.jpg?e0c879 "Splendid and Seasonal Asparagus")
Snap!
That sound instantly brings me back to my childhood. I’m standing over the kitchen sink, my mom guiding me as I pick up a piece of asparagus. The window over us lets in a single dramatic ray of light, hitting, in its path, the colander in front of me. ”Would you like me to show you how to trim it?” She smiles down at me and I, in return, smile back, anxiously awaiting her next move. Gently, she takes the asparagus from my hand and points to the stem. ”This is where it will naturally break off.”
Snap!
“Did you see that?”
I did. She hands me another spear and I demonstrate what I’ve just learned. Lesson one of my culinary education: completed.
This would be the first of many things that my mom taught me about asparagus. How it grew (straight up, out of the ground, in fact). How to pick out the best bunch at the store (avoid woody stems and discolored, wilted spears). I even learned that it could make your pee smell (I’ll just direct you to a link about that). Most importantly, however, was how to cook it. Roasted, grilled, steamed. Lemon and butter or cream sauce or simply dressed with a bit of balsamic vinegar and fresh herbs.
Asparagus remains to be one of my favorite vegetables. And with this being the height of its season, I’m enjoying as much of it as I can get.
.jpg?e0c879 "Oven Roasted Asparagus and Cherry Tomato Sandwich")
Oh, and speaking of seasonal ingredients, I have a wonderful giveaway to share with all of you! When I first saw these beautifully constructed produce calendars, I was blown away. Russell, of Chasing Delicious, has a tremendous eye for design and he uses it to create posters that would be perfect in any foodie’s kitchen.
So, Russell has been kind enough to provide a complete set of his 8″ x 10″ “When Are They In Season?” calendars to one very lucky A Thought For Food reader.
To enter, leave a comment telling me your favorite way to cook asparagus or another springtime ingredient.
For additional entries, do any of the following (and come back here and leave a comment telling us you’ve completed each task):
Like Chasing Delicious on Facebook
Follow Chasing Delicious on Twitter
Like A Thought For Food on Facebook
Follow A Thought For Food on Twitter
Tweet the following:
“Enter to win some awesome posters by @rvank over at @myfoodthoughts – http://tinyurl.com/73689hs #giveaway”
Official Rules: No purchase necessary. Open to US residents only . Giveaway will end on June 15th 2012 at 12:00 pm EST. One winner with a valid entry will be selected at random using random.org. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected.
.jpg?e0c879)
Ingredients
1 bunch asparagus, washed and trimmed
1/4 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
Fresh mozzarella cheese
Salt
Pepper
Balsamic vinegar
1 demi-baguette, or your preferred bread, cut in half lengthwise
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spread the asparagus and cherry tomatoes across the pan. Drizzle with olive oil, red wine vinegar and then toss to coat the asparagus and cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper (approximately 2 teaspoons or so of each). Roast in the oven for 8-10 minutes. The asparagus should be browned and tender. If the spears are thicker, they may need to be cooked longer.
Drizzle a couple teaspoons of balsamic vinegar along the inside of the baguette. Layer the baguette with the mozzarella cheese and then lay in the roasted asparagus and tomatoes.
What a lovely sandwich! I actually might have all the ingredients on hand to make it too – nice! Roasting and grilling are how I most often do asparagus – olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon.
I love asparagus roasted with some lemon and olive oil. It’s such a pity it’s only in season for about 6 weeks of the year in the UK.
I don’t even think I ever saw much less ate an asparagus until I was in college in Philadelphia. And they were so expensive and supposed to be so chic that some guy tried to woo me by inviting me to his house for dinner and serving me asparagus! My favorite way to eat them must still be the traditional Milan dish of gently steamed asparagus with a sunny side up egg on top, yolk runny, and dusted generously with parmesan cheese. But I am so loving your sandwich!
