We recently posted an asparagus recipe from Chef Bill Telepan. Now we see that Noodles & Company has a clever ad campaign going that features an asparagus. The ad says there are only two kinds of vegetables - asparagus and those who wish they were.
"I applaud the chef for choosing me as his muse for this fresh new recipe," said Asparagus. "I'm a totally fabulous vegetable, and he gets that about me." Noodles & Company's new Linguine with Fresh Asparagus features tender asparagus spears, roma tomatoes and linguine tossed in a light sauce of olive oil, butter, lemon, balsamic vinegar and fresh herbs topped with parmesan.
Critics are calling this her best dish yet. "After eating it, I had a spearitual restaurant experience," said M.F.K. Fennel, author of The Art of Delicious Vegetable Eating. "Asparagus is fresh, saucy and confident in this recipe," said Alice Watercress from Chez Bon Appetit You May Eat Vegetables magazine. "She delivers a firm, flavorful and memorable performance," said Ima Foody from Eat Delicious Vegetables Daily Blog.
"That's fresh," said Asparagus. "I've known for practically ever that I'm delicious and talented and quite nutritious so I'm not surprised they feel this way. Look, I'm obviously fat-free, cholesterol-free and only a few calories per stalk. I'm high in folic acid and a good source of potassium, fiber, vitamins B6, A and C, as well as thiamin and rutin, which are very important anti-oxidants." Even the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board calls her one of nature's most perfect foods.
Asparagus spears grow from a crown that is planted about a foot deep in sandy soils.
Under ideal conditions, an asparagus spear can grow 10" in a 24-hour period.
Each crown will send spears up for about 6-7 weeks during the spring and early summer.
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.
An asparagus planting is usually not harvested for the first 3 years after the crowns are planted allowing the crown to develop a strong fibrous root system.
A well cared for asparagus planting will generally produce for about 15 years without being replanted.
The larger the diameter, the better the quality!
Asparagus is a nutrient-dense food which in high in Folic Acid and is a good source of potassium, fiber, vitamin B6, vitamins A and C, and thiamin.
Asparagus has No Fat, contains No Cholesterol and is low in Sodium.
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