Customer Reviews

The Asparagus Festival Cookbook

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This book is really a value for its small size and small price. It was originally sold at the Stockton Asparagus Festival. The book contains many recipies from the Festival's Asparagus Food Alley as well as past winners in the ongoing recipe contast. Recipes range from soups, through main dishes, and on to breads and desserts. I highly recommend it for personal use or a small gift to the cook who has everything. If only it were 100 pages longer...I do love asparagus!!

I have owned this book since the second annual Asparagus Festival when I volunteered at a booth in Asparagus Alley. I am constantly being asked for recipes I make from the book. As a parent, it is also nice to have recipes for asparagus that my son will request.

If you have only boiled or steamed asparagus, this tiny 95-page pamphlet (5" X 6") is loaded with asparagus surprises. First, p. 18 -- I had to make a double batch of these Asparazingers, and then had to make them again the following week for the crowd! Asparazingers are miniature asparagus (crustless) quiches loaded with bacon, cheese, chiles, and asparagus flavors. Wow! Second, the Stockton Asparagus Festival Bisque (p. 38) sells out every year at the Asparagus Festival, and for good reason: it is asparagus soup as comfort food, loaded with intense buttery asparagus flavor. For Sunday supper, vegetarian Asparagus Lasagna (p.66)is elegant, rich, and perfect for your vegetarians. Loaded with cottage (or ricotta), Parmesan, and Monterey Jack, onions, mushrooms, and cups of asparagus, even the smell fresh out of the oven is heavenly. Other crowd pleasers are the Asparagus Corn Relish (served on a ham or pork sandwich -- holy cow!) on p. 82; Asparagus Rice Casserole, p. 57, which is a creamy one-dish risotto without the constant stirring -- so easy and so tasty as a side or even a vegetarian supper ready in 25 minutes with prep! And here is the biggest surprise of all: Aspara-Chocolate Chip Surprise Cookies, p. 77. I know, I know, I was skeptical too, but the grated asparagus is key to these golden brown gems, giving them a chewy, melt in your mouth texture and rich undertone to the dough's flavor that actually enhances the chocolate flavors. Don't tell people about the asparagus; let that be a surprise! There is also a Low-Fat Asparagus Muffin (my very first low-fat muffin that actually tasted fantastic), and a peppery Asparagus Jalapeno Dip for those who like heat! Old favorites are here too: Asparagus Ham Roll-ups, Roasted Asparagus on the BBQ, Asparagus Salad. But the winners here are the recipes that you would never think of in a million years (i.e. Asparagus Sherry Cake, Asparagus Enchiladas, and Asparagus Margaritas!

This cute little book is sure to please anyone who wants to explore what can be done with asparagus. What I like especially is that the recipes are easy, and most have only about 6 ingredients, but they taste as if you've gone to a lot of trouble. They are healthy and imaginative too. Who would have thought that one could make asparagus squares or asparagus sherry cake, or asparagus guacamole? There are soups, wraps, dips, and main courses among the recipes, and much more. I've tried several of the recipes and liked every one of them so far. I also bought another copy and gave it to a friend who grows asparagus; it was also much appreciated. It's a great little book for the price. Just don't expect photographs (there are none), but the writing and the ideas are first-rate!