For me asparagus is one of those beautiful vegetables that I like to roast. I love it with a splash of balsamic and olive oil….and sometimes add some feta on there!
roasted asparagus w/ some olive oil & parm cheese. I eat them like french fries
THIS is my new favorite way! That looks amazing. I cant wait to try it! Thanks to you and Russel for an awesome giveaway!
I love to roast asparagus with chickpeas. It’s perfect that way!
I followed Chasing Delicious on twitter.
I love asparagus roasted, served with an olive oil fried egg and some shavings of pecorino, and plenty of coarse black pepper.
Followed Chasing Delicious on FB.
I already follow you on twitter.
Oh I am all over this sandwich! I love love lov asparagus. I think grilled might be my favorite, roasted a close second.
Cool charts!!
I already follow you on FB.
Tweeted it out. Also – this is seriously the best calendar. EVER.
I am loving this sandwich! Great photo!!
I follow you on twitter and Facebook
I follow chasing delicious on Facebook and twitter
I love it grilled with olive oil and Parmesan cheese!
Love those calendars. I need all of them. You are right, Russell has such an eye for design
We love ours drizzled with a little olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt and pepper and grilled till tender.
GORGEOUS sandwich. And I love those calendars!
My favorite way to cook asparagus is to wrap it in prosciutto and roast it in the oven on a cooling rack over a sheet pan. The prosciutto gets crispy and flavors the asparagus. It’s perfect alongside a plate of fruits, cheeses, and baguette.
My fave way to cook asparagus is to give it a light coating of olive oil, wrap it in slices of proscuitto, then broil it. Second fave is to saute it with pancetta.
Already “like” you on Facebook!
I roast it.
Garden bounty sandwiches are by far my favorite sandwiches evahhhh! Probably why I choose the hottest months of the year to constantly bake bread.
But I digress. My favorite way to cook asparagus is quite like this sandwich. Olive oil, salt & pepper and throw on a grill pan on the grill for about 5-10 min. Perfection!
I already like you. On facebook too!
I also already follow you. Around town without your knowledge. And on Twitter…
Now following Chasing Delicious. But not in that same stalky way…
Nice giveaway.
I like my green asparagus roasted with olive oil and sea salt. I love white asparagus also and am bummed that I can’t find it here in the US. 
I liked Chasing Delicious on FB….
I also liked Chasing Delicious on facebook. I am out of goofy cleverness however.
Already a A Thought For Food fan on FB and also follow your blog! So yummy!
Already a A Thought For Food fan on FB and also follow your blog! So yummy!
Years ago when I was little I spent a lot of time with my grandparents….My grandpa happen to grow asparagus….When I was a kid I was always afraid to try it….Well one day I got brave and that was all it took! Huge fan!!!! I love asparagus plain, I love asparagus with Prosciutto, as a side or as a meal like you have done with the sandwiches! Anyways I wish now as an adult I had my grandpa around to grow and pick it again and yes to have the unlimited access to such a wonderful food!
Thanks for the fun giveaway! Enjoy your day!
I am already following both of you AND have liked both your pages
I did tweet the give away though!
I think my favorite way to cook asparagus is with a little olive oil, pepper, lemon juice, and lemon zest on the grill. It is so refreshing for a cookout.
I think I might be in love with this sandwich. Looks sooooo AH-mazing!
Summertime grilling of asparagus is imperative, but our favorite recipe remains roasted asparagus tossed with a balsamic browned butter, salt and lots of black pepper. Crave-worthy, without a doubt.
Following Chasing Delicious on Twitter.
Following A Thought for Food on Twitter already as well.
Tweeted the giveaway.
Like Chasing Delicious on FB.
Like A Thought for Food on FB as well!
I love asparagus cooked all ways, but I’m partial to roasting it, tossed with a little olive oil and minced garlic and served with salt, pepper and a little lemon juice.
I love these charts! They look like they would be very helpful. I love asparagus too, it is definitely one of my favorite springtime vegetables.
I roast most all of my vegetables with olive oil and salt, pepper and garlic. Splash with a little lemon juice and sprinkle of lemon zest. Yum!
