Sauteed Garlic Pepper Asparagus Recipe

Directions:

1. Wash asparagus, bend at top and bottom to allow for natural break, keep upper portion and cut into 1 to 2 inch pieces. (Keep lower half to make vegetable stock at a later date.)
2. Place olive oil and butter in saute pan (I use cast iron) over medium heat. Once butter is melted add asparagus, salt, pepper, and red pepper sparingly to taste.
3. Saute and stir gently (don't damage tops!) for 5 minutes. Add garlic. Be careful to keep heat low enough to not brown / burn garlic or it will turn bitter.
4. Saute over medium heat for 15 minutes. Contine to stir gently.*Test for doneness - cook up to 30 minutes or until asaparagus has reached your level of done - we tend to like ours with a little crunch while some others prefer it cooked until soft.
5. Keep over low heat until ready to serve. If serving as a side with seafood I will squeeze some fresh cut lemon over asparagus just before plating.
6. *Test for doneness by eating a stalk out of the pan!
7. I have no idea how to store leftovers as we never have any.