Asparagus

Nothing says spring like a fresh, green bunch of asparagus. It's an elegant, simple & surprisingly versatile vegetable. Here are a few tips for using it in your cooking: > Look for firm, bright green spears [either thin or thick] w/ compact heads. > To store, wrap stem ends w/ a moist paper towel & refrigerate. > Asparagus tastes best when eaten w/i the 1st few days of purchase, but you can cook it up to 1 week after. > Enjoy asparagus boiled or steamed & only cook til it's tender-crisp [about 3 - 6 min., depending on size]. How-To: Remove the tough ends of asparagus just before cooking; they should naturally break off about 1" from the base. Tip: Asparagus makes the perfect veggie side dish. Try it w/ Parmesan Crusted Chicken in Cream Sauce.