Quick Tip #1--Asparagus

Oh, asparagus. I discovered it in Switzerland a few years ago, and I've been in love with those beautiful green stems ever since. It tastes amazing, it's fresh and healthy, and it makes any dish look classy. But the first time I bought a bunch of asparagus, I was devastated to find that half of the tops went sickeningly mushy within a few days. It was then I realized that buying asparagus was akin to a commitment--I had to be willing to use it for every meal until it was gone!

A couple of weeks ago, asparagus went MAJORLY on sale at a nearby grocery store--97 cents a pound! I was so excited that I bought two bunches without considering how I was possibly going to consume it. When I got home and became reacquainted with reason, I went online to see if there was a way to make asparagus last longer in the fridge. I discovered this site http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/the-nutrition-of-asparagus.html which explains that if you wrap asparagus in a damp cloth (I used a paper towel), then it will last longer. I quickly wrapped my bunches (and put them back in the original sack), stuck them in the fridge, and proceeded to break one of my own cardinal rules by forgetting about them for a week!

When I finally remembered that I'd bought all of that asparagus, I approached the refrigerator with a heavy heart...certain that I would find a disintegrating mess in my produce drawer. But when I pulled out the asparagus and unwrapped the heads, they looked brand new! It was like magic! And you know what's more? It's now been two weeks and my asparagus is still going strong--paper towels are my new best friend!