Ingredients:

• 1 pound asparagus
• 1/2 pound linguine
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• Coarse sea salt
• 1 pound peeled, deveined shrimp
• 3 tablespoons minced garlic (2 to 3 cloves)
• 2 tablespoons minced chives, divided
• 1/2 cup half and half
• 1/2 cup grated Pecorino cheese
• 4 chive blossoms
  Freshly ground pepper

Directions:

Fill a sink with cold water and submerge asparagus to dislodge any sand. Break off pale, woody ends and discard. Working from base to top, use a sharp paring knife to halve or quarter asparagus into thin strips.

Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Salt water generously and cook linguine to al dente. Reserve pasta cooking water for plating.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large, deep-sided skillet set over medium-high heat. Add half the asparagus, sprinkle with sea salt, and cook just until spears go slightly limp and are a vibrant green, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove, add to a plate and cook the second batch.

Melt another tablespoon of butter in the pan, add half the shrimp, sprinkle with sea salt, and cook just until shrimp pinks up and the skin edges golden, about 2 minutes per side. Remove cooked shrimp to a plate and cook second batch.

Turn heat to low, add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the pan, and when melted, stir in garlic and chives; sauté for 1 minute. Stirring constantly, pour in half and half. Sprinkle in Pecorino, stirring until cheese has melted. Fold in cooked asparagus and shrimp.