Of Steaming Broccoli...

 "I wouldn't think there's a secret to steaming broccoli" was a comment posted on my Facebook post the other day when I said that I learned how to steam broccoli and someone asked if I'm going to share the secret. Melanie, maybe Italians just automatically steam perfect broccoli, but for this German Mennonite girl, I sure have struggled with steaming broccoli over the years!

I have often wondered why steakhouses seem to get their broccoli steamed to perfection. Not too crunchy, and definitely not mushy. Still bright green, not greenish yellow. But I didn't know how to steam it. Mine was anything but like the ones I was accustomed to ordering at steakhouses.

My sister taught me to order a sweet potato, steamed broccoli and grilled mushrooms and onions at a steakhouse restaurant when a restaurant was needed. Wise words from her. She has taught me alot in life and I am so glad she taught me this. So whenever I'm out and about and in need of a restaurant, I walk into places like Longhorn Steakhouse, Applebee's, or Chili's and know that I have something healthy to order.

SO...on to steaming broccoli like steakhouses do...The other day I was out on the road and I stopped at an Applebee's for lunch. I ordered my 'usual' and after it came out, I asked the clerk HOW they cook the broccoli so perfectly. She seemed amazed that I do not know how to cook broccoli properly but she graciously told me how.

First off, the broccoli at Applebee's is steamed in a bag with butter in a microwave. You can do that at your house if you would like, but I typically don't want the butter on it (at least not the amount they put on) and so I do my broccoli another way that the waitress told me how.

1. Start with RAW and not frozen broccoli. Wash it, cut it into the size pieces you want it and set it inside a metal colander or a steamer basket.

2. In a pot that fits your colander or steamer basket, place a small amount of water. Place the lid on the pot, and bring the water to a boil.

3. Place the colander or steamer basket into the kettle. Your broccoli should not be in water at all. Place the lid over the pot and steam for 5-7 minutes. Remove from  heat IMMEDIATELY and sprinkle with salt to serve.

4. I typically serve mine with 'grilled' mushrooms and onions. And a sweet potato on many occasions, too.

5. Enjoy!

The Adventure...up to week 25

The updates for this Adventure are probably going to go into a lull the next month as I am planning for an helping to prepare a wedding for my dear Marie. I am eating as on point as is possible while busy and so this means that I'm pretty much sticking to 95% vegan. Some things, such as the refried beans I make for our tacos, of which we are eating every week now in summer, have a bit of ground beef in to flavor them. But for the most part, it's been vegan.

Here's a sampling of foods I remembered to take pics of:

stopped for a picnic on our way to PA for my grandma's funeral

fresh blueberries are in. Trader Joe's O's make wonderful
replacements for junk when the sugar cravings kick in. 

a comfort food meal on a cooler summer day.
mashed taters, creamed corn, a pineapple/cuke salad that was awesome

taco salad...the stuff summer is made of

a salad from the grocery store buffet,
making it work on an early AM shopping and airport run

garden salad and a side of lightly fried taters
with a few different toppings

nectarines. Another staple of summer

spiraled zoodles with a little cauliflower on the side
and a chopped salad. I'm into the chopped salads these days

strawberry lemonade smoothie one morning
after working outside with my son

fresh strawberries, chocolate cookie crumbs and toffutti ice cream
definitely a treat not to be over used

lots of kombucha is enjoyed these days
in my house by a few of the adults

green smoothies while on a road trip
to Indiana. Thank you, Panera.

tomato basil/brown rice soup and sourdough bread from Zoup!, a restaurant
we found across from our hotel in OH on our trip home from IN.

this cute veggie train was served at the bridal shower. It's adorable!

Chik Fil A fries on our trip to IN

a harvest salad at Chik Fil A. I asked them to not put the meat on it and they
cheerfully complied. 

frenched beans with baked beans

polenta squares with stir fried veggies and bbq tofu

Trader Joe's British muffins with fruit-juice sweetened
raspberry jam

nectarines and kiwi. Delightful to both the tastebuds and
to the eyes.

a 'grain bowl' concept...quinoa, bbq tofu, mango, and
stir fried veggies

for fellowship lunch I took vegetable pizza.
The corn was something I found as an option on the buffet.

strawberry pizza I took for fellowship lunch dessert

'tis the season for watermelon!

broccoli 'cheez' soup was yummy. This pic was the
beginnings of it.

a tofu/tomato sandwich on Trader Joe's flourless sprouted grain bread

some sort of potatoes and raw veggies

the pic isn't the best but this meal was crazy good.
steamed broccoli, mushrooms and onions with a sweet potato
and a few slabs of bbq tofu

a delicious stir fry

apple bee's does their broccoli to perfection!

apple bee's sweet potato fries. Definitely a treat to be
enjoyed only on rarest of occasions

my friend Melanie blessed me with plant strong meals when
I visited her house in PA. Salad, stuffed peppers, sweet potatoes
and homemade bread

lentils and rice and a salad, thanks to Melanie

and on summer nights,
sometimes there's tofutti ice cream
and some newman's own cookies