Asparagus: It's not just for Veggie-Tales Anymore!

Junior Asparagus: cute little guy, and a staple in any child's DVD collection. Did he ever inspire children to actually eat asparagus? (Probably traumatized some...) Is asparagus in your family's regular menu 'collection?' Maybe this will inspire your family to indulge in this healthful friend!

Tonight's lesson - the amazing things you can do with this beautiful spring vegetable. We're preparing asparagus four different ways.

Rule #1: Never, never, under any circumstances, purchase asparagus in a can, a jar or frozen.

Oh my, who ever thought processing asparagus was a good idea? Probably not anyone who ever enjoyed it. It needs very little in terms of cooking, takes on simple companions, embellishes nicely, is delightfully nutritious, and serves beautifully.

Menu: Salami wrapped Asparagus
Thin spaghetti w/ Lemon Chicken and Asparagus
Roasted Asparagus, Steamed Asparagus w/ Hollandaise

Asparagus is an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. One cup provides over 100% of vitamin K, a ton of folate, vitamins A, B, C and fiber. And it's just so pretty. But only when just briefly cooked, as to retain the bright green. It actually gets greener in it's first few minutes of steaming, then starts to die as it's cooked too long...looking evermore drab as the minutes tick by. Don't let this happen! There is almost nothing worse than the sad, floppy, camo-colored remains of a formerly lovely sprig of asparagus.

We had an intimate group of four tonight, and then Jon helped us eat. :) Then we met up with the gals that couldn't cook with us to see "Soul Surfer." Oh, my goodness, we literally cried through the entire movie. So moving. What a courageous young lady. Such a hopeful story. Love those kind of films!

I'm groping here for a proper parallel between our adventures with asparagus and Bethany Hamilton's surfing story...but, I'm unable to find one. Oh well, it was a fun and inspiring evening!