Casserole-shmasserole, with broccoli!

Casseroles, crockpot creations, soups... these dishes all fall into the "one pot wonder" category, which in my opinion equals AWESOME! Now that the temps are dropping, one pot wonders become a must in this house. You can throw together a pot of something with nearly anything that you have in the house. Not even kidding! Here's the Broccoli and Rice Casserole that we like. It's hard to find recipes for broccoli, rice, and cheese that leave out the cream of mushroom soup. I haven't found a super-healthy replacement, so this recipe is nice because it just leaves that ingredient out all together.

Broccoli and Rice Casserole (as seen in Super Baby Food):

• 2 C., or so, of cooked brown rice (using chicken broth instead of water is nice for his recipe)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 C. milk
• 1/2 C. shredded cheese (with a little extra to sprinkle on top before baking)
• 1 C. chopped fresh broccoli
• Onion, mushrooms, carrots, garlic - whatever combination you have that you can chop and saute before adding
• Salt and pepper
• Mix everything together and bake covered in a buttered dish at 350 degrees for 45 minutes

Pre-baking

Recipe #2: Easy veggie dip

If at first they don't eat... try, try again!

Broccoli is a certified "Super Food". It contains valuable nutritional content and is certainly a great addition to a healthy diet. Out of our girls, Abby has loved broccoli from the beginning. Elise, on the other hand, has acted positively repulsed each time she sees it on her plate. But it has remained on Elise's plate every single time it has been part of a meal. We have never stopped offering it to her, we have never created the "Elise doesn't like broccoli" stigma. Our doctor said it can take up to 20 offerings of some foods before a child will either consume it or before we can declare it a taste that this individual simply does not care for. Today, after far greater than 20 offerings, Elise ate broccoli. She devoured what was on her plate. She asked for more.

Recipe #2: Steamed broccoli with yogurt "dip dip"

Broccoli - steamed briefly to tenderize without losing color

Dip-dip

Greek yogurt

Fresh lemon juice

Kosher salt

Fresh dill, finely chopped