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  • Spiced Chickpeas with Cauliflower, Potatoes and Roasted Lemon

    A delicious recipe from NYT Cooking. This is the original recipe, below, but I suggest these modifications:

    1. I doubled it. Made enough for dinner for four plus leftovers for all the next day.
    2. I used a combo of purple sprouting broccoli and cauliflower.
    3. No need to boil the lemon in salt water. Just slice it up and roast it.
    4. I didn't have cherry tomatoes (not in season) so I soaked some of our sun-dried tomatoes and used those. Due to their high sugar content, you might risk burning them during the roasting process, so I'd suggest adding them halfway through the roasting time.
    5. I didn't have any jalapeños and it was delicious all the same.

    INGREDIENTS

    Yield: 4 servings

    Kosher salt, as needed

    1 lemon, preferably a Meyer lemon, thinly sliced and seeded

    1 (2¼-pound) head of cauliflower, cut into bite-size pieces (about 8 cups)

    1 ½cups cherry tomatoes, halved

    2 jalapeños, seeded and thinly sliced

    ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed

    1 teaspoon cumin seeds

    1 teaspoon tomato paste

    ½ teaspoon Tabasco or other hot sauce

    ¾ teaspoon ground turmeric

    ½ teaspoon ground cumin

    ¼ teaspoon ground coriander

    1 (14- to 16-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and blotted dry

    1 pound potatoes, cut into 1/2" cubes

    2 rosemary sprigs

    ¾ cup plain whole-milk yogurt (or substitute soy, nut or coconut milk yogurt)

    ¼ cup chopped fresh dill or mint, plus more for garnish

    ¼ cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for garnish

    ¼ cup chopped parsley, plus more for garnish

    1 large garlic clove, finely grated or minced

    Fresh lemon juice, as needed

    PREPARATION

    Step 1

    Position racks in the top and bottom thirds of oven and heat to 425 degrees. Bring a small pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add lemon slices and simmer until softened, about 5 minutes. Drain, pat dry with a clean kitchen towel and cut slices into quarters.

    Step 2

    On a rimmed sheet pan, toss cauliflower, tomatoes and jalapeños with ¼ cup oil and ½ teaspoon salt. Fold in lemon slices. Place pan on bottom rack of oven and roast, tossing every 10 minutes, until well-browned, about 35 to 45 minutes.

    Step 3

    In a small bowl, stir together ¼ cup oil, cumin seeds, tomato paste, Tabasco, ground turmeric, cumin and coriander.

    Step 4

    On a separate rimmed sheet pan, toss together chickpeas, potatoes, spice-oil mixture and salt to taste. Top with rosemary sprigs. Roast on top rack until potatoes are golden, 30 to 40 minutes, tossing mixture halfway through. Remove pan and toss with more salt to taste.

    Step 5

    While everything is roasting, make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together yogurt, dill, basil, parsley, garlic, ½ teaspoon salt and a squeeze of lemon juice. Taste and add more salt or lemon if needed.

    Step 6

    To serve, toss roasted chickpeas and potatoes with cauliflower mixture. Drizzle with more oil, yogurt sauce and herbs.

  • Fresh Pea Pod, Broccoli and Rice Salad

    Salad:
    6 oz. long grain or wild rice
    1.5 c chopped broccoli
    1/3 c sliced red or green onion
    1/4 c simple vinaigrette (recipe below)
    1/2 tsp. lemon pepper
    1 - 1.5 c sugar snap peas
    1/3 c slivered almonds
     
    Vinaigrette:
    1/4 c. olive oil
    juice of 1/2 to 1 lemon (to taste)
    1 tsp. dijon mustard
    dash of sweetener, like honey, maple syrup or sugar (to take the bite out of the lemon acid)
    dash of basil, oregano or thyme - fresh or dried
    Whisk all together until blended smooth.
     
    Directions:
    Prepare rice according to package directions. Cool slightly. Steam broccoli lightly until crunchy-tender. Toss with remaining ingredients and refrigerate 2-24 hours. Serves 4.
     

  • Broccoli or romanesco with mustard sauce

    Makes 4 servings
     
    1/2 cup chicken broth
    1/2 tsp. dried thyme
    3 cups broccoli or romanesco florets
    2 Tbsp. sour cream
    2 tsp. flour
    2 tsp. Dijon mustard
     
    1.  Bring broth and thyme to a boil over high heat.  Add broccoli or romanesco.  Return to a boil.
    2.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer 5 minutes, or until tender-crisp.  Retain cooking liquid, and remove broccoli;  keep warm.
    3.  Blend sour cream, flour, and mustard.  Stir into cooking liquid still in saucepan.  Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened, about 2 minutes;  cook and stir 1 minute more, but do not boil.  (If sauce is too thick, add more broth, 1 Tbsp. at a time)
    4.  Return broccoli to saucepan with sauce.  Stir gently until coated.  Serve at once.
     

