ROASTED SWEET POTATOES, SAUSAGE, AND BROCCOLI SHEET PAN MEAL

D said we could have this if he could put butternut squash in it, so we compromised and put in both.
It was good, although a little small.  Still would have again.

ROASTED SWEET POTATOES, SAUSAGE, AND BROCCOLI SHEET PAN MEAL

Photo by ALB

Yield 4 SERVINGS
prep time 10 MINUTES
cook time 40 MINUTES
total time 50 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS
1 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into medium-sized cubes
Added 2 Cups of Butternut Squash
3 T olive oil
1 T balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. garlic powder
fresh ground black pepper to taste
1 pkg. (4 or 5 links) pre-cooked chicken, turkey, or pork sausage (about 14-16 oz. sausage) (used Aidells Basil and Garlic Chicken Sausage)
1 lb. broccoli, trimmed and cut apart to make about 3/4 pound broccoli pieces
salt and additional fresh-ground black pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 450F/230C and spray sheet pan with non-stick spray.

Cut up two (or one) medium sweet potatoes (and butternut) into cubes that aren't too small. (I made cubes that were about one inch across.)

Whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, and black pepper.

Put sweet potato cubes into a bowl and toss with half the oil-balsamic mixture.

Spread sweet potatoes out on a sheet pan, put pan in the oven, and start to roast for 15 minutes.

Slice sausage into slices about 3/4 inch thick. (We trimmed off the ends so the sausage would have a flat end on both sides.)

When sweet potatoes have roasted 15 minutes, add sausage pieces to the sheet pan and roast 10 minutes more.

Cut up broccoli into same-size pieces (about the size of the other ingredients.)

Put broccoli into the bowl and toss broccoli with the rest of the oil-balsamic mixture.

Remove sheet pan from the oven and turn sausage pieces over. Then spread sausage and sweet potatoes apart and tuck broccoli pieces between them.

Put sheet pan back in the oven and cook 15 minutes more, or until broccoli is done to your liking and sausages and sweet potatoes are nicely browned.

Season with a little salt and fresh-ground black pepper and serve hot.

9 WW Blue Points (my additions/subtractions at 4 servings)

Roasted Broccoli Chickpea Arugula Salad

Somehow Wednesdays have become "Eat a Salad" Day in our house.  So I found this one, told D to add chicken and there ya go.  Both of us liked it but thought it might need to be bigger.  Of course D put red onion in his bowl.  We got 3 portions, but really it was 2, with a TON of dressing. (3 TBSP each with at least 4 TBSP left over).

Roasted Broccoli Chickpea Arugula Salad

Photo by ALB

PREP TIME: 3 MINUTES
COOK TIME: 20 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME: 23 MINUTES
SERVINGS 2 SERVINGS

From JENN LAUGHLIN - PEAS AND CRAYONS

Ingredients
6 oz broccoli florets chopped
15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 TBSP olive oil (used PAM)
Added 1lb chicken breast, cut into chunks
Added red onion to one bowl
sea salt to taste (1/2 tsp)
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp ground turmeric
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp lemon zest
4 cups baby arugula

LEMON DRESSING:
1/4 cup lemon juice (approx. 2 lemons)
1/4 cup quality olive oil
1 TBSP honey 1 tsp dijon mustard plus extra to taste
3 garlic cloves, pressed
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 400°F

Drain the chickpeas in a colander or sieve and rinse well. (you may have to peel the chickpeas).

Pat the chickpeas dry with a clean dishtowel. The drier the chickpeas are, the crispier they'll get.

Place chickpeas on one half of your baking sheet with the broccoli on the other. For extra crisp factor, make sure the chickpeas aren't on top of each other and the broccoli is slightly spaced, though don't stress it too much! Drizzle in olive oil (sprayed with PAM) and sprinkle with sea salt, to taste.

Roast on the center rack for 20-25 minutes until crispy on the outside and soft in the middle.

Meanwhile, sautee the Chicken Breast until cooked.

While the chickpeas and broccoli roast, combine your dressing ingredients in a mason jar. Pop on the lid, shake, and set aside.

While still hot from the oven, add the chickpeas to a bowl with your spices then mix with a spatula or spoon. Hand mixing works too but if you stick your hands in this shawarmatastic seasoning your fingers will most definitely turn yellow from the turmeric.

Once your veg are ready, give the mason jar another shake, toss arugula in the dressing to mix (as much or as little as you'd like!) and top with your broccoli and chickpeas. Dig in right away!

7 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 3 servings)

Parmesan Bread Pudding with Broccoli Rabe and Pancetta

This was really good with Proscuitto.  Basically I got confused at the grocery store and bought the wrong meat.  That didn't stop us from eating it though.  Once again, we had to go to Whole Foods for the broccoli rabe, because shockingly, Kroger didn't have it.

