Spring Eggs with Salmon & Asparagus

Young thin asparagus is a luxurious spring delicacy. Look for it at the market beginning in February. Bunches should be bundled tightly enough to prevent breakage, but loose enough to avoid collaring the tender vegetable spears. Store refrigerated, the cut ends of the stalks in water, until use. When properly stored young asparagus will stay fresh four to five days.

Larger asparagus may be slightly woody with tough outer fibers. Remove the tough fibers with a vegetable or carrot peeler. This reveals the tender insides while removing the tough outer fibers that some people with gastric conditions find difficult to digest.

Suitable for Day 6 & Beyond the 5 Day Pouch Test

Serving Ideas:  Serve warm with fresh buttermilk cheddar biscuits or warm buttered toast. Provide additional shredded Asiago Cheese and chopped parsley for garnish. In the summer vine ripened sliced tomatoes compliment this meal and provided heart health nutrients and sunshine sweet flavor.

Ingredients:
8 large whole eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons milk, 2% low-fat
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon butter, chilled and quartered
8 ounces asparagus spears, peeled and sliced
2 ounces Asiago Cheese, shredded
4 ounces smoked salmon, flaked
2 ounces parsley sprigs, coarsely chopped

Start to finish: 30 minutes
Spring Eggs Serves 4. Each serving provides 257 Calories; 21 grams protein; 17 grams fat (7 saturated); 4 grams carbohydrate; 1 gram dietary fiber. A good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, B-Vitamins including folacin (folate).

Directions: Place the oven rack in the lower third of the oven: heat oven to 325F.  Liberally coat a 2-quart oven safe casserole dish with unflavored cooking spray. (Alternatively, coat four 6-ounce custard cups with cooking spray and place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper for easy clean-up.)

In a medium bowl whisk eggs, salt, pepper, whole milk, and baking powder until slightly frothy and well blended. Pour mixture into prepared casserole or custard cups and bake 6 minutes. Remove from oven, stir with a fork, return to oven and bake 4 minutes, removing and stirring again. If eggs are curdled and near done to desired consistency evenly top them with the butter pieces, asparagus spears, shredded Asiago Cheese, and flaked smoked salmon. Return to oven a bake 2-4 minutes keeping a close watch. Remove them immediately when they reach your desired consistency. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Alternative Method: Cooks that are confident in their stove top skills may prepare these eggs in a skillet following the usual best practice and method for skillet scrambled eggs.

Store leftovers in single-serve microwave safe containers. Gently reheat 30 to 60 seconds and enjoy another high protein meal.