Asparagus In A Blanket Food

THE BEST ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a wire rack.
• Put the asparagus, olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Toss to coat evenly. Spread the asparagus in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly browned and tender, but still bright green.
• Meanwhile, spread the Parmesan evenly in the bottom of a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook undisturbed until the cheese melts, sticks together and turns golden brown, about 2 minutes, then flip with a rubber spatula and cook until golden on the second side, about 2 minutes more. Transfer the frico to a wire rack-lined baking sheet to cool completely, about 2 minutes. Break the frico into small crumbles and put in a small bowl. Add the lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and toss to combine.
• Transfer the roasted asparagus to a serving platter and squeeze the fresh lemon juice over the top. Top with the crumbled frico mixture.

SMOKED SALMON AND ASPARAGUS PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Put the smoked salmon in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon zest, dill, hot sauce, smoked paprika and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the chives. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Lightly dust a clean surface with flour. Unroll the crescent dough and separate into 8 triangles, following the perforations. Cut each triangle in half lengthwise to make 2 thin triangles. Starting at the wide end of a triangle piece, spread 1 1/2 teaspoons of the smoked salmon mixture toward the tip. Place a piece of asparagus about 1/4 inch from the bottom of the dough's wide end, then roll up towards the tip. Place on the baking sheet with the tip of the roll-up flat on the baking sheet. Repeat with all the dough.
• Lightly whisk the egg with 1/2 teaspoon water. Brush the egg wash over each puff, then sprinkle some of the remaining chives over each. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes.

ASPARAGUS IN A BLANKET

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Unroll each pastry sheet onto a clean work surface. Take a chopped asparagus piece and measure out a little less than the width of it on the pastry sheet and cut the sheet into long, thin strips. Divide the strips into 3-inch pieces.
• To assemble, wrap the dough around the asparagus piece. Press the seam with your fingers to seal, and then set it seam side down on a baking sheet greased with cooking spray.
• Add 2 tablespoons of water to the beaten eggs and whisk quickly to combine. Using a pastry brush, brush each asparagus piece with the egg wash, then bake in the oven until the puff pastry is cooked and golden brown, about 15 minutes.

GRILLED SPIRAL PIGS IN BLANKETS

Steps:

• Soak 6 wooden skewers in water for 15 minutes.
• Prepare a grill for indirect heat. (For a gas grill, turn one burner on each far side to medium heat and the middle burners to low; for a charcoal grill, bank the coals on one side of the grill.) A grill thermometer should read 325 to 350 degrees F.
• Tear off a long piece of foil and fold into thirds so it's about the size of a baking sheet. Spray the foil with cooking spray.
• Push the hot dogs onto the skewers so the hot dogs are flush with the top. Use a sharp paring knife to cut a spiral (4 or 5 rings total) along the hot dog, cutting all the way down to the skewer. Gently pull the hot dog down to open up the spiral.
• Unwrap the crescent dough. Cut it crosswise into 6 pieces. Roll each piece into a snake 8 to 9 inches long. Press one snake into the cut spaces in each spiral, wrapping it as you go and tucking in the ends.
• Set the foil on the indirect (low) heat part of the grill and add the hot dogs, leaving some space between each. Grill, covered, until the bottoms of the dogs are golden and top of the dough is set, 5 to 6 minutes. Flip the skewers and cook until the bottom is browned again, 5 to 6 minutes more. Flip once more to an unbrowned side and grill until the dough is cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes more.
• Transfer the pigs in blankets to a platter and serve with ketchup and mustard.