Asparagus Rollups

Ingredients

• 24 fresh asparagus spears
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (4-ounce) package crumbled blue cheese
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
• 12 bread slices, trimmed
• 12 thinly sliced deli ham slices
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
• Paprika
• Garnishes: green onion curl, red bell pepper

Directions

Snap off tough ends of asparagus, and remove scales from stalks with a vegetable peeler, if desired. Arrange asparagus in a steamer basket over boiling water. Cover and steam 4 to 6 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove from steamer, and cool on paper towels.

Stir together cream cheese and next 3 ingredients.

Roll each bread slice with a rolling pin to flatten. Spread 1 side of each slice with 2 tablespoons cream cheese mixture; top each with 1 ham slice.

Place 2 asparagus spears, tips pointed toward opposite ends, on 1 end of each bread slice; roll up, and place, seam side down, on a greased baking sheet. Brush with butter; sprinkle with paprika.

Bake at 400° for 12 minutes or until golden. Serve immediately. Garnish, if desired.

Note: Freeze unbaked rollups up to 1 month in an airtight container. Thaw in refrigerator, and bake as directed.

Yield: 12 appetizer servings

Southern Living, NOVEMBER 2001