Saturday’s Recipe: Springtime Asparagus Roasted in Foil

A quick and easy way to prepare asparagus.  Just toss in the oven and it’s cooked perfectly in about 10 minutes.

Springtime Herbed Asparagus Roasted in Foil

2 pounds asparagus, tough ends trimmed
4 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped fresh dill (or your favorite fresh herb)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Place the asparagus on a piece of aluminum foil large enough to hold the asparagus in a single layer with extra to fold over to seal.
2.  Sprinkle the asparagus with the lemon juice, oil, and dill.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Wrap the foil around the asparagus, snugly but not tightly, and seal by folding the edges together.
3.  Set the package on a rimmed baking sheet; bake for 10-15 minutes (depends on the thickness of the stalks).  Remove asparagus from foil and transfer to a serving dish.  Serve immediately.  Serves 8.

Just for fun, here’s some interesting asparagus trivia:

-Five ounces of asparagus contain 60% of the recommended daily intake of folic acid, which prevents heart disease and birth defects.  Other possible benefits include preventing cancer and urinary tract infections, and easy arthritic pain.
-Recent research suggests eating asparagus can help ease hangovers and protect liver cells against alcohol’s toxins by boosting levels of key enzymes that break down the alcohol.
-White asparagus comes from the same plant as green asparagus, but it is grown underground to block sunlight and prevent photosynthesis, thus inhibiting production of chlorophyll.  Purple asparagus is genetically modified, but once you cook it, it turns green.
-The German town of Schwetzingen claims to be the “Asparagus Capitol of the World,” and holds its annual Spargelfest (asparagus festival) in May.  The person who grows the heaviest stalk is named Spargel King or Queen.