Friday, April 9, 2010

Picnic, Asparagus!

(with a grateful nod to Billy Collins, one-time U.S. Poet Laureate for his wonderfully readable, profound, funny book of poetry, Picnic, Lightning)

There in market on Tuesday was the first asparagus. I approach the first produce of a season with reverence and great hesitation - which favorite thing should I cook first?



This time, I simply steamed it and then drizzled it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, with big crunches of salt and pepper.
Because it was so short, I was able to tie it in bundles with kitchen twine and stand it upright to steam. Usually asparagus is too long and de rigeur for that. But isn't it pretty?





We carried the asparagus outside for a backyard picnic with a mushroom pizza and kombucha. And my husband, who was not driving out to tutor that evening as I was, had wine.



The children asked for thirds of asparagus and we had to tell them to finish their pizza first. . .and then we laughed at how that sounded. Ahhhhh, spring!

5 comments:

Rebecca said...

What crust do you use?

Anonymous said...

Everything looks delicious--LOVE the quilt!

Robin

Margo said...

Reb, I use the More with Less crust which isn't great, but this time I cranked the oven up to 475 to bake it - it's not so doughy and yeasty then.

Robin - I know, it's so cool! My mom got it for me and I have a friend that calls it "the little old man pants quilt."

Beth said...

What a delightful supper. And the kids being made to eat their pizza? That is a fun and surprising thing!

Oh, the days when one pizza would feed us all! Looks tasty!

I will try to send the strawberry shortcake recipe if you like.

Margo said...

Beth, yes please!