For The Veggie Lovers!

Today's post is about Broccoli, Flash Boiled.


   We all want our kids to eat fresh and healthy vegetables right? But when they look at a bright green vegetable and wrinkle up their nose, we aren't going to have much success.  They look at that bright green vegetable, look out the window, see a bright green yard and associate the veggie with the yard. Of course we don't want the veggies to taste like the yard and that is what this post is all about. Now I don't know too many kids that hate bright yellow or white sweet corn in the summer months. Do you? The point I am trying to make is what if we made broccoli taste like corn? Maybe then they will overcome their disdain for the bright green.

  Broccoli is a very sensitive vegetable to heat. It is so very easy to over cook this tasty vitamin packed little tree. You can't blame kids for refusing to eat a mushy, pale-green, sad, limp bush. So with that in mind the goal is to create a flavorful, crunchy, green giant. Sorry for the pun.

  Here is how I do it,  I swear it tastes just like sweet buttered corn! For proof just ask my daughter, who is addicted to eating my Broccoli like popcorn.

Trim trees into bite-sized pieces

Sea Salt And Water

  Prep:  Cut your broccoli trees into small mouth sized pieces and set aside in a large bowl. Get your largest pot and fill it 3/4 full. Place it on the burner on high. Add Sea Salt until the water tastes salty. This part depends on how you feel about salt, but the buttery corn taste will come from this.  Too salty is not exactly healthy, so be careful here.  

Mad Boiling

   Bring the salt water to the most vigorous boil you can manage. Once steam is pouring from your boiling pot, dump your cut broccoli into the steaming blast of hot water.

Dump all in at once.

   You will notice that the vigor of the boil will quickly subside with the dousing of the broccoli, and that is your timing cue. Watch it closely. I know a watched pot never boils, but this one will. Just as soon as the boiling vigor returns, you must immediately remove the broccoli from the water and place in a bowl for serving.

Stir a bit to submerge them all

Already darkening

Boiling starting to return, stir a little

Get em out of there now!

Beautiful!

  You should see deep, dark-green steamy trees, so go ahead and pop one in your mouth. You will have your inspiration to convince the kids to TRY THIS!

 When Broccoli is in season, and the price is more acceptable, my daughter and I will have Broccoli nights where we cook a large batch of flash boiled Broccoli.  Putting it in a large bowl that we traditionally use for popcorn, we sit and watch Star Trek The Next Generation while snacking on delicious Broccoli. No silverware, just fingers and filling up on vitamins!  Besides, Jean Luke said, "Make it So".

Enjoy and Be Healthy!!

My daughter edited this! :)