Asparagus Rollups

A do-ahead appetizer. You can 'wow' them with this one. I found this at Southern Living and this is the recipe as written. I like to use about half of the amount of blue cheese called for and I just use a 'swipe' on the bread.. not 2 tablespoons full.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 12 appetizers

Ingredients

• 24  fresh asparagus spears
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (4 ounce) package  crumbled blue cheese
• 2  tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1  tablespoon  chopped fresh chives
• 12  slices  bread, crusts trimmed off
• 12  slices  thinly sliced deli ham
• 1⁄4 cup butter or 1⁄4 cup margarine, melted
•  paprika

• Garnishes

•  green onion, curl
•  red bell pepper

Directions

1. Snap off tough ends of asparagus, and remove scales from stalks with a vegetable peeler, if desired.
2. Arrange asparagus in a steamer basket over boiling water.
3. Cover and steam 4 to 6 minutes or until crisp-tender.
4. Remove from steamer, and cool on paper towels.
5. Stir together cream cheese and next 3 ingredients.
6. Roll each bread slice with a rolling pin to flatten.
7. Spread 1 side of each slice with 2 tablespoons cream cheese mixture; top each with 1 ham slice.
8. Place 2 asparagus spears, tips pointed toward opposite ends, on one end of each bread slice; roll up, and place, seam side down, on a greased baking sheet.
9. Brush with butter; sprinkle with paprika.
10. Bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes or until golden.
11. Serve immediately.
12. Garnish, if desired.
13. Note: Freeze unbaked roll ups up to 1 month in an airtight container.
14. Thaw in refrigerator, and bake as directed.
15. Yield: 12 appetizer servings.