  • Broccoli stir-fry

    Makes 6 servings
     
    2 Tbsp.  sesame oil
    1/2 cup chopped walnuts
    1/4 cup chopped onion, shallot, or leek
    4 cups broccoli florets
    1/4 cup sweet pepper strips
    2 Tbsp. soy sauce
     
    1.  Heat oil in skillet until hot.  Add walnuts and onion;  stir-fry for 1 minute.
    2.  Add broccoli;  continue to toss for 3-4 minutes.
    3.  Add pepper and soy sauce;  cook 1 minute longer.  Serve immediately.
     

  • Winter Squash Curry

    You can toss any veggies you like into this basic curry. It would be great with Brussels sprouts, broccoli, romanesco, potatoes, other winter squash or any root vegetable.
     
    Serves 4.
     
    2 Tbs. oil
    1 onion or 1 large leek, chopped
    1 Tbs. curry powder
    1 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
    1.5 pounds butternut squash, peeled and roughly chopped
    1 c. coconut milk, stock or water
    salt and freshly ground pepper
    chopped fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)
     
    Put the oil in a pot or deep skillet over med-high heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the curry and ginger and cook until the onion just starts to brown, about 2 minutes more.
     
    Add the squash and coconut milk and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover and turn the heat down to low. Cook, stirring once or twice, until the squash is tender, about 20 minutes. Check periodically to make sure there is adequate liquid. If the squash is done and there is ample liquid, turn up the heat, take the lid off and cook down until the consistency is thicker than stew.
     
    Taste and adjust seasonings, garnish and serve warm.

  • Brussels Sprouts with Mustard-Caper Butter

    Serves 8 or more. A zesty way to do up Brussels sprouts, romanesco, broccoli and/or cauliflower. This has become a staple at our Thanksgiving table.
     
    Mustard-Caper Butter:
    2 garlic cloves
    sea salt and fresh pepper
    6 Tbs. unsalted butter, at room temp
    2 tsp. Dijon-style mustard
    1/4 cup drained small capers, rinsed
    grated zest of 1 lemon
    3 Tbs. chopped marjoram, or 2 tsp. dried
     
    Pound the garlic with 1/2 tsp salt in a mortar until smooth, then stir it into the butter with the mustard, capers, lemon zest, and marjoram. Season with pepper. Can be made a day ahead and then refrigerated. Bring back to room temp before serving.
     
    The Vegetables:
    1 lb. Brussels sprouts, or 1 whole stalk stripped of its sprouts
    1 head romanesco and/or broccoli and/or cauliflower
     
    Trim the base off the sprouts, then slice them in half or, if large, into quarters. Cut the cauliflower and broccoli into bite-size pieces.
    Bring a pot of water to a boil and add salt. Add the Brussels sprouts and cook for about 3 minutes. Then add teh other veggies and continue to cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
    Drain, shake off any excess water, then toss with the Mustard-caper butter. Taste for salt, season with pepper and toss again.

  • Braised Broccoli with Olives

    This is a recipe that can be enjoyed as a side dish, smothered over bruschetta, or tossed with pasta and parmesan cheese.
     
    1.5 pounds broccoli
    salt and freshly ground pepper
    1/4 c olive oil
    1 onion
    1 T choped marjoram or oregano, or 1 tsp dried
    3 garlic cloves, coarsley chopped
    2 T olive paste or finely chopped Gaeta olives (or any kind of brined olive)
    grated zest of 1/2 lemon
     

    • Separate the stalks from the broccoli crowns. Thickly peel and trim the stalks and chop into 1/2 inch pieces. Peel the base of the crowns and separate into florets.
    • Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil; add salt, then the broccoli. Cook for 5 minutes (even if the water doesn't return to a boil), then scoop into a colander and drain, reserving a cup of the water. Chop into small pieces just smaller than bite sized.
    • Warm the olive oil in a wide skillet, then add the onion, herbs, and garlic. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring now and then, until the onion is softened, 5-7 minutes. Stir in the olive paste or olives; add the broccoli and stir to coat well. Taste for salt, season with pepper, and add the lemon zest. Add the reserved broccoli water and simmer gently until the broccoli is very tender, 15-20 minutes.