Easy Peasy Chilled Asparagus Food

ZESTY MARINATED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch asparagus just until tender, about 1 minute. Plunge into a bowl of cold water to cool. Drain asparagus and place in a large resealable plastic bag. Pour in vinaigrette and seal bag. Refrigerate at least 3 hours, turning bag occasionally.
• Just before serving, drain asparagus, reserving vinaigrette. Arrange on a serving platter and sprinkle with lemon zest, parsley, salt, and pepper. Serve reserved vinaigrette in a small dish on the side.

CHILLED ASPARAGUS WITH CITRUS VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add in the asparagus and cook for 2 minutes. Immediately remove the asparagus from the boiling water and place it into an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Once the asparagus has cooled remove it from the water, blot it dry with a towel, and place it in a large bowl.
• In a glass measuring cup combine the remaining ingredients and whisk together to form the citrus vinaigrette. Pour the desired amount of vinaigrette over the asparagus and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, then top with a little more salt and pepper.

CHILLED MARINATED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, oil, lemon juice and garlic powder. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Refrigerate until cool. , Meanwhile, in a large skillet, bring 1/2 in. of water to a boil. Add asparagus. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 3-5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and rinse in cold water., Place asparagus in a large resealable plastic bag; add marinade. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight, turning occasionally. Drain and discard marinade. Place asparagus on a serving plate; sprinkle with pecans.

EASY BROILED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Rinse the asparagus spears.
• Snap off the tough ends of the spears.
• Place the asparagus in a shallow metal or ceramic pan.
• Drizzle olive oil over the asparagus.
• Sprinkle sea salt or kosher salt over the asparagus.
• Grind fresh black pepper over the asparagus.
• Shake the pan back and forth to distribute the olive oil, salt and black pepper over the asparagus.
• Plan on the oven rack about 6 inches under the broiler.
• Broil for 11 minutes, or until the asparagus has a nice broiled char to them.
• Serve immediately. Enjoy!

ASPARAGUS - RICOTTA TARTS

Steps:

• Unfold the pastry onto a piece of parchment paper or foil.
• Roll 1/2" bigger on all sides.
• Slide the paper/foil (and pastry) onto a baking sheet.
• Now, divide the pastry sheet into 8 equal square.
• Lightly brush a 1/4" border of egg around each of the 8 pastry squares.
• Add the 1 Tsp of ricotta mix on each pastry square and spread it to cover the square leaving the edges.
• Top each pastry square with the asparagus (fits 5 stems) and drizzle olive oil on each.
• Bake until the crust is golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Turn off the oven and transfer the tarts to a serving plate.
• Sprinkle some grated cheese and pepper on each.
• Serve freshly baked.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic, and saute 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add asparagus and saute another 4 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cook for 30 minutes, until asparagus is very tender. *Carefully transfer to a blender and puree until smooth. Return to saucepan, stir in sour cream and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer to serving bowls. Dust with paprika and serve.
• *When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

SUNNY'S QUICK CHILLED CARROT SOUP

Steps:

• For the soup: In a powerful blender, add the carrots, 1 cup of the chicken stock, the creme fraiche, onions, lemon juice, maple syrup, ginger, paprika and nutmeg. Blend until smooth. If needed, add a bit more stock to loosen to the desired texture; this soup should be slightly thick. Taste and season with salt. Blend, taste again and season again if needed. Refrigerate.
• For the garnish: In a small dry pan over medium heat, add the pecans, lemon zest and a few grinds of black pepper. Toss and toast until the pecans become fragrant and the lemon zest shines as well.
• Pour the chilled soup into bowls and serve topped with the garnish.

PARMESAN ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Lightly coat asparagus with cooking spray; place on prepared baking sheet. Combine Parmesan cheese and garlic salt in a small bowl; set aside.
• Bake in preheated oven for 6 minutes; turn asparagus and continue baking until tender, about 6 minutes.
• Sprinkle Parmesan cheese mixture over asparagus.

