You're probably wondering why I picked a lone vegetable dish. I mean, it's not very sexy, right? Well, first, we could all stand to get more vegetables. We should eat at least five servings a day! And we should eat less starch in order to have more room for the veggies. Vegetables play such an important role in our health, yet people often consider them, well, boring.
Plain, steamed asparagus might be boring, but preparing it in the way we describe below with the added spices and marinating makes them much more flavorful and interesting! Even our four-year-old craves and eats this, which says a lot. Plus, it's EASY to make.
The other reason I chose asparagus: it's high in folate, an important B vitamin that boosts fertility in both men and women and helps prevent birth defects. It has almost as much folate as garbanzo beans.
Note: A barbeque is not required. You can also cook these in the oven as described. Serves 4.
INGREDIENTS
1 lb green asparagus
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp dry basil
1 Tbsp dry Italian herbs (mixture of different herbs you can find at the store)
2 garlic cloves, minced
RECIPE
- Cut off bottom ends of asparagus (yellow or hard portion).
- Put asparagus in a glass or Tupperware container (see above photo).
- Add olive oil, herbs and minced garlic to container, mixing well and spreading all over asparagus.
- Let stand for 2 or more hours (overnight is okay).
- Light barbeque and let it warm up. NOTE: You can also cook in the oven at 400°F for 10 minutes in a Pyrex dish (pre-heat first).
- Put asparagus away from the fire and close the lid of barbeque.
- Cook for 3 minutes and then turn over.
- Cook another 2 to 3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and serve. It should be flavorful and crunchy. Enjoy!
We are honored that Dr. Danielle Lane, MD and Medical Director of Lane Fertility Institute, has joined our Advisory Board. She will be able to answer any medical questions you have re: fertility treatments, and also how nutrition, acupuncture and other healing modalities can enhance success. Dr. Lane is a huge patient educator and big supporter of complimentary medicine to optimize fertility and enhance ART and IVF success. We are grateful to have her on our board!
Upcoming Event - We have an info-packed cooking workhop coming up at the Whole Foods Market in Sacramento, CA on Sept. 26 at 3pm. Visit our events page for details!
photo: from our cookbook (c) 2009
