About 1 pound of the largest asparagus
you can find (12 jumbo)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
12 ounces mixed mushrooms, trimmed, washed,
and roughly chopped (about 4 cups)
1shallot, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped chives

1. Set a large pot of salted water to boil. Make the asparagus jus if you
like (recipe follows).
2. Place 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a 10-inch skillet and turn the heat
to medium-high. Add the mushrooms, shallot, and garlic, along
with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stir-
ring occasionally, until most of the mushroom liquid evaporates,
about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, but keep the mushrooms
warm.
3. Meanwhile, poach the asparagus spears in the boiling water, just until
they begin to become tender, 2 to 4 minutes depending on their
thickness. They should still be slightly crunchy. Plunge them into
ice water, drain, then dry on a towel.
4. Place the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch skillet and turn the
heat to medium-high. When the oil is hot, add the asparagus spears.
Brown them lightly, turning as each side browns. Sprinkle them with
pepper, but not salt.
5. When the asparagus are lightly browned, sprinkle them with the Parme-
san and shake the pan once or twice to distribute it. Stir the chives into
the mushrooms.
6. To serve, place a portion of the asparagus on each plate, then top
with a portion of the mushrooms. Spoon a bit of the asparagus jus
around the plate if you like.

To make asparagus jus

1. Reserve all the asparagus trimmings; chop the bottoms into 1/2-inch
pieces and cook them, along with the peels, in boiling salted water
to cover (use this same water to poach  the asparagus afterward).
When very tender, after 6 to 10 minutes, drain, reserving about 1/4
cup of the cooking liquid. Purée the trimmings in a blender, adding
as much of the reserved 1/4 cup cooking liquid as necessary.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
When it melts, add the purée, salt, and pepper. Heat through, taste
and adjust seasoning, and keep warm until ready to serve.