Asparagus
At early morn, I to the market haste,
(Studious in everything to please thy taste);
A curious fowl and ’sparagus I chose,
(For I remembered you were fond of those).
Gay.
Boil asparagus in salt and water till it is tender at the stalk, which will be in twenty or thirty minutes. Great care must be taken to watch the exact time of its becoming tender. Toast some bread; dip it lightly in the liquor the asparagus was boiled in, and lay it in the middle of the dish; melt some butter; lay the asparagus upon the toast, which must project beyond the asparagus, that the company may see that there is toast.