Frugal Seasonal Veggies: Asparagus

One way that I save money and eat healthfully is to take advantage of loss leaders at the grocery store. Loss leaders are items that merchants put on deep sale in order to get you in the door. During spring and summer, fresh produce, rotating among different items is often very low cost, encouraging you to stop in and buy. Earlier this week, my local store had fresh spring asparagus for 88 cents a pound. Not only is this frugal, but asparagus is also one of my favorite vegetables. I like to slice it thinly and place in a frittata or to coat in olive oil and roast in the oven. However, my favorite way of preparing asparagus is to lightly steam it in the microwave. I find the microwave steams it without adding lots of extra water and it is cooked more evenly than in a stove-top steamer. For those of you who don’t like microwaves, steaming over a pan of boiling water works too. I serve these asparagus spears with mock hollandaise sauce as a first course. You can also try this as a main dish topped with a poached egg.

Asparagus with Mock Hollandaise Sauce

1 pound asparagus trimmed

1/2 T butter
1/2 T lemon juice
4 T mayonnaise
dash tobasco

In a small dish, melt the butter, add mayonnaise and tobasco and whisk. Gradually add lemon juice until it’s the consistency you desire, I like it thicker for dipping. Serve the sauce with asparagus or steamed artichokes. For the asparagus, place washed asparagus (no need to dry) in a casserole dish. Cove{r with a lid or with plastic wrap. Microwave on high for about 3 1/2 minutes. Allow to sit (still covered) for 5 minutes. Uncover carefully and serve immediately with sauce.

shared at $5 Dinners, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Pennywise Platter, and  Frugal Friday