Lady and Sons Asparagus Sandwich

This is another recipe my Mom shared with me. I loved it too. My Mom first had this sandwich when we went to Savannah, GA a few years ago and ate at Paula Deen's restaurant "Lady and Sons." My mom fell in love with this sandwich and was excited to find it on the internet.

Ingredients

• 8 to 10 fresh asparagus spears, washed and trimmed
• 2 tablespoons butter, divided
• Salt and pepper or lemon pepper
• 2 slices pumpernickel bread
• 2 slices Jack cheese
• 1 or 2 tablespoons Thousand Island Dressing, recipe follows
• 3 slices red onion, cut into rings
• Pickle slices or fresh parsley, for garnish, optional

Directions

Blanch asparagus spears in boiling, salted water for 1 minute. Remove immediately to a bowl of ice water.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add asparagus and lightly saute. Season with salt and pepper, or lemon pepper. Remove asparagus from pan and set aside. Butter 2 pieces of bread with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Place bread in the same skillet, buttered side down, and grill on 1 side. Flip bread and lay 1 piece of cheese on each slice of bread. Grill until cheese is melted and then remove from pan. Spread desired amount of dressing on top of each slice of bread. Arrange asparagus on top of cheese, rotating the spears. Place onion rings on top of asparagus. Cut sandwich in half. Garnish with pickle slices or parsley, if desired.

Thousand Island Dressing:

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

1 hard-boiled egg, crushed finely

1 cup ketchup

1/4 cup dill relish

Salt and pepper

Lemon pepper

In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients together. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon pepper, to taste. Store in an air-tight container and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Yield: 2 3/4 cups It makes a ton, so you can half the recipe. My mom likes it so much she uses it as a dressing on salad.