Grilled asparagus - Your New Weeknight Friend

Did you know that vegetables containing water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin C, can lose some of that good nutrition if boiled as opposed to grilled or steamed?  Asparagus is one of those veggies but with a very low calorie count and high nutritional content (vitamins, fiber and antioxidants to mention a few), we should all be eating a lot more of it.

Try cooking this super healthy and easy weeknight side on the grill - a frying pan or oven would also work, but I'd recommend softening the asparagus in the microwave in a shallow dish with 1/4 cup of water in the bottom for two minutes before frying to give it a little tenderness under the crisp. I like to keep it pretty simple with some heart-healthy olive oil, a dash of sea salt, some fresh cracked pepper and a dash of lemon pepper, but any other additional ingredients you may have lying around the kitchen are fun to explore and will change the flavor profile so you're not getting bored.  Try adding any of the following ingredients:

-lemon juice  -dill  -garlic  -balsamic vinegar  -diced onion  -red pepper flakes  -bell peppers  -low-sodium soy sauce  -sesame seeds  -shallots or onions

 To grill asparagus:

- rinse fresh asparagus under cold water
- chop about 1-2" of rough ends off stalks
- set out a large enough sheet of aluminum foil to lay the asparagus on & eventually wrap over the top to seal up like a pouch
- spread asparagus over foil and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil
- sprinkles a few dashes of sea salt and cracked pepper

- add any other ingredients you desire and seal up the pouch on the sides so nothing will leak out

- on a medium-heat grill, lay the foil-covered asparagus and let cook for about 3 1/2 minutes

- flip foil pouch and let cook for another 3 minutes
- remove from grill with tongs (foil packet will be very hot!) and let cool for 2 minutes
- open foil with caution (hot steam) and enjoy!

Fresh off the grill

Asparagus will be a bit browned and should
be tender yet a little crispy on the outside