When I need a brain break, I just think about eating and cooking.

This asparagus bacon walnut salad  really follows the zesty motto…. quick and easy yet packed with flavor. This asparagus dish will easily work as either a side dish or a salad depending on both your mood and your dinner plans.

It literally takes no time to make and requires very little preparation.  In this particular case I used turkey bacon as it was on sale.  Even though I have never tried it before, I enjoyed it immensely.  I noticed a number of similar qualities to real bacon minus the grease.

As a little treat to compliment the salad is homemade rosemary focaccia bread that I picked up at the bakery…. yum.  This stuff was amazing.

I don’t eat asparagus very often but every time I do I always wonder why I don’t buy it more often.  Perhaps it’s because it can be fairly pricey at the local grocery store.

See below for the brief instructions on how to make this dish.

Ingredients

• Asparagus (about 12-15 pieces)
• 4-5 slices cooked turkey bacon (chopped)
• 1/4 Cup walnuts
• 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• Drizzle of Balsamic Vinegar

Method

1. Preheat pan to medium-high heat.
2. Add Olive Oil to warm pan then add bacon, asparagus and heat together for 5-7 minutes.
3. Once Asparagus is tender toss in the walnuts.
4. Cook through for 2 minutes and finish with a drizzle of Balsamic Vinegar.



5. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: When cooking with asparagus do not over cook them.  I like to shock them with high heat for only 5-7 minutes to allow them to heat through but also keep the crunch.

I am on the road tonight so stay tuned or a Virginia post on Friday.  Have a great day.

Take care

zesty

Download my Free Recipe Book: Simply Zesty

Oh Yum!  I was walking around the grocery store picking up some much needed supplies last week and I noticed that asparagus was on sale.  I do enjoy asparagus but I do not buy it very often due to the high price.  However after buying this vegetable treat,  I had to come up with a fun recipe to use the asparagus plus I had made another batch of homemade basil pesto ( which I love ).  I took some chicken breasts out of the freezer and my mind was set - Chicken Asparagus Pesto Quesadilla!  It’s a mouthful in more ways than one.  The flavor combination with this dish was simply amazing.

Quesadillas are so quick and easy to make and offer a lot of options for picky eaters as well.  You can dress them up or down according to your taste.

Ingredients

• 2 Whole Wheat Tortillas
• 1/2 Cup Cooked Chicken
• 3 Tbsp. Basil Pesto
• Asparagus ( trim tips )
• Mozzarella and Monterey Jack Cheese

Method

1. Warm pesto and chicken in a sauce pan until heated through.



2. Add asparagus and continue cooking for 4 minutes over medium heat.



3. Remove filling from pan, add tortilla to the dry pan and then add the filling on top of the tortilla.



4. Top with cheese and remaining tortilla.
5. Flip after 1 minute until crisp.
6. Top with sour cream.



7. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: When cooking with pesto, I tend not to add additional oil to the pan as there is enough oil in the pesto.  This will prevent the dish from getting saturated with oil and also ensure it tastes fresh.

If you love quesadillas and asparagus  – I totally suggest you try this dish.  Have a fabulous day and see you tomorrow.

Take care

zesty

Download my Free Recipe Book: Simply Zesty