We received a free sample issue of this cooking magazine in the mail recently. Hannah and I both liked the looks of it enough to subscribe for one year. There are no advertisements in it at all--just lots of tips, shortcuts, recipes, notes from the test kitchen, what to do when things go wrong, and many more columns of interest.
Yesterday the current issue arrived with asparagus on the front cover. Who likes asparagus?! I have never cooked asparagus in my life; can you believe it? However, I have eaten it at a friend's house a year or so ago, and it was actually pretty good! I was surprised. But that didn't make me want to try cooking it myself. If you have a great suggestion on how to prepare this vegetable so even the pickiest eaters would like it, let me know.
I just checked the website, and they're sending a free sample issue along with a Microplane Grater/Zester if you subscribe.
~Deb
Asparagus is one of my favorite vegis. I prepare it fresh and it is so delicious! Here is how I cook it: cut off the bottom 1/2 to 1 inch of each stalk because it is usually tough. Then I cut the spear in half because I cook the bottom thicker half first so that it is tender. Place the bottom half of spears in boiling water (about 2 inches deep) with a little salt. Cook 6 minutes uncovered, then add top half of stalk, cover and cook an additional 5-8 minutes. Drain, handling the asparagas gently.
I love it with butter, salt and pepper. I sometimes make a holandaise sauce to serve on it. Do you have a recipe for that? I recently read an asparagas recipe that coated it lightly with olive oil, sprinkled some spices on it, then broiled until tender. Sounds like it would taste like yummy grilled vegis. Enjoy!
Posted by: Dorothy | Thursday, March 16, 2006 at 10:47 AM
DEB!!! You never fix asparagus?! Actually we never did have it either until Daniel was sick. The nutritionist we worked with said it had some... cleansing?? properties ...(I think) so he was to eat it atleast 3 times a week! I learned to fix it so that we all enjoyed it. I barely steam it in a LITTLE water and oil in a skillet on the stove (just until crisp tender and still bright green), adding a little crushed garlic and salt and sometimes some chopped onion. YUMMY! Or we will bake it just a few minutes in the oven and sprinkle feta cheese on it until it melts. OR>>>> you can lightly steam it, then put in cold water for a couple of minutes to get it crisp tender, then Cut it up in a salad or eat it just plain. Maybe one of these ideas will tickle your taste buds. :) ENJOY!!
Posted by: Chris | Friday, March 17, 2006 at 06:09 AM
Chris and Dorothy, y'all make eating asparagus sound like eating yummy chocolate! LOL Seems like we would for sure like it one of those ways you mentioned! Thanks for sharing. I'm sure Hannah would love to try it out on us. :)
Posted by: Deb | Friday, March 17, 2006 at 07:11 AM
Chris's way to cook it sound better than mine! I'm going to try her ideas! YUM! But must confess...it is not as delicious as a good piece of chocolate. ;-)
Posted by: Dorothy | Friday, March 17, 2006 at 08:29 AM