ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH BROWN BUTTER AND PECORINO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• To make brown butter, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Skim off the white foam as it rises to the top.
• Continue cooking until the butter is medium brown and smells like roasted nuts.
• Snap the ends from the asparagus — they'll break at the point of tenderness.
• Or slice the ends off closer to the root end and peel spears with a swivel-bladed vegetable peeler.
• Rinse, then soak for a few minutes in a couple of changes of cold, lightly salted water.
• Agitate lightly to release grit that may be trapped.
• Rinse well again and pat with paper towels.
• Brush a shallow baking dish or jelly-roll pan large enough to hold the asparagus in a single layer with a film of brown butter.
• Spread asparagus in dish and brush with the remaining butter.
• Roast until tender, about 15 minutes.
• Shave or grate the cheese over the asparagus, sprinkle with pepper and serve warm.