Cooking For One, Part I

My Sweet Lady Wife and her sister are off on their annual camping trip, leaving me here to fend for myself. In past years, she alwqys made sure I would not starve by preparing a bunch of meals ahead of time and sticking them in the freezer or refrigerator. Between that and some take-out, I could have lived almost indefintely.

It’s different this year. I can cook. I’ve had the image of this dish in my head for a couple of weeks – ever since reading Mark Bittman’s 101 ten-minute meals article. It was simple, almost elegantly so. Do you have any idea how empowering it is to be able to make something this tasty and healthy in less time than it takes to make mac-and-cheese from the famous blue-and-white box?

1/2 bunch asparagus, trimmed
1 egg
2 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2 inch widths

In a saucepan, start some water boiling. Add a couple tablespoons vinegar to the water. When it’s boiling, drop in the egg. Poach for four minutes then remove.

In a fry pan or saute pan, fry up the bacon and remove it from the pan. Add the asparagus and saute until crisp tender.

Arrange the asparagus on a plate. Sprinkle with the bacon. Place the poached egg on top.