asparagus

We're thrilled that asparagus season is finally upon us! There are so many different ways to enjoy these green spears, so make sure to get in your favorite recipes while this vegetable's at its peak.

Asparagus With Grated Egg and Vinaigrette	Raw Asparagus Salad	Asparagus Pizza
Pancetta-Wrapped Asparagus	Asparagus Soup	Asparagus Crostini

Asparagus is the quintessential Spring vegetable. Every year when grocery shelves begin to fill with bundles of green spears, it signifies that the warm weather is on its way (and boy, are we excited about that!). Asparagus makes a festive appearance each year on my family's Easter table, as it is a wonderful complement to a meaty lamb roast. The tender spears are steamed and topped with a grated hard-boiled egg and a drizzle of vinaigrette.


The recipe comes together in under 20 minutes and only requires a handful of ingredients. For more, keep reading.

We couldn't agree more with Food Orleans: the sight of grass-green asparagus is a sure sign of Spring.

Do you love asparagus like I do? 'Cause I really, really love it. I also love that it's a harbinger of spring eating, and even though we can technically buy it at the store year-round, I try not to. Waiting until the spring for asparagus is one of the first seasonal-buying lessons I learned when I started learning to cook. Plus, I like the fact that I can get excited about a vegetable.

It's like the beauty pageant version of broccoli. The diva of the vegetable world. I scan the market for its stalks as if I were checking for grass shoots. It's tall and lean and might be usable as a paintbrush, in a pinch. Plus it's awesome in salads of all kinds, especially this yummy potato salad full of herbs and lemony, light flavors. All it needs is a quick steam and a plunge in some ice water to set the color, and you've got spring in a bowl!

For her creole-inspired asparagus and potato salad recipe, keep reading.

Fruits and veggies are full of vitamins and nutrients, but eating them can do some funky things to your body. We all know that beans can make you gassy and onions can cause bad breath, but here are some of produce's effects on the body that might not be as familiar.

• Asparagus: After eating some grilled spears with dinner, you may notice an odoriferous effect when you use the restroom. Does everyone experience smelly urine after eating asparagus? No, but if it happens to you, it's completely harmless. Mercaptan is the culprit. This compound found in the green stalks causes the ammonia- or sulfur-like smell to be released when you relieve yourself.
• Beets: You enjoyed some delicious beet salad at your friend's barbecue and hours later a visit to the powder room has you reaching for your phone to dial 911. Don't be alarmed! Many people experience reddish-colored urine after they eat beets. It's either caused by a genetic condition known as Beeturia (that's the real name!) or an iron deficiency. A trip to your doctor for a quick blood test will let you know if you need to include more iron-rich foods in your diet.
• Carrots: A person needs 2,310 international units (IU) of vitamin A a day. One carrot contains 10,255 IU, half a cup of red pepper has 2,333 IU, and half a cup of sweet potato contains 15,740 IU. If you're a fan of these foods, it's easy to overdo it on vitamin A. Your skin can become saturated, which results in an orange glow. This symptom alone isn't harmful, but if it's coupled with blurred vision, nausea, irregular periods, and hair loss, you've probably overdosed on vitamin A and it's time to cut back. Sadly, getting too much vitamin A while pregnant can also cause birth defects, so don't ignore that orange tint!

Find out what food causes a color change in your number two.

Panzanella is an Italian bread salad that's traditionally made in the Summer with day old bread, tomatoes, and basil. However, I love this salad and I make it year-round. So does Michael Chiarello, apparently, because he's got recipes for Spring and Winter panzanellas that incorporate seasonal ingredients.

Over the weekend I was invited to a picnic and decided it was the ideal time to experiment with his Spring version. It combines fresh peas, asparagus, basil, and green beans with croutons, radicchio, spinach, and ricotta cheese. This salad is spectacular!

It's full of interesting textures, from the crunch of the croutons to the crumble of the cheese. It's packed with tons of different flavors: earthy asparagus, aromatic basil, salty cheese. Spring panzanella is not only awesome at a picnic, but it's a welcome addition to a Memorial Day barbecue menu. Check out the method now.

Although I wouldn't consider a classic lasagna to be a fast and easy weeknight meal option, this variation, with a simple asparagus-ricotta filling and no sauce, is ideal for a middle of the week pick-me-up. The ingredient list calls for pancetta, but I had bacon in my fridge, so that's what I used. If you're a vegetarian, leave it out. The best part of this lasagna is the sun-dried tomato paste that's layered between the noodles; it packs a flavorful punch and melts into the scrumptiously cheesy filling. Want to save even more time? Use no-boil lasagna noodles. To take a look at the preparation method, keep reading.

Making a pizza is a great way to incorporate seasonal veggies (like asparagus) into an easy meatless dinner. This uncomplicated pizza is topped with creamy ricotta, melted mozzarella, fresh asparagus, green garlic, and a zesty lemon vinaigrette.

I've found that the best way to get a crispy crust is to prebake the crust to a light golden color. Before I top the pizza with the fresh ingredients, I flip the par-cooked crust over. For perfectly uniform asparagus slices, I used the slicer blade on my cheese grater and it worked like a charm.

Unfortunately, my local grocer was out of full-fat ricotta, so I opted to use the low-fat version, but it definitely doesn't melt as well. If you want to add more veggies to your dinner, top the cooked pizza with wild arugula or Spring mix before drizzling the lemon vinaigrette. Give this seasonal meatless pie a try by reading more.

Happy Easter! By the time the day is over, your Easter meals — breakfast, brunch, dinner, or all three! — will be nothing but a pleasant memory. But chances are, you'll be stuck with some leftovers to remember them by. Wondering what to do with all that smoky ham, roasted asparagus, and (of course!) hard-boiled eggs? Here are some of our favorite uses for Easter leftovers to get you through the week.

Perfect Deviled Eggs	Ham Salad Sammies	Spring Pizza With Asparagus
Ham Sandwich With Brie	Bobby Flay's Egg Salad	Silky Asparagus Soup

Roast chicken and potatoes is one of my go-to meals for quick entertaining. All you have to do is season with herbs and olive oil and toss the two ingredients in the oven. However, when I'm in the mood for something a little more special than chicken, I change it up and use delicate, flaky salmon fillets.

The key is to cook each of the elements (potatoes, asparagus, salmon) for different amounts of time. Start with the potatoes, then add the asparagus, and finally the salmon. It's not as simple as a chicken, but it's a delicious and sophisticated meal that's perfect for a celebratory occasion like Easter. Keep reading for the uncomplicated and rewarding recipe.

Still wondering what to serve on Easter? I've got the perfect seasonal appetizer for you: asparagus crostini with smoked salmon and cheese. It's crispy, creamy, salty, and delicious. It's also an incredibly versatile hors d'oeuvre that can be offered morning, noon, or night and paired with lemonade, sparkling wine, or cocktails. The different components (crostini, cheese mixture, and sautéed asparagus) can be prepared in advance; assemble the layers just before serving. Keep reading for the recipe.