Let stand 5 minutes before serving. In ancient times, asparagus was believed to have medicinal properties such as preventing heart disease and relieving bee stings. Considered a gourmet item by some, fresh asparagus is quite perishable and can be somewhat costly, unless you're fortunate to have an asparagus patch in your garden. Since it has scales instead of leaves, it is important wash and scrape the stalks thoroughly to remove hidden dirt. Asparagus should be stored in a refrigerator in a tightly sealed container or plastic bag with the stem ends kept in moist toweling.
Preparation is quick and diverse.
It also provides fiber, vitamin A as beta carotene, vitamin C and iron. While the fat content might send up a red flag to dieters, it's important to note that most of the fat comes from olive oil and is primarily monounsaturated, rather than saturated. The more saturated the fat, the harder it is at room temperature. High saturated fat intake, along with other lifestyle factors and genetics, is linked with risk for heart disease. The saturated fat in this recipe comes from the cheddar cheese, which also contributes calcium.