Asparagus Bunches

Well, Spring is just around the corner and my freezer still has several bags of asparagus waiting to be rescued before the new crop comes in come Summer.  If you're like me, and have always felt that Asparagus need major help in the flavor department, you probably reached for a jar of mayonnaise  Hey, it's what I have done in the past, and have tried to stop using mayo as a crutch where asparagus is considered.  Because of this, I've had to find different ways to use this vegetable and here is one.  

Asparagus Bunches


Ingredients:

• 6 slices of bacon (I used turkey bacon)
• About 4 cups Asparagus (about 60 stems)
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1 Tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Rinse and dry asparagus thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper. Make a bundle using about 10 asparagus stems. Wrap a slice of bacon around the center of the bundle and place them seam side down on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining asparagus and bacon.
• In a small saucepan, over low heat, add butter, sugar, and garlic. Lightly whisk until butter and sugar have melted. Using a pastry brush, brush the mixture over the tops and sides of bundles. Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes, or until bacon is a little crispy.

Makes 6 bundles *Serves 4-6

Adapted from a recipe found at: Dishing with Leslie

This is a truly wonderful side dish.  The combination of asparagus and bacon tastes great.  Not that bacon doesn't make everything better huh?