Contributed by: Brooke McLay  www.cheekykitchen.com

With its delicate flavor, rich color and artistic presentation, asparagus makes an awesome side dish for just about any meal—whether you’re going gourmet or just baking up a weeknight family dinner.

Best of all, preparing a batch of asparagus is so simple. You can steam it, toss it into a boiling pot of pasta or roast it in the oven. Roasting is my preferred preparation because I can simply toss the spears with other ingredients and pop the pan into the oven to cook while putting the finishing touches on the rest of the meal. Fabulous!

Here’s how to make easy, three-step roasted asparagus.

Step 1. Wash and dry a pound of asparagus, then spread it on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

Step 2. Drizzle olive oil over the asparagus. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with fresh lemon zest, pepper and sea salt.

Step 3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the asparagus is crisp-tender. Just before serving, drizzle lemon juice over the asparagus, serve and enjoy!