Asparagus is in season, and you won’t want to stop eating it this way! Tangy Asiago cheese and buttery pastry entwine fresh asparagus in this simple appetizer.

“Are you alone?” -Don Draper

Mad Men kicks off the premier of its final season tonight! Are you guys fans of the show? I have to admit that I’m late to the Mad Men party. I’m all of three episodes into the first season, but I can already see evenings full of Mad Men binges in my future!

I blame my sad lack of hot pop culture knowledge on having four babies. Without the ability to binge-watch television on Netflix, I’d probably be more productive, like keeping up on the laundry or reading more books, or something equally exciting. I have to say though, that after homeschooling, cooking for, and generally chasing The Sons around all day, I don’t have energy for much once they’re all finally peacefully in bed. Netflix and photo edits are about all I can handle after 9 pm.

Be jealous.

I mean, I’ve already blown through Sherlock, Heartland, Arrow, Beauty & the Beast, Psych, and White Collar. After that eclectic mix, Mad Men is logically my next obsession. Look out, Downtown Abbey! You’re next! (I know! NO SPOILERS on the Downton front!)

Which brings me to my most important question: What other series should I add to My List in Netflix?

Incidentally, television habits have nothing to do with these Cheesy Asparagus Pastry Spirals.

Nope. These buttery treats are inspired by what I imagine a mid-century housewife like Betty Draper might have served at a cocktail party in her home. Mid-century canapés were known for fancy appearance and ease of preparation. Packaged food-stuffs were all the rage for making the housewife’s job that much easier.

While I toyed with the idea of recreating some of the truly horrifying mid-century recipes that food manufacturers were advertising at the time, I couldn’t bring myself to put meat in Jell-O or slather whole bananas with ham & hollandaise sauce. Call me crazy, but hollandaise has no business anywhere near bananas–especially as a party food.

You’re welcome. 

Cheesy Asparagus Pastry Spirals are lightly seasoned, fresh asparagus, wrapped in flaky (packaged) puff pastry. They are baked to golden perfection before being sprinkled with a hefty pinch of Asiago cheese. They’re a gorgeous addition to pass around a party with friends.

Today is most definitely a party with friends! A #MadMenBlogParty! A whole passel of my friends and I are having a virtual party today to kick off the premier of Mad Men tonight. You’ll find a whole slew of vintage inspired cocktail, appetizer, and dessert recipes.

♥♥♥

Cheesy Asparagus Pastry Spirals

Yield 10 Servings (20 Spirals)

Tangy Asiago cheese and buttery pastry entwine fresh asparagus in this deliciously simple appetizer.

Prep Time: 5 minutes, Cook Time: 15 minutes, Total Time: 20 minutes

½ (17.3 oz) package frozen puff pastry (1 sheet), thawed

20 fresh asparagus spears, trimmed and rinsed

½ tsp. kosher salt

1/8 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper

1-2 Tbs. finely grated Asiago cheese

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Sprinkle salt and pepper over the still-damp asparagus spears; set the seasoned asparagus aside.

Unfold the puff pastry sheet, placing it on a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to gently roll the creases out of the rectangular pastry sheet. Cut the pastry widthwise into twenty ¼-inch wide strips. Wrap one pastry strip around each seasoned asparagus in a spiral pattern. Place each pastry wrapped spear onto a baking sheet with the ends of the dough tucked under. Repeat with the remaining pastry and asparagus, placing them onto the baking sheet ½-inch apart.

Bake for 12 minutes or until the pastry just begins to brown. Remove the asparagus from the oven. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the asparagus, and then continue baking for 3 more minutes or until the cheese is melted and brown on the edges.

Serve immediately. Cheesy Asparagus Pastry Spirals are best enjoyed warm from the oven.

♥♥♥

Join us for a #‎MadMenBlogParty‬! There’s a whole lot of delicious going on!

Cocktails

• Gin Rickey from Bakeaholic Mama
• Whiskey Sour from Pass the Sushi
• Old Fashioned from Poet in the Pantry
• Mad Men Manhattan with Mushroom Pate from Creative Culinary
• Pink French 75 from Kelly Bakes
• Sazerac Cocktail from Jelly Toast Blog
• Classic Negroni from The Messy Baker
• Gimlet from Yankee Kitchen Ninja

Appetizers

• Vegan French Onion Dip from The Viet Vegan
• Pimento Cheese & Crackers from The Noshery
• Chicken Salad Sliders from The Lemon Bowl
• Crab Rangoon from Cooking with Jax
• Fried Green Olives Stuffed with Blue Cheese from Simply Healthy Family
• Cheesy Asparagus Spirals from Comfortably Domestic
• Easy cocktail meatballs The Realistic Nutritionist
• Crab Rangoon from Cooking With Jax

Desserts

• JELL-O Crown Jewel Dessert Cake from The Apron Archives
• Pineapple Upside Down Cake from I am a Honeybee

 ♥♥♥