They're Back!

All winter, I've been tempted by fresh asparagus. They call to me, plump and softly green, each time I troll the vegetable aisle hungry for something new. They look so good but I know they come from somewhere in the southern hemisphere, shipped at great carbon expense. I wanted all that good flavor, but I just couldn't do it.

Today, when scanning the same aisles, I noted that this bunch was, at long, long last, from California!

They may have been grown a little south of here, so I probably broke the 100-mile radius rule for eating locally, but my willpower failed in the face of those lovely green spears. I never do anything fancy with the first asparagus of the season - no quiches, no Hollandaise, no risotto. The very first asparagus need nothing more than a gentle steaming and a reverent attitude.

As hungry as I was for asparagus, I'm even hungrier for spring; tulips and daffodils may shout of spring but no louder than fresh, green asparagus. My calla lilies are up and budded but the flowers haven't opened yet. My irises are leafing up but still have no sign of flower stalks. But, if there is local asparagus in the stores, spring can't be far behind.