagus using a medium-hot temperature and baste with the marinade frequently.
• Grill for no more than six minutes.
• Mushy Asparagus is ICKKKYYY.

CREAMY GOAT CHEESE AND ASPARAGUS ORECCHIETTE

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the orecchiette until just al dente. Drain the orecchiette, reserving 2/3 cup of the cooking water.
• Meanwhile, in a large, deep skillet, heat the olive oil until shimmering. Add the onion and cook over moderately low heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the asparagus and crushed red pepper and cook over moderate heat until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add the orecchiette and the reserved cooking water to the skillet along with the lemon juice and zest season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the orecchiette is al dente and the asparagus is just tender, about 2 minutes. Add the goat cheese and chives and stir until melted. Transfer the pasta to bowls and serve with Parmesan cheese.