Asparagus is a member of the Lily family, making it a cousin to onions, leeks and garlic.  The name is Greek for “sprout” and has long enjoyed the reputation of being a luxury veggie…and yes, eating asparagus does make your pee stink.  It only takes about 15 minutes for the metabolic sulphuric compounds to be digested and sent to your kidneys for elimination.  It was long thought that only 25% of the population developed this stinky pee, but come to find out, the genetic deficiency is not in the pee, but on the other end…meaning those who can’t sniff the asparagus tainted pee have a nose sniffing deficiency!  Seriously, asparagus is nutrient-dense, being high in folic acid (for building strong cells) and a good source of potassium (to help prevent calcium leaching which may prevent and cure the formation of kidney stones), Vitamin A, C, B6, niacin and fiber. It also has diuretic properties and is thought to help dissolve uric acid (cause of gout).  The wider the diameter of the stem, the more nutritious….who knew?  Simply snap 2/3’s of the length down from the tip to remove the woody portion of the stem before preparing.  Peel or not to peel, your choice.  Clean stems and store upright in 2 inches of cold water in the refrigerator for a few days.