Asparagus - Part 2

[sarahmichigan]

I haven't cooked much with asparagus- it's one of those things I like but J. doesn't, so I rarely buy it. I've been having fun researching recipes to use it in, though. The simple butter/balsamic vinegar dressing I made for it yesterday was really good.

This morning, I used about half that much asparagus in an "herbed asparagus torta." I don't know why my "Almost Vegetarian" cookbook calls it a torta- that term always brings to mind the Mexican sandwich. And the recipe seems a lot like what I usually think of as a "frittata." Anyway, it looked a lot like this even though the other ingredients were a bit different (the one in the picture is asparagus/crab/mozarella and mine was cheddar/asparagus/mushroom).

I didn't do it exactly the way the recipe in the cookbook called for (when do I EVER follow a recipe exactly?), but I used some of the suggested herbs (including sage I grew and dried myself) and halved the recipe. Half of it was mushroom-only for J. and I had the other half with asparagus. The full recipe called for baking for 35 min. at 450, but with the recipe halved, it only took about 12 minutes. I think the pan I used was too big, too, so it was a little more shallow, but I thought it tasted wonderful.

I'll have to try that again- it was really tasty with a strong cup of coffee and a buttered bagel on the side.

Comments

[chernabog69.livejournal.com]

You should try it with fresh wild Michigan asparagus. It grows in my yard :)

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

I'm envious- yum!

[laughlovelive.livejournal.com]

I always hated asparagus, until Haiyan, my exroommate (the crazy one) cooked it. One day she offered me some "vegetable" (she didn't know the american name for it) and I thought it was so good! I assumed it was some asian veggie she got at the chinese market, but nope, it turned out to be asparagus. She only, as far as I know, sauteed it in oil and garlic, but I've attempted to replicate this and it doesn't taste as good when I do it. :o( Maybe someday I'll try it again.