Anyway, this is a really nice meal with a salad, or even for breakfast because eggs and fancy bacon.

Parmesan Bread Pudding with Broccoli Rabe and Pancetta

Photo by ALB

4 Servings
Prep Time: 15 min
There's a lot packed into this savory bread pudding recipe: pancetta, broccoli rabe, Parmesan cheese, and of course, eggs.
From Bon Appetit

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon olive oil (used PAM)
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 medium bunch broccoli rabe (rapini), trimmed, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 teaspoons kosher salt plus more
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper plus more
6 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole milk (used 2%)
1/2 pound country-style white bread, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 8 cups) (Pepperidge Farm)
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan
6 thin slices pancetta (Italian bacon) (used prosciutto)

RECIPE PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 350°. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir until garlic is softened, about 30 seconds. Add broccoli rabe; sea-son with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing, until wilted, about 2 minutes; let cool slightly.

Meanwhile, whisk eggs, milk, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoons pepper in a large bowl to blend. Add broccoli rabe mixture, bread, and 1/2 cup Parmesan; toss to combine. Transfer to a 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. Top with pancetta and remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan.

Bake pudding until puffed, browned in spots, and set in the center, 45-55 minutes.

Nutritional Content
6 servings, 1 serving contains: Calories (kcal) 250 Fat (g) 15 Saturated Fat (g) 6 Cholesterol (mg) 240 Carbohydrates (g) 10 Dietary Fiber (g) 0 Total Sugars (g) 4 Protein (g) 18 Sodium (mg) 520

10 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 4 servings)

Makeover Broccoli Mac and Cheese

So the other night I ended up to talking to VW, who I am a total fan girl of. Coincidentally, I also had dog-eared this recipe in my cookbook, but hadn't gotten around to ask D to make it.

I've been trying to use up ingredients in the fridge and we had Ricotta from when he made Macaroni with Sausage and Ricotta. I asked him if he could replace cottage cheese with ricotta, he said yes, so the recipe made the weekly list.  If you use LF Cottage Cheese, it will lower the points.

It was very creamy.  We both agreed it needed more salt.  I don't know how much D added, so I can't tell you how much to increase it too, but I think it's safe to say he put in 1/2 tsp.

We didn't have a side.

 Makeover Broccoli Mac and Cheese

Photo by ALB

Adapted from Virginia Willis Lighten Up, Y’all: Classic Southern Recipes Made Healthy and Wholesome

Who doesn’t love a big, bubbling tray of gooey mac and cheese? Here, this most familiar of comfort foods is revamped by JBF Award winner Virginia Willis with chopped broccoli for an extra serving of vegetables.

Ingredients
1 lb of chicken breast, sauteed
1 3/4 Cupreduced-fat extra-sharp cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons panko bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 3/4 cups 2 percent milk, divided
3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces elbow macaroni
12 ounces broccoli florets and stems

Method
Preheat the oven to 450°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Coat an 8-inch-square (2-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. Add the cheddar cheese in a large bowl. Mix ¼ cup of the cheese  with the bread crumbs and paprika in a small bowl. Set aside.

To make the cheese sauce, heat 1 ½ cups of the milk in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until simmering. Whisk the remaining ¼ cup milk and the flour in a small bowl until smooth; add to the hot milk and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce simmers and thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the remaining 1 ½ cups of the cheese along with the ricotta cheese until melted. Stir in the dry mustard and nutmeg and add salt and pepper to taste.

Cook the pasta according to package instructions. In the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli. Drain well and add the chicken, pasta and broccoli to the cheese sauce; mix well. Spread the pasta mixture in the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the bread crumb mixture. Bake until bubbly and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool slightly. Serve warm.

Yield: 6 servings

11 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 6 servings)

20-Minute Crispy Pierogies with Broccoli and Sausage

Another Pierogie Recipe (they were on sale and I had a coupon).  This was ok.  It really just tasted like Sausage and Broccoli and Pierogies in a bowl (like I was too lazy to clean a plate or something).  It wasn't bad, because none of those things are bad.  It just didn't meld together.

We had with salad.

20-Minute Crispy Pierogies with Broccoli and Sausage

Photo by ALB

Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchen
Total:20 min
Prep: 5 min
Cook: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Level: Easy

Ingredients
1 tablespoons olive oil
One 16-ounce box frozen potato-cheese pierogies
1/2 pound hot Italian sausage (about 3 links)
2 cloves garlic, smashed and roughly chopped
Pinch red pepper flakes
1 pound frozen broccoli spears, thawed (split any spears that are very large)
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan, plus more for serving

Directions
Place frozen pierogies on the sheet pan, spraying the tops of the pierogies with non-stick pan spray. Bake for 17 to 19 minutes or until golden brown, turning over halfway through cook time. Remove from the heat.

