Friday, March 11, 2011

A Spoonful of Sugar

Makes the medicine go down. If you don't know the song, 2 words "Mary Poppins". If you're still in the dark I can't help you.
In this case the medicine I'm referring to would be vegetables. Now personally, I like vegetables (well, most vegetables) but I realize that I'm likely in the minority. If, however, you want to get bigger so your older brother can't beat you up any more, you need to eat them. Well that and dozens more reasons. Now if just the thought of vegetables grosses you out, refer your parent to my next post (give me a couple of days) where I will tell them how to hide all sorts of healthy vegetation into baked goods. Don't look. That way you'll never know the difference.

In the meantime, here's a list of some of my favourite ways to eat vegetables and tricks to make them into something you might even crave.

Broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, brussel sprouts.
How to cook them- The best way is to steam them. If you don't have a steaming pot, you can put about a cup of water in the bottom of a pot and cook the veggies over medium heat for 5-15 minutes, depending on the vegetable (beans less, brussel spouts most). A perfectly cooked veggie still has it's bright colour and is slightly crunchy (test with a fork).

Yes, I know, I've lost you already, but there is one thing you weren't prepared for...

AWESOME CHEESE SAUCE!

1 1/2 cups milk
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp flour
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (old cheddar is better)
Pinch salt
Pinch dry mustard powder
Sprinkle of pasta cheese (Romano or other) optional

Put the butter into a small pot and put it on the stove over medium heat. Stir the butter until it melts and starts to sizzle a little (don't let it get brown). Add the flour and mix into a paste. Whisk in the milk (if you don't have a whisk, use a fork). Make sure you stir it well. When the milk gets hot enough, it will start to thicken. At that point add the cheese, salt, mustard powder and pasta cheese (if using). Stir well until cheese melts and pour all over your steamed vegetables.  Yum.

Now my sister creature doesn't like cooked veggies as much. So here's our favourite options for eating them raw.

For an after school snack, try some mini carrots and celery sticks dipped into you favourite salad dressing. Or if you have the time, make this-

Chunky Greek Salad- (makes enough for 4, or leftovers)

1/2 cucumber
1 red or yellow pepper
2 handfuls of pitted black olives
2 handfuls of cherry tomatoes (optional)
Red sweet onion (optional)
1 cup cubed mozerella or feta cheese
Dressing-
1/4 cup lemon juice (fresh is better but then you have to juice a lemon) OR 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt (sea salt is always better)
1 tsp oregano leaves
Fresh ground pepper

Cut the cucumber, red/yellow pepper and onion (if using) into bite-sized chunks. Stir together in a bowl with olives, tomatoes and cheese cubes. Mix all ingredients of dressing together (shake in a bottle or whisk) and pour over salad.