by 13 people |
All About Asparagus!
Asparagus is one of the first fresh vegetables of spring. Many people LOVE asparagus. Those who don't I'll reckon never had it properly prepared. The easiest route to ruin for most vegetables is overcooking. Crisp, colorful, tasty vegetables become a mushy drab unpalatable pulp! Ick!
The trick is to cook it "al dente" or "with bite" - just enough to make it digestible but appealing, so it keeps it's body, color and texture, and with a bit of crispness at the center.
Asparagus Officianalis
An edible member of the fern family.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia
Uh-SPARE-uh-GUS
Growing Asparagus
I'll leave this one to the experts...
- Growing Asparagus in Missouri
- From the Extension Office of the University of Missouri: Excellent description & cultivation information.
Asparagus Cultivation
The Produce Garden
Have you tried Asparagus?
Selection
Asparagus Varieties
Asparagus isn't just green. Purple and white varieties are available as well. The purple asparagus actually has a slightly higher sugar content, which makes it a little sweeter. The white is achieved by depriving the growing stalks of sunlight and increasing the ultraviolet exposure, much in the way Belgian Endives are cultivated. On rare occasions you can find the purple asparagus cultivated in the dark. This makes for an interesting white stalk with lavender tips.
Tips for Choosing the Best Asparagus
Buying Fresh Asparagus
- TIP
Look for firm, smooth, solid, well-formed tips
Avoid dried up, seedy, or wet (on their way to rotting) spear-tips. The "scales" at the tip should be smooth and lay fairly flat. - STEM
Look for smooth, straight, firm stems with good coloring.
Avoid shriveled, woody, pitted or limp stems. - BOTTOM
Look at where the stem has been cut. Is it dry, hard and woody? If so, the asparagus has been deprived of water for a long time- probably since it was cut in the field. These stalks tend to be tougher and have more waste (more of the stalk must be discarded before cooking. Remember - you're paying by the pound!)
Places to By Fresh or Pick Your Own
Buy ready-picked or PYO (Pick Your Own!)
- Pick Your Own .org
- Find Pick-Your-Own growers for all kinds of crops! Listed by state (USA).
- Lawrence, Kansas
- Pendleton's Country Market
Season: Mid-April through Memorial Day Weekend
A huge Asparagus Farm (with so much more!)just East of Lawrence in the fertile river bottoms. Pick your own or buy ready-picked.
I personally recommend this one! Try the purple spears.
Buy some cut Peony buds, refrigerate them until Christmas and put them in a vase of warm water. Watch them magically open to full blossom within hours!
Say "Hey" to Karen & John.
Storage
Keeping it Fresh
Place them UPRIGHT in a container with a couple of inches (4-5 cm) of water and place them in the refrigerator. (A recycled cottage cheese, large yogurt container or butter tub works well.) If refrigeration is not available, keep it out of direct sunlight.
Remember 3 Things:
1. Keep the cut part of the STEM WET
2. Keep the TIPS DRY
3. Keep in a cool dark place, ideally REFRIGERATE
Wet tips will quickly rot and ruin the best part of the stalk! If you must keep them in a plastic bag, leave it open with the tips near the opening so they will be able to "breathe".
Depending on how fresh it is when you get it, Asparagus stored like this will stay fresh for up to 2 WEEKS!
Do you like Asparagus?
Show Your Love for Asparagus!
Great stuff from Cafe Press
Show the world how much you love Asparagus!
Click on images for close-up views, color and size options.
(Spargle is German for Asparagus)
"Asparagus" Large Mug
Price: 13.99 
"Happy as a Pig in Asparagus" Toddler T-Shirt
Sweet Toddler Tee with a tiny pig peeking over huge asparagus spears. Too cute! This little piggy stayed home and played in the asparagus field!
Price: 14.99
Spargelfest! Jr. Ringer T-Shirt
Spargelfest! More fun than October Fest - "Spargelfest", the Asparagus Fest, is a celebration of Asparagus Love and those who love Asparagus.
Price: 21.99
"Big Boy" Canvas Tote
This is an ADORABLE tote!
Be a green consumer by using a reusable canvas shopping bag and show your love for asparagus at the same time. Click the image for a closer view.
Price: 14.99
Preparation
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia
Asparagus looks tricky, but is really quite easy to prepare, especially if it has been properly harvested and stored.