While the pierogies cook, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, squeeze the sausage out of the casings into the skillet. Cook the sausage, stirring frequently and breaking it up into bite-size pieces, until browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and pepper flakes and stir until the garlic begins to brown, about 30 seconds. Stir in the broccoli. Stir in the broth, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits. Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the liquid is reduced by half and the broccoli is tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Transfer the pierogies to a large, shallow serving dish and top with the sausage and broccoli mixture. Toss everything to combine and sprinkle with extra Parmesan.

13 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 4 servings)

Crack Broccoli

So this was good.  I'm not sure it was "crack-worthy" as I've never done crack.  Also D forgot the cheese.  But Broccoli with almonds...it's very good.  He was eh about it, but I think he is tired of broccoli.  Me, I liked it a lot.

We had with Chicken and Mushrooms.  We would have again.

Crack Broccoli

Photo by ALB

YIELD: 3 - 4 SERVINGS
PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES
COOK TIME: 20 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME: 30 MINUTES

Ingredients
1 and ½ pounds broccoli crowns (roughly 2 heads)
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (used 1 1/4 TBSP)
4 garlic cloves, pressed
large pinch of dried red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons raw, sliced almonds (with or without skin)
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 – 3 tablespoons freshly grated aged pecorino cheese (didn't use)
zest of half a lemon

Directions
Preheat the oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil. Trim any dry, tough ends of the broccoli crowns, leaving roughly 2-inches of stalk attached. Slice the broccoli into ½-inch-thick steaks, starting in the center of each broccoli crown and working out to the edges, reserving any small or medium florets that fall off for roasting. Slice any large remaining florets in half lengthwise.

In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, pressed garlic, and red pepper flakes. Add the broccoli steaks and toss gently until evenly coated. Arrange the broccoli, cut-side down, on the lined sheet pan, setting them apart slightly. Sprinkle with salt.

Roast the broccoli for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, flip the broccoli, and sprinkle the almond slices evenly across the sheet pan. Roast for an additional 8 to 10 minutes, or until the broccoli is caramelized and tender, and the almond slices are toasted and golden.

Transfer the broccoli to a platter, toss gently with the lemon juice and top with the grated cheese. Garnish with fresh lemon zest. Serve hot or at room temperature.

2 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 4 servings)

One Pan Healthy Sausage and Veggies

So I saw this on Pinterest (shocking).  It looked easy, and it had red peppers (D loves them, I'm kind of eh...like green better). But it also had green beans and broccoli so WIN!

Smoked Sausage in the all pork variety comes in 12-16oz portions, so give 3 oz to your 3 dogs.  They will love you.

It was pretty tasty. More so the next day.  And it was really easy to clean up.

Would have again.

One Pan Healthy Sausage and Veggies

Photo by ALB

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
 Servings: 4 if served with rice/quinoa (or if not)

Original Author: Chelsea 

Ingredients 
2 cups (~1 small) red potato
3/4ths pound green beans
1 large head of broccoli (~ 1 and 1/2 cups)
1 and 1/2 cups chopped bell peppers (2 large or 6-7 mini sweet bell peppers)
9 ounces smoked sausage
6 tablespoons olive oil (you only need 3)
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Serve with: fresh parsley, quinoa/rice, lots of 4 TBSP freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Line a large sheet pan with foil or parchment paper.

Prep the veggies: chop the red potatoes (pretty small pieces here so they will be tender in time), trim the green beans and halve, chop the broccoli, chop the peppers into thick squares, and coin the sausage in thick slices.

Place all the veggies and sausage on a sheet pan. Pour the olive oil and all the spices on top. Toss to evenly coat all the veggies and meat.

Bake 15 minutes, remove from the oven and flip/stir all the veggies around. Return to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until vegetables are crisp tender and sausage is browned.

If desired, sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the veggies and sausage as soon as they come out of the oven.

Enjoy with rice or quinoa and fresh parsley if desired.

13 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 4 servings)

Mongolian Beef and Vegetables

It's interesting we have a Mongolian Beef recipe, yet neither of us really remember it.  What's even odder, is we had it like 3 weeks ago.  I think I like this one better anyway, because it has vegetables in it.  Not that I love vegetables, but I love bulk.  So anyway, D made this (of course).  We were able to use a carrot that was in the refrigerator.  Instead of sugar snap peas, we subbed edamame for that because we had some from last week.

We were supposed to have with a Soba Noodles recipe (subbed with Whole Wheat Spaghetti, because shocking...Kroger didn't have soba or buckwheat noodles), but a miscommunication between D and me, led to plain noodles. It was ok. They were good, and soaked up the sauce.

