Asparagus with Balsamic Tomatoes

I found this recipe on a blog I frequent, and made it tonight to partner up with baked chicken breasts with green chile sauce and whole wheat rolls. It was a HUGE hit.

I even feel like it "undoes" the frozen yogurt with M&Ms and KitKats somebody made me eat when we climbed Yogurt Mountain this afternoon. Asparagus cancels all that out, right? Right??

Asparagus with Balsamic Tomatoes (recipe source: Taste & See)
I adapted this a bit from the original.

1 lb. asparagus, trimmed (just cut off the ends...if there are 2 rubber bands, I usually cut right above the bottom one)
2 tsp. olive oil
1 1/2 cups halved grape tomatoes
1/2 tsp. minced garlic (I just used 2 big cloves because garlic makes my spirit soar and my soul sing.)
2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1/4 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. crumbled goat cheese (or feta...didn't measure this, just crumbled until I was happy with it)

*Cook asparagus in boiling water 2 minutes (longer for more tender asparagus...I like mine on the crunchy side). Drain.
*Heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add tomatoes and garlic; cook 3-5 minutes. Add vinegar; cook 3 minutes. Stir in salt. Remove from heat, and add asparagus. Stir until asparagus is coated.
*After serving on plates, add cheese and black pepper to taste.

This was so good, I even had seconds. Easy, healthy, delicious...plus, the colors are pretty. Who doesn't like eating pretty food??

FYI:
*Next time I make it, I'll cook the tomatoes a shorter amount of time or on a lower heat. I wanted them to be more intact, and I sorta cooked 'em to a near mush. Still good, but not the texture I was shooting for.


*I substituted feta cheese for the goat cheese. It's cheaper and you get more in a package than goat cheese. I buy the whole block of feta instead of the pre-crumbled. I got a solid 8 oz block of feta for $2.00, and the 3.5 oz container of pre-crumbled was $3.50. I'd rather get more for less money and crumble it myself!


*The recipe source link contains a wonderful picture if you want to see one. See this for why I didn't include my own picture.

If you make this, I'd love to hear about it. Go forth and eat frozen yogurt with candy piled on top, and then make this. Remember, they cancel each other out. It's all good!