Day 356 - Baked Asparagus

I had a wonderful day with an extremely close friend named, Tina.
We went to afternoon tea and ate cucumber sandwiches and then went shopping in antique stores!
We had such a wonderful time, but then again, we always do.  We tried on vintage hats, and laughed and laughed and laughed.
Tina and I have the kind of relationship like a husband and wife would have (or at least Mr. 365 and I do) - when one is going through a rough patch, the other is there to pick up the pieces and put you back together.  It is so wonderful and we have readily admitted that we are both very fortunate and extremely grateful to be so blessed to have each other.

And I REALLY needed some picking up because if you've read previous posts and are a fan on the 365 Facebook page then you know that I have a friend who has a two year old daughter missing.
It has been extremely difficult and heartbreaking to watch their family go through this.
I am posting the flyers that the Phoenix Police Department has issued in hopes that you will pass them on and share them with friends and family and Pin them.
The little girl's name is actually misspelled.  It is Ava and she is 2 years old, turning 3 in a few months, not presently 3.

There have been absolutely NO leads in the case and they could be ANYWHERE which is why I am sharing them with you.  They could even be in Mexico and have been missing since Wednesday, 2/22 or possibly as early as Saturday, 2/18 when Athena dropped Ava off for her visitation with her father.
It has already received national attention as it aired on Nancy Grace last night and tonight.
A website has been set up, Bring Ava Home, as well as a Facebook page, Help Bring Ava Home.
I will keep everyone posted when I hear any details.
Thank you, friends for your help and prayers!  XOXOX

Tina and I had SO much fun today and spent quite a bit of time together that I was in a crunch for my baking time.
We discussed it and she mentioned that she had a great recipe for baked asparagus.
"Really, expergrass?  I like expergrass!"
It was the tea talking.  I had had three cups and was being ditzy, or maybe that really is me!  (Is that word ditzy even used anymore?)

Asparagus.
So simple.  So easy.
And,...
It's BAKED!
And it's different from the way I am forever preparing it - steamed or sauteed with garlic and olive oil in a skillet.

Baked Asparagus - serves 4 or 3 with extras, if you have one child who says he doesn't like asparagus and won't even eat a "no thank you bite".

1 pound asparagus, rinsed and with 1/4 inch trimmed off the flat ends
3 tablespoons olive oil
coarse sea salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Place asparagus on the baking sheet in a single layer.

Drizzle with olive oil.
And sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
Toss the asparagus in the baking sheet, making sure it is coated completely.
Return it to a single layer in the pan.

Bake for 10 minutes.  That's it!!
It doesn't get any simplah than that now, do it?

I rate everything I bake on a scale of 1-4 with 4 being the best and Tina's Asparagus earned 3 1/2 rolling pins.
I loved it because it was SO simple, fast, and SO tasty!!
I have to say that for the sake of pictures I baked them before I put our stuffed shells into the oven.  The shells were to be ready in 35 minutes, so with 7 minutes left I returned the stalks to the baking sheet and popped them back into the 375 degree F. oven.
Some of them browned a little and I liked that.  More flavor.

Tomorrow is Wednesday or maybe it already is for you.
I have two more weigh-ins before 365 is up and I haven't been too diligent with my updates, so I'll be sure to step on that scale in the morning.  Looking forward to it, believe me.

I give you BIG baking hugs and muffins!!