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What's Cooking: Broccoli
By St. Vincent dePaul Food Pantry
“What’s cooking?” is a question many families face daily. Some families don’t even bring up the topic because the cupboards are bare.
Food pantries provide families in need with items. However, there are times the family doesn’t know what to do with the free groceries delivered.
Annunciation’s St. Vincent de-Paul Food Pantry provides food to those needing assistance in the area, including dairy, various protein, fresh vegetables, and fruit, along with canned and boxed goods.
If you don’t know what to cook with the groceries provided, what good is the assistance?
That is why volunteers at the St. Vincent de-Paul Food Pantry want to provide recipes to help people use the groceries they receive.
The food boxes currently being distributed include many fresh vegetables, some of which you might not know what to do with, like broccoli.
Broccoli is a good source of fiber and protein and contains iron, potassium, calcium, selenium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, E, K, and a good array of B vitamins, including folic acid. Research says eating broccoli raw is healthier than cooked, so try it dipped in hummus, various dipping sauces, and dressings.
Of course, there is broccoli cheddar soup, and you can boil it on the stovetop, adding a bit of butter, salt, pepper, and other spices to add flavor. But there are many different “good eats” to create using broccoli.
BROCCOLI SALAD
5/6 cups broccoli florets, 1lb.
1 cup of cheddar cheese shredded, not finely shredded
2/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup crumbled bacon
1/2 cup salted sunflower seeds
1/3 cup red onion, finely diced
Dressing
3/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup sour cream
1 1/2 T. white vinegar
3 T. sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
1. Combine broccoli, cheese, cranberries, bacon, Sunflower seeds, and onion in a large bowl.
2. In a separate small bowl, whisk together mayo, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth.
3. Pour dressing over broccoli and toss well.
4. Refrigerate for at least one hour for the best flavor.
CLASSIC BROCCOLI SLAW
1/2 pounds of broccoli on the stem or 24 ounces of packaged broccoli slaw with carrots.
2 med carrots, if you use fresh broccoli
1/2 cup mayo
2 T. apple cider vinegar
2 T, sugar or maple syrup
1/2 tsp. dried dill
1/2 tsp. celery seed
1 tsp. kosher salt
fresh ground pepper, to taste
1/2 cup sunflower seeds, optional
1/4 cup dried cranberries, optional
Instructions
1. Thinly slice the florets with a knife. Use a box grater for carrots and broccoli stems. You may also use your food processor for cutting vegetables.
2. Place vegetables into a large bowl; in a small bowl, mix together the mayo, vinegar, sugar, dill, celery seed, salt, and ground pepper.
3. Add the dressing to the vegetables and stir until coated. If desired, add the dried cranberries and sunflower seeds.
BROCCOLI CHEESE CASSEROLE (Copy Cat From Cheddars Restaurant)
Ingredients
1. 20 ounces chopped frozen broccoli florets or 2 lbs of fresh broccoli, chopped, cooked, and drained.
2. 3 cups of long grain rice or instant rice
3. 1 can of condensed cream of chicken soup
4. 1 can of condensed cheese soup
5. 1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese
6 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
7. 1/2 cup milk
8. 1/2 water
9. 2 T. butter
10 1 large onion, diced
11. 1/2 tsp. pepper.
12. 1/2 tsp. salt
13. 1 sleeve buttery crackers, crushed
Instructions
1. Cook broccoli and rice according to package directions.
2. Preheat the oven to 350.
3. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat and saute onion until soft.
4. Pour all remaining ingredients into the skillet and heat through, except the crackers.
5. Pour into a greased baking dish and bake for 30 minutes.
6. Add crush crackers and bake for another
20 to 30 minutes.
Don’t forget that broccoli can be roasted, steamed, or pan-fried for a healthy and tasty side dish or snack, or add it into recipes like pasta, stir fry, and soup. NOTE: For picky eaters, try adding cheese (which you can also find sometimes in the food boxes distributed by the food pantry.)
**Until next time, enjoy cooking with the pantry.
People in need of assistance – either with food or to check on bill assistance available - can call 812-531-3637 or stop by the next food pantry event held each Tuesday at Annunciation Church, 19 North Alabama Street, Brazil, 47834.
Tax-deductible donations can be sent to the church.
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