A Broccoli Recipe

Broccoli seems to me a vegetable that one either loves or hates. I remember as a child hating the texture of broccoli - it always seemed so limp and lifeless. What I didn't know at the time was that it had probably been overcooked. Thus the disgusting texture.

It was not until I had my first taste of Chinese food that I realized broccoli was a vegetable not only tasty to eat, but highly versatile as well. Its health benefits are well known, and it is now a staple vegetable in our home. I am always looking for new ways to prepare it. Here is a great recipe that uses raw broccoli. The additions can be as creative as you are. I adapt this depending on what goodies I have in my cupboard.

Broccoli Salad

1-1/2 - 2 lbs. broccoli, cut into bite size pieces
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1-2 c. shredded cheddar cheese (I like the extra sharp variety)
1/2 c. raisins (I use craisins)
sunflower seeds to taste
bacon bits to taste

Mix all of the above in a large bowl. Add dressing. Serve.

Dressing:

1 c. mayonnaise (I use Hellman's Mayonnaise Dressing with olive oil)
2 tbs. cider vinegar
1/4 c. sugar

April Fool's

We awoke this morning to the world blanketed again in white. An early spring storm brought about a foot and a half of heavy, wet snow into New England forcing schools and some state offices to close for the day. Papa, the boys and I spent the morning catching up on math lessons and exams to the scents of maple sap simmering on the little Waterford stove. Cups of hot coffee and various types of tea were consumed, laundry washed, and maple candy made on a pan of white snow. A general feeling of good will filled the air.




The only ones who seemed at all disconcerted by the weather were the ducks and geese who had been enjoying days swimming in the pond and playing in the mud. They became exhausted as they wallowed in the deep wet snow trying to make their way to the small spot of open water near the swamp on the lower end of the property. The ducks had to be rescued by the boys and returned to their pen in the barn where Mr. Drake Puddleduck happily chased our gander, Augustus Finkwaddle, round the pen for the rest of the afternoon.