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Parmesan Roasted Asparagus, Tomatoes and Eggs

Parmesan-Roasted Asparagus, Tomatoes and Eggs


I have a friend. Her name is Lorna. She writes The Cookbook Chronicles. She is drop dead gorgeous. Kindness and intelligence dance with every word she says. She is generous and humble. Humor and good disposition seem to like her. I have no idea if she is high or low maintenance but if she is the latter, I want to know how she does it. She’s got taste and she’s got gumption. And she wrote a book. A quirky, funky, well written, beautifully photographed cookbook, The Newlywed Kitchen. No wonder Henri asked her out and then asked for her hand in marriage. Smart man.

Lorna and Henri are newlyweds. They both love food. This is not a loose statement. They met on a food forum. In Lorna’s words "Our relationship was founded on our mutual love of food and our desire to nourish one another’s stomachs as well as our spirits." It could sound superficial and barely enough to hold a couple together but as she chronicled the making and writing of the book, you could tell that they were like the vast majority of couples. They love to share with others, spend time learning and give back what they know. Lorna did it with "The Newlywed Kitchen".

Roasted Asparagus & Tomato From The Newlywed Kitchen Cookbook


I am not a newlywed and yet I, we, thoroughly enjoyed the book. It does not pretend to be the "essential guide to cooking as a couple", instead it focuses on clean, simple recipes that can be at the foundation of any new couple repertoire. Narratives of other well known couples are dispersed throughout the book and add a charming and quaint little thing to it. I caught myself chuckling along as I was reading with that familiar feeling of "been there done that" of kitchen mishaps and victories. Pictures of newlyweds throughout the book are a little too quaint at times but they’re here to illustrate a point: there is plenty in this book to bring people together in many different ways.

Some of the recipes are kicked up classics like the "Four Cheese Mac-and-Cheese", the "Chicken Pot Pie with Cheddar Thyme Crust". Some are best saved for your first dinner cooking for the in-laws, "Holiday Rib Roast Wtih Thyme Gravy", "Chicken Piccata with Mushrooms and Leeks". Others are made for lazy Sunday mornings in newlywed Bliss like the "Topsy Turvy Apple French Toast", the "Smoked Salmon Frittata". And who would not want to cozy up with their better half with some "Chocolate Mudslide Cookies", "Nutella Doughnuts" or some "Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake"?

I just made myself hungry…

Roasted Asparagus & Tomato From The Newlywed Kitchen Cookbook


My better half does not cook. He barely boils water. We have shared custody of the grill. I don’t even know if he’s any good at it, he’s just not interested. And as he says "I married a chef, why would I even consider crossing the line? You don’t come in the garage and bleed the break of the MG now do you?". Touche. So you might wonder how this cookbook fared with us…

It did exactly what it was intended to do for a couple like us regarding food: I’d hold the book in one hand, pencil in the other and ask him whether "Grandma’s Italian Meatballs" sounded good for dinner or would he rather have the "Fall Apart Pot Roast"? Should I take the "Red Velvet Cake" or the "Strawberry Rhubarb Pie" to a dinner party with friends? My man may not cook or enjoy cooking but he loves to eat and knows his food, making it a pleasure and never a chore for me to cook everyday.

Tomato Heaven


Finding a recipe to illustrate this review was a no brainer (I picked two actually and will write about the other one next week – with a little surprise you guys reading). The "Parmesan Roasted Asparagus, Tomatoes and Eggs" is exactly the kind of dish I like to fix us for lunch on Saturdays when we come back from the market or on Sundays when we set out to "not have a schedule". It’s simple, it’s fresh, it comes together fast and needs nothing but maybe a glass of wine and a piece of bread.

It’s the kind of meal we enjoy as a couple. It fits us and it felt even more special when we sat down to ingredients we had just picked up at the market from people who loved food as much as we do.

Let’s make lunch this week "French Word A Week" feature: "dejeuner". One of our favorite activity and time of the day. (click on the word to hear the pronunciation).

Check out Jen at Use Real Butter making Grandma’s Italian Meatballs from Lorna’s book. I also love this review of the book from Becky at Chef Reinvented (and don’t forget to click on the video link – adorable).

Roasted Asparagus & Tomato From The Newlywed Kitchen Cookbook



Parmesan Roasted Asparagus, Tomatoes and Eggs, courtesy and copyright Lorna Yee for "The Newlywed Kitchen"

Serves 2

1 pound asparagus
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/4 cup grated Parmesan or pecorino (I used shredded)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grounded black pepper
2 large eggs
3 spoonfuls pesto (optional)

Preheat the oven to 425F.
Wash the asparagus. Break the bottom stems off and discard. Toss the asparagus spears and tomatoes in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, then place them on a parchment paper or Silpat lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with the Parmesan, salt and pepper. Roast the vegetables for 12=14 minutes, or until tender and cooked through..
Meanwhile, fry the two eggs in the remaining oil, seasoning them with salt and pepper to taste. Place an egg in each portion of the cooked vegetable and top with a dab of pesto if desired.