SUNNY'S CREAMY RANCH TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• 1. Roast the tomatoes. On a sheet pan, gently toss together the tomatoes, peppers, onion, garlic, thyme, 2 tablespoons olive oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Arrange the tomatoes and red peppers, skin side up, tucking the garlic bits beneath them and bake until lightly charred, 45 to 50 minutes.
• 2. Build the soup. In a soup pot, warm the remaining 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-high heat. Stir in the tomato paste and mix well, cooking until it's a deeper red than when you started, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato and pepper mixture, including the juices, and combine. Stir in the stock, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Let cool for 5-10 minutes. Transfer the soup to a blender* (or use hand-held immersion blender) and pulse in small batches that reach only about a third to halfway up the side of the jar. When blending start slow then increase the speed to puree the ingredients until smooth. Use a separate bowl to hold the blended soup and then return it all to the pot.
• 3. Stir in the Hidden Valley®. While whisking, slowly add the Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Light Dressing until combined. Serve warm.

BALSAMIC MARINATED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Snap off the tough ends of asparagus and wash asparagus thoroughly.
• Cook asparagus in boiling water for about two minutes, until it's bright green and just beginning to get tender. Drain.
• Place asparagus in a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Drain.
• Lay asparagus in a 13" by 9" baking dish.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sugar, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
• Pour over asparagus.
• Cover dish with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator.
• Chill for about 8 hours.
• Using tongs, remove asparagus from marinade and serve.

EASY-PEASY CHILLED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Cut Asparagus approximately 3 inches off the ends.
• Steam until cooked but still somewhat firm.
• Drain water.
• While still warm,drizzle bottle dressing over top.
• Let it cool for a few minutes .
• Slice lemon into thin slices.
• Arrange Asparagus decoratively on platter with lemon slices and chopped parsley.
• Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.

CHILLED ASPARAGUS WITH PECANS

Steps:

• Snap off tough ends of asparagus. Remove scales from stalks with a vegetable peeler, if desired. Cook asparagus in boiling salted water to cover 6-8 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain well. Place asparagus in a large heavy-duty, zip-top plastic bag.
• Combine sugar and next 3 ingredients; pour over asparagus. Seal bag securely, and gently turn to coat. Marinate in refrigerator for 1 hour, turning once.
• Remove asparagus from marinade, reserving marinade. Place asparagus on a serving platter, and drizzle with reserved marinade. Sprinkle asparagus with toasted pecans and pepper.

CHILLED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMONY GARLIC DRESSING

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together first five ingredients until smooth.
• Cover and chill until serving time.
• Boil asparagus for 5 minutes (until crisp-tender).
• Drain (I've served this dish hot by tossing the asparagus in the pan with the dressing and heating for 1-2 minutes at this point).
• Rinse with cold water and drain again.
• Cover and chill until serving time.
• To serve, gently toss asparagus spears with dressing.
• Sprinkle lightly with poppy seeds, if desired.

CHILLED ASPARAGUS WITH SESAME VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cook asparagus in a large skillet of boiling, salted water until just crisp-tender, about 4 minutes.
• Drain; rinse with cold water and drain well.
• Pat dry with paper towels.
• Arrange on a platter.
• Mix sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar in a small bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• (Asparagus and sauce can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate.) To serve, spoon dressing over asparagus, sprinkle with toasted sesame seed and serve.

CHILLED ASPARAGUS WITH SESAME VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cook asparagus in large skillet of boiling salted water until just crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain. Rinse with cold water and drain well. Pat dry with paper towels. Arrange on platter. Mix sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce and sugar in small bowl. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. (Asparagus and dressing can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate.) Spoon dressing over asparagus. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

MAID OF HONOUR TARTS

Steps:

• Prepare pastry and line the tart shells.
• Mix the beaten egg, sugar and butter together until creamy.
• Add vanilla and walnuts.
• If desired, a little jam or jelly may be placed in each tart shell before adding the nut mixture.
• Place a spoonful of nut mixture into each tart shell.
• Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until filling is delicately browned, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

MAID OF HONOUR SQUARES

Steps:

• Base;.
• In bowl,beat together butter,sugar and salt until fluffy;stir in flour.Press into parchment-paper lined or greased 13 by 9-inch metal cake pan;prick dough with fork.Bake in center of 350°F oven for about 17 minutes until golden.Let cool on rack.
• In bowl, beat butter with granulated sugar until fluffy.Beat in eggs,one at a time,beating well after each.Beat in milk and lemon rind.Beat in ground almonds;stir in flour and salt.
• Spread jam over base;Pour almond mixture over jam.Sprinkle with slivered almonds.Bake in center of 350°F oven for about 30 minutes or until golden and cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.Let cool in pan on rack.Sprinkle with icing sugar.

