Asparagus and Ham roll ups

My wife made this for me before we were married and it may be the first time I remember really eating asparagus. I grew up in the country and if we didn't grow it we didn't eat it.

Glad my views have changed as I love asparagus and a whole lot of other foods now. I just read an article on how our taste has changed and I know I can eat more spicy and hot stuff (thanks to wife) than I did 20 years ago. Any way this is a really easy and impressive dish.

She can't remember where she got the recipe and she tore the house up looking for it but it was easy to remember. You can make as many or as few as you want. We used the last of the lasagna noodles we had from the lasagna the other night.

Lasagna noodles cooked to directions on pkg

heat oven to 350.

sliced deli ham

asparagus steamed or cooked till tender about 3 to 4 per role

Swiss cheese slices.

We also had some ricotta cheese we used but its not necessary.

hollandaise sauce.

salt and pepper to taste

Take one noodle and smooth layer of ricotta cheese place slice of swiss cheese, ham slices and 3 to 4 spears of asparagus role up and place in baking dish. seam side down.

Bake for 20 to 30 minutes covered.

Cook hollandise sauce. We cheated and used Knorr pkg mix.

Place roll up on dish and pour sauce over and serve.

Poached eggs

I guess most foodies have watched the Julie and Julia movie. We loved it.We happened to catch a show with Julia Child poaching eggs. I don't know what happened to me but I have become obsessed with a poached egg. This is something I have not done before so I tried several ways. Shallow pan, vinegar, in a ring (don't use a mason jar top the little grooves keeps the egg from coming out looking pretty.) So after several weekends I think I can do a pretty good poached egg. So go out there and give it a try. Here are some I did over the weekend.

Orange Roughy with Sauteed Asparagus

Orange Roughy with Sautéed Asparagus (from TV noon day meal.)

2 T butter melted
1/4 t extra-virgin olive oil
2 pieces orange roughy
1 bunch fresh asparagus
1 clove fresh garlic
1/2 fresh lime squeezed
1/4 cup white wine
salt and pepper to taste

White Sauce

1/4 T butter melted
1/2 t dill
1/4 fresh lime juice squeezed
1/4 cup white wine
1/2 pint heavy whipping cream
1/2 lump crab meat optional (we used can)
In large skillet melt butter with olive oil over medium heat. Place asparagus and roughy in together along with the garlic. Cook for 2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients. Turn asparagus 3-4 times. Turn fish only once. Total cook time 5 min. You want the roughy to just begin to flake and asparagus to remain crunchy not soggy.
Sauce
Over medium high heat melt butter in a small sauce pan. Add remaining ingredients. Cook until sauce coats the back of a wooden spoon, About 5 minutes. (we also threw in a few shrimp)

(We had more white sauce and saved it to use the next morning over some fried eggs.yumm)

We liked this of course it has some of our favorite foods, We could have used a little more heat may add some red pepper flakes next time. we had a good Chardonnay wine to go with it. We had a little sauce left over and used in in a dish the next morning.

Shrimp and asparagus in white sauce

We both love shrimp and asparagus is in the stores now. This calls for a shrimp and asparagus dish.
I would like to thank Deborah's blog Taste and Tell (April 26 2007) for this one and we will be making it again as it was fairly easy. We may try adding some onion and red pepper flakes next time. A nice salad and a crusty bread to get that last bit of sauce. Yum Yum

Shrimp Pasta in White Sauce

1/2 cup butter
c cup sliced mushrooms
1/4 onion, diced
1 lb shrimp
1/4 cup flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 c cream or evaporated milk
1/2 cup fresh Parmesan cheese
dash of nutmeg
1/4 garlic powder (we used fresh garlic)
3/4 cup steamed asparagus
12 oz pasta noodles
Cook noodles in sauce pan till al dent a
Steam asparagus
Melt 1/4 cup of butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Slowly cook onions,(we added garlic here) and then add mushrooms and cook till tender. Add shrimp and cook till shrimp have changed color.
In another sauce pan melt 1/4 cup of butter add flour and stir till combined for about 2 minutes. Stir in chicken broth, cream and pepper to taste. Add garlic powder here if using the powder along with nutmeg to taste. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Simmer for 5-10 minutes until it thickens. Stir in mushroom shrimp and asparagus into sauce. Serve over pasta.

Pasta with Ham, Asparagus and Asiago Cheese

I know everyone out there is tired of turkey right about now so for those who have left over ham here is a very good and quick recipe.
This was good but next time we will add some red pepper flakes we felt it needed a little more kick.
I must say we used a bottle of SPY VALLEY Sauvignon Blanc. 2006.That was just great with this.
We were in the wine store the other day to see if we could find another bottle. (Ms. Does not allow you to buy wine on line and when you do find a good one, it is not guaranteed it will be there the next time you go to get a bottle.) We did find a 2007 that was given a high rating by one of the magazines so we hope it is as good.

1lb bow tie pasta (could use other but the bow ties made a pretty presentation and held the sauce nicely).
1-2 lb thin asparagus
1 ½ dry white wine
1 cup whipping cream
1cup shredded Asiago cheese
1 cup thinly sliced green onion.
2 cloves garlic
Salt and pepper to taste.

Cook pasta in salted boiling water for 10 min.
Add asparagus and boil until crisp-tender stirring occasionally about 3 min longer. Both should be tender but still a little firm. Drain pasta and asparagus in colander.
Will pasta is cooking in large heated skillet add ham and cook just brown stirring frequently about two min.
Add wine boil until reduced by half about 2 min.
Add cream bring to simmer, stir in cheese and 3/4 cup of the green onions.
Add pasta and asparagus and toss with sauce to coat.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Garnish with remaining green onions.

Pasta with Asparagus and Shrimp

Been working out of town this week and glad to be back home. Looks like we are set for another round of rainy weather. Looks like I will not get the grass cut this weekend. Still with out a refrigerator so to speak so this is a quick and easy dish for two.


Pasta with Asparagus and Shrimp

12 large shrimp (we use more)
Pasta of choice, linguine spaghetti or angel hair. (we used spaghetti)
2 Tablespoons of olive oil
2 Tablespoons of garlic (we use a little more)
1 teaspoon chopped shallots ( we used a yellow onion and of course added a little more)
10 stalks asparagus cut in 2-inch pieces.
½-cup mushrooms or small can.
¼-teaspoon salt
1/8 dry crushed red pepper (we add a pinch more because we like it spicy)
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh basil (this is one herb we were able to grow fairly well this year)
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (this is another we were able to grow fairly well this year)
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
2 Tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese ( We love cheese and this is no way enough so we extra after it is served.)
½ cup dry white wine. Save rest to drink with meal.

1. Cook pasta and ser aside.
2. Heat large skillet about 10 inches or larger. Add olive oil garlic onion and shrimp cook 2 3 minutes stirring constantly until shrimp turn pink.
3. Add asparagus and mushrooms salt and red pepper.
4. Stir in wine scraping bottom of skillet to loosen any partials (the good stuff.)
5. Add pasta, basil and rest of the herbs and cheese.
Serve with crispy bread and enjoy.