Spicy Garlic Asparagus: Simple things

For SS - you inspired this dish.

Top 10 simple things that I can't get enough of

10.  Dahlias

9.  Toilet-trained children

8.  Playing my favorite game with my favorite people.  (SETTLERS BABY!)

7. Dinner plates licked clean

6. The smell of babies

5. A beautiful song

4. Corny jokes told by Husband

3. Smiles on Son and Daughters' faces

2. Uninhibited laughter

1.  Uninterrupted 60 minutes alone.

Of course such simple things are often in short short supply.  I try and appreciate those simple things as much as possible and in a celebration of the joy of simple things, I made a simple dish for dinner this evening for gluten-free friend SS.  Her food allergies forced me to make a dish with fewer ingredients and the result was a simple yet delicious dish.  The plates was licked clean and the diners appreciative of the dish.  I, too, was more than pleased with simplicity.

Spicy Asparagus
3 to 4 servings

Ingredients
1 ½ lbs asparagus, tough ends trimmed, and cut into 2 inch pieces
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped or put through a press
2 tablespoons sambal oelek (Chinese chili pepper paste)
2 teaspoons sesame oil
salt to taste

Method
Heat a heavy fry pan over medium high heat. Add oil and asparagus all at once. Cook, stirring until asparagus begins turning brighter green and becomes slightly tender. Add garlic and continuing stirring another 2 to 3 minutes. Add sambal oelek and stir, coating all the asparagus. Drizzle sesame oil all over the dish and taste. Add a sprinkle of salt if necessary.

Serve hot.

Printable recipe