Italian Ham and Asparagus

A year ago we had the privilege of eating at a palace in Rome.  It belonged to one of the last princes left from the original Roman royal family.  The evening was fantastic.  The ball room was gorgeous but the food was the best part. We got home and had to try this appetizer.  Salty mortadella, sweet asparagus, it is so simple and so elegant, yet so delicious.

Ingredients:

1 bundle of fresh asparagus
6-8 slices of Mortadella, or Capicola (prosciutto will as well)

In a large pot, boil water with a good amount of salt.  Take the asparagus and snap off the ends.  (hint; if you just lightly bend them they will snap at the tough stuff you don't want to eat) Boil the asparagus for a couple of minutes until tender, and immediatley put them into an ice bath.  This will keep the green color.  Wrap the asparagus in the ham, and cut into 1 inch pieces.  It's that simple.  Buon appetito.