Disclosure: I received a free copy from The Newlywed Kitchen from Sasquatch Books.

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Comments


Helen June 20, 2010 um 6:56 pm

Lorna sounds like a fab person and her cookbook even better! It's important for couples to have meals that they can both cook and some that are special to one person. I love how your husband doesn't do much cooking, he is so right, he's married a chef!!


Jules AF June 20, 2010 um 8:00 pm

oooo I've been looking for a good recipe for asparagus.


Callie Grayson June 20, 2010 um 8:37 pm

mmm
asparagus, eggs and tomatoes all my favorite!!
perfect together.
I will have to add this book to my wish list!!
xx
callie


Leacayoungart June 20, 2010 um 8:38 pm

Looks Yummy! I will have to check into this cookbook.


Anonymous June 20, 2010 um 9:28 pm

Looks delicious and so summery. One of my favorite ways to eat asparagus.


Patricia Scarpin June 20, 2010 um 9:41 pm

My better half is addicted to asparagus, Helen – I think I'll make this dish for him (and get extra brownie points). 🙂


Unknown June 20, 2010 um 10:23 pm

Wow. I almost eat my laptop screen. The pictures are just beautiful. I love this kind of simple dish.
Have a good day.


Amy {Adventures of a Messy Chef} June 21, 2010 um 12:53 am

Looks delicious!! I always enjoy your photography but today is especially beautiful! I need to know where the fork is from, too! Love them!


Anna June 21, 2010 um 1:23 am

As a newlywed myself, I always find it interesting to hear about other couple's food approaches to food and cooking. I love to eat and cook, my husband prefers to stay out of the kitchen, though he'll make the occasional meal. I always wish I could get him more interested in food, but I'm trying to find the right balance for us.


El June 21, 2010 um 2:02 am

This is such a thoughtful post. You're a good friend and I look forward to reading her book.


kristina June 21, 2010 um 2:29 am

sounds like a lovely book with nice 'takes' on old familiars. my better half too does not cook but I think he'd be quite happy to find any of those recipes cooking in our kitchen.


Anne @ the doctor takes a wife June 21, 2010 um 2:42 am

This looks absolutely divine!! I love asparagus but can never figure out how to cook it. I can't wait to try it 🙂


Girl-a-broad June 21, 2010 um 6:38 am

This looks fabulous! What a great combination! I love roasted asparagus – my favorite way of preparing both the thick and pencil-thin types of asparagus.


ThermomixBlogger Helene June 21, 2010 um 7:27 am

Ah Helene! Thanks to Twitter, je viens de te d'ecouvrir. Quel joli blog! Bravo, merci pour les belles photos et pour tout ton avis.

I will be back!


Gen June 21, 2010 um 9:05 am

It's simple and fresh, but yet, very delicate. Your pictures truly touch me!


martina June 21, 2010 um 10:32 am

Same for my husband and me… the only downside is he haven't married a chef! 😀 But every time we go out to shopping I ask him what he would like on the table sunday luch and we're done. He choose our meal and I prepare it. It works for us as a couple.
Cheers
Martina


my little expat kitchen June 21, 2010 um 10:37 am

What a classic and delicious combination. I would make this in a heartbeat!
Your photographs, are as always, amazingly beautiful.


Penny June 21, 2010 um 11:32 am

I love simple recipes like this. I am sure her book will be a big success.


bunkycooks June 21, 2010 um 12:40 pm

This is truly is a delightful meal for 2! The photos are beautiful of all the fresh tomatoes and asparagus.

My hubby used to like to cook more, but now he leaves it mostly to me.


notyet100 June 21, 2010 um 12:51 pm

this looks gorgeous,..


Mhel June 21, 2010 um 2:20 pm

The pictures are beautiful as always 🙂


Bee June 21, 2010 um 2:20 pm

Your husband and my husband seem to have something in common. Mine does not cook, but loves to eat. Which makes it fun for me, since I love to cook and we all know it is more rewarding to cook for a food lover. There are some days that I wish we did cook together, because it would be a fun way to spend quality time together each day (a girl can dream). I am still holding out hope that we will in the future. The photos are absolutely gorgeous and the food looks scrumptious. Looks like a perfect Sunday brunch meal!


Erica June 21, 2010 um 3:02 pm

This looks so yummy!
BTW, I am now a follower of Lorna’s blog!
www.poolovesboo.blogspot.com


jenious June 21, 2010 um 3:02 pm

I’ve been following Lorna’s blog and look forward to reading her cookbook. Your gorgeous photos offer a fine preview!