WASHING
Asparagus may be washed under cool running water. If there is a lot of sand, simply stir the tips in a bowl or basin of cool water to dislodge any stubborn granules. You may use a very soft vegetable brush if desired.
DRYING
Dry asparagus in a single layer on a clean cloth or paper towel.
TRIMMING
The best way to trim your asparagus is simply to snap it with your hands. A stalk will naturally break where it becomes tender. Hold the stalk firmly at the base (wide end). With the other hand, grasp the stalk about 2 inches from the base and try to bend it. If it does not snap, move further away from the base until it does. If it is very tender, you may even do this with one hand- snapping the stalk with your thumb.
Less waste, no dulled knives and no chance of finding a tough end on your plate! After this, if you feel you must have straight ends, you may tidy them up with a sharp knife.
Asparagus Cookbooks & Field Guide to the Wild Stalk
at Amazon.com
Check out these great recipie books for Asparagus!
From Asparagus to Zucchini: A Guide to Cooking Farm-Fresh Seasonal Produce
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
STALKING THE WILD ASPARAGUS Field Guide Edition
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
Nutrition & Health Benefits
Not just another pretty vegetable!
Find out why...
- Asparagus- Nutrition Information
- Comprehensive Nutritional Information for a Serving of Asparagus. Includes Weight-Watcher Points.
- Asparagus- Pharmacalogical Properties
- What health benefits does Asparagus contribute to the body? Find out here!
Nice Tote Bags with Asparagus
Carry your produce in stye!
Roasted Asparagus - Easy Recipe, Excellent Prep Tips
Asparagus Steamers & Peelers
From Amazon.com
Brushes, Peelers, Steamers
The steamers really are great for more than just Asparagus.
Very useful for cooking pasta, or steaming corn-on-the-cob and other vegetables.
OK, so the peelers are just plain silly.
If your asparagus is so bad you must peel it, you may as well forget it!
Clipper Mill Asparagus Brush / Cleaner
You can have the cleanest spears in the whole neighborhood.
Amazon Price: $2.95 (as of 12/25/2009)
List Price: $7.99
All-Clad Stainless Asparagus Pot with Steamer Basket
The "fancy one". Nice Glass lid to spy on asparagus, other veggies or pasta as they cook.
Amazon Price: $45.00 (as of 12/25/2009)
List Price: $50.00
RSVP International Stainless Steel Asparagus Steamer 9-in.
Economy version of above. Stainless steel, but no see-though lid to spy on cooking foods!
Amazon Price: $22.74 (as of 12/25/2009)
List Price: $18.99
RSVP Endurance Asparagus Peeler
The gadget for someone that has nearly everything and could use one more silly utensil in their drawer "Oh, but do YOU have an asparagus peeler?" Honestly, if your asparagus is so bad you have to peel it - forget it!
Amazon Price: $8.78 (as of 12/25/2009)
List Price:
Grilled Asparagus
Simple, easy & fast!
I find it also works well just to use olive oil alone and to put the Asparagus on skewers for easier handling/ even cooking. It works best to line stalks up side by side in a single layer and pierce them through the side with either 2 skewers (for stability) or to using a 2-pronged skewer.
Asparagus for...Dessert!?!
Seriously!
I've had them (a similar recipe) and they are quite good. They taste a lot like zucchini bread. I can't remember if Jolene uses cinnamon or nutmeg, but that would be a good addition.
Happy baking!
Trailer Park Cooking Show : Oatmeal Raisin Asparagus Cookies
Oatmeal Raisin Asparagus Cookies on Cookin' With Jolene The Trailer Park Cooking Show! Jolene Sugarbaker is at it again, and she's teaching you to LIVE THE TRAILER PARK WAY! In this episode, Jolene shows you how to turn asparagus into tasty cookies! We all know that Asparagus makes your Pee smell funny, these cookies will too! Whether you do it for the Vitamins, or the Pratical Joke factor.. You'll love these tasty cookies! Your guests will never guess! Well, until they pee! Be White Trash With Class! Love Jolene Sugarbaker, The Trailer Park Queen
Runtime: 512
47153 views
98 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
Celebrate Asparagus!
Asparagus Events and Festivals Big and Small
Gather with other Asparagus-lovers to celebrate the stalk!
Click on the links for more info.
VOTE for your favorites.
ADD a new event.
