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!