Georgia | The Comfort of Cooking June 21, 2010 um 4:10 pm

Lorna sounds like a wonderful lady. Thank you for sharing her with us, and this beautiful asparagus dish too!


Margot June 21, 2010 um 7:12 pm

Oh, I love those photos and the breakfast. Usually I eat eggs with roasted tomatoes and mushrooms… but I must try your way, looks delicious 🙂


Maria June 22, 2010 um 12:41 am

We love cooking together, my husband is good and he does the dishes:)I still need to get a copy of Lorna's book.


angela@spinachtiger June 22, 2010 um 2:18 am

I love the composition of these photos that are showing the type of food I love. He loves it too, except for runny eggs. My husband only cooks two things, but food does hold us together. We have same food aesthetic and he shops with me. It's part of our time together. He even helps me buy props for the blog. My tag line, food a woman loves and a man will marry her for came naturally and honestly. I often relate to your daily posts, your autheticity and your marriage.


[email protected] June 22, 2010 um 3:19 am

"Newlywed bliss," huh, what??? I need to get me some of that. I think "bliss" left the house when my sweet child #2 was born. Not only did we all ready have a 3 year old, the house was under construction as well. We were building my sons bedroom. Too much activity buzzin' for romance.
He screamed so loud for one year (constant ear infections), my hubs slept in the guest room, I slept on the living room couch & the little guy slept in our bedroom. We never did get the "bliss" stage back. Perhaps this book will help? The asparagus, egg & tomatoes look divine! Lorna is gorgeous and very talented.xo


Cookin' Canuck June 22, 2010 um 4:33 am

Cela ferait un délicieux déjeuner. Okay, my French stops there (and I'm pretty sure I slaughtered that sentence). Either way, this is a beautiful, simple dish that suit my husband and I well for a light lunch.


cribs June 22, 2010 um 12:05 pm

The tomatoes are so pretty! I really feel that it is summer!


Susan June 22, 2010 um 12:55 pm

How did you make such a simple summer meal look so special?


Cristie June 22, 2010 um 1:38 pm

My husband and I eat together . . . beautiful pictures. How lovely to have a hobbie that you could share with your husband and actually consume it when your done 🙂 Lorna is a lucky woman.


The Design Dish June 22, 2010 um 5:14 pm

Wow, these looks yummy!
Your very talented!
The Design Dish


Sarah June 22, 2010 um 7:57 pm

Delicious!


calicodaisy June 23, 2010 um 4:02 pm

Lovely blog! I just read the macarons review in the State paper today and came right to your blog. I'm a Lexington, SC, blogger. — michele


a. maren June 23, 2010 um 5:10 pm

ooo your 'matoes are so pretty! mm, healthy and simple, just like summer should be.


Tokyo Terrace June 23, 2010 um 10:26 pm

This is an unbelievably beautiful post! Your photos are stunning and your description of Lorna is lovely and heartwarming. How flattered she must feel to have someone like you saying such wonderful things about her character and talent.


Amande June 24, 2010 um 7:50 am

I just wanna tell you how gorgeous are all of your pics, i'm really a big fan of your blog, your recipes, your photos. It's always a pleasure for the eyes. Thanx a lot. Amande

"Muffins ♥ Me" (my french sugar blog!!)


Salsa Verde June 24, 2010 um 12:34 pm

Hi Helene,
Amazing photos and the presentation is outstanding!!
I love asparagus and that recipe sounds perfect and delicious!!
Love,
Lia.


Bertha June 24, 2010 um 5:45 pm

Amazing photos, love every detail of it. This dish would be perfect for brunch, now that I have my tomato plants full of tomatoes, cannot wait :). Love it!


The Purple Foodie June 25, 2010 um 5:41 am

I've been reading good thngs about Lorna's cookbook. And added to that the stunning photos that extol the book? You're going to be getting her many readers. I love asparagus and tomatoes and this dish looks lovely.


Unknown June 25, 2010 um 10:11 pm

I love your site; everything looks so beautiful. I looked at Lorna's site from the links in your last post and was drooling over the list of recipes in her book. Keep up the great work!


me June 26, 2010 um 1:59 am

yum! those nutella donuts look SO good!!!!


joyce June 29, 2010 um 11:22 pm

ohmigosh, this is adorable!


Jenipher Lyn July 2, 2010 um 3:17 am

oh goodness this looks incredible!!

you never cease to amaze me!

happy day to you!
jenipher

www.cherry-runway.blogspot.com


Rochelle G. July 5, 2010 um 2:43 pm

Another beautiful post! You always have great photography and content. I especially love your gluten-free recipes.


Yue Jiang September 6, 2010 um 1:45 am

i love the rich color. I gotta try this recipe!!


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