How To Sneak In A Round Of Broccoli.

 Now you see it, now you don't!

Broccoli seems to be one of those vegetables which one either loves or hates. Kids especially seem to have bought into the hate camp and I am willing to opine that they have either never really tasted broccoli or it hasn't been cooked the way it should. Nothing worse than a pale sickly green overcooked stew of broccoli...

Yesterday happened to be burger night in our house. Not because it was Wednesday but because I drew a blank on what to make for supper and thus settled on hamburgers. As you know there are always beans ready to be used in our house. Either canned or pre-cooked in the fridge. Everything else that constitutes our hamburgers depends on what's in the crisper and fridge.

Yes, a great way to use leftovers ( cooked rice / pasta / sweet potato ) and a fantastic way to make use of vegetables. There was a head of broccoli that needed to be cooked and I used that. Raw, finely chopped  ( almost sheared off so finely that it looks like broccoli pearls ), as well as three finely grated carrots and of course the usual suspects of onions, garlic and spices. Oh and raw oats or wholewheat flour to bind it. 

In fact the way that anything that is finely chopped or grated can't be classified by name after cooking, made me think of all those kids who could happily eat the burgers and its healthy secret ingredients. Honestly, one can't see it once the burgers are cooked and often not taste it overly so if spiced spicily. Win-win situation for any parent fretting over their kids not getting enough vegetables and I suppose that the same might apply for many a husband who out of habit decry the use of broccoli.

Well, I had a leftover burger patty for lunch and it was delicious. I love the fact that a ' treat ' actually is filled with healthy goodness. Did I mention that half the mass is always made up of ground up beans? Either cooked chickpeas, lentils or black beans chopped in a blender. Healthy food needn't be boring nor bland...and kids needn't be deprived of the vital part of their diet...vegetables.

Biggi