Spring Asparagus Soup

• 2 pounds asparagus
• 1 shallot, sliced thin
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 5 cups vegetable stock
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons Apple butter, 1 tablespoon softened
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 eggs
• 2 green onions, roughly chopped
• 2 celery ribs, diced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 2 yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 tablespoons Parmigiano- Reggiano cheese, shredded
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 4 slices baguette, cut on the bias inch thick
• hot sauce for topping

1. Cut off asparagus tips and put aside, cut off woody bottoms and save, cut remaining spears in 1 inch pieces
2. Over medium high heat in large soup pot heat 2 tablespoons of butter, add shallots, garlic, celery, green onions, and carrot, cook until tender about 4-5 minutes.
3. Remove from pot and set aside.
4. Add stock, water, and the woody asparagus ends to the pot and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Remove the woody asparagus ends with a slotted spoon from pot and discard.
6. Add the cooked vegetables to the stock and then add the potatoes and season with salt and freshly ground pepper.
7. Cook for 25 minutes on medium heat.
8. With the immersion blender or processor blend the soup until very smooth making sure there are no lumps, continue cooking on low heat.
9. Add the asparagus tips to the soup and, continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes over low heat.
10. Mix the 1/4 cup of chopped parsley with the softened butter and the parmigiano-reggiano, top each bread with mixture and broil until golden brown and a bit bubbly.
11. Turn off heat to the soup and stir in the lemon juice and cayenne.
12. In saute pan heat oil and fry 4 eggs until cooked easy.
13. Ladle soup equally in 4 bowls.
14. Place a toasty in the middle of each soup.
15. Place a fried egg on each toasty.
16. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with your favorite hot sauce.

asparagus, shallot, garlic, vegetable stock, water, parsley, apple butter, olive oil, eggs, green onions, celery, carrot, gold potatoes, cheese, salt, cayenne pepper, fresh squeezed lemon juice, baguette, hot sauce

Taken from www.foodrepublic.com/recipes/spring-asparagus-soup-recipe/ (may not work)