Cook Without Book

Yield:  8 servings (serving size: about 3 ounces asparagus and 2 tablespoons sauce)                  Ingredients 2 pounds   fresh asparagus 2  egg yolks 1 cup   water 2 tablespoons   cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon   salt 2 tablespoons   lemon juice 1 tablespoon   margarine Grated lemon rind (optional) Preparation Snap off tough ends of asparagus; remove scales from stalks with a vegetable peeler, if desired. Cook asparagus, covered, in a small amount of boiling water 8 to 10 minutes or until tender; drain. Set aside, and keep warm. Place egg yolks in a small bowl; stir well with a wire whisk. Combine water, cornstarch, and salt in a small, heavy saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil and begins to thicken. Remove from heat; add 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixture to egg yolks, stirring constantly with a wire whisk. Add egg yolk mixture to rema...

                        Ingredients 8 ounces   penne Salt and pepper 1 cup   diced grilled eggplant (from about 3 grilled lengthwise slices) 1 cup   diced grilled zucchini or other summer squash (from about 5 grilled lengthwise slices) 1/2 cup   diced grilled bell peppers (from about 3 grilled lengthwise slices) 4  stalks grilled asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 cup) 1/3 cup   pitted kalamata olives, halved 1 cup   grape tomatoes, halved or quartered if large 1/4 cup   thinly sliced fresh basil, plus more for serving 1 teaspoon   finely grated lemon zest 1 tablespoon lemon  2 tablespoons   olive oil Preparation 1. Cook penne in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, as package label directs. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain pasta and return to pot. 2. Combine grilled vegetables, olives, tomatoes, basil, lemon z...

Prep Time:  12 minutes Cook Time:  12 minutes Yield:  Serves: 4 (serving size: 2 cups)                Ingredients 8 ounces   penne Salt and pepper 1 cup   diced grilled eggplant (from about 3 grilled lengthwise slices) 1 cup   diced grilled zucchini or other summer squash (from about 5 grilled lengthwise slices) 1/2 cup   diced grilled bell peppers (from about 3 grilled lengthwise slices) 4  stalks grilled asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 cup) 1/3 cup   pitted kalamata olives, halved 1 cup   grape tomatoes, halved or quartered if large 1/4 cup   thinly sliced fresh basil, plus more for serving 1 teaspoon   finely grated lemon zest 1 tablespoon   lemon juice 2 tablespoons   olive oil Preparation 1. Cook penne in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, as package label directs. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain pasta...

8 Treasure Vegetables The number 8 is a lucky one for the Chinese and this dish is one made on auspicious occasions using a combination of eight vegetables tossed in a simple sauce. Preparation Time:  15 mins. Cooking Time:  25 mins. Serves 4.  Ingredients 1/2 cup   snow peas , cut into 2 vertically 1/2 cup   baby corn, cut into 2 vertically 1/4 cup   dried shitake mushrooms, soaked 1/4 cup   fresh mushrooms (khumbh), chopped 1/2 cup   carrot jullienes 1/2 cup   broccoli florets 1/2 cup   asparagus , cut into 50 mm. (2 ") pieces 1/2 cup   bean sprouts 1/4 cup   chopped onions 1 1/2 tsp  finely  chopped garlic 1 1/2 tsp   oil salt  to taste To be mixed into a sauce 1/2 tsp   soy sauce 1/2 tsp   sesame (til) oil 1/4 cup   water 1 1/2 tsp   cornflour 1 tsp   hoisin sauce Method Parboil the snow peas, baby corn, fresh mushrooms, carrots, broccoli and asparagu...

Asparagus Bruschetta ( Microwave Recipe) Crispy french bread slices topped with asparagus and cheese. The bruschettas can be served as a snack or as an accompaniment to soup. Choose slender, bright green asparagus to make these bruschetta. Preparation Time:  10 mins Cooking Time:  1 mins Makes 4 bruschettas Ingredients 4   baguette  slices 24   asparagus spears , cut into 50 mm.(2") long 2 tbsp   grated mozzrella cheese 1 tsp   chopped parsley 1 tsp   butter dry red chilli flakes (paprika) salt  to taste Method In a microwave safe bowl, add the asparagus spears alongwith 1 tablespoon of water and salt and microwave on high for 45 seconds. Remove and keep aside. Mix together the butter and parsley and apply the mixture on one side of each of the 4 slices. Place the buttered slices on a shallow microwave safe plate and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Arrange 6 asparagus spears on each slice, top with the gra...

Grilled Asparagus with Ginger Juice Serves 4 1 pound fresh asparagus 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh ginger juice Salt to taste Freshly ground black pepper Juice of 1 lemon Heat the grill to medium high heat. Wash the asparagus and trim the ends.  Place in a flat dish and drizzle the olive oil over the top.  Evenly drizzle the ginger juice over it. Add salt and pepper to taste.  Mix well with your hands, let rest until the grill is very hot, or about 5 minutes till serving time.   Place the asparagus directly on the grill grate. Place the stalks horizontally so they don't fall through.  Turn when they've got grill marks, about one minute. Turn again a couple more times, until well cooked. Serve hot with Rhubarb Chutney. 

                 Aspara gus   and Chilli                   Quesadillas  Cheese Preparation Time:  10 min. Cooking Time:  10 min. Serves 3.  Ingredients 6   Flour Tortillas For the filling 4 tbsp   chopped asparagus 4 tbsp   grated cooking cheese 1   green chilli, chopped salt  to taste Method Divide the filling into three parts. Take a tortilla, put 1/3rd of the filling on it and press another tortilla on top. Repeat for the remaining tortillas and fillings. Cook on a tava (griddle) on both sides until the cheese melts. Cut each tortilla into four pieces. Serve hot.