On Wed, 26 Apr 2000 03:21:19 -0700, you wrote:
>
>Can anyone offer some advice for buying, cleaning, & cooking (in a low-fat
>way of course!) asparagus? My mother never liked it and never made it, so
>I've never had it! I'm really anxious to try it but I have no idea how to
>make it or even where to begin. Thanks in advance!
It's a cinch. Nothing to it. Here's how I do it:
Cut off the bottom part of the stalks, where it's hard and
grainy. Wash the asparagus. Steam - I either cook it in a
counter-top electric steamer (such as Black and Decker,
that's the one I have) or microwave it. In the steamer, it
takes about ten minutes, I think. Taste a stalk after ten
minutes.
More often I microwave it: put the stalks in a glass pie
plate, sprinkle a few drops of water on them, cover with
plastic wrap and microwave until done. "Done" should be
cooked through but still with some crispness, IMHO, and a
nice very bright green color. I forget how long it takes:
maybe 5 minutes. Taste one after 5 minutes.
Then I serve it with a few squirts of lemon juice on it.
Nice.
Asparagus is also very good in a Chinese-style stir-fry.
I've also had roasted asparagus: I bought this at Fresh
Fields, or have eaten it in restaurants, so I don't have
experience in roasting it myself. It was lovely. Asparagus
is also good in omelets, or quiches.
Pat Meadows