Mongolian Beef and Vegetables

Photo by ALB

TOTAL TIME 35 mins
YIELD Serves 4 (serving size: about 1 cup)

Ingredients
12 ounces flank steak, thinly sliced (used 14 oz)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons canola oil, divided (did not use)
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil, divided
4 cups broccoli florets
1/2 cup thinly sliced white onion
1/2 cup sliced carrot
1 cup snow peas, halved diagonally (used edamame)
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic (used 4 cloves)
2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger

Preparation
Place steak and cornstarch in a bowl; toss to coat. Combine sugar, 3 tablespoons water, and soy sauce in a bowl, stirring with a whisk until smooth.

Heat a large skillet over high. Add 1 teaspoon canola oil and 1 teaspoon sesame oil; swirl to coat. Add steak to pan in a single layer; cook 5 minutes or until done, stirring occasionally. Remove steak from pan; keep warm.

Reduce heat to medium-high. Add remaining 1 teaspoon canola oil and remaining 1 teaspoon sesame oil to pan. Add broccoli, onion, and carrot; cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add snow peas, garlic, and ginger; cook 1 minute. Add steak and soy sauce mixture to pan; bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 258; Fat: 9.7 g; Sat fat: 2.3 g; Mono fat: 4.2 g; Poly Fat: 2 g; Protein: 22 g; Carbohydrate: 21 g; Fiber: 3 g; Cholesterol: 53 mg; Iron: 3 mg; Sodium: 513 mg; Calcium: 82 mg; Sugars: 12 g; Est. Added Sugars: 10 g

7 Smart Points (with my additions/subtractions)

Cooking Light, NOVEMBER 2016

Broccoli and Cheddar Chicken Pasta

So this was very good.  The Broccoli Sauce was different.  Next time we are going to add regular broccoli (not processed) to bulk it up.

Broccoli and Cheddar Chicken Pasta

Photo by ALB

Instead of adding broccoli florets to the pasta, a double serving is incorporated into the creamy sauce. Heat the broccoli and sear the chicken while the pasta cooking water comes to a boil. The leaner dairy components create a creamy taste without all the added calories and fat or a typical broccoli and cheddar pasta dish.

Yield: Serves 4 (serving size: about 1 1/2 cups)

Ingredients
8 ounces uncooked whole-grain penne pasta (used regular penne)
2 cups frozen steam-in-bag broccoli florets (used 2 C, fresh)
Add fresh steam (to not put in the food processor) (used 2 more C, fresh)
1 cup unsalted chicken stock (such as Swanson)
1 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Cooking spray
12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces (used breasts)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 ounces preshredded 2% reduced-fat Mexican-blend cheese (about 3/4 cup) (used regular fat cheddar)
2 tablespoons chopped green onions

Preparation
1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain.

2. Heat broccoli according to package directions; cool slightly. Combine stock, milk, and flour in a bowl. Place broccoli and stock mixture in a blender; blend until smooth.

3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add chicken to pan; cook 4 minutes. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add broccoli mixture to pan; bring to a boil. Cook 5 minutes or until slightly thickened. Stir in pasta, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir in cheese. Top with green onions.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 436; Fat: 10.5 g; Sat fat: 4.4 g; Mono fat: 2.8 g; Poly fat: 1.6 g; Protein: 33 g; Carbohydrate: 52 g; Fiber: 7 g; Cholesterol: 99 mg; Iron: 3 mg; Sodium: 564 mg; Calcium: 348 mg; Sugars: 4 g; Est. Added Sugars: 0 g 

Cooking Light, September 2016

11 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 4 servings)

Skinny Beef & Broccoli Noodles

This is one of those recipes that I wonder about when I figure out the nutritional information. What is the author's definition of skinny, because mine is a 400 or lower calorie meal, which this is not?  True I did double the portion of beef because what are you supposed to do with .75 pounds of left over steak?  And yes, we subbed fettuccine for the rice noodles, since Kroger doesn't believe in selling rice noodles (or linguine, but I digress).  But we got 5 portions (1.5 Cups).  But even using the correct amount of steak makes the dish ~550 calories (again 5 servings) and the noodle sub was negligible.  So I don't know.

So my bash is on the title.  But the dish was good. It needed more broccoli, but what dish doesn't?  The portions were a good size. I don't know if it was easy, as D made it. But I would have again, because it was good.  Just it wasn't "skinny."

Skinny Beef and Broccoli Noodles

Photo by ALB

TOTAL TIME: 0:35
PREP: 0:15
LEVEL: EASY
SERVES: 4 (we got 5, and nutrition was based on 5)
SERVING SIZE (with 5 servings) was about 1.5 Cups

From delish.com

INGREDIENTS 
1 lb. wide rice noodles or udon noodles (used fettuccine)
1/3 c. low-sodium soy sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
Juice of 2 limes
1 tbsp. Sriracha hot sauce
1 tsp. honey
3 tbsp. sesame oil
1 tbsp. cornstarch
3/4 lb. flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain (used 1.5 pounds)
1 large head broccoli, cut into florets
8 oz. baby bella mushrooms, sliced
Lime wedges, for serving

DIRECTIONS
In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain.

