Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 30

RM

| RECIPES

SPRI NG
STALKS

Asparagus, a delicious first sign of spring's arrival
by Heather Berry |
hberry@ruralmissouri.coop
ome people choose to forage the grocery
store or farmers market for asparagus,
while other cooks like to plant their
own perennial patch. If you decide to
plant asparagus root stock, don't expect
to see green shoots abounding the
next year. It takes about three years to
see asparagus shoots. Once the patch
is established, it should continue producing for many years. If you want a guarantee
of asparagus each spring, plant more root stock
annually. This way, you should harvest spears
for years.
When buying asparagus, select bright green
stalks with firm tips. If you're not eating them
right away, handle the vegetable like flowers,
trimming the ends of the spears, then refrigerate
them upright in a container with about an inch
of water and cover loosely with plastic wrap.
You also can wrap the cut ends in a wet paper
towel and store them in a plastic bag with the
top left open if you plan to use the spears within a day or so.
No matter how you choose to eat the delicate
greens, asparagus adds a wonderful subtle
flavor to many recipes. So give this delightful
spring sprout a try - you're sure to find a
favorite way to love these tasty shoots.

S

FRESH ASPARAGUS QUICHE
1 tablespoon butter
1 leek (white and light green parts only), halved lengthwise, thinly sliced, then
washed and set on paper towels to remove excess moisture
1 pound asparagus, ends trimmed, then sliced diagonally in bite-size pieces
Coarse salt
1 teaspoon pepper
4 large eggs
1-1/4 cups half-and-half
One 9-inch pie crust, chilled
1 cup shredded Gruyere, Gouda or provolone cheese
Heat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in lowest position. In a large skillet, melt
butter over medium heat. Add leek and asparagus; season with salt and pepper.
Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes to soften vegetables.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, 1/2 teaspoon salt and
pepper. Place pie crust (in pie pan) on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with
cheese; top with asparagus and leek mixture. Pour egg mixture over asparagus/leek layer.
Bake until center of quiche is just set, 50 to 60 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

30

RURAL MISSOURI | MAY 2018

FRESH ASPARAGUS AND TOMATO SALAD
Vinaigrette:
6 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 tablespoons sugar (more if desired)
1/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons honey
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Salad:
2 pounds fresh asparagus (small to medium thickness), ends trimmed, cut into
2-inch pieces
10-1/2-ounce package of grape tomatoes, halved
2/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
1 cup feta cheese, crumbled (ricotta is a good substitute)
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile prepare vinaigrette - add vinegar to a small saucepan, bring to a boil over medium heat and allow to boil until
mixture is reduced by half, approximately 5 minutes. Pour into a jar or bowl,
then add the sugar, water, olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey and garlic. Whisk to
blend while seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. Note: If thinner
dressing is desired, stir in additional warm water 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring and tasting after each addition before adding more water.
Add prepared asparagus to boiling water and allow to boil until tender crisp,
about 5 minutes. Immediately place asparagus in a colander or bowl and rinse
with ice-cold water for a few seconds, then drain very well.
Next, toss the asparagus with tomatoes and walnuts. Drizzle well with vinaigrette and toss lightly. Sprinkle with half of the cheese, then plate, topping
each serving with extra cheese crumbles (so all of the feta doesn't turn brown
from tossing with all the vinaigrette).

Fresh Asparagus
Quiche



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - May 2018

Contents
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - Cover1
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - Cover2
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - Contents
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 4
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 5
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 6
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 7
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 8
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 9
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 10
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 11
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 12
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 13
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 14
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 15
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 16
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 17
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 18
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 19
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 20
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 21
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 22
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 23
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 24
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 25
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 26
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 27
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 28
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 29
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 30
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 31
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 32
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 33
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 34
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 35
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 36
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 37
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 38
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 39
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 40
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 41
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 42
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 43
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 44
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 45
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 46
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - Cover3
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/videotest
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201010
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com