Do you like roasted potatoes? What about roasted veggies like broccoli, asparagus or brussel sprouts? (Btw: if you think you don’t like brussel sprouts – I’ll be posting a roasted brussel sprouts recipe that will make you drop to your knees and recite a catechism or, being that I was raised Episcopalian, I’m not totally sure what I’m talking about…) Anyway, if you like roasted veggies & potatoes, you will LOVE broccoli gribiche!

I LOVE this dish!!! My kids didn’t feel the same but I LOVE THIS DISH!! This dish ROCKS!!! Try it!! You know where I got this recipe: Super Natural Every Day. This cookbook is full of simple yet amazing recipes. I haven’t made one bad thing from this cookbook…yet.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the recipe – all you do is roast the potatoes & broccoli and toss with a sauce. Not that you were. Getting overwhelmed that is. (Projecting much, Christina?)

It’s great the next day too!

Here’s what you need:

All these ingredients can be found at Trader Joe’s.

INGREDIENTS:
1.5 LBS small fingerling potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed & dried (or cut larger potatoes)
1/2 c + 2 TBSP olive oil
salt
12 oz broccoli florets (I peel & slice the stems too)
4 large eggs, hard cooked & peeled
2 TBSP wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon style mustard
1 TBSP capers, chopped
2 shallots, finely chopped
1 TBSP parsley, chopped
1 TBSP tarragon, chopped
1 TBSP chives, chopped
(use dry herbs if you are in a pinch!)

First you’re going to roast the veggies. Potatoes take longer than broccoli. Incidentally, your potatoes should be no thicker than your biggest finger (middle?). Mine were a little thick so I halved or quartered accordingly.

Also, when a recipe calls for the broccoli florets only, I still peel the stalks/stems & slice into coins. They’re really yummy & tender once you’ve peeled them and I hate wasting them. The kids actually like them better than the florets due to the texture I think.

1. Preheat oven to 400.

2. Toss potatoes with a TBSP of olive oil and a pinch or two of salt. Spread evenly on a baking sheet. Do the same with the broccoli but keep it SEPARATE since broccoli roasts faster. Place potatoes in oven. Bake for 15 mins.

After 15 mins, toss or turn with a spatula & put the broccoli in for another 15 minutes. I actually made ‘em share a baking sheet b/c I was dreading the clean up. But I realized that was kind of dumb afterwards.

Here they are crammed together on one baking sheet.

4. In a medium-sized bowl, mash up the egg yellow. Reminds of this episode of “Between Two Ferns”. (Click that link if you like Zach Galifianakis. You will laff really hard.)

Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, very slowly, whisking all the while.

Add the vinegar & mustard & whisk.

Stir in the capers, shallots, herbs & 1/4 tsp salt.

Coarsely chop the remaining eggs & gently add them to the dressing.

Place the potatoes & broccoli in a large bowl, pour 3/4ths of the dressing atop and combine very gently. Add more dressing to taste! (I added the whole thing & loved it!)

Some would serve this as a hearty side but for me it’s the perfect lunch or light dinner.

Source: Super Natural Every Day

I know, I know, this sounds sort of “austere.” You’ve got to trust me on this one.

My neighbor, Aileen, gave me this head of cabbage and I was wondering how much SLAW my family can eat. But I also had a few potatoes and this can of beans. I knew there were a few really simple recipes in my fave cookbook. Sure enough!

Honestly, I was really bored with this recipe thinking about how unappealing it was How surprised I was to keep eating & eating this! This is yummy!! This is filling!!! This is nutritious!!! Best of all this is easy to make & tasty the next day too!!

All you need:

INGREDIENTS:
2 TBSP olive oil
4 oz potatoes, scrubbed, unpeeled & cubed
salt
1 large shallot, sliced finely
1-15oz can white beans (or chick peas if that’s all you have!)
3 c finely shredded green cabbage
grated parmesan cheese

Don’t be fooled by how simple this is, it’s still sooooo satisfying yet you won’t have the sick gluttonous feeling you can get after a heavy meal. And perfect to take to work…

1. Heat olive oil on medium high in a large skillet. Add the potatoes & a pinch of salt.

Cook until potatoes are brown taking care to toss or turn potatoes every few minutes. This should take about 8 minutes.

2. Add the shallots & beans. Brown the beans, being sure to scrape & combine the browned bits every few minutes.

3. Once beans are somewhat browned, add the cabbage. Don’t be alarmed by the volume of the cabbage – it will reduce as it cooks down. Stir to coat with the oil and browned bits as that’s the tasty stuff!

Salt & pepper to taste!

4. Serve with sprinkled parmesan to taste.

Source: Super Natural Every Day (ingredients slightly altered for simplicity)

This isn’t a salad. It’s a vegetarian version of Shepherd’s Pie. And it is AWESOME. It reminds me of a really good pot pie.

Because I want to watch “Eastbound & Down” tonight, this’ll be a short one. I know you understand!

You know how I tend to describe my recipes as “really easy” and “simple?” Well, this one IS easy but it’s definitely a little more labor intensive as anyone who has ever made mashed potatoes knows. A friend of mine, who only had limited time after work, decided to use boxed mashed potatoes, so you can do that if you’re short on time!

Here’s what you need for the mashed potatoes:

and

POTATOES INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 pounds russet or yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut in 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 cup milk
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
1/3 c sour cream
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 large egg yolk (I used replacer)

1. Place the diced potatoes in a medium sized pot of water. Cover with salted, cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer for about 15 minutes, until potatoes are tender but not mushy. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot.

2. Mash the potatoes. Add the milk, butter, and sour cream and continue mashing until smooth.

Stir in egg replacer. Add salt & pepper to taste. Set aside!

Now for the filling!

VEGGIE FILLING INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
5 small carrots, finely chopped (or 3 large carrots)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons tomato paste
2 cups vegetable broth (although I have a carton of Veggie Broth in the photo, at the last minute, I used my Vegetarian Chicken flavored Bullion & water. It tends to be a lot tastier than the Veggie Broth.)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 (14-ounce) can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1/2 cup fresh or frozen shelled green peas

1. Heat oil on medium-high heat in a large pot. Sautee onion & carrots for 4-5 minutes.

2. Add garlic, salt & pepper. Stir in flour, and keep cooking for another minute if you can!

3. Stir in tomato paste, broth, rosemary & thyme.

4. Bring mixture to a boil. Add kidney beans & reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes, until sauce thickens.

5. Stir in corn & peas.

6. Pour veggie mixture into an 11×7″ baking dish (or something close to that.)

7. Top with mashed potatoes, smoothing the edges with a spatula to prevent it bubbling up and over in the oven.
This looks soooooo good. It has butter & sour cream but do you know what it’s missing?

Cheese. Sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top if you have some. All it needs now is hot fudge to be the perfect meal!

8. Put baking dish on a cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes or until potatoes are golden brown and filling is bubbling.

Holy cow! When George got home I told him, “I just made the best dinner of my life.” to which he raised one eyebrow quizzically. Little did I know he was sick that night so I need to make it again for him. No problem!

The girls loved it.

“Here, YOU try it.”
Apparently, Bea is the Royal taster for her older sister.

She likes it!

And she’s still alive…

Adapted from Ezra Pound Cake