We've all heard the old adage, "You are what you eat." Well now, apparently, so are your favorite television characters. This book, a must for fans of the hit TV show, is cleverly organized by character, with each of the five "Desperate Housewives" presenting her "favorite" recipes.

1. Prep the asparagus: Hold the tip of each stalk in one hand and bend the end of the stalk with the other. The tough ends of the stalks will snap off; discard them. (The stalks may vary in length after snapping.) Peel the asparagus with a vegetable peeler from the end of the stalk to about an inch from the top.

2. Put 2 tablespoons water in a 10-inch skillet. Lay the asparagus in the skillet and scatter the butter slices over them. Heat over medium-low heat until the water is simmering. Season the asparagus lightly with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until the thickest part of the stalks are tender but firm, about 4 minutes. Uncover, raise the heat to high, and cook until the water is evaporated and the asparagus begins to sizzle. Transfer the asparagus to a serving plate and serve hot.

Variations:

skillet asparagus with orange -- Add the grated zest of 1 orange to the pan along with the water and butter.

skillet asparagus with Nuts -- After the liquid has evaporated from the pan, scatter 3 tablespoons toasted and chopped hazelnuts, almonds, or pine nuts over the asparagus.