EASY PEASY CHICKEN, MUSHROOM AND LEEK PIE

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 200C / 180C fan / gas mark 6 / 400F.
• Place 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, the sliced leeks and the quartered mushrooms into a wide ovenproof pan (see Note 2) and fry over a fairly high heat, stirring regularly, for 3 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Tip the mushrooms and leeks onto a plate and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan. Allow the pan to heat back up again and then fry the diced chicken for 4 minutes, or until lightly browned on most sides. (The chicken should NOT be fully cooked at this point.)
• Return the mushrooms and leeks to the pan and add the chicken stock. Bring to the boil, then turn right down low.
• Allow the pie filling to simmer gently for 2 minutes, then add the crème fraîche, black pepper and thyme and stir to combine. When the crème fraiche is fully stirred in, turn the heat off.
• Leave the pan to cool for 2 minutes, then top with scrunched up sheets of filo pastry: simply take each sheet of filo pastry, scrunch it up in your hand and plop it gently on top of the filling. Repeat until the pie is completely covered, then lightly brush with a little olive oil (or melted butter).
• Place the pie into your pre-heated oven for 20 minutes, or until the pie is golden brown on top and the filling is bubbling (see Note 3).
• Serve the chicken pie with your favourite green vegetables, such as green beans, broccoli, cabbage, kale, peas or asparagus

EASY HOLLANDAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until bubbly; do not let brown.
• Combine egg yolks, water, lemon juice, salt, and cayenne in a blender; blend until frothy. With blender running, pour in hot butter in a very thin stream and blend until sauce is thick and emulsified. Promptly pour sauce into a serving bowl.

CUMIN-RUBBED CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

Steps:

• Sprinkle the chicken generously all over with salt, pepper and the cumin. Let sit for 30 minutes at room temperature.
• Heat the olive oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. When the oil begins to swirl, add the chicken, skin-side down. Cook, undisturbed, until a peek beneath reveals a golden crust, about 5 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate. (The goal here is to just get flavor and fat from the chicken, not cook it.)
• Add the jalapeño, pearl onions and a pinch of salt to the pot. Cook, moving the veggies around, until they become golden in spots, about 4 minutes. Add the sofrito and soup base and bring to a bubble. Remove the skin from the chicken and discard. Add the chicken back to the pot and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add 4 cups water and bring to a bubble again. Lower to a simmer and cook 15 minutes.
• Add the noodles to the pot and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Just before serving, add the cilantro and stir. Divide the soup among bowls, giving each a piece of chicken.

SUNNY'S SUMMER RED SOUP

Steps:

• Toast the paprika in a small dry pan over medium heat, moving it around in the pan with a wooden spoon until a waft of it smells pungent and alive again, about 4 minutes.
• In a high-powered blender or food processor, combine the watermelon, strawberries, tomatoes, onion and Worcestershire sauce. Blend until smooth and chill.
• To make the garnish, on a cutting board, chop the basil, feta cheese and pine nuts all together until minced and combined. Serve the chilled soup with a sprinkle of the garnish on top.

EASY CHICKEN/ASPARAGUS ROLL-UP'S

Steps:

• Wash and snap the woody ends from the asparagus. Blanch in salted boiling water for 1 minute (or more depending on your preference for the doneness of the veg). Shock in ice water to stop cooking process. Drain on a dish cloth. Divide into 6 equal portions.
• Lay one chicken piece flat and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Lay bundle of asparagus on one short side of the chicken and roll up tightly, securing with a tooth pick. Repeat.
• Heat oil in non stick pan over medium heat. Place rolls pick side down. Sprinkle a little more salt and pepper over the rolls and brown on all sides. Pour lemon juice over the rolls and finish in a 350 degree oven until the chicken is done and the asparagus is warmed through.
• Serve. I served them with mushroom risotto and fresh steamed carrots. Great.