Peeling asparagus stems is an alternate way of getting rid of the undesirable part. Asparagus makes your pee smell really bad. Do not be alarmed. Keep a book of matches in the bathroom. Slice lengthwise, remove, rinse.
Meat is easier to cut into pieces if it's a little bit frozen.
Thaw just until the meat is cut-able but very firm firm. Different foods require different lengths of time. Get a cookbook. Everything there is to know about food, with about 4,000 recipes thrown in. If you only have one cookbook in your library, make it this one.