I have acparagus and butter nut squash in veg box, Never tried either so what's the best way to use them?

[tortoise]

Title says it all really. Needs to be simple and basic!

I like soup. Can i use them in a soup? What with?
TIA

Opps obviously meant aSparagus!

cook asparagus and stick it on top of a lightly poached egg on toast

mmmm

Erm How do i cook it?

Butternut squash makes a delicious soup. Just peel and discard seeds and stringy bits inside (or keep and dry seeds for planting or for the dcs to make necklaces with), saute an onion and some garlic, add chunks of squash, some curry paste, stir for a bit and then cook until tender in a litre of stock. Blend and serve.
Asparagus can be used as a veg in any dish where you might serve broccoli spears or green beans. You can put it, cold and cooked, in salads, or serve hot with chicken, fish, or on its own with melted butter

I put asparagus under the grill (on a baking tray)

Chuck some pancetta in with it, sprinkle with some rock salt and black pepper

Grate parmesan cheese on after

Takes about 15-20 mins, I think

And butter, too

Roasted butternut squash is just lovely and v simple.

If it is small spears, trim the hard bottom of the stalk off and steam for a few minutes (its horrid overcooked)
If they are fat and tough (usually later in season than now) you can boil the whole lot after trimming, again only for a few mins.
Asparagus will make your wee smell btw. Your kidneys are not fried!

you can steam if, boil it or grill it. I prefer to steam it, not too much so there's still a bit of bite and then loads of butter, salt and pepper, vinaigrette or hollandaise. Squash can be baked in the oven till soft, or you can make it into soup.

I love asparagus.

It will make your wee smell funny for a bit. My sil went to the doctor aged 18, a student, and first time asparagus eater because her wee smelt funny.

Steam or boil asparagus - drop into boiling water for 4 mins - should be plenty, don't overcook it. If stems are very slim then obviously cook for shorter time. Delicious with parma ham or just some lemon juice and melted butter, or with parmesan grated over, or with melty soft cheese (eg brie).

Marina That sounds good. Will see if i can find curry paste in local shop (or co-op!)

notnowbernard Thanks. Not had pancetta ether

Actually not poached an egg before.

I really am useless!

you can snap off the bottom bits of asparagus, it should snap above the woody bit IYSWIM. I steam it for a few mins then serve with butter and pepper.

Butternut squash is a bit of a bugger to peel, you can always roast it (cut in half, scoop out seeds) then scoop out flesh to use in soup etc.

Throw the asparagus in the bin.

It's vile.

oh - put a generous pinch of salt in the water, its much better for it.

Lots of good tips(inc smelly wee!). Thanks

You can cut up some bacon into little bits, works just as well

Lol Sidge! I have to try it first!

yum asparagus steamed with melted butter and pepper...my fav

vinaigrette with roasted asparagus..
And butternut squash, red pepper soup. Basically steam squash, roast red pep, puree, stir in creme fraiche or cream cheese, exceptionally good and preetty damn healthy.

butternut squash is nice either mashed with butter and parmesan.....or made into a squash dauphinoise using sliced squash instead of potatoes.....add the garlic, milk/cream etc as normal but add some sprinkled gruyere and thyme on top and bake at 160 c for 1 hour - yummmmmmmm

Do as little as possible to the asparagus - just cut off the hard bits at the bottom (too woody to eat), boil for 4 mins and devour. Bit of butter on top if you want...

Butternut squash - cut in half, scoop out seeds, cut into slices (size of slices of melon, if you see what I mean), put in baking tray with olive oil, black pepper, salt and feta on top. Roast until squash is squashy and feta all melty on top. T'is a taste sensation.

That sounds good too onebatmother. Need clearer instructions please. How do i roast the pepper, temp etc?

(Complete leaner alert!)

Butternut squash & sweet potato mash is lovely
Griddled asparagus is also gorgeous - especially with hollandaise & a poached egg

you can just chuck it in oven 180 degrees ish, I think for 40 mins or so, Tortoise.

But the very best thing to do is put them under a high grill, allow skins to blacken, turn till blackened on all sides, about half hour I think, but just do it till much of skin is black. allow to cool, peel and de-seed over a bowl to catch juices.

Then puree with the steamed/boiled squash. Add vegetable/chicken stock (made slightly weaker than instructions) to make it thick soup consistency, add a couple of big spoonsful of cream cheese/creme fraiche (obv depends on how much soup you've got, but you want it to go creamy) and serve with bread.

Roasted asparagus, prob 25 mins at 180 degrees? Just check them every now and then, should still have the slightest bite to them. Or, to be honest, just boil them till they're a bit floppy, they'll still be delicious.

Vinaigrette (sorry if you know this!) olive oil 3 parts, balsamic vinaigre 1 part, a little finely chopped garlic, a bit of honey, sea salt, shake in a jar.