Bacon wrapped asparagus

Asparagus season is upon us. How else to cook them?

I took this recipe from therecipecritic.com and it's delicious. Cook it now!

Serves: 5 persons (starter) or 2 persons (main).

Ingredients:

• 400g asparagus, stalks removed
• 5 slices bacon
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• salt & pepper to taste

Method:

1. Place the bacon slices on a wire rack on top of an ovenproof tray and roast in a 200 oven until it begins to shrink and turns a slightly red colour, but it is still flexible, about 5 min. The bacon should not be completely crispy, otherwise it will break  when wrapping around the asparagus.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, maple syrup and pepper to taste.
   
   
   
3. Remove the bacon from the oven and brush with the maple syrup mixture on both sides. Roast the bacon for 3 min. Allow the bacon to cool until it’s easy to handle with your fingers. 
   
   
   
4. Divide the asparagus into five even-size bundles.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. On a cutting board, wrap one slice of the par-cooked bacon overlapping over the length of the asparagus spears. Secure the bacon with a toothpick. 
   
   
   
6. Carefully place the bundles on the baking rack. Generously brush the maple syrup mixture over the bacon-wrapped asparagus spears on both sides.
7. Lightly season each bundle with salt and pepper.
   
   
   
8. Roast the asparagus bundles for 10 min, remove from the oven and brush the maple mixture over just the bacon.
   
   
   
9. Roast for 5 min or until the bacon is browned and crispy and the asparagus is tender.
   
   
   
10. Remove the toothpicks and serve the bacon wrapped asparagus hot.