Roasted Asparagus With Fresh Strawberries

From strawberrysue.com. Grand Prize Winner, Home Cook Division. Recipe submitted by Barbara Estabrook, Rhinelander, Wisconsin. This sounds like a weird combination of flavors, but it is SO good! We used maple bacon instead of applewood-smoked because it's all we had on-hand, but it was great! We also used plain feta instead of feta with peppercorns and it was just fine.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 4  slices bacon, chopped (applewood-smoked)
• 1⁄4 cup olive oil
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1  tablespoon orange marmalade
• 2  tablespoons  white balsamic vinegar
• 30  asparagus spears, tough ends removed
• 1  teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 (16 ounce) container fresh strawberries, sliced 1/4 inch thick (about 2 1/2 cups)
• 6  tablespoons feta cheese, crumbled (the type with peppercorns in it)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper, ground

Directions

1. In a medium skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon from skillet, and drain on paper towels. Drain bacon grease from skillet. (Do not wipe skillet out.).
2. Add 1⁄4 cup olive oil and marmalade to skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until marmalade is melted, loosening brown bits from bottom of skillet while stirring. Remove from heat, and stir in vinegar. Set aside.
3. Preheat oven to 425°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
4. Spread asparagus in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Drizzle asparagus with remaining 1 1⁄2 tablespoons olive oil, tossing gently to coat. Sprinkle evenly with salt.
5. Bake until asparagus is barely tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Place asparagus on a large platter, or divide evenly among 6 salad plates.
6. Stir strawberries into marmalade mixture, tossing to coat. Spoon strawberry mixture evenly over asparagus.
7. Top evenly with bacon, feta cheese, and pepper. Serve immediately.