And oh how my hubby and I love love love asparagus!! Funny thing is I hated it up until a few years ago. Not sure why? My Mom never cooked it and it wasn’t until recent that I found out it was because my Dad hated it. LOL!
When hubby and I were first together he used to ask me to get the canned asparagus when I grocery shopped. Oh Man.. I couldn’t stand the smell and just didn’t want to even try it. Well, a few years ago I found a recipe for fresh asparagus and thought I would try it. I realized I love it!
Here are some fun asparagus facts ~
While we sometimes find asparagus springing up as early as late February in the warmer areas of the U.S., April and May are the peak season in the West and mid-May into July typically are high-season for the crunchy green spears in the Midwest and on the East coast.
With a mere 27 calories in a cup of cooked (about 6-7 spears), this veggie is an excellent source of vitamin K for healthy bones and proper blood clotting, as well as power-packed with beta-carotene.
Beta-carotene is a precursor compound that converts to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is essential for healthy vision, resilient skin and a robust immune system.
And with lots of vitamin C, fiber and B-vitamins, asparagus spears are piled high with antioxidants, too.
Probably the easiest way to simply prepare asparagus is by steaming a bunch of cleaned, cut spears briefly about 4 minutes (or blanching for 2 minutes) and tossing them with a little extra virgin olive oil, a couple tablespoons of grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese, the juice of half a lemon, and a sprinkle of sea salt and fresh ground black pepper.
A few ways we like it ~ I put 2 tblsp olive oil on a baking sheet and in a 350 degree oven. When it is hot I put the asparagus on the sheet and back in the oven. I turn the asparagus as it cooks. Cook about 20 min or until desired tenderness. I then toast some sesame seeds in a pan on the stove till golden. When the asparagus is done, I drizzle it with a mix of balsamic and soy sauce (mix to taste) and sprinkle with the sesame seeds. YUM 
Or… I pan fry in olive oil and when almost done add a bit of balsamic to the pan, or red wine.
Here is another I found ~ Click Here Sweet Potato and Asparagus with Orange Glaze.
I am sure there are many ways to eat it. What is your favorite?? Share your recipes.
About Sheila Thomas
Hi Sheila ! Can’t wait to get back to our garden in MN..the asparagus should be peeping up all over from under my straw mulch. One our favorite ways is to toss it in on the grill !! You can drizzle it with a little olive oil and depending on the size of your grate, put it directly on or in a grill basket. Or you can always put it in foil!! AWESOME done tender crisp with grill marks
When it hits the plate I usually season it with a little beau monde or garlic salt . Another favorite and VERY EASY is to get a prepare some asparagus by steaming in a little salted water in the micro wave for just a few minutes..I use a long glass casserole dish and do them just 3 minutes, then drain right away and let cool while you prepare other ingred. You want some sliced Ham, Swiss Cheese slices, Pkg of Crescent Rolls, pkg of powder. Hollandaise sauce. You figure out my artistry yet here?… roll out two crescents, don’t seperate them.. lay down ham slice, cheese, 3 asparagus spears and roll up.. continue. Bake per crescent directions. prepare hollandaise sauce mix while they are cooking. serve over! these look really elegant and I have served them when I wasn’t really expecting people over and WOWed them 
of course you could use any type cheese and go vegetarian easily. Hope you try em. Terri
Well bring me some asparagus
YUM!! I’ll pass on anything with swiss cheese or any kind of hollandaise sauce though.. LOL
This is awesome! I think most people don’t like asparagus because they just don’t know how to cook it well.
Yes, totally. And, the stuff in the can is so mushy that it really doesn’t give it much appeal.
I’m not sure that I’ve ever tried asparagus… it’s just not something that appeals to me. I guess I’ll have to give it a try at some point!
It never did to me either. Hubby made me try it and I am glad he did
As much as everyone says it’s good, I just can’t get on board with asparagus, lol! I am such a picky eater though. My boyfriend, on the other hand, loves it. Now the sweet potato recipe, that I’d love to try! Well, minus the asparagus.
I totally know where you are coming from. I am a very picky eater. VERY! But, have come to love it. Now, next hurdle.. brussel sprouts
This is one of those that I just can’t really get into for some reason!