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This wonderful vegetable is available year round even though it is best when fresh picked in the spring. To store them wrap in a damp towel and then in foil. But after four days it will start to lose flavor so try to cook these soon after you buy them.

When shopping one should find them standing up and in water. That of course would be the ideal way, most stores just place the bunches in the produce isle.

One way to cook washed trimmed asparagus is to lay them in a skillet with 1/2 inch of boiling water. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes but be careful not to over cook.

Some ways to serve asparagus are:

Add a few cooked stalks to a BLT Sandwich.

Toss the cooked asparagus with a little olive oil, lemon juice and parmesan cheese

Wrap spears in Prosciutto and serve as an Hors d' oeuvre

Serve next to an omelet for a lunch, brunch or dinner

Roast asparagus drizzled with olive oil, orange juice and orange zest in the oven

Puree the cooked stalks with water, oil and lemon juice and use as a sauce for fish.

I'm sure you have many ways of your own to enjoy using asparagus. Won't you please share your favorite ways and a recipe for us?

Truth is, I even love canned asparagus and always keep a few cans on hand. I can't always get out to buy fresh and Asparagus heated in the microwave straight from the can and then sprinkled with Parmesan goes good with many entree's. Come on, send us your favorite way to have it.