Tag: Buttery Broccoli

Zapped Broccoli with Butter and Lemon Herb

Way back when I was first learning to cook, we didn’t have all the modern conveniences that are at our disposal today. No microwaves or convection ovens No pre-packaged, pre-measured, pre-seasoned foods. No bottles of spice blends or sauces or all the other things we have today. We were on our own. It might also be why some of the foods I ate growing up were either over-cooked or under-cooked and at times bland. A little salt. A little pepper. That was about it. Sometimes we forget how to do things all on our own with all the modern conveniences. Sometimes it’s okay to forget.

Zapped Broccoli with Butter and Lemon Herb
½ lb Broccoli
2 teaspoons McCormick Perfect Pinch Lemon Herb Seasoning
1 Tablespoon Butter

Cut broccoli int individual pieces. Place broccoli, seasoning and butter in a micro-wave safe plastic bag. Sprinkle with a little water, seal shut with a small slit to vent.

Microwave on HIGH 3 minutes.

Carefully open the bag (it will be steaming hot) and empty broccoli int a serving dish. Toss to evenly coat in seasoned butter and serve.

Buttery Garlic-Herb Broccoli

A while back, Hubby, Kiddo and I stopped in at a neighborhood steak house for dinner before heading to the theater. I don’t remember exactly what I had ordered – some sort of grilled chicken breast with a side of Broccoli. The chicken was good, but the broccoli was absolutely wonderful. I could have made a meal of the Broccoli – all buttery and bright with a wonderful blend of garlic and other seasonings. Since then, I have been trying to recreate that delicious broccoli at home. Some attempts were closer than others. This recipe is perfect – and a home-run with my guys (which is where it really counts). Hubby said it was some of the best broccoli he has ever tasted. That’s a huge compliment from a man who once complained when I didn’t drown his broccoli in a cheese sauce or Hollandaise sauce or some other sauce.

The blend of garlic and herbs enhanced the beautiful flavor of the broccoli, and the butter – I love melted butter over my veggies. Don’t you? While I generally don’t promote one brand of seasoning over another, after sampling different spice blends – everything from my own combination to the pre-packaged variety – this one had all the flavor I was looking for.

819z3xxgjyl-_sy679_Buttery Garlic-Herb Broccoli
1/2 lb Broccoli
1 Tablespoon Garlic-Herb Blend (McCormick’s has a nice blend)
4 Tablespoons butter, cut into small pieced
1 gallon size zip-lock freezer bag

Cut broccoli into individual pieces and place into the bag. Season with Garlic-Herb seasoning. Shake bag a little to distribute seasoning. Lay bag flat on a micro-wave safe plate. Distribute pieces of butter throughout the bag.

Seal bag, leaving small gap at the center of closure to vent. Micro-wave on HIGH 90 seconds. Turn bag over, micro-wave on HIGH an additional 90 seconds. Check broccoli for doneness. It should be hot and tender-crisp. If still firm, turn bag again and micro-wave on HIGH for another minute. Repeat until broccoli is heated through, tender but not “soft”.

CAREFULLY open bag (it will be steaming hot) and empty into a serving dish. Toss and serve. This easy recipe goes with just about anything. I am particularly fond of broccoli as a side dish to baked chicken.