‘Vegetable’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Recipe: Butter Roasted Broccoli

June 3, 2015 · Narrative

A simple and delicious way to eat broccoli? I am so there.

Last night I crawled into bed at 8 pm, and was fast asleep by 10.

That’s when you know something is wrong.

I didn’t know it at the time, but a migraine was brewing and landed in full force this morning.

Between the five days of rain, the barometric pressure, and life, I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised, but it’s been awhile since one has knocked me off my feet.

And here we are.

Feeling slightly less like death now, and hanging in.

So broccoli.

Like the segue way?

When it comes to broccoli, I usually roast it (the kids’ favorite) or steam it (sometimes my favorite). Occasionally I’ll get creative with it (see broccomole), or play with a more involved recipe, but roasted and steamed are my go-tos.

So I was ripe for a new easy go-to, and this Butter Roasted Broccoli is a delicious stand-in.

My favorite thing about dishes this simple?

It means you have a bit of extra time to work on a more involved main dish.

#balance

This recipe is the perfect marriage between roasted and steamed. I wouldn’t say I necessarily fooled the kids into thinking this was roasted, because it doesn’t get that full-on crispness that a more traditional roasting would, but it was close enough that they would eat it.

And so I consider that a win.

Hungry for more broccoli recipes?
These Broccoli Parmesan Fritters received a huge thumbs up from even confirmed Broccoli Haters.
This Broccoli Pie is a perfect light lunch or dinner, or even for entertaining (hello brunch!).
Broccoli Cheddar Soup is one of my favorites from Panera. Now you can make it at home.
Funny that this broccoli dish was made after I was sick. Apparently broccoli paves my road to feeling better. Especially if it’s Roasted Broccoli and Portobello Mushrooms with Soy Dressing.

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Recipe: Roasted Green Beans

December 9, 2014 · Narrative

The easiest, simplest, most delicious way to have green beans… roasted.

I’ve got to be honest.

Green beans really don’t do anything for me.

I don’t think there’s any vegetable that I DON’T eat, there are just some I like more than others.

And such is the case with green beans.

If they’re there, I’ll eat them.

And if they’re not?

I’m ok with that too.

But then I roasted them.

And, honestly, I should have known better.

Because EVERYTHING tastes awesome roasted.

Green beans are no exception.

And on a busy night, roasting is a lifesaver. Sheet pan. Bite size pieces of vegetable dujour. Olive oil. Salt. Pepper. And if you go a little crazy and add extra seasoning? All the better. In the oven for about 25 minutes. And yer done.

World’s easiest and most delicious side dish for any meal. Ever. And now that I’ve roasted green beans, I can assure you I’ll be having them more often.

I might have, ahem, nearly gone through a Costco-size bag in less than a week. Just sayin’.

Hungry for more green bean recipes?
The kids made this recipe for a Green Bean Casserole some years back with a babysitter. It is to die for. Trust me.
These Brown Butter Dijon Green Beans were equally amazing.
Packed with flavor, these Green Beans with Feta Cheese are quick to make and retain that nice green bean crunch.

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Recipe: Cauliflower Fritters

August 5, 2014 · Narrative

Similar to potato pancakes or latkes, these tasty cauliflower fritters are a fun, unexpected side dish.

Until I discovered a few out-of-the-box cauliflower recipe ideas last year, I don’t think I ever gave cauliflower more than a passing glance. Aside from roasting it or pouring cheese sauce over it, I can’t say I had seen many, if any, other recipes to prepare it.

And now, it seems like they’re everywhere.

Case in point: cauliflower fritters.

I love these little things. It gives you the fried taste of a latke, without all the guilt that goes along with it. By using whole wheat flour, and swapping out the more traditional potatoes for cauliflower, you come away with a delicious little side dish that you can’t get enough of, and another cauliflower fake-out dish where you leave the table seeing cauliflower in a whole new light.

Unless you’re my kids. Because now even though I’ve made exactly 623 different version of cauliflower (I kid. Slightly.), they still don’t like it. Eventually they’ll come around and, in the meantime, these are all mine.

Well, ok, except for the ones I shared with our neighbors.

Make ’em.

Hungry for more cauliflower recipes? Luckily I’ve got you covered.
These Cheesy Baked Cauliflower Tots from Kalyn’s Kitchen were fun little bites to pop in your mouth.
If you haven’t made this ridiculously simple Three Ingredient Cauliflower Soup, you are seriously missing out.
This Buffalo-Style Roasted Cauliflower is one I keep going back to. So good and so easy.
This Roasted Cauliflower Spread is a riff off one that Sarah and I enjoyed at Tom Douglas’ Lola in Seattle.
Visually, this Spicy Whole Roasted Cauliflower is a showstopper, and I made it for a cooking challenge at the CIA recently.
If you haven’t had this Cauliflower Steak with Homemade Caesar Dressing, I don’t know how to help you.
This super simple Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is a great comfort food spin when you’re craving carbs and cheese.
These Cauliflower Bread Sticks were another great riff, and delish!
This Mock Shrimp Risotto was almost as good as the real deal.
Cauliflower Crust Pizza for fulfilling all your pizza loving dreams.
And lastly, Cauliflower Garlic Mashed Potatoes will satisfy your comfort food craving….

Recipe: Roasted Lemon Garlic Broccoli

August 4, 2014 · Narrative

A super simple, quick way to serve roasted broccoli … lemon, garlic, and done.

Broccoli is one of the few vegetables that we can all agree on. The kids would happily eat roasted broccoli every day, but while I love it that way, I need a little more variety in my life.

Which today comes by way of garlic and lemon juice.

You can’t go wrong by roasting any vegetable. The process is simple and really lets the natural flavors of the vegetable come alive. A little drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper and you have the perfect side dish for pretty much any main course.

This recipe takes the basic premise of roasted vegetables and just bumps it up a notch with the addition of the garlic and lemon juice. Still simple. Still lets the broccoli be the star of the show. Still approved by everyone in the family. The lemon juice was perfect, giving the finished dish that little extra zing.

It’s an ideal side dish that doesn’t over-complicate anything. Vegetables in their purest form, naked and delicious.

And, thankfully, this is just different enough to keep us out of that roasted broccoli, roasted broccoli, roasted broccoli rut ~~we’re~~ I’m trying to avoid.

Now what to serve it with?
This Lemony Grilled Chicken from Debbie Matenopoulous would be perfect with it.
And you can’t find a quicker-to-make entree than this Best Ever Five Minute Grilled Salmon dish, and it’s one of my favorite go-tos.

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