5 minute read
Amazing asparagus
Prosciutto-wrapped Roasted Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
INGREDIENTS
1 pound asparagus, trimmed 2 tablespoons olive oil Pinch of kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 8 slices prosciutto 3 egg yolks 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon water Pinch freshly grated nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 stick butter, melted
DIRECTIONS
To roast the asparagus: Place asparagus on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss gently and arrange in a single layer on the baking sheet. Roast in a 375-degree oven for approximately 5 to 7 minutes or until just tender but not floppy. Wrap approximately 3 to 4 asparagus stalks in one slice of prosciutto and place on a serving dish. For the Hollandaise sauce: Place the egg yolks, lemon juice, water, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and paprika in a blender. Puree until smooth and creamy. Carefully add hot butter to the egg yolks while blending at a low to medium speed, increasing speed until the mixture thickens and becomes pale yellow. Pour the Hollandaise sauce over the asparagus bunches. This recipe yields approximately eight servings.
Parmesan Balsamic Roasted Asparagus
INGREDIENTS
1 pound asparagus, trimmed 2 tablespoons sesame oil 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar Smoked sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 1 teaspoon garlic powder Pinch freshly grated nutmeg 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place asparagus on a baking sheet. Drizzle with sesame oil and balsamic vinegar. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and nutmeg. Toss gently to coat asparagus thoroughly. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Roast for approximately 7 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the asparagus is tender. This recipe yields approximately six to eight servings.
More recipes on page 15
INGREDIENTS
1 pound asparagus, trimmed 1 cup flour Pinch of kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 1 teaspoon curry powder 1 cup club soda 6 cups grapeseed oil for frying
For the remoulade sauce:
1 cup mayonnaise 2 garlic cloves, minced 3 green onions, chopped 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped 2 tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped 1 tablespoon capers, chopped 1 tablespoon green olives, chopped 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon curry powder 1 teaspoon Sriracha
DIRECTIONS For the tempura:
Combine the flour, salt, pepper, and curry powder. Whisk together. Slowly add the club soda until the batter is about the consistency of pancake batter. If it’s too thin, add some flour. Too thick, add more club soda. Toss the asparagus spears in the tempura batter and fry in batches in grapeseed oil that has been heated to 350 degrees. Fry until golden brown and crispy. Drain on a wire cooling rack.
For the remoulade sauce:
Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Serve the tempura fried asparagus with the remoulade sauce. This recipe makes about six to eight servings.
Clean Up Your Act
Usher in spring by tidying up your house and yard
By Brock Cooper
As temperatures climb, people across the Illinois Valley open their windows and let out the stale air of winter and welcome the refreshing scents of spring. To honor the feeling of rejuvenation and rebirth the season brings, it’s out with the old and in with the new as spring cleaning fever takes hold.
Nathan and Carissa Kessel of Oglesby know this feeling well and have undergone numerous cleaning and home improvement projects inside and out.
“It’s an achievement for me to do all these projects,” Nathan said. “I’ve learned a lot and am becoming a handyman.”
Spring cleaning is more than just vacuuming the rugs and removing the dust off ceiling fans. It’s beautifying your home. The Kessels purchased their home in February of 2020 and spent countless hours making it their own and plan to continue now that the weather is warmer.
They’ve already painted interior walls and added hardware to the kitchen cabinets on the inside. On the outside, they’ve mulched flower beds, replanted grass, and cleaned up an ugly tree in their yard. This spring, the cleaning and improvements continue with power washing the house and driveway and possibly adding a fireplace.
“We love the area we live in, so we want to make it a place to be proud of,” Nathan said.
Most area residents have been cooped up in their homes for the last several months or longer because of winter and Covid-19 precautions. As the disease abates and the grass becomes green, now is the perfect time to spring clean your home and start the season off right.
“Spring is a great time to deep clean your home,” Teresa Anderson of Illinois Valley Clean Team in Peru said. “It is a chance to open the windows and let in the sunlight and fresh air. A clean home can put you in a good mood, remove allergens, and help you avoid illness.”
Spring is their busiest time of the year, and people are tired of being inside, according to Anderson. Unlike standard cleaning, spring is a great time to clean neglected areas and make improvements. Residents should do their regular cleaning routines such as washing the floors and countertops and scrubbing toilets, but also clean the inside of the oven and refrigerator and make improvements to the home.
“Your home becomes a healthier and safer environment when you remove the heavy layers of dust,” Anderson said. “This is also the time to sanitize the high touch areas in your home, which include doorknobs, light switches, countertops, and cabinet handles.”
For many people, the thought of deep cleaning their home is overwhelming, especially if it hasn’t been done in a while. Anderson suggested making a cleaning list for each room. Take it one room at a time and check off the projects on the list to help motivate.
“When you finish spring cleaning a room, consider adding yellow, orange, or pink flowers or decorations,” Anderson said. “Any bright, warm colors will help cheer
See CLEAN on page 20
Above: Carissa Kessel of Oglesby works on her computer in the living room of her home. Spring cleaning helps decrease allergens and makes people feel better overall, which is a great perk right now since people are spending so much time in their homes.
Top Right: Nathan Kessel of Oglesby used a chainsaw to take care of a burdensome tree in his front yard. Spring cleaning includes both indoor and outdoor improvements.
Bottom Right: Warmer weather means outdoor spring projects. Nathan and Carissa Kessel of Oglesby worked on creating and mulching their flower beds and other beautification projects for their home.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Nathan Kessel
