ASPARAGUS (asparagus officianlis)

Spring means that asparagus is plentiful, reasonably priced and on the menu everywhere. Asparagus is one of the most nutritionally well-balanced vegetables in existence. It leads nearly all produce items in the wide array of nutrients it supplies in significant amounts for a healthy diet. Fat-free, very low in sodium, an excellent source of folic acid, thiamin, B6, and a good source of potassium and fibre. It is also a natural diuretic. 'Fat Grass' comes in green, white and purple, and yes, it can sometimes make your pee smell funny (although not everyone can smell it!). Asparagus goes the extra mile by also being very low in pesticide contamination.

How asparagus grows: A member of the Lily family, asparagus spears grow from a crown that is planted about a foot deep in sandy soils. Each crown will send spears up for about 6-7 weeks during the spring and early summer. under ideal conditions, an asparagus spear can grow 10" in a 24-hour period! The outdoor temperature determines how much time will be between each picking...early in the season, there may be 4-5 days between pickings and as the days and nights get warmer, a particular field may have to be picked every 24 hours.  After harvesting is done the spears grow into ferns, which produce red berries and the food and nutrients necessary for a healthy and productive crop the next season.

You can roast the fat ones, and serve skinny ones raw. Serve with dip or wrap in pastry, you really can't go wrong with these finger-friendly nutritional powerhouses.

How to select asparagus: What's better, thin or thick stalks of asparagus?
Both. Every spring there is an endless debate over which is better, thin or thick stalks. What' really important is the quality of the stalk: look for straight, firm green stalks with light purple tinged tips. Look at the bottoms of the stalks. If they're white, dry, and woody, then they're probably old. Also avoid shriveled, overly dry, or pitted stalks.

How do you store asparagus? Here are three ways:
1. Trim the bottoms of the stalks and stand them upright in an inch or two of cold water in the refrigerator; loosely cover the stalks with a plastic bag. Asparagus should last 3-4 days, unless it's fresh from the farmers' market, in which case, it could last up to 6 days.
2. Wrap the bunch of asparagus with a damp paper towel and place in the vegetable bin for 3-4 days.
3. Par-boil the stalks for 1 1/2-2 minutes, then plunge in a bowl of ice water for 2-3 minutes. Drain, pat dry, and store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

How do you trim asparagus?
Sanpping off the stalk works just fine. Hold the asparagus stalk with two hands and bend it. You'll feel a natural pull toward the bottom third of the stalk, where it feel like it wants to snap. Give it a quick snap, and the bottom will pop right off. If the stalks are really tender, this part isn't even necessary. Alternatively, you can use a vegetable peeler and shave off the thick, woody parts on the bottom.

How do you cook asparagus?
Very lightly. Nothing ruins asparagus more than overcooking it. You can boil, steam, roast, bake, grill, saute, or nuke it. You decide. Just keep it al dente, so it still has some crispness when you bite into it.

 

Asparagus with Maple Tahini Dressing Recipe

from  http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.ca

Vegan Ricotta Ravioli with Asparagus Walnut Pesto

Low-Fat Roasted Asparagus Soup

Asparagus Mushroom Lasagna

What's in season in April?

Apples, Asparagus, Chives, Pears, Rhubarb, Rosemary, Sage, Spinach.

What's in season in May?

Apples, Asparagus, Chives, Fiddleheads, Radish, Rhubarb, Rosemary, Sage, Spinach, Turnips.

What's in season in June?

Apples, Cauliflower, Cherries, Chinese Vegetables, Chives, Cilantro, Lettuce, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Rhubarb, Rosemary, Sage, Salad Greens, Spinach, Strawberries, Thyme, Turnips.

What's in season in July?

Apricots, Basil, Beans, Beets, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Cherries, Chinese Vegetables, Chives, Cilantro, Cucumbers, Kale, Lettuce, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Radish, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Rosemary, Sage, Salad Greens, Spinach, Strawberries, Summer Squash, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Thyme, Turnips.

What's in season in August?

