Episode: Beat Your Greens
Broccoli

The city of Townsville. It’s a nice, bustling metropolis which would be a great place to live if it wasn’t being attacked every day. Whether it’s monsters, aliens, or supervillains, the city’s got them. Or I should say they’ve got the city. I would’ve moved out a long time ago. Well, if I lived in the Powerpuff universe, I’d like to be a fourth Powerpuff Girl. Not like Princess or Bunny but a nice mix of Blossom and Bubbles. (I think I’m just a little too soft to be Buttercup.) I could be a good addition to the team who saves the world before bedtime. I’ve got the brains to outwit Mojo Jojo, the courage to scare away The Boogie Man, and the guts to take out The Broccoloids.

Speaking of guts, just like half the people out there, I’m trying to eat a little healthier and get back into shape. (Emphasis on trying because I’ve eaten pizza more than once this week.) I’ve never had a problem with eating my veggies like the kids in Townsville do. My problem is stuff like liver and onions. So what better health food to whip up than broccoli? Just like Professor Utonium says, “It’s exactly what growing superheroes need to charge up their powers.” I don’t know how the people of Townsville prefer their broccoli cooked, but I’m roasting mine. And just to add a little more pizzazz, I’m serving it over a rice pilaf.

Recipe makes 5-6 servings.

Ingredients

Broccoli

1 large head of broccoli, cut into florets and chunks

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

Salt

Pepper

 

Rice Pilaf

2 cups white rice, rinsed

2 ½ cups chicken broth

¼ cup water

2 tablespoons butter

½ medium onion, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 bay leaf

1 teaspoon salt

 

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Broccoli:

Combine broccoli, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Spread out onto a baking sheet. Move the baking sheet to the oven and roast the broccoli until it’s tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven.

Rice Pilaf:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a large, ovenproof saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and cook until translucent, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add rice and cook, stirring frequently, until the rice becomes fragrant, 3-4 minutes. Add the chicken broth, water, bay leaf, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil.

Remove saucepan from heat, cover with lid or foil, and transfer to oven. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let it rest for 15 minutes without removing the lid or foil. Remove the bay leaf and fluff the rice with a fork.

Putting It All Together:

Scoop and spread out rice onto a plate. Top with a hearty amount of broccoli. Time to eat it all up!

I can pop broccoli into my mouth like it’s vitamin and mineral packed candy, so the Broccoloid Empire better be wary. And if I’m armed with cheese sauce…let’s just say it’s not going to be a pretty sight. Just like when the day comes where I snap and start eating the produce section at my local grocery store. I know that broccoli doesn’t have the same appeal as cake, a corndog, or a hamster (No, I don’t eat hamsters.), but it does taste good and it’s good for you too. Both in the bodily health sense and the prevention of destruction by evil broccoli-based aliens sense. So when you do get served some veggies, you better eat all of them because you can never be too careful.

 

Tune in next week for more Cartoon Cravings!