Asparagus On The Grill

Grilled Asparagus with Bacon Vinaigrette
Asparagus and bacon? What a great combo! I got this awesome recipe from my friend, Shan. I'm not sure where she got it. It's wonderful with grilled fish, steaks, pork tenderloin, chicken ... just about anything. It's one of my favorite veggies.
Ingredients:
2-4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
3 T olive oil, plus additional for drizzling
1 1/2 T apple cider vinegar
1/4 t sugar
salt and pepper to taste
Red pepper flakes (optional)
1-2 lbs asparagus, trimmed
Sprinkle of favorite cheese over the top (optional)
Directions:
1. In the same pan used for cooking the bacon, add vinaigrette ingredients, through salt & pepper. Cook for a few minutes. Check seasoning and adjust as needed.
2. Meanwhile, preheat grill to medium.
3. Drizzle asparagus with a little olive oil. Grill for about 5-10 minutes in a cast iron skillet or directly on rack, til crisp tender. This requires a gentle touch and some patience but the rewards are great. Serve hot drizzled with vinaigrette. Top with crumbled bacon and a sprinkle of cheese.

Note: To trim the asparagus, cut the ends of the stalks at the bottom. Be sure to trim your asparagus in the area where its greenish color fades. While doing so, be careful not to trim off the spears. There are those who find that snapping off the ends of the stalks is faster than trimming.