Fresh asparagus shines in this healthy, make-ahead vegetable entree.

Ingredients

• 1 lb of green asparagus
• 2 lbs of white asparagus
• 2 hard boiled eggs, finely chopped
• Any salad dressing you like

Instructions

1. Clean the asparagus and discard the tough base parts. Cut the asparagus stalks into the size you prefer. Three to four  inches is a good size for this dish.
2. Bring a pot of water to a boil and then boil half a pound of asparagus at a time, cooking each batch for 1 or 1½ minutes.  Then immediately remove the asparagus from the boiling water and place into a large bowl or pot of ice-water to bring down temperature. This will preserve the crispness of vegetable.
3. Arrange cooked asparagus on a big plate, then top with chopped eggs.  If desired, decorate with colorful vegetables or fruit, such as red and yellow peppers or cherry tomatoes.
4. Top the eggs with dressing before serving. Makes 12 to 15 servings.

Tips

This recipe is great for parties because it can be prepared beforehand and stored in the refrigerator. Keeping the vegetable crisp is the key to this dish. Sometimes it can be difficult to find white asparagus.  You can use Japanese or Persian cucumbers as an alternative or simply green asparagus alone.

Vegetarians and meat-lovers alike may be surprised by this bean curd dish, which infuses plain baked tofu with barbecue flavor and Taiwanese spices.

Bean curd is another name for tofu, which is made from pressed, curdled soy milk. Chinese tofu is more often referred to as bean curd, while silken tofu is softer and referred to as Japanese style tofu.

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Ingredients:

• 1 bag (12 0z) plain baked tofu, cut into 1.5 cm cubes
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3 slices ginger, chopped
• 3 tbsp sesame oil

• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• ¼ tsp five spice powder
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp white ground pepper
• 2 tbsp cooking wine
• 2 tbsp barbecue sauce

Instructions:

1. Heat sesame oil in a wok over medium heat. Add garlic and ginger and sauté until fragrant.
2. Turn the heat up to medium-high and add the bean curd cubes. Stir fry for about 3 minutes.
3. Combine all of the seasonings and add to the pan. Continue to stir fry, turning the heat down to low and cooking until the sauce is fully absorbed.
4. Serve the dish either hot or cold.

What does plain baked tofu look like?

Plain baked tofu is usually sold in vacuum packages at Asian grocery stores. The tofu is very firm, hard enough for you to cut into shreds and can often be found packed into squares or rectangles. Different brands have different packaging, but the package can like this:

Tip

If you prefer spicy food, you can add chili oil to the combination of seasonings.  Please note that homemade spiced bean curd does not contain preservatives. Be sure to store it in the refrigerator.

Ingredients:

• 2 medium sweet potatoes or yams, cooked, peeled and cut into chunks. (Note: you can also steam the potatoes whole or boil them in water.)
• 3 cups broccoli florets ( about one big bunch)
• 3 cups king trumpet mushroom
• 3 cups Nagaimo, peeled and cut into chunks
• 1 cup baby carrots
• 1 to 1-1/2 cup shredded cheese
• 3 tbsp. olive oil
• ¼ cup fresh shallot or garlic chopped

Ingredients For Sauce:

• 1 cup Nagaimo (in chunks)
• 1 cup cooked white rice
• 2 cups chicken broth or water
• ½ tsp salt, if using water

Instructions:

1. Boil a pot of water. Cook broccoli, mushroom, Nagaimo, and carrots separately for about 1 1/2 minute each.
2. Place all vegetables, including sweet potatoes, into a large casserole dish or other deep, ovenproof dish.
3. Heat olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat, then add shallot or garlic and cook until the pieces turn a light golden brown. Then turn off the heat and pour over the vegetables evenly.
4. Blend the sauce ingredients in a blender. Then pour the mixture over the vegetables.
5. Evenly spread shredded cheese over the vegetables.
6. Preheat the oven to 350 degree F and bake uncovered for about 30 minutes or until cheese is melted. Makes 8-10 servings.

Tips

Do not overcook the vegetables, particularly the Nagaimo. The vegetables should retain crispiness even after they are cooked.

Feel free to substitute the vegetables in this recipe with your favorite vegetables.This is what the vegetables look like before cheese is added:

Where can I get Nagaimo?

You can purchase the Nagaimo from Asian grocery stores such as 99 Ranch Market. Nagaimo looks like this: