Cooking Asparagus

Wash the asparagus well, cut off the hard ends and pare the lower part of the stalks with a knife or potato peeler. Tie the asparagus into bundles if not using an asparagus kettle. Add to boiling, salted water so that only the stalks are in water - the heads will cook in the steam. Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes or until the lower parts of the stalks can be easily pierced with the tip of a knife.