BEAUTIFUL sandwich, and gorgeous pictures. I would eat that every day for lunch!
Steam it and then make an omelette. Divine.
I love broiling asparagus!
I Like Chasing Delicious on Facebook
I Follow Chasing Delicious on Twitter
I Like A Thought For Food on Facebook
I Follow A Thought For Food on Twitter
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/jrwarfield/status/212575429175947264
Wow – beautiful blog. Saw your post on Twitter. I’ve been a friend of asparagus ever since I can remember. My favorite way to eat it lately is oven-roasted, topped with a poached egg and a few shavings of good Parm and black pepper. Adore!
great giveaway (and sandwich.) Roasting or pan searing asparagus are my favorite ways to prepare it.
I follow you on twitter and tweeted about the giveaway.
I like A Though For Food on Facebook
grilled with lemon and butter
One of my favorite ways to cook asparagus is lightly sauteed with onions and garlic as the base for a silky pasta dish!
My favorite way to cook asparagus is simply roated with a splash of olive oil and salt & pepper.
Funny what little things bring back nostalgic memories. My kids love to cook with me too. I remember squeezing lemons all summer long from our many lemon trees. Lemons today still bring back that memory for me.
adore asparagus and can’t wait to eat this for a summer picnic.
is there any other (good) way to cook asparagus other than roasting?! Yum!
I love it roasted with lemon and herbs, or on a simple tart with gruyere cheese.
Grilled… A little olive oil, salt and pepper
I’m coming right over for a bite of that sandwich, I lOVE asparagus!
Love asparagus tossed with balsamic oil and then roasted!
Beautiful and fun post. You’re lucky to have grown up with someone who was knowledgeable in the kitchen!
Liked on Facebook!
Two of my favorite things – asparagus and those gorgeous charts from Russell! What a wonderful idea and giveaway, Brian!
My memories of asparagus lead to my mother, too – she grew it in her garden! Loved it any way, and that sandwich is no exception.
Asparagus is so very delicious that it doesn’t need a lot of “help”. I love to grill it after lightly dressing it with olive oil… so simple
LOVE asparagus
pan sauted with garlic, salt and pepper. or steamed in the microwave with dijon and veggie broth, salt and pepper
really want to try this sandwich!!
I was always afraid to snap off too much! So I normally just trim off the bottoms now. =)
Asparagus is, hands down, my favorite veggie! I love it most in it’s purest form… blanched and shocked, then sprinkled with a little lemon and sea salt. I could eat it like candy!
Of COURSE I “like” you on Facebook!
You + me + Twitter = LIKE THIS…. <3
I Tweeted allllll about it! https://twitter.com/ItsYummi/status/212690656932540416
Fat, purple grilled asparagus on a pizza.
Chasing Delicous long stands followed on Twitter!
I like to eat asparagus lightly steamed or raw and shaved.
I love asparagus fresh and crunchy with lime dressing, my next favorite would be grilled asparagus.
Your sandwich recipe looks delicious. I love asparagus but I’m afraid I’m not too adventurous in the preparation. I especially love roasted asparagus with olive oil.
I follow Chasing Delicious on twitter.
I follow A Food for Thought on twitter.
A Thought For Food stands followed on twitter
Aaand A Thought for Food is well liked on FB.
Last but not least, Chasing Delicious is now well liked on FB. Whew. Want.. posters… for.. office!!
I love to add asparagus to my carbonara!
I love to grill my asparagus. Thanks for the chance to win.
I “liked” CD on facebook.
Everything about this sandwich is ridiculously delicious. When I was a kid I would hound my parents to buy asparagus. CANNED asparagus. And then I would eat it straight from the can while watching TV or owning my friends at Goldeneye 64.
My canned vegetable days are long gone, but my new favorite way to eat asparagus is in an asparagus and brie souffle. Creamy, savory, and you still get the satisfaction of day-after asparagus pee. Win/win.
