Swiss Styled Asparagus Food

ASPARAGUS AND SWISS CHEESE QUICHE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir asparagus until slightly tender, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Press pie pastry into a 10-inch deep-dish pie pan.
• Combine asparagus, eggs, milk, half-and-half, French-fried onions, Swiss cheese, Cheddar cheese, and green onion in a bowl. Pour into prepared pie pastry.
• Bake in the preheated oven until center of quiche is set and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Allow to stand for 10 minutes before serving.

ASPARAGUS AND SWISS MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Move a rack to the middle of the oven. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large pot set over high heat bring 1 gallon of water with 2 tablespoons kosher salt to a boil. Add the penne and cook 2 minutes less than the package directions, stirring occasionally. The pasta will be slightly underdone. Use a measuring cup or ladle to remove 1/3 cup pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta into a colander. Return the pasta to the pot and set aside.
• Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add the flour and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, whisking constantly. Pour in the milk, whisking constantly until the mixture starts to thicken like heavy cream and then becomes almost pudding-like, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the shredded cheese and whisk until smooth, the sauce will be very thick. Add the nutmeg and season with some salt and pepper.
• Combine the asparagus, pasta, reserved 1/3 cup pasta water and cheese sauce and toss well. Season with salt and pepper, then transfer to the prepared baking dish and top with a layer of the cheese slices. Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons butter into 1-inch cubes. Sprinkle the panko over the cheese slices, and top with the butter cubes. Bake until the top is golden brown and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before serving.

CHARRED ASPARAGUS WITH GREEN GARLIC CHIMICHURRI

Steps:

• Heat a cast-iron pan or broiler, or prepare a charcoal grill. Make the chimichurri sauce: In a small bowl, stir together chopped green garlic, parsley, oregano, olive oil and 1/4 cup water. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spread asparagus on a baking sheet, drizzle very lightly with oil and sprinkle with salt.
• Transfer asparagus to hot cast-iron pan or to a grill grate that is placed very close to live coals; alternatively if broiling, place pan as close to broiler element as possible. Let asparagus cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until nicely charred, with a few burnt and blistered spots. Asparagus cooked this way tastes best if slightly undercooked and still bright green.
• Put cooked asparagus on a platter. Stir vinegar into chimichurri and spoon sauce generously over spears. Top with crumbled feta and olives, then sprinkle with crushed red pepper and serve.

ASPARAGUS AND SWISS CHEESE SOUFFLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Generously butter two 1 1/4-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups. Divide asparagus pieces between prepared dishes. Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan. Drizzle 3/4 teaspoon butter over asparagus in each dish. Reserve remaining butter in pan. Bake asparagus until just tender and beginning to brown, about 6 minutes. Maintain oven temperature. Meanwhile, add flour and mustard to remaining butter in pan and whisk until smooth paste forms. Set over medium heat and whisk 1 minute. Whisk milk and yolks to blend in small bowl; whisk into flour mixture. Cook until sauce thickens, whisking constantly, about 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Add grated cheese, salt and pepper and stir until cheese melts.
• Beat egg whites in medium bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold whites into warm cheese mixture in pan. Spoon all of soufflé batter over asparagus in dishes.
• Bake soufflés until puffed and golden, about 14 minutes. Serve immediately.

SWISS ASPARAGUS CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat melt 2 tablespoons butter. Saute asparagus for 2-3 minutes until barely tender. Remove from pan and set aside.
• In same skillet, saute onion in 2 tablespoon butter until onion is soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until flour is well blended.
• Add sour cream and cheese. Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat until cheese melts.
• Spoon asparagus into a buttered shallow baking dish. Top with cheese, onion and sour cream mixture.
• In a small skillet heat the remaining tablespoon of butter, and when it has melted toast the Panko breadcrumbs for about 1 minute.
• Place Panko breadcrumbs evenly over the top of contents of the baking dish.
• Bake at 450°F for 20 minuites. If top is not brown, place under broiler for an additional minute or two.
• Recipe was inspired by The Joy of Sharing, Garber United Methodist Church, New Bern, NC, and Charlotte, NC.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH CRUNCHY PARMESAN TOPPING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 500 degrees; while it heats, put bread in, and check frequently until it is lightly toasted and dry. Coarsely grind or grate bread and cheese together (a small food processor is best), and keep crumbs larger than commercial bread crumbs.
• Rinse asparagus, and break off woody bottoms. Lay stalks in a baking dish that will hold them in two or three layers. Toss with bits of butter or the oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and place in oven.
• Roast 5 minutes, then shake dish to redistribute butter or oil. Roast 5 minutes more, then test for doneness by piercing a spear with point of a sharp knife; it should slide in but meet a little resistance. (Up to this point, the recipe can be made as much as two hours before serving; just leave asparagus at room temperature).
• Turn on broiler and place rack as close as possible to heating element. Top asparagus with cheese-crumb mixture and run under broiler to brown, a minute or two. Serve hot or at room temperature.

SWISS ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• 1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees and melt butter in sauce pan.
• 2. In steps add flour to the butter and mix until incorporated then slowly add your milk and chicken broth. Remember to add the liquids slowly and simmer until thickened. Then add your cheese, mix and set aside
• 3. Trim or peel asparagus and place in an oven proof dish. Pour your sauce over the asparagus and top with bread crumbs. Bake for about 20 minutes and serve nice and hot. If you like your asparagus tender,just increase your baking time

ASPARAGUS SWISS QUICHE

Steps:

• In a skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to paper towels; drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings. In the drippings, saute onion until browned; drain., Cut eight asparagus spears into 4-in.-long spears for garnish. Cut remaining asparagus into 1-in. pieces. In a saucepan, cook all of the asparagus in a small amount of boiling water until crisp-tender; drain., In a bowl, toss the bacon, onion, asparagus pieces, cheese, flour, salt and pepper. Pour into pastry shell. In a bowl, beat eggs and cream; pour over bacon mixture. Top with asparagus spears. Bake at 400° for 30-35 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean and crust is golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.