En español | Long before the advent of modern pharmaceuticals, men and women relied on certain nutrient-rich foods to keep them healthy in bed. This week I'm offering three dishes - one for each meal of the day - to increase the libido.

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My Crust-Less Asparagus Quiche can improve your night by starting off your day with a libido boost. Asparagus is high in vitamin E, an important nutrient for good sex, and folate, which assists in producing histamine, believed to improve potency for both men and women. And "no crust" means the quiche bakes quickly and has fewer calories.

The Aztecs called the avocado tree ahuacatl, or "testicle tree." OK, maybe that doesn't sound so appetizing, but sex it up in the Caesar Salad With Avocado Dressing. Like asparagus, avocados are high in folate, good for both genders. There's plenty of raw garlic in this salad too, always known to promote friskiness. But just wait until you see what's for dinner!

End the day on a sensual note with Braised Chicken With 40 Cloves of Garlic. Garlic contains high levels of allicin, known to increase blood flow. Although cooked garlic doesn't contain quite the same levels as raw, it's still good for you. Plus it's milder, sweeter and your breath won't suffer as much (which helps in these matters).

Still skeptical? That's OK. Even if garlic, asparagus and avocado have little direct affect on your sexual performance, they're unquestionably good for you. And if you eat well, you'll feel, as the ads say, "healthy enough for sexual activity!"

Crust-Less Asparagus Quiche

Serves 4 to 6

You can substitute broccoli florets for the asparagus here.

8 medium asparagus spears, tough ends snapped off, spears halved lengthwise and cut into 1-inch lengths

1 teaspoon oil

4 large eggs

3/4 cup evaporated milk

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon each: dried tarragon, salt and ground black pepper

2 medium scallions, sliced thin

3 ounces (about 3/4 cup) extra-sharp white cheddar

Adjust oven rack to center position and heat oven to 400 degrees.

Place asparagus, oil and 3 tablespoons water in medium skillet. Place lid on skillet and turn heat on high. Cook until asparagus is bright green and just tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove lid and sauté to evaporate remaining liquid, 1 to 2 minutes longer.

Whisk eggs, milk, mustard, tarragon, salt and pepper, along with scallions, cheese and asparagus. Pour mixture into a greased 9-inch Pyrex pie plate and bake until just set, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.

Next: There is plenty of raw garlic, known to promote friskiness, in this salad. »