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1 bunch of asparagus
2 cloves of garlic, minced
5 plum tomatoes, chopped small
2 tablespoons of red onion, chopped
¼ cup of red wine vinegarette salad dressing

1. Cut a 1/ 2-inch off the bottom of the asparagus. Wash and place in a steamer. I steam mine in the microwave with a microwave dish filled with a little water on the bottom, for about 5 minutes. Check in after 2 ½ minutes, turn and cook for 2 ½ more minutes. You can also steam on the stove for about 7 minutes. Either way, check by sticking a fork into the asparagus stem to check for doneness. Cook until tender but not mushy(too soft). After cooling down, cut into 2-inch diagonal pieces.
2. Place the asparagus, tomatoes, onion and garlic into a bowl. Mix together.
3. Add the vinegarette dressing. Mix again. If desired, add a little more dressing to your taste. This is easy and quick. Everyone will love it at your next barbecue.
4. You can use a low-fat or no-fat dressing and you have a very healthy vegetable dish that tastes good too. Next time you serve dinner use as a side dish instead of plain asparagus.
5. ENJOY – Perfect for your any season.….

Winter months always have me craving fresh vegetables. I love them veggies! Thankfully, asparagus, broccoli and cauliflower are available all year long and easy to find. Other favorites of mine, zucchini and eggplant, are especially great on a sizzling summer grill. Not to let that stop me during the frosty winter months, I slice ‘em up, toss them in the oven with a little olive oil, with or without stuffing, and sit back and savor the smell!

Tomatoes aren’t exactly in season either, but you can still find some beauties in the supermarket. Shapes appeal to me, and I find myself oddly attracted to plum tomatoes. They’re shaped like eggs and look very appealing when sliced and draped across a pretty plate. I use them for everything, and they really enhance this salad.

Who said cooking has to be hard? Some of my favorite dishes are simple and stress free. This basic Asparagus Salad recipe is tried and true, but still lends itself to experimenting. Think about using broccoli instead of asparagus or change the red onion to a yellow onion or even scallions. Some of my best dishes are born of combining a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Who knows? Your next great recipe could be sitting in any or all of those Tupperware containers in your fridge!