New Recipe Night - Asparagus Magnificence

Tonight it's a side dish that is vegetable awesomeness!!  Not only is it a vegetable that I have only just begun to eat,  but Brenna ate it too!!!

Bacon Wrapped Sesame Asparagus

1 bunch of asparagus, about 20-25 spears, stems removed

4-5 slices bacon

1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 Tbsp sesame oil

1 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 Tbsp (or more) toasted sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with aluminium foil and place a wire rack on top.  Spray the rack with non-stick spray.  In a small bowl, whisk together oils, brown sugar and garlic.  Set aside.

Bunch together 5-6 asparagus spears and tightly wrap a piece of bacon around the bundle.  Place on the wire rack seam-side down. Continue with all asparagus spears.  Using a pastry brush, a spoon or even your hands, brush the spear bundles throughly with the oil/sugar mixture.  Give each bundle a hefty sprinkle of sesame seeds.  Roast for about 30-45 minutes or until bacon is crispy.

These should just be called Asparagus Awesomeness!!! They were really, really good and they looked very pretty.  

New Recipe Night - Unqualified Success Again!

Another fabulously successful New Recipe Night... either I'm turning into a Top Chef or I'm just getting better at choosing my recipes!  What was so fun about this recipe is that it combined 2 things I've never really had before... asparagus and gnocchi!

Skillet Gnocchi with Shrimp and Asparagus

1 Tbsp + 2 tsps olive oil

 1 - 16oz package of shelf stable gnocchi

1/2 cup sliced shallots

1 bunch asparagus (about 1 pound), trimmed and cut into thirds

3/4 cup chicken broth

1 pound raw shrimp

1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

pinch of salt

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1.  Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Add gnocchi and cook, stirring often, until plumped and golden in spots, 6 to 10 minutes.  Transfer to a bowl.

2.  Add the remaining 2 tsp oil and shallots to pan; cook over med heat until beginning to brown, 1 to 2 minutes.  Stir in asparagus and broth.  Cover and cook until the asparagus is barely tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Add shrimp, pepper and salt; cover and simmer until the shrimp is pink and just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes more.

3.  Return the gnocchi to the skillet along with lemon juice and cook, stirring until heated through, about 2 minutes.  Remove from the heat, sprinkle with cheese, cover and let stand until the cheese is melted, about 2 minutes.

This was delicious!  Brenna loved it.  Zack ate the shrimp, tried the gnocchi - but didn't like the texture and wouldn't even let the asparagus on his plate.  Despite that... home run!!!