CALIFORNIA: Stockton Asparagus Festival : April 25th - 27th, 2008 : Best of the West Food Fest
Stockton, CA - Best of the West Food Fest. Stockto more...0 points
CALIFORNIA: Stockton Asparagus Festival Visitors Information - Stockton, CA Asparagus Festival
CALIFORNIA'S LARGEST CHARITABLE FESTIVAL- Stockton more...0 points
WISCONSIN: Apple Holler Asparagus Festival - Memorial Day Weekend
Sturtevant, WI - May 25-28, 2008 pony rides, pedal more...0 points
MICHIGAN: Empire Asparagus Festival - 3rd Weekend in May
Empire, MI - Last year featured a Bike Race, Music more...0 points
KENTUCKY: May's Lick Asparagus Festival and Art Show - 3rd Saturday in May
May's Lick, KY - Come join our little community fo more...0 points
Take me to the Stockton Festival!
Just a little more than an hour's drive from Oakland, CA
Fly into Oakland and take a car, train or bus to Stockton.
Remember to take your favorite Asparagus T-shirt!
Your Opinion Please...
How do you perceive this vegetable?
We're Stalking You....
Tell me more!
- Asparagus at Wikipedia
- Definition, description and more at the one and only Wikipedia, the online free encyclopedia.
- MAAB Asparagus Online
- Everything About Asparagus
From the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board
(No, I didn't make that up!)
Serve Your Asparagus Up in Style!
From Amazon.com
Asparagus Tong
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/25/2009)
Reed & Barton Francis First Sterling Silver Hooded Asparagus Server
Amazon Price: $67.99 (as of 12/25/2009)
Asparagus Plate
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
Fiesta Scarlet 499 Rectangular Tray
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
A Wee Malodorous Fern
Stinky Links for a Funky Fern
If you've ever eaten even a small amount of asparagus, you know what I mean. It really makes urine smell funny in a very acridly distinctive way.
Why is this?
Good links for real scientific answers, and a wee giggle...
- Discovery.com
- Hannah Holmes gives "The Skinny on... Why Asparagus Makes Your Pee Stink."
- The Scientific Chef
- Peter Barham is the Scientific Chef for Britain's The Guardian.
Here he answers a question from Karen Marriott of Edinburgh:
"Why does my wee smell when I've eaten asparagus?" - The Straight Dope
- Cecil answers the ever-burning question from F.K. of Dallas, Texas
"Why does my urine smell funny after I've eaten asparagus?"
Funny Asparagus Pee Attire and Accessories
Great Stuff on CafePress
Asparagus gives you Stinky Pe Cap
Funny Ball Cap with Asparagus Stalk saying "Asparagus gives you stinky pee."
Price: 18.99
Asparagus Women/ Star-Jr. Ringer T-shirt
Two ladies, one whispering:
"I heard that ASPARAGUS makes your pee smell AWESOME!"
Price: 21.00
Bush Asparagus Pee BBQ Apron
BBQ Apron: GWB says "Asparagus makes your pee smell awesome!"
Price: 20.90
A Delicate Question...
"Sample" Survey
Don't worry, it's completely anonymous!
Asparagus Guestbook
Thanks for visiting!
Share your impressions here.
Please be sure to rate this lens in the stars (top) before you leave - thanks!
-
Reply
- eccles1 eccles1 Sep 24, 2008 @ 7:33 pm
- What a nice lens and what a beautiful veggie! I make Asparagus oven Roasted just like your video and they come out delicious every time!
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Reply
- kathyrclark kathyrclark May 14, 2008 @ 7:22 am
- I love asparagus fresh, froze, out of a can and I can eat it hot or cold. It is perfect served on a salad. Thanks for sharing all these tips and ideas and interesting videos.
-
Reply
- giddygabby giddygabby Apr 5, 2008 @ 11:09 pm
- I grew up eating asparagus every spring when we would drive out to the country in the early evening and pick it along barrow ditches. Bring it home, wash it in a salty bath to get the sand off and any bugs out of the tips, snap the bottom ends off, steam it for a few minutes, plate it with a pat of butter, and we were in asparagus heaven. Best food in the world on a spring evening.
by KCStargazer
Julia Steffey
Writer, Astrologer, Artist, Cosmic Cook & Space Scamp
I began my adventures into space as a wee one- poring over photographs...
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