In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, garlic, lime juice, Sriracha, honey, and 2 tablespoons sesame oil. Whisk in cornstarch and set aside.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat remaining tablespoon sesame oil. Add steak and cook 3 to 5 minutes. Add broccoli and mushrooms and 2 tablespoons water and stir, cooking until tender, about 6 minutes more. Reduce heat to low and add cooked noodles and reserved sauce to skillet. Toss until fully coated and warmed through. Serve with lime wedges.

Nutritional Information (from My Fitness Pal)
Servings 5.0
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 645; Total Fat: 20 g; Saturated Fat: 6 g; Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 4 g; Trans Fat: 0 g; Cholesterol: 21 mg; Sodium: 676 mg; Potassium: 234 mg; Total Carbohydrate: 74 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Sugars: 6 g; Protein: 42 g

Creamy Broccoli-Bacon Bake

For Valentine's Day, D grilled some steaks.  He was going to bake some potatoes, and grill a Caesar Salad.  Then we started talking, and I mentioned this recipe.  He looked at it and decided to make this instead of potatoes.

It stayed very hot throughout dinner.  It was very good.

I forgot to get a picture after it came out of the oven, but got one before.

Will have again.

Creamy Broccoli-Bacon Bake

Photo by ALB

Time: Prep: 20 min; Total: 45 min
Servings: 8 servings, 1/2 cup each

Ingredients
6 cups small broccoli florets
2 carrots, sliced
1 tub (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese Spread (used 1/3 Fat)
2 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. garlic powder
2 green onions, sliced
3/4 cup KRAFT Shredded Triple Cheddar Cheese with a TOUCH OF PHILADELPHIA
4 slices OSCAR MAYER Fully Cooked Bacon, chopped (cooked some bacon we had)

Preparation
Heat oven to 425°F.

Add broccoli and carrots to saucepan of boiling water; cook 2 to 3 min. or until crisp-tender. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking water. Meanwhile, mix next 3 ingredients until blended.

Return cooked vegetables to saucepan. Add cream cheese mixture and onions; stir until vegetables are evenly coated with sauce, adding reserved cooking water if necessary for desired consistency.

Spoon into 2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray; top with shredded cheese and bacon. Cover.

Bake 25 min. or until heated through, uncovering for the last 5 min. (left uncovered the whole time)

Nutritional Information
Calories: 160; Total fat: 12 g; Saturated fat: 7 g; Cholesterol: 35 mg; Sodium: 270 mg; Carbohydrate: 7 g; Dietary fiber: 2 g; Sugars: 2 g; Protein: 7 g

From the Kraft Website

Broccoli-Quinoa Casserole with Chicken and Cheddar

So I must have missed the memo on quinoa.  The whole world seems to love it, but never talks about the price.  Kroger sells 2 kinds.  One is never stocked at $7.49/12 oz, and the other one is always there at $9.99/lb.  We have bought it once a few years ago, but because I scoffed at the price we haven't since. 

But it seems to have gotten more popular and again, no one chats about the price, so I put this casserole on the list.  The price hasn't come down, but I was busy scoffing at the price of a rump roast at $6.99/lb and had already crossed that off my grocery list while shopping that I didn't feel like going to cross this off, put everything back and go get the rump roast.  So quinoa it was.

Basically this is broccoli rice casserole with chicken.  It is pretty good.  I would totally have again, except with rice.  We had with a Caesar Salad.

Broccoli-Quinoa Casserole with Chicken and Cheddar

Photo by ALB

In our updated riff on chicken-rice casserole, whole-grain quinoa stands in for the typical white rice. It's a modern interpretation that still has loads of old-school comfort-food appeal.

Yield: Serves 6 (serving size: 1 1/3 cups)
Hands-on: 20 Minutes
Total: 55 Minutes

Ingredients
1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed and drained
1 1/4 cups water
1 (12-ounce) package microwave-in-bag fresh broccoli florets
Cooking spray
12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
6 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup 1% low-fat milk
2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups unsalted chicken stock
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup canola mayonnaise
4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (1 cup)

Preparation
1. Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons oil; swirl to coat. Add quinoa; cook 2 minutes or until toasted, stirring frequently. Add 1 1/4 cups water; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until quinoa is tender. Remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

2. Preheat oven to 400°.

3. Cook broccoli in microwave according to package directions, reducing cook time to 2 1/2 minutes.

4. Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken to pan; sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cook 5 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally; remove from pan.

5. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 5 minutes. Combine milk and flour, stirring with a whisk. Add milk mixture, stock, remaining 3/8 teaspoon salt, and remaining 3/8 teaspoon pepper to pan. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently; cook 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Add Parmesan, stirring until cheese melts. Stir in quinoa, broccoli, chicken, and mayonnaise. Spoon mixture into a 2-quart glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with cheddar. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until casserole is bubbly and cheese melts.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 449; Fat: 21.3g; Saturated fat: 6.7g; Monounsaturated fat: 9g; Polyunsaturated fat: 4.5g; Protein: 34g; Carbohydrate: 29g; Fiber: 4g; Cholesterol: 75mg; Iron: 3mg; Sodium: 668mg; Calcium: 333mg

Cooking Light OCTOBER 2014

Broccoli, Pancetta, and Parmesan Frittata

This was a pretty disappointing dish.  It was a bit dry, which was fine, but it lacked flavor.  It needed salt, which if you look at the ingredients, you'd go, "Really?"  And it needed more cheese.

The positives were that for 2 servings the calories weren't horrendous, and it came out of the dish pretty.  But I wouldn't have again.

Broccoli, Pancetta, and Parmesan Frittata

Baked frittatas are like overstuffed omelets that you don't have to worry about flipping. To save time, you can microwave the broccoli florets in a covered microwave-safe bowl at HIGH for 2 minutes or until crisp-tender.

Photo by ALB

Yield: Serves 4 (serving size: 2 wedges)
Hands-on:25 Minutes
Total:34 Minutes

Ingredients
6 ounces small broccoli florets (about 2 cups)
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Dash of grated whole nutmeg
8 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/4 cup)
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 1/2 ounces pancetta, chopped
1 cup sliced sweet onion

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Cook broccoli florets in boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and plunge into ice water; drain broccoli well.

3. Combine thyme, salt, pepper, nutmeg, eggs, and cheese in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.

4. Heat a 10-inch ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add oil; swirl to coat. Add pancetta; cook 4 minutes or until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove pancetta. Increase heat to medium-high. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes or until tender. Add broccoli; sauté 1 minute. Add egg mixture; cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with pancetta. Place pan in oven; bake at 350° for 12 minutes or until center is set. Cut into 8 wedges.

Nutritional Information 
Calories: 221; Fat: 13.7g; Saturated fat: 4.9g; Monounsaturated fat: 5.1g; Polyunsaturated fat: 2.2g; Protein: 17g; Carbohydrate: 7g; Fiber: 2g; Cholesterol: 380mg; Iron: 2mg; Sodium: 547mg; Calcium: 166mg

Cooking Light SEPTEMBER 2014

Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad

I'm always looking for new ways to make cauliflower and broccoli because they are my favorite 2 vegetables.  I believe NCBeaches posted this to her Pinterest page, and I repinned it.  If that's not the case, I don't know where I found it. 

Anyway D made it, and it came together very quickly.  He thought it tasted like sweet vinegar and I thought it tasted like Russian Dressing.  Both of us liked it but neither tasted the Old Bay (so maybe more next time?).

We had with Bottle O' Beer Chicken Thighs. 
Would have again.

Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad

Photo by ALB

Number of servings: 4
Adapted from Melissa d'Arabian

Ingredients
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
2 slices bacon, cut in small pieces, cooked to crisp

1/2 bunch broccoli, cut into small florets (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 small head cauliflower, cut into small florets (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup light mayonnaise (we used Hellman's)
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay (perhaps use more)
1/2 tsp Kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Preparation
Place the bacon, broccoli, cauliflower and onions in a large salad bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk the sugar, vinegar and Dijon mustard. Slowly drizzle in the oil, whisking to make an emulsion. Mix in the mayonnaise and seafood seasoning. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss.

Nutritional Information from My Fitness Pal
Calories: 140; Carbs: 13; Fat: 9; Sat Fat: 1; Protein: 3; Sodium: 627; Fiber: 2; Sugar: 6

Chicken-Broccoli Mac and Cheese with Bacon

So D made this while I was driving home from work.  Well, he was still driving home, managed to come home, walk the dogs, and go for a run, while I drove home from work.  So I think it was easy.  It was quick to put together, because I had the chicken in the car with me, and only had a to wait a few minutes before it was all ready.

We both really like broccoli, so we both agreed that next time there should be more (and we already had more than it called for).  We also both thought the chicken didn't really add much.  So perhaps even add more broccoli and forget the chicken.

We didn't have a side, so we made it 4 servings.
Would have again.

Chicken-Broccoli Mac and Cheese with Bacon

Photo by ALB

A little bit of turmeric enhances the color here; it's a bit of a trick that makes you perceive the sauce as cheesier than it actually is.

Yield: Serves 6 (serving size: about 1 1/3 cups)
Hands-on:25 Minutes
Total:25 Minutes

Ingredients
6 ounces uncooked large or regular elbow macaroni
3 cups prechopped broccoli florets (used 4 Cups)
3 bacon slices, coarsely chopped
12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
1/8 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 1/4 cups 1% low-fat milk
1 cup unsalted chicken stock (such as Swanson)
1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
5 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 1/4 cups)

Preparation
1. Preheat broiler to high.

2. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Add broccoli to pan during last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain.

3. While pasta cooks, place bacon in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat; cook 4 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Remove bacon from pan with a slotted spoon; reserve 1 1/2 teaspoons drippings in pan. Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add chicken to drippings in pan; cook 4 minutes. Sprinkle with garlic; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with turmeric; cook 30 seconds, stirring frequently.

4. Combine remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt, milk, stock, and flour, stirring with a whisk. Add milk mixture to pan; bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Cook 2 minutes or until thickened. Add pasta mixture and 2 ounces cheese; toss to coat. Sprinkle with remaining 3 ounces cheese and bacon. Broil 2 minutes or until cheese melts and just begins to brown.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 343; Fat: 12.2g; Saturated fat: 6.5g; Monounsaturated fat: 3.7g; Polyunsaturated fat: 0.9g; Protein: 26g; Carbohydrate: 31g; Fiber: 2g; Cholesterol: 64mg; Iron: 2mg; Sodium: 647mg; Calcium: 265mg

Cooking Light MAY 2014

Chicken, Rice, and Parmesan Skillet

I'm on the fence with this one.  I think it was pretty easy.  (I wasn't home when D made it).  So "pretty easy" meals always get a plus.  It looks pretty.  But there wasn't a lot of it and it needed more salt (or we could use better parmesan). 

For lunch is was good but again, needed more, and some salt.

Not sure...

Chicken, Rice, and Parmesan Skillet

Yield: Serves 4 (serving size: 1 1/4 cups)

Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil

Photo: Brian Woodcock;
Styling: Cindy Barr

5 skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces (about 1 1/4 pounds)
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
3/4 cup uncooked quick-cooking basmati rice (such as Uncle Ben's)
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups broccoli florets
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, shaved (about 1/2 cup)

Preparation
1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add chicken; cook 5 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Add bell pepper and rice; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 1 1/2 cups water, black pepper, and salt to pan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Add broccoli; cook 5 minutes or until broccoli is crisp-tender and rice is done. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 412; Fat: 12.4g; Saturated fat: 4.3g; Monounsaturated fat: 4.9g; Polyunsaturated fat: 1.8g; Protein: 37g; Carbohydrate: 40g; Fiber: 3g; Cholesterol: 147mg; Iron: 3mg; Sodium: 506mg; Calcium: 199mg

Cooking Light APRIL 2014

Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole Recipe

This recipe needs a little help.  It is good, but it needs some more flavor.  D and I had it with the Guinness Chicken, and it had a good consistency, just not a lot of taste.  I think it needs some more salt, maybe some garlic (D put garlic powder on his leftovers), and some more pepper.  Or maybe our seasoning was too old/stale.

Still I liked it enough (I love Broccoli and Cauliflower) that I would play with the recipe.

Suggestions:
Flavored Bread Crumbs
Add fresh garlic to the onion mixture
Use a better Parm Cheese
Add more Italian Seasoning, pepper and Garlic Salt
Add some salt

Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole Recipe

Photo by ALB

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Serves: 10

This creamy casserole can be made a day ahead, refrigerated and then baked just before dinner. Using frozen vegetables makes this dish a cinch.

Ingredients
1/2 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick® Perfect Pinch® Italian Seasoning , divided
1 package (16 ounces) frozen broccoli florets, thawed
1 package (16 ounces) frozen cauliflower florets, thawed
2 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon McCormick® Garlic Salt
1/4 teaspoon McCormick® Black Pepper, Coarse Ground
1 1/4 cups milk
4 ounces (1/2 package) cream cheese, cubed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons melted butter and 1/2 teaspoon of the Italian seasoning in small bowl. Set aside. Cut up any large broccoli or cauliflower florets into bite-size pieces.

2. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large skillet on medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir about 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in flour, remaining 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, garlic salt and pepper. Add milk; cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Add cream cheese and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese; cook and stir until cream cheese is melted. Add vegetables; toss gently to coat. Spoon into 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle top evenly with crumb mixture.

3. Bake 40 minutes or until heated through and top is lightly browned.

Nutritional information
Total Calories: 179; Sodium: 432mg; Fat: 11g; Carbohydrates: 13g; Cholesterol: 31mg; Protein: 7g; Fiber: 3g

Make Ahead: Unbaked casserole may be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bake as directed.

Recipe by McCormick

Bacon and Broccoli Mac and Cheese

So I wouldn't call this Mac and Cheese. More of pasta casserole with a cheese binder.  It just wasn't the creamy globule mess that you think of when you think of a homemade mac and cheese. Of course this is a CL recipe so that may be why.

