Page 120 - The Lost Ways

15
You can find asparagus by looking for the previous year’s growth. You'll see dried,
Christmas tree shaped stalks from the year before, and if you look under and around
them, you’ll see the new shoots, especially early in the spring. Go ahead and cut all the
stalks you see at ground level. They will grow back, and you can continue to enjoy them
all season.

Young, tender asparagus is delicious raw. If you are on the go, it makes a delightful snack.
If you are blessed enough to have some growing near your home, bunker, or camp, keep
an eye on it for new growth. You can chop it and toss it on a salad of wild greens for a
treat. Asparagus is also great for soups. This is a great way to use them if you are lucky
enough to find a good harvest. A cream of asparagus soup is easy to make with just a few
ingredients. Simply pour just enough water in the pot to cover the asparagus, and boil it
for 20 minutes or until very soft. In another pot, place a pat of butter and a tablespoon of
flour. When the flour is cooked through, pour the cooking water from the first pot over

the flour and whisk. Add enough milk to thin it to a nice consistency. Chop and mash the
asparagus, and stir it into the pot. Salt and pepper to taste.

15 "HBT - Wild Asparagus", by: Virginia State Parks, (CC by 2.0)

119