How to first taste Asparagus.

Cook some dried pasta for five minutes in salted water - at the end of this time add a bunch of asparagus, trimmed and cut or broken into inch pieces. Cook of another five to seven minutes. Meanwhile finely chop a small onion and gently cook in a little butter or olive oil. When the asparagus and pasta are cooked, keep them in the cooking water for a minute or two while you heat some whipping cream in with the onion. (About a small carton for four people.) When the cream is gently bubbling add a tablespoon or two of grated parmesan and black pepper, then drain the pasta/ asparagus and toss it in the cream sauce. This can serve between two to four people depending on how much pasta you cook and how much cream you use.

Strangely enough I've just cooked it for our tea - it was lovely! There is a bit of local asparagus around selling at lower prices (we're quite near to Evesham) - it looks like the season's odds and ends; a bit mishapen, but tastes gorgeous. Sadly a lot of the crop was damaged by the rain.