I like to poach my eggs no more than four at a time so they don't overcrowd the pot. If you want to poach more than four eggs, you can reserve your first batch of poached eggs in a flat shallow bowl with a little bit of warm water in the bottom. Drain them when ready to serve. To prepare the asparagus, if using: Place the stalks of asparagus in a shallow skillet with 1/2 inch of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook until the asparagus is a nice bright green and fork-tender, 3 to 5 minutes.