However, it was very good.  I love broccoli so that and the bacon...mmm.  And actually the green onions had a definitive flavor, as well.  It was really good and I would definitely have again.

D made it.  He didn't say anything but it did require 3 pots, I noticed when I was doing the dishes.  Eh.

We had with salad.

Bacon and Broccoli Mac and Cheese

This one-dish meal will win over adults and children alike. Substitute English peas or fresh spinach for the broccoli, if you prefer.

Yield: Serves 4 (serving size: 1 1/2 cups)
Hands-on:12 Minutes
Total:36 Minutes

Ingredients

Photo by: Photo: Johnny Autry;
Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

3 cups broccoli florets
8 ounces uncooked rigatoni
1 tablespoon butter
1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
2 ounces reduced-fat processed American cheese, cut into pieces
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 slices center-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1/2 cup packed)

Preparation
1. Steam broccoli 5 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain. Pat dry, and keep warm. Cook pasta in boiling water in a large saucepan for 8 minutes or until al dente; drain and keep warm. Wipe pan with paper towels, and return to medium heat. Melt butter in pan. Sprinkle flour over melted butter; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly with a whisk. Gradually add milk to the flour mixture in pan, and bring to a boil, stirring constantly with a whisk. Cook for 1 minute or until slightly thick, and remove from heat. Add American cheese; stir until smooth. Stir in sliced green onions and the remaining ingredients. Stir in broccoli and pasta; serve immediately.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 413; Fat: 13.3g; Saturated fat: 7.5g; Monounsaturated fat: 3.4g; Polyunsaturated fat: 0.9g; Protein: 19.6g; Carbohydrate: 53.4g; Fiber: 3.8g; Cholesterol: 39mg; Iron: 2.8mg; Sodium: 772mg; Calcium: 317mg

Cooking Light APRIL 2012

Ginger Broccoli

I think this is another case of D and I expect strong flavors and are disappointed when we don't get them.
Everything about this recipe indicates it will be strong, but somehow it didn't live up.

The only thing we can think of is to cook the broccoli separately...maybe the water washed away the flavor.

As you can tell, we both wanted to like it.  Perhaps a tweaking dish.  We had with Spiced Chicken Thighs with Yogurt Sauce.

Ginger Broccoli 

Broccoli gets a Southeast Asian treatment in this quick sauté with fresh ginger, mellow rice vinegar and rich, salty fish sauce. Serve alongside any Asian noodle or fried rice dish.

4 servings, 1 cup each
Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients 
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic
 4 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
1 pound broccoli crowns, trimmed and chopped (about 6 cups)
3 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon fish sauce, (see Note)
1 tablespoon rice vinegar

Preparation
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant but not browned, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add broccoli and cook, stirring, until the broccoli is bright green, 2 minutes. Drizzle water and fish sauce over the broccoli; reduce heat to medium, cover and cook until the broccoli is just tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in vinegar just before serving.

Nutrition Per serving 
74 Calories; 4 g Fat; 2 g Mono; 8 g Carbohydrates; 4 g Protein; 3 g Fiber; 328 mg Sodium; 372 mg Potassium

1/2 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 1 1/2 vegetable, 1 fat

Tips & Notes 
Note: Fish sauce is a pungent Southeast Asian condiment made from salted, fermented fish. Find it in the Asian section of large supermarkets and in Asian specialty markets. We use Thai Kitchen fish sauce, lower in sodium than other brands (1,190 mg per tablespoon), in our recipe testing and nutritional analyses.

From EatingWell: September/October 2007 

Broccoli with Creamy Parmesan Sauce

I really liked this. It was very flavorful. D thought it was watery.
I'm still thinking about it.

Broccoli with Creamy Parmesan Sauce

Photo by ALB

Topping steamed broccoli with a good-for-you cheese sauce is an easy way to entice picky eaters to eat their veggies.

4 servings
Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients
1 pound broccoli
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup nonfat milk, divided
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch of ground white pepper
Pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)

Preparation
Trim 1/2 inch off broccoli stalks; remove the tough outer layer with a vegetable peeler. Cut the broccoli lengthwise so the florets attached to the long stalks are 1 to 2 inches wide. Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a Dutch oven fitted with a steamer basket. Steam the broccoli until tender, 5 to 7 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk flour and 1/4 cup milk in a small bowl until smooth. Heat the remaining 3/4 cup milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat until steaming. Whisk in the flour mixture; cook, whisking, until thickened, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat; add cheese, salt, pepper and nutmeg (if using). Drizzle over the broccoli. Serve warm.

Nutrition
Per serving : 95 Calories; 3 g Fat; 2 g Sat; 1 g Mono; 10 mg Cholesterol; 10 g Carbohydrates; 8 g Protein; 2 g Fiber; 347 mg Sodium; 329 mg Potassium

1/2 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 medium-fat meat

EatingWell, January/February 2011