Apr 8, 2013

Roasted Broccoli & Asparagus w/ Nutty, Lemony Feta

Since I work full time out there in the cruel, cruel world, Sundays are often set aside for cooking and prepping for the week that's about to come barging in on my good time.

Usually multiple dishes are going on at once.  Some of them for the blog.  Which, as food bloggers know, means writing recipes as I go, or scribbling notes about any tweaks that take place.  And pictures.  Always the running of food and props outside to take advantage of natural light.


Things can get confusing and jumbled pretty easily.  Pretty quickly.  What's this garlic for?  Did I just add cumin to the cookie dough?  Does the lemon go in here?  Or here?  Did I season this pot?  Or this one?

Make that jumbled very easily and very quickly.

This is what you'd call setting the stage.

So why not add some more fun?  I enlisted The Boy to help me one such Sunday.  Because one can never have too much chaos.

There were vegetables being chopped.  Lettuce being washed and spun dry.  Muffin batter being mixed.  And much more.

~~~~~

Do you remember when it was exactly?  That first time you discovered?  That time when it hit you full on?  That one or both of your parents were crazy?

This is what you'd call foreshadowing.

~~~~~

I think I somehow always knew.  (Just checking to see if my parents are still reading.  If I get emails in 5 seconds, I'll know.  That they are still reading.  And crazy.)



The Boy, who is becoming very unbecomingly teenagery lately (by the way), got the full dose of crazy Mama.

It was time for pictures.  I checked my apron pocket.  No camera.  The counter top.   No camera.  I turned to The Boy.
"Can you help me look for the camera?"
Shrug.  (What does that mean?  Yes?  No?  Up your nose with a rubber hose?)
We both started hunting around the kitchen.  The dining room.  The cabinet where I keep the camera (imagine that--where it is supposed to be!)  No camera.

I opened the freezer and peeked in.
"Umm...Mom...why would the camera be in.  The.  Freezer?

A coming of age for The Boy.  The look on his face told me his time had come.  He had finally found me out.

The thing is, it was entirely possible that the camera could have ended up in the freezer.  Trust me.  Crazier has happened on Sundays like these.


This dish was a little crazy--made with scroungings from the fridge and freezer.

Extra broccoli & asparagus from a salad.  The roughly 2 tablespoons of feta I couldn't seem to shake, and the dregs from the bottom of a bag of pecans I had in the freezer.

We ate the chaos of past weeks.  And it was crazy, crazy good.


~ in case you're wondering where my camera turned up...
While all the commotion was going on, The Husband was calmly sitting in the very next room downloading pictures of what he had cooked.~


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Roasted Broccoli & Asparagus w/ Nutty, Lemony Feta

* any measurements are approximate--this is something I threw together as a side dish for 3

about 2 cups broccoli florets
about half a bundle of asparagus (5-6 oz), woody ends snapped off
olive oil
salt & black pepper
2 squirts lemon juice
about 1 1/2-2 Tbsp finely crumbled feta (break up any large crumbles)
zest from 1/2 of a lemon
2-3 Tbsp chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 400 F.  Line a sheet pan with foil.  Place the broccoli and asparagus on the pan and drizzle with olive oil--enough to lightly coat.  Season with salt and pepper and toss.  press the broccoli and asparagus down into a single layer.  Roast for about 15-18 minutes, or until lightly browned in spots.

While the broccoli and asparagus roast, in a small bowl, mix together the feta, lemon zest,and pecans.  Set aside.

When the vegetables are done, remove from oven.  Toss with a couple of squirts of lemon juice.  Place on a small platter and top with the feta mixture.  Serve.


Linking this week with:

Jam Hands
 photo SimpleSupperTuesday_zps93ff0e49.jpg
 Hearth and Soul blog hop at Premeditated Leftovers Feeding Big
Love Bakes Good Cakes
nap-time creations
Back for Seconds
White Lights on Wednesdays
Miz Helen’s Country Cottage Photobucket MyMeatlessMondays
Freedom Fridays BWS tips button

18 comments:

  1. I am new at this link party thing, but loving it. I couldn't link up for some reason, probably because I am not too swift with the computer!! but I certainly am enjoying meeting so many talented people!
    Donna from www.nannydonnascorner.blogspot.com

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  2. Ha ha! SooOOo funny - I feel this way just on a normal night making dinner! "Did I salt that already? And why did I just pull butter out? What needed butter?"... your broccoli dish looks awesome though! Definitely saving this one :)

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  3. Oh, Michelle, you had me in fits. I can totally relate to that kind of crazy and I can completely get why you would look in the freezer. The fridge is always one of the first places I look now when I can't find something!!

    Loving this dish - if only I could have asparagus right now. Never mind, bookmarking this one for spring. That is such a great combo.

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  4. Glad to know I'm not the only crazy one in the kitchen, LOL. I am loving this recipe, Michelle! Thanks for sharing with Simple Supper Tuesday.

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  5. Oh my gosh...I could eat a big bowl of this right now!

    Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!

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  6. Giggle ... not sure what was funnier, the Boy or the Husband? :)

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  7. I love your stories along with your recipes. And you are not alone; I'm not sure being a Food Blogger is a pre-requisite for CMS (Crazy Momma Syndrome.)

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  8. fun.nee! yes, I'm crazy too, you are not alone! lol

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  9. That was some fun reading on how your son finally found you out! The veggie dish sure looks tasty and I'm so glad you found the camera.

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  10. Hopping in from Simple Living and Home Maid blog hop. Pinned this!

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  11. YUM this looks awesome! My name is Cindy and I blog over at Vegetarianmamma.com I wanted to invite you to link up your recipe and any others at our Gluten Free Fridays Recipe Link up party! It happens every Friday and we'd love to have you join us with some of your awesome recipes! It doesn't mean that you have to be a gluten free bloggers. If you have some recipes on your blog that are gluten free that counts! :) Many recipes are naturally gluten free.
    A Thanks, Cindy :)

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  12. Yeah, ... my early teens have found me out too... no camera in the freezer but other bizarre doings. Well, the broccoli & Asparagus turned out lovely... in the end it all works out. Thanks for coming by foodie friday... always a pleasure.

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  13. Hi Michelle,
    What a great veggie dish, we will really enjoy this one. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you again soon!
    Miz Helen

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  14. I totally am like that in the kitchen! LOL - your dish looks so good, Michelle! Thanks so much for linking up to All My Bloggy Friends!

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  15. Great flavor and I love the mix of broccoli and asparagus. Thanks for sharing on Thursdays Treasures.

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  16. You do have a way with words as well as your great recipes. I love visiting.

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  17. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to visit this post! I so enjoyed reading it. It really made me smile. I'm not saying anything, but you are not the first person to lose their camera while cooking for your blog ;) Love this recipe - the flavours sound so wonderful. Asparagus is one of my favourites anyway, and we love broccoli, but adding the pecans, lemon and feta is an inspired idea!

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  18. Good one, Michelle! Thanks for adding it to the table

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Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your comments.