Broccoli & Cheddar Twice Baked Potatoes

Broccoli & Cheddar Twice Baked Potatoes
Serves 2

2 medium sized baking potatoes
1 cup chopped broccoli
1/4 cup light sour cream
1 Tbs chives, chopped
1 Tbs butter
2 Tbs fat free 1/2 & 1/2
Salt & Pepper
1 Tbs light cream cheese
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Cooking spray
Chopped green onions
1 lemon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Wash potatoes well & using a knife poke 8 holes in each.  Place them on foil lined cookie sheet & cover all sides with cooking spray. Sprinkle each with salt.  Roast for about 1 hr & 30 minutes, check on them after an hour - depending on your oven they make take the entire hour and 1/2.
In the meantime mix together the chives and sour cream and return to the fridge.  Bring a small pot of water to a boil.  When it is a roaring boil add the broccoli.  After 3-4 minutes the broccoli will turn a bright green.  Strain broccoli and add to a bowl.  Squeeze a touch of the lemon juice over the broccoli and toss well.  You may want to finely chop the broccoli at this point, I prefer the finer chop, but larger florets are fine too.

Allow potatoes rest from the oven for 10 minutes, then slice off the top third of the potato.  Chop the tops of the potatoes and add to the broccoli.  Scoop the contents and add to your bowl.  Place the potato shells in a shallow baking dish & lightly salt & pepper the inside.  To the potatoes & broccoli add the butter, cream cheese & salt & pepper, mix well and then add the 1/2 & 1/2 and chive sour cream and mix again. Fill the potato skins with the mixture topping off with the cheddar cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Top with the chopped green onions & enjoy.

Pair with a nice salad and you have a complete Meatless Monday Meal.

New Year & Meatless Mondays

Happy New Year!  I am sure that we are like most & have vowed that 2012 will be a healthy one. One of our favorite tricks is participating in Meatless Mondays. Nothing complicated, just starting the week off concentrating on fruits, vegetables & a healthy diet.

Broccoli Pizza

This was a simple one.  Whole wheat crust with a bit of homemade Sunday Sauce, cheese, red onion, broccoli, fresh basil & red pepper flakes.  I use Il Fornaio frozen pizza dough, which makes this an even easier dish, but make your own if you wish.  I love starting the week off right!
What was on your resolution list?
We also vowed to be more organized, all of us...

We will see how long this lasts

Grilled Broccoli

So simple, so yummy.  This was a recipe my best friend from high school and I used to fix all the time.  Honestly I still prepare it many times a month.  If you have a picky eater in the house this will win them over, I promise.

Fresh broccoli bunches, 2 servings per large bunch
Italian dressing, regular, light (I use) or fat free


Cut the broccoli into florets, watch the size b/c you don't want them small enough to fall through the grill.  Toss with Italian dressing (enough to coat) and allow it to sit for an hour or longer, turning occasionally.  Simply grill over medium high heat for about 4& 1/2  minutes per side.  Watch closely, but allow it to char a bit.  Remove from the grill and add back to the bowl you marinated it in and toss with a bit more dressing.  Serve with a touch of Parmesan (if you want to - Mike Butler avoid this step).  Yum and even wonderful cold the next day!  Enjoy! I normally grill these while my chicken or steaks are resting.

Spiders have taken over our kitchen chandelier!