I love to grill asparagus with just a little olive oil and sea salt!
I follow chasing delicious on FB!
I follow Chasing Delicious on Twitter!
I follow A Thought For Food on facebook!
I follow A Thought For Food on Twitter!
I really enjoy asparagus when they are in the height of the season. Wonderful and bright sandwich that is perfect to eat right now.:) Russell’s posters are lots of fun:)
Mmnn. . . I LOVES me some asparagus, especially the post-ingestion urination olfaction.
¿Son símbolos fálicos espárragos? y si es así, ¿qué significa eso?
I’m a simple girl, asparagus with balsamic, olive oil, cracked pepper, and garlic thrown on the grill and eaten with your fingers.
I wish there was a “love” button, but I guess I’ll have to make do with “liking” A Thought for Food on FB
I’m now following A Thought for Food on Twitter.
I’ve “liked” Chasing Delicious on FB. However, those posters are deserving of a like all their own. So COOL!
I’m following Chasing Delicious on Twitter.
roasted asparagus, for sure. also good in so many other ways, but this is the one that I tend to do
beautiful calendars!!
Even though it may alert others to this fantastic contest, and lesson my chances of winning…I have tweeted the contest.
What gorgeous pics! It seems everybody is cooking with asparagus this week – I got my hands on some gorgeous white asparagus in Paris last week & they were divine.
I love oven roasted asparagus with a bit of olive oil and salt & pepper.
I like asparagus pretty much any way it’s served. Grilled asparagus is always fresh and simple
I follow Chasing Delicious on Twitter.
I’m now following A Thought For Food on Twitter.
I’ve liked Chasing Delicious on Facebook.
I also like A Food for Thought on Facebook. By the way, the sandwich looks sublime
Just tweeted about the giveaway. I’d like to win myself, but decided to spread the word anyway!
I love this blog – and those posters!
(I just “liked” and “followed” both A Thought for Food and Chasing Delicious on Facebook and Twitter!)
My favorite asparagus preparation is grilled with olive oil, fresh-squeezed lemon juice and cracked black pepper. Slice the spears diagonally and toss with grated Parmesan cheese after they are done on the grill. Serve over a bed of arugula, sheared zucchini and snow peas! Such a great green summer salad!
Best,
Cayla (Boston-based food-fanatic)
I love to drizzle asparagus with balsamic vinegar and put it in the oven. There are a lot of good ideas in these comments!
I follow Chasing Delicious on twitter!
Simply! Roasted in the oven with olive oil, salt and pepper.
I’ve been on a huge asparagus kick recently! My favorite preparation at the moment is very simple: steamed and dipped in a soft boiled egg. Maybe with a bit off truffle salt or oil.
I found this post though Pinterest. The photo was so beautiful that I just had to come here to read the recipe! Love it! And love your site
.
I would like to invite you to share this post (and your other posts
) on a new photo based recipe sharing site that launched in May. The idea is simple: all recipe photographs are published within minutes of submission. And, of course, the images link back to the author’s site.
It’s called RecipeNewZ (with Z) – http://recipenewz.com
I hope you get a chance to visit and to share some of your delicious posts with our viewers. It would be a pleasure to have you on board
I enjoy asparagus roasted with salt, olive oil, and lemon.
Lovely post, Brian… I can’t wait to give that sandwich a try! My favorite way to make asparagus is to grill it and have it on a salad with some gorgonzola and candied walnuts.
baked in the oven w/ a top of celery, carrots, breadcrumbs and parm cheese. delicious.
I can’t say my mother played any part in my love of asparagus, but I really do adore it. Any and ever way. But smothered in-between two sides of a good roll along with cheese and tomatoes? That’s bound to be a new favorite.
I love it roasted and chopped into a lemon pasta dish with squash and onions or possibly the best, grilled with some balsamic vinaigrette!
