MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

     Title: Asparagus and Prosciutto Crostini with Fonduta
Categories: Cheese, Ham, Appetizers, Italian, Grill
     Yield: 4 Servings

          FOR FONDUTA:
     1 tb Unsalted butter
   1/4 lb Italian Fontina cheese;
          -rind discarded, cut into
          -1/4" dice
   1/2 c  Milk
     2 lg Egg yolks
     4    Slices (1/2") from
          -a large round crusty loaf
          -of bread
     1 cl Garlic; halved
     2 tb Extra-virgin olive oil
   1/4 lb Prosciutto; thinly sliced
     1 lb Thin asparagus; trimmed and
          -lower 2 inches of stalks
          -peeled

 Make fonduta: melt butter. Add Fontina and milk and heat, stirring
 with a whisk, until cheese begins to melt. Whisk in yolks and
 cook, stirring constantly with whisk, until smooth and thickened
 slightly, about 7 minutes.

 Remove pan from heat and remove bowl from pan. Stir sauce 1 minute
 while water in pan cools slightly. Return bowl to pan and keep
 sauce warm over hot water (off heat), whisking occasionally to
 eliminate skin that forms on surface.

 Preheat broiler. On a baking sheet toast bread about 3 inches from
 heat, turning, until golden, about 1 to 2 minutes on each side.
 Rub tops of crostini with cut side of garlic and brush with oil.
 Season crostini lightly with salt. Divide crostini among 4 plates
 and top with prosciutto.

 In a deep 10 to 12" skillet bring 1 1/4 inches salted water
 to a boil and cook asparagus until crisp-tender, about 2 to 4
 minutes. Transfer asparagus with tongs to a colander and drain.
 Divide asparagus among crostini. Pour fonduta over them.

 Gourmet April 1995

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