Sweet Sour Asparagus Food

SWEET PICKLED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Wash, drain and trim asparagus; cut into 5-3/4-in. spears (discard ends or save for another use). Pack asparagus into five 1-quart jars to within 1/2 in. of top. Place 1 tablespoon dill seed and 1 teaspoon pickling spices in each jar., In a Dutch oven, bring water, vinegar, sugar and salt to a boil. Carefully ladle hot liquid over asparagus mixture, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight. , Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 15 minutes. Remove jars and cool.

CREAM OF FRESH ASPARAGUS SOUP II

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine asparagus, chopped onion, and 1/2 cup chicken broth. Cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, and simmer uncovered until asparagus is tender, about 12 minutes. Process the mixture in a blender to puree the vegetables. Set aside.
• In the same saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Stir in the flour, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Whisk in the remaining chicken broth, and increase the heat to medium. Cook, stirring constantly until the mixture boils. Stir in the asparagus puree and the milk.
• Put the sour cream in a small bowl, and stir in a ladleful of the hot soup. Add the sour cream mixture and the lemon juice to the soup. Stir while heating the soup to serving temperature, but don't allow it to boil. Serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS SOUP WITH SOUR CREAM

Steps:

• Melt butter in soup pot. Add onion, leeks, salt, and pepper and sweat for 5 minutes. In cheesecloth combine bay leaf and thyme and tie to form sachet. Add sachet of herbs to vegetables. Have stock simmering in saucepan. Add hot stock to vegetables, bring to the boil, reduce, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add asparagus bottoms, and continue to simmer for 10 minutes. Remove sachet of herbs. With immersion blender, puree soup (or puree in batches in a standing blender).
• Carefully strain soup through fine sieve. Return strained soup to the pot and reboil. Add cream and heat through, but do not boil. Serve immediately with hot asparagus tips strewn in as garnish. Finish with a dollop of sour cream.
• Please note that this soup may be chilled and served cold.

SWEET AND SOUR ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the asparagus, and cook uncovered until slightly tender, about 1 minute. Drain in a colander, then immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes until cold to stop the cooking process. Once the asparagus spears are cold, place them on paper towels to dry.
• Bring vinegar, water, sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, celery seed, and salt to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Boil for 5 minutes.
• Spread the asparagus spears in a large dish or baking pan. Pour the vinegar mixture over the asparagus. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and serve cold or at room temperature.

FRESH ASPARAGUS IN SOUR CREAM

Steps:

• Cook asparagus spears in boiling water for about 5 minutes, or until fork tender but not mushy (bigger stalks may take longer); drain well.
• Combine remaining ingredients, except bread crumbs.
• Combine sauce with asparagus and spread into a baking dish.
• Sprinkle bread crumbs over the top- enough to thoroughly dust the surface.
• Bake, uncovered, in a preheated 400F oven about 15 minutes or until cooked through.