Food: Pancetta-Wrapped Asparagus

In this variation of prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, instead of cooking the asparagus in the oven or in boiling water, you cook it on the grill. This creates a rich, smoky flavor that's unattainable from roasting or blanching. Ham-like prosciutto doesn't have to be cooked to be consumed, but pancetta, which is similar to bacon (and we all know bacon is better than ham), cannot be eaten raw. This causes the resulting dish to be crispy, juicy, meaty, and downright perfect.

Here's how you can make your own:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound of asparagus
• 14 slices of thinly sliced pancetta
• extra-virgin olive oil
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Tightly wrap each asparagus spear in a slice of pancetta. Place them on a platter, and lightly drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. Light a grill. Once hot, grill the asparagus over moderate heat, turning often until the pancetta is crisp and the asparagus is tender. It should be a total of 8 minutes.
3. Transfer to a serving platter and enjoy.

Serves 4