Apples, Apricots, Basil, Beans, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chinese Vegetables, Chives, Cilantro, Corn, Cucumbers, Currants, Garlic, Kale, Lettuce, Melons, Onions (sweet), Peaches, Pears, Peppers, Plums, Potatoes, Radish, Raspberries, Rosemary, Sage, Salad Greens, Shallots, Spinach, Strawberries, Summer Squash, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Thyme, Turnips.

What's in season in September?

Apples, Basil, Beans, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chinese Vegetables, Chives, Cilantro, Corn, Cucumbers, Currants, Garlic, Kale, Lettuce, Leeks, Melons, Onions (sweet), Onions (cooking), Pears, Peppers, Plums, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radish, Raspberries, Rosemary, Sage, Salad Greens, Shallots, Spinach, Strawberries, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Thyme, Turnips, Winter Squash.

What's in season in October?

Apples, Beans, Beets, Blackberries, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chives, Cilantro, Corn, Cranberries, Garlic, Kale, Lettuce, Leeks, Onions (sweet), Onions (cooking), Pears, Peppers, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radishes, Rosemary, Sage, Salad Greens, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Thyme, Turnips, Winter Squash.

What's in season in November?

Apples, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Garlic, Leeks, Onions (cooking), Pears, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Turnips, Winter Squash.

What's in season in December?

Apples, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Garlic, Pears, Rosemary, Sage, Turnips, Winter Squash.

What's in season in January?

Apples, Cabbage, Pears, Rosemary, Sage, Turnips, Winter Squash.

What's in season in February?

Apples, Cabbage, Pears, Rosemary, Sage, Turnips.

What's in season in March?

Apples, Pears, Rosemary, Sage.

more on what's in season

Product	Season
APPLES	AUGUST - JUNE
APRICOTS	JULY - AUGUST
ASPARAGUS	APRIL - MAY
BASIL	JULY - SEPTEMBER
BEANS	JULY - OCTOBER
BEETS	JULY - OCTOBER
BLACKBERRIES	AUGUST - OCTOBER
BLUEBERRIES	JULY - SEPTEMBER
BROCCOLI	JULY - OCTOBER
BRUSSELS SPROUTS	OCTOBER - DECEMBER
CABBAGE	JULY - FEBRUARY
CARROTS	JULY - NOVEMBER
CAULIFLOWER	JUNE - NOVEMBER
CELERY	JULY - OCTOBER
CHERRIES	JUNE - JULY
CHINESE VEGETABLES	JUNE - SEPTEMBER
CHIVES	APRIL - OCTOBER
CILANTRO	JUNE - OCTOBER
CORN	AUGUST - OCTOBER
CRANBERRIES	OCTOBER
CUCUMBERS	JULY - SEPTEMBER
CURRANTS	AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
FIDDLEHEADS	MAY
GARLIC	AUGUST - DECEMBER
KALE	JULY - OCTOBER
LETTUCE	JUNE - OCTOBER
LEEKS	SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER
MELONS	AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
ONIONS (SWEET)	AUGUST - OCTOBER
ONIONS (COOKING)	SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER
PEACHES	AUGUST
PEARS	AUGUST - APRIL
PEAS	JUNE - JULY
PEPPERS	JULY - OCTOBER
PLUMS	AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
POTATOES	JUNE - OCTOBER
PUMPKINS	SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER
RADISH	MAY - OCTOBER
RASPBERRIES	JULY - SEPTEMBER
RHUBARB	APRIL - JULY
ROSEMARY	YEAR ROUND
SAGE	YEAR ROUND
SALAD GREENS	JUNE - OCTOBER
SHALLOTS	AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
SPINACH	APRIL - SEPTEMBER
STRAWBERRIES	JUNE - SEPTEMBER
SUMMER SQUASH	JULY - AUGUST
SWISS CHARD	JULY - OCTOBER
TOMATOES	JULY - OCTOBER
THYME	JUNE - NOVEMBER
TURNIPS	MAY - FEBRUARY
WINTER SQUASH	MID SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER