Proscuitto Wrapped Asparagus
Classy, But Simple

A recent visit to Costco, a big box everything store, revealed a nice
package of Proscuitto di Parma. Each transparently thin slice of
this wonderful Italian salt-cured, air-dried but not smoked ham was separated
by a thin plastic divider that peeled right off. You've had this
ham with melon or with cheese and crackers. It's best eaten uncooked.
However, it can be cooked to good effect if added a
la minute. For example:
Proscuitto Wrapped Asparagus
1. Trim and wash some asparagus and boil in lightly salted water
for about 6 minutes until just barely tender. Scoop the cooked asparagus
out of the boiling water and into an awaiting bowl of ice water to stop
the cooking process and to retain the brught green color.
2. When cooled, drain off the ice and water and place the asparagus
on a paper towel to dry.
3. Peel off a slice of Proscuitto di Parma, place 5 or 6 spears
of cooked asparagus on the proscuitto and wrap and roll the whole thing
up. Repeat for all and set aside.
4. When ready, place the asparagus wraps in a greased pan and
reheat in a preheated 400F oven for about eight minutes.
5. Serve immediately. Shown here with The Little Woman's
chipped beef on toast.
Note: You may add a grind of pepper or other seasoning to the
asparagus before wrapping them up, but beware that the proscuitto is salty.
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