Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus Spears with Tomatoes and Taleggio Cheese

Ingredients

• 12  spears asparagus fresh trimmed
• 4 slices hardwood bacon smoked
• 1 clove garlic thinly sliced
• 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
• 1 teaspoon juice of lemon 
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 0.8 pound taleggio cheese cut into 1/4-inch pieces

Equipment

• frying pan
• baking sheet
• oven

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir garlic until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
3. Stir asparagus and grape tomatoes into the garlic and drizzle with lemon juice. Continue to cook and stir until asparagus are tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
4. Wrap 3 asparagus spears with 1 slice of bacon. Repeat with remaining asparagus and bacon, making 4 bundles. Arrange wrapped asparagus on a baking sheet.
5. Scatter cooked grape tomatoes around the wrapped asparagus.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes, then scatter Taleggio cheese atop asparagus; return baking sheet to the oven.
7. Continue baking until bacon is crisp, 5 to 7 minutes more.