"Eat Your Broccoli"
Those soggy, limp stalks that laid on your plate before you most likely seemed less than desirable. But the nutritional value of broccoli was something that adult in your life understood. There are many ways to prepare that less than desirable dish from your childhood. From cooking it up in soups and casseroles it can also be cooked up in a stir fry. You can cook up broccoli in some of your favorite dishes of pizza, mac n cheese , salads and pasta as well.
Broccoli comes from the brassica family. Other members of this family include cabbage and cauliflower. Broccoli is a native plant to the Eastern Mediterranean region possibly originated in Cyprus or Crete and sent to Asia Minor through travel routes. It would become part of the cuisine in France about 200 years before reaching England or colonial America.
Broccoli's popularity in the United States took place around 1920. It seems that it was immigrants from Sicily that would grow the first commercial broccoli crops in California. Not everyone has enjoyed broccoli. One recent president did not care for it and shared his comments on the subject stating " I haven’t liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I’m President of the United States, and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli.” on the other hand Barack Obama , claims broccoli is his favorite vegetable!
California remains the leading broccoli producing state and supplies 90% and Arizona. Frozen broccoli comes in mainly from Mexico makes up about 1/3 of frozen vegetable imports. It seems Americans enjoy broccoli eating around 8 lbs each year.
How about you?? Do you enjoy broccoli or do you torture your children by having them eat it but refuse yourself??
I love broccoli! I steam them, add them to pasta, sautee them with canned tuna, the possibilities are endless. They’re delicious. It’s a bonus that they are nutritious, too.
ReplyDeletewe love broccoli as well but have never had it with tuna
Deletethanks for stopping by
Truth be told? Never. Not once. My mother refused to let anything green pass her lips, so she never fed it to us kids either. Fortunately, my own children love broccoli. :)
ReplyDeleteThis makes me feel even more excited about eating my broccoli! It's a favorite in our house.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is that I'm not a big fan of this vegetable either but I know it has lots of benefits..
ReplyDeleteFunny thing is I never heard that growing up. We literally grew up with only corn, carrots, peas and string beans. As an adult I absolutely love broccoli and thankfully so does the rest of my family.
ReplyDeleteLOVE broccoli but my kids won't touch it. we love it grilled (seasoned with garlic and red pepper flakes)
ReplyDeleteI love broccoli! It’s my favorite vegetable and so healthy!
ReplyDeleteI definitely didn't like broccoli as a kid but I absolutely love it now! I can eat it steamed, boiled, etc. My favorite is with the everything but bagel seasoning from Trader Joe's.
ReplyDeleteI always loved broccoli even as a kid. Growing up I was the one telling my parents that they needed to eat their vegetables. I liked to shop at the farmer's market and buy everything fresh.
ReplyDeleteI love me some Broccoli and I certainly dont eat it enough. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBroccoli is a great source of calcium for non dairy consumers. So good!
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