Home » Food and Drink » Soups Join Sign in EzineArticles - Expert Authors Sharing Their Best Original Articles Search Harriet Hodgson Diamond Quality Author Diamond Author | 1,062 Articles Joined: May 26, 2005 United States Spring Asparagus Soup With Parmesan and Romano Cheeses By Harriet Hodgson | Submitted On March 23, 2014 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Expert Author Harriet Hodgson After a long, and often brutal winter, Minnesotans are eager for spring. We watch for buds on trees and bulbs peeking through snow. The arrival of fresh asparagus in grocery stores is another sign of spring. If the asparagus is available, warmer days must be coming. I wheeled by cart past the asparagus display -- tall spears set in crushed ice -- and then doubled back. Since I was cooking for one I didn't need a large bunch of this spring vegetable. Still, I could buy some and use it in several ways. To stay fresh asparagus must be stored properly. I treat it like flowers. I cut off some of the woody stem part, plunk it in a glass of water, cover it with a plastic bag, and put it in the fridge. This flavorful spring vegetable has many health benefits. "Asparagus Nutrition Facts," an article on the Nutrition and You website, the vegetable is in calories, contains fiber, contains anti-oxidants, is rich in folates, contains vitamins E and K, plus copper and iron. According to the article, the spears were revered by Greeks and Romans. I revere it, too, and that's why I decided to use half of the bunch in stir-fry, and the other half in soup. An experienced cook, I decided to create my own recipe. On his way through the kitchen my grandson asked, "What are you making?" He seemed a bit surprised when I told him I was making soup. Later, when he had some for lunch he was more surprised. "It's good!" he exclaimed. I hope you think my recipe is good and will use this spring vegetable in many ways. Substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth if you are a vegetarian. For heartier soup add some cooked, shredded chicken. Here's the recipe. INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 26-ounce carton chicken broth (salted or unsalted) 1/2 bunch fresh asparagus 1 rib celery, finely diced 2 tablespoons red pepper, finely diced 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper Salt to taste (may be omitted) 1/2 cup grated and mixed Parmesan-Romano cheese METHOD Rinse asparagus and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Transfer pieces to a microwave dish, add a little water, cover, and cook three minutes on high. Melt butter in soup kettle. Add in flour and cook for one minute, whisking constantly. Gradually add chicken broth, still whisking constantly. Continue whisking until any lumps are gone. Using a slotted spoon, transfer asparagus to soup kettle. Add all remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer on lowest setting for 10 minutes to blend flavors. Pass extra cheese if desired. Makes 6 servings. Copyright 2014 by Harriet Hodgson http://www.harriethodgson.com Harriet Hodgson has been a freelancer for 36+ years. Her latest releases are "Happy Again! Your New and Meaningful Life After Loss," "Help! I'm Raising My Grandkids," and "Seed Time: Growing from Life's Disappointments, Losses, and Sorrows." Please visit her website and learn more about this busy author and grandmother. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Harriet_Hodgson/7963 0 Comments | Leave a Comment Did you find this article helpful? Happy Face0 Sad Face0 Viewed 80 times Word count: 448 Article Tools EzinePublisher Report this article Cite this article Stay Informed Subscribe to New Article Alerts: Food and Drink: Soups Harriet Hodgson Email Address Subscribe We will never sell or rent your email address. Soups Article Feed Soups Article Feed Find More Articles Search Recent Articles A Perfect Healing and Fulfilling Winter Meal: Wild Elk Stew With Bone Broth 3 Hot and Creamy Soups You'll Fall In Love With 3 Creamy Soups That Your Taste Buds Will Love Tasty Cold Soup Recipes To Try For a Refreshing Meal Delicious Soup Recipes to Keep You Warm on a Cold Night Chicken/Turkey Noodle Soup - Crafted From Leftover Turkey/Chicken Meals With Veggies & Seasoned Well Potato-Leek Soup - Leeks Are Said to Possibly Date Back to Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt 5 Tips for Warming Winter Soups and Stews Chicken-Vegetable Soup With Orzo and Oregano Cream of Cauliflower Soup With Curry EzineArticles.com About Us FAQ Contact Us Member Benefits Privacy Policy Shop Site Map Blog Training Video Library Advertising Affiliates Cartoons Authors Submit Articles Members Login Premium Membership Expert Authors Endorsements Editorial Guidelines Terms of Service Publishers Terms Of Service Ezines / Email Alerts Manage Subscriptions EzineArticles RSS © 2017 EzineArticles All Rights Reserved Worldwide