Recipe: Roasted Broccoli

I am always trying to get more vegetables and Superfoods into my diet.  Broccoli is a Superfood and cancer-fighting food, and roasted broccoli has become one of my favorite foods…especially this recipe.

I’m not very motivated when it comes to washing, cutting, preparing, and cooking vegetables, especially since I’m usually the only one in my family who will eat them.  Unfortunately, more vegetables rot in my refrigerator than I would like.  I have good intentions when I’m at the grocery store, but unless I buy them for a specific purpose, I usually forget about them and they sit there until I get the motivation to do something with them.  Or they rot.  And it really bothers me when I have to throw food away.

So, I was really excited when I first discovered this super-easy recipe for roasted broccoli last year.  I make this often, and oftentimes I eat the entire thing in one sitting.  It is THAT good!

Ingredients

• 1 head of broccoli, chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/2 lemon (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°
2. Place broccoli, garlic, olive oil, salt & pepper in a ziploc bag and shake.  Alternatively, place all ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
3. Spread out on baking sheet covered with aluminum foil.  Bake about 30 minutes.

Broccoli will be crunchy and delicious!  If desired, squeeze lemon over broccoli.  This is optional, but I do this because I love anything with lemon.  Enjoy!

Find my original post of this recipe on my blog Journey to Complete Wellness.

REAL Food Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

In my family, Green Bean Casserole is a must at any holiday meal.  In the past, I have made the “traditional” green bean casserole with the canned soup and processed onions, but in my opinion, this very simple recipe with all real food ingredients is much better!  The onions and peppers caramelize, and it is SO good!  I make it for every holiday and the adults love it!  (My kids don’t like anything that is made with onions, but hopefully that will eventually change.)

Ingredients:

• 1 pound fresh green beans, cut (about 3 cups)
• 1 large (or 2 small) onions, chopped (about 2 cups)
• 1 medium green pepper, chopped (about 2 cups)
• Paprika
• Salt
• Pepper
• 3 Tablespoons butter, cut into cubes

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Butter the bottom of an 8 x 8 baking dish.
3. Wash green beans, remove ends, and cut into bite sized pieces (about 1 inch)
4. Place 1 cup green beans into the baking dish.
5. Top with 1 cup onions and 1 cup green peppers.
6. Sprinkle paprika, salt, and pepper.
7. Cut 1 Tablespoon butter into 4 cubes.  Place one cube in each corner on top of the vegetables.
8. Add one cup of green beans, then the remaining onions and the remaining green pepper.
9. Sprinkle paprika, salt, and pepper.
10. Cut 1 Tablespoon remaining butter into 4 cubes.  Place cubes over this layer, spaced evenly.
11. Add the remaining green beans.
12. Cut remaining Tablespoon butter into 4 cubes.  Place on top of this layer, spaced evenly.
13. Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
14. Bake until green beans are tender (about 1 hour).

This is what it will look like when it is finished cooking.  Enjoy!! 🙂