Asparagus Binge

it's officially spring... asparagus season has arrived!

simple roasted asparagus with lemon-dill mustard:

1 large bunch of asparagus, stems trimmed

splash of olive oil

sea salt & pepper

chili flakes

toss together asparagus, oil and spices in a shallow roasting pan. heat oven to 450 and place your asparagus in the oven as it warms up. by the time it reaches 450, turn oven to broil. broil for about 5 minutes, or until fork tender. be sure to watch them carefully! they can get mushy very quickly! now if only i had an outdoor grill... my asparagus would be so much more tasty.

i've recently become addicted to earth & vine provisions lemon-dill mustard. it is amazing on practically any roasted vegetable. i'd like to experiment with grinding my own mustard seeds soon - but for now, try mixing a good quality dijon with fresh chopped dill, lemon juice and lemon zest!

in case you were wondering... asparagus contains a sulfur compound called mercaptan - also found in onions, garlic, rotten eggs, and in the secretions of skunks. most people have an enzyme that breaks down mercaptan in our digestive system, contributing to a quite distinctive - um - oder in your urine. i suggest not thinking about this too much.

fun times!