Garlicky Baked Asparagus

A great side dish for a holiday meal. 

Asparagus
Butter
Pepper
Garlic
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Wash and trim your asparagus. Lay into a double thick layer of foil. Add pats of butter on top, wipe on your fresh garlic. Sprinkle with pepper and seal tight. At this point, you can put this into the fridge and hold for baking later. You could even do this the night before, if you know that your time will be tight during the rush of the meal preparation. 

Put the package, on a baking dish, into the oven at 325 - 350 degrees for about an hour. 

Simple.


 
Nice fresh garlic should look crisp and fresh. Make sure they aren't dry looking. They should be firm and not limp.



Cut the ends off. You can also peel them with a vegetable peeler if they aren't very long. Always trim the very end, though. Don't cook the dry, woody stems.



All trimmed up. Laid into the doubled foil.



Half a stick of butter, softened. I spread it around with a butter knife.



Ready the garlic. I used a few large cloves.



I love my garlic press. :)



Sprinkle with pepper.



Seal tightly. Otherwise, you'll have butter running all over. The foil packet should be held in a small baking dish. This will allow you to carry the packet easily and it will catch any leaking garlicky butter.



Ready to go into the oven.



 have about an hour till dinner. Turkey comes out in 30 minutes. Crescents go in after the turkey comes out. Asparagus will stay in till everything is done.



Doesn't THAT look good?! Smells delish.