Asparagus!

I really feel like asparagus gets a bad wrap.  For whatever reason, some people just won't eat it- or even try it!  How can you know if you like something or not, if you don't even try it?  I'm sure that there were folks out there that thought pasta looked funny, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't like pasta.

But I digress.  Asparagus is one of those things that can be cooked very simply, and taste anything but simple.  It can liven up any plate.  Besides it's being delicious, I love that Laela and I can make it together. I personally feel that any recipe that can be made mostly by a toddler, can easily be made by a grown-up.

Asparagus

You'll need:

• 1 bunch of asparagus
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Olive oil
• Salt and Pepper

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 350-degrees F.
• Place a piece of foil on a cookie sheet.
• Drizzle a little bit of olive oil on the foiled cookie sheet.
• Rinse and dry the asparagus.
• Take the asparagus with both hands.  Snap the asparagus.  It will break where it is meant to naturally. because the stalk is the natural breaking point for the asparagus.  You'll be surprised to find that the asparagus will be mostly even. 
• Place the asparagus on the cookie sheet, one quarter inch apart.
• Drizzle with a little more olive oil.
• Shake some onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper on the asparagus.  (This pretty fool-proof.  Laela loves to shake the spices on.  I watch to make sure she doesn't get too crazy with the salt and pepper, but our shakers aren't overly liberal, so it's not really too much of an issue.  This is the kind of recipe that no matter how much or how little of the onion and garlic you put on, it'll be amazing.)
• Place the pan in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.  15 minutes if you like it with a little crisp to it.

Enjoy!

*Variations:

• You can use fresh garlic instead if you'd like, just finely chop 2 cloves of garlic, and sprinkle it over the asparagus.
• You can also use fresh onion.  Chop 1/2 onion, drizzle it in a little bit of olive oil, and sprinkle it over the asparagus.
• Chopped red pepper added to the recipe is also delicious, and tastes great served over pasta, or with roasted chicken.