Dijon Broccoli

Ingredients:

2 crowns Broccoli

2 Tbs Mayonnaise

1 Tbs Dijon Mustard

Directions:

Wash broccoli. Cut into florets. Steam for 10 minutes. While the broccoli is steaming, mix together the mayonnaise and Dijon mustard in the bottom of a small mixing bowl. Once the broccoli is done, drain all water and add to the bowl. Toss to coat and serve.

Serves 4

Cranberry Orange Pork Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

1 16oz bottle Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing (I used Kraft)

1 pound pork tenderloin

1 onion, quartered and thinly sliced

1 cup dried cranberries

2 oranges

2 crowns broccoli

12 oz penne rigate pasta

1 /2 cup chopped walnuts

1 Tbs vegetable oil

Salt and Pepper

Directions:

Pour 1/2 of the bottle of salad dressing into a small bowl with a lid. Zest the 2 oranges and add the zest to the vinaigrette. Place the pork in the dressing, turning to coat (if it isn't completely submerged). Marinate over night in the refrigerator.

Place a large pot of water over high heat and bring to a boil. Salt the water and drop the pasta. Cook according to package directions until al dente (do not over cook!). Drain, but do not rinse the pasta.

Cut the broccoli crowns into small florets. Steam for 5 minutes.

While the pasta is cooking, pre-heat a large skillet over medium heat with vegetable oil. Quarter and thinly slice the onion and add to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until lightly caramelized.

While the onions are cooking, remove the pork from the marinade (discard the marinade) and cut into 1/2 inch cubes. Add the pork to the pan with the onions, season with salt and pepper and cook until done (about 5 minutes).

To the bottom of a large mixing bowl, add the rest of the balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing and the juice of both oranges. While the pasta is still warm, add it to the dressing and toss to coat. Stir in the dried cranberries. It will seem like a lot of dressing, but the pasta will absorb it, giving the pasta a lot of great flavor. The dried cranberries will also absorb some of the liquid and will plump up nicely.

When the pork and onions and the broccoli are done, stir them in to the pasta as well.

Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving. Stir in the walnuts right before serving.

Serves 4 as an entree (It keeps great in the fridge)

To see what I spent on this recipe, visit my other blog here.

Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

1 lb penne rigate pasta (I used whole grain)

1 16oz bottle Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette Salad Dressing (Kraft)

3.5 oz package Sun Dried Tomatoes, julienne cut

2 crowns broccoli

4 oz sliced salami or pepperoni

1 large onion, finely diced

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper

3 Tbs Olive oil

Directions:

Pre-heat a large skillet over medium heat with 1 Tbs olive oil. Finely chop the onion and add to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Lower heat to medium-low and continue to cook until caramelized, about 20 minutes. Once onions are caramelized, pour in the balsamic vinegar. Allow the vinegar to reduce down so that it is a thick glaze on the onions.

While the onions are cooking, pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees. Wash and trim the broccoli crowns into small florets. Toss them with 2 Tbs olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread them out on a sheet pan, making sure they touch as little as possible. Roast for about 10 minutes, until slightly browned. Remove from oven.

While the broccoli is roasting, fill a large pot with water and set over high heat. Once water is boiling, salt it and drop the pasta. Cook pasta according to package directions. Do not over cook.

While the broccoli, onions and pasta are cooking, prepare the rest of the salad. Empty the bottle of salad dressing into a large mixing bowl. Add the sun dried tomatoes to the bowl (if you can't find pre-cut julienne ones, thinly slice them). Thinly slice the salami and add it to the bowl as well.

When the pasta is done, drain it and add it to the bowl. Toss well - the pasta should be evenly coated with the dressing. When the broccoli and onions are done, add them as well. Toss all the ingredients together. Chill at least 2 hours before serving (I make it in the morning for dinner that evening)

Serves 6 as an entree, 12 as a side dish

To see what I spent on this recipe, visit my other blog here.

I'm participating in 5 dollar dinners $5 dinner challenge.

Broccoli Slaw

I happen to not care for raw broccoli - I find it to be too bitter. So, in this recipe I ligthly steam it to take away that bitterness.

Ingredients:

2 crowns broccoli

1/4 cup chopped pecans

2 green onions, thinly sliced

1/2 cup Craisins

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 Tbs apple cider vinegar

1 Tbs sugar

salt and pepper

Directions:

Wash broccoli and cut off the bottom of the crown, leaving florets with long stems. Using a food processor, shred the broccoli. (You can buy pre-shredded broccoli slaw - I've sometimes have a hard time finding it, so I usually just make it myself).

Steam the shredded broccoli for 5 minutes. This is just long enough to remove some of the bitterness, but allows it to maintain it's crispness.

Refrigerate the steamed, shredded broccoli for 1 hour before assembling the rest of the salad.

In the bottom of a small mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar and salt and pepper. Stir in the broccoli, Craisins and green onions. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Just before serving, stir in the pecans.

Serves 4 - 6

Roasted Broccoli

If you have never roasted broccoli - you HAVE to try it! It is so tasty - my son eats it before anything else on his plate. It's obviously not as healthy as steamed, but it is SO good.

Ingredients:

2 Large heads of broccoli (or 3-4 smaller ones)

2 Tbs vegetable oil

salt and pepper

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Wash broccoli and cut into florets. Put them on a sheet pan. Drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss thoroughly. Lay them out in a single layer on the baking sheet.

Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes - until edges are golden brown.

Serves 4