Smile. What a wonderful memory. Aren’t the best lessons learned as we sit and work by those we love? Thank you for sharing sweet friend. I would love one of those calanders. My favorite way to cook asparagus is to grill it…and then smother it in garlic butter. So healthy, I know.
I love, love, love grilling asparagus and then chopping and adding it to salads and pasta dishes. But my all time fav was introducing asparagus to my 2 year old, we steamed it, s&p and then wrapped it in prosciutto. It has been her fav veg ever since! As for the cherry tomatoes, I have a lizzano tomato plant for the first time this year and have “harvested” three times already! Love it! And now I have a new recipe to try with it, thank you!
And I just “liked” you on FB!
I love roasted asparagus
That sandwich looks amazing. My husband loves asparagus…I usually just grill them with a little olive oil, salt and pepper.
Hi! Asparagus is excellent on it’s own, roasted or grilled, of course, and I’m partial to drizzling balsamic on it. But one of my favorite uses is in risotto with mushrooms and white wine and freshly shaved parmesan. It just looks so beautiful. So glad to have happened upon your site! I’ve also liked both sites on facebook.
Actually I don’t have a favorite way to cook asparagus. One experience with canned asparagus as a kid put me off of it. But I’m itching to re-experience it fresh now that I’m an adult.
I tweeted “Enter to win some awesome posters by @rvank over at @myfoodthoughts – http://tinyurl.com/73689hs #giveaway”” and would love to give these posters to my sister for her new apartment in Utah! I live in NJ, so shes a little lonely!
I’m a sucker for portabella mushrooms and asparagus lightly oiled with kosher salt and cracked black pepper – a simple roast on the grill this time of year. Add a glass of sweet white wine and I am all set!
Love the sandwich! I love grilled asparagus! And Russell is just awesome! Great giveaway!
[...] is one of my favorite veggies, so I can’t get this Roasted Asparagus and Cherry Tomato Sandwich from A Thought for Food out of my head. I’m always excited for new meatless meal ideas, and I know this one will be [...]
I love asparagus any way, as long as it’s with an egg. Ha!
Baked eggs and asparagus is awesome!
I follow chasing delicious on twitter
I like chasing delicious on facebook
I like a food for thought on facebook
I follow a food for thought on facebook
Oops I meant I follow you on twitter!
I tweeted this giveaway!
we made asparagus soup this week.
My favorite way to cook asparagus is by roasting. Maybe next would be grilling.
I tweeted about the giveaway!
I liked Chasing Delicious on Facebook
I liked A Thought For Food on Facebook
Asparagus is in season now and is especially delicious when it is locally grown and fresh! It is one of the best vegetables for your health.
I steam asparagus (not too much) cut in pieces about 2″ long and add to olive oil that has salt and garlic lightly sauteing. Cook linguine in separate pot and when done add to pan with asparagus.
Mix. Enjoy.
I love to make asparagus fries!
Asparagus is one if my most favourite vegetables too and when it’s in season I just can’t get enough of it. And yes, it does make your pee smell – as an ex-nurse I can attest to that! I can’t enter the giveaway as I’m not in the USA!
What a beautiful sandwich – Russell is such a talent as are you! Roasting is one of my favorite ways to prepare veggies.
looks amazing! i love roasted asparagus!
My favorite way to cook asparagus – a very quick simmer, a la the 101 cookbooks pasta salad
I absolutely love to grill asparagus on the barbecue along with nice freshly caught NC shrimp…then they go on a french roll with Cambazola cheese and caramelized onions. That with a nice glass of wine and I am in heaven
I will definitely be trying this recipe,love asparagus! I saute a fresh boneless chicken breast half, spread dijon mustard over the top, then fresh blanched asparagus spears, a slice of fresh tomato, and a slice of provolone or mozzarella cheese and broil til cheese melts. I also add a few spears to my eggs benedict, so yummy with lemony hollandaise! I could go on and on with asparagus ideas!
I love it marinated in Italian dressing and then grilled over charcoal… so tasty!