Asparagus Bundles Wrapped in Bacon

My hubby celebrated a HUGE milestone yesterday and in our house that calls for a celebratory meal. On the menu: Hereford skirt steak (perfectly seared), garlicky asparagus bundles wrapped in bacon, crusty multi-grain bread, served with a big Shiraz, and for dessert homemade oatmeal raisin cookies with coconut milk non-dairy ice cream.

My little guy couldn't wait to eat the steak. He had to have a few bites before we sat down at the table, but the standout for the grownups was the asparagus. If you're a foodie, you've seen this done before. Take yummy green veggies and wrap them in bacon. You may have even eaten it before, but it usually turns out that the veggies aren't cooked enough, or the bacon is flabby and raw. Well, I found a great recipe and its shared below. Try it the next time you're celebrating a milestone!

Asparagus Bundles Wrapped in Bacon

adapted from How Sweet it Is Blog

serves 4

Ingredients

2 bunches of asparagus, about 40 spears (remove woody portion of the stem)

8 slices thick-cut bacon

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 large garlic cloves, minced 

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with nonstick spray. In a shallow dish or rimmed plate, mix together oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Set aside.

Working with 4-5 asparagus spears at a time, roll the spears in the oil garlic mixture and 

tightly wrap a piece of bacon around the bundle. Place on the wire rack seam-side down and repeat. Roast for 35-40 minutes, or until bacon is crispy. Serve warm.