Roasted Broccoli

Ever have one of those "I feel unappreciated" days?  It happens every now and then when I feel like my family isn't giving me the recognition that I think I deserve.  It really has very little to do with them and everything to do with me.  It's more about my interpretation of their behavior than their actual lack of appreciation.  (How could they possibly fail to notice when I clean the ceiling fan in the office?)  

I wouldn't say that my feelings aren't based on a certain amount of merit though.  My husband once told friends that we had special grout in our shower that stayed clean all by itself and never needed scrubbing!?!  Seriously??  Did he really think that we had some kind of a magic shower?  Meanwhile, I'm spending hours of my time scrubbing grout, week after week so that we can have a clean shower. 

I take a lot of grief for making my family eat so many vegetables too.  One day I hope that my kids will appreciate the fact that I introduced them to so many different vegetables when they were growing up.  I am on a constant quest to find new ways to get my family to eat vegetables and I serve a LOT of them.  My new favorite vegetable recipe is roasted broccoli.  It's easy to prepare, it's great for a crowd AND it's a vegetable that my family actually likes.  

Roasted Broccoli
1 and ½ pounds broccoli crowns (roughly 2 heads)
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, pressed
pinch of dried red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons raw, sliced almonds 
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 – 3 tablespoons freshly grated aged pecorino-romano cheese

Slice broccoli into 1/2 inch steaks.  

Whisk together oil, garlic and red pepper flakes.  

Add broccoli and toss to coat.  Place broccoli and foil lined baking sheet.  ​

Roast broccoli 10-12 minutes at 475.  

Flip and sprinkle with almonds.  Roast 10 minutes longer.

Transfer broccoli to a platter and drizzle with lemon juice.  Sprinkle with cheese.  

What about you?  What makes you feel unappreciated?  I assume that we all feel under-appreciated at one point or another.  Share your stories in the comments.  Anyone else out there with a magic shower?

Ciao!

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