Broccoli Heaven

May 18th, 2008

Ah, spring weekends – the time to hop in your fuel-efficient car and head out to the beach or parts unknown. But with kids in tow, you’re decidedly less footloose and fancy free than you used to be. We’ve had discussions here before about what a dilemma it is to be Organic & On the Go. Where do you find a decent place to eat off America’s highways?

This weekend, DH and I really thought we had the problem licked. A simple 2 1⁄2 hour trip and we were loaded and ready:
Organic Apples, washed, and knife – check
Organic Rice Cakes – check
Organic American Cheese – check
Organic Carrot Sticks – check
Home Made Organic Whole Wheat Bread – check
Biodynamic Cookies – check
One gallon water jug and BPA-free cups – check

Unfortunately, traffic lengthened our trip and before long we heard the incessant whine every parent dreads. The “I’m hungry!” kindergartner whine.

“Eat your rice cake,” was our response.

“No, I’m really hungry. For a real meal. Not these SNACKS. I want to go to McDonalds.”

“There are no McDonalds along this road, honey,” I responded.
“There’s only Broccoli Heaven.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a new organic fast food place where they serve broccoli. And you can get organic milk too,”I jested.

“I DON’T WANT TO GO TO BROCCOLI HEAVEN, I WANT TO GO TO MCDONALDS!”

“Well, we’re not going to McDonalds. Eat your rice cake.”

“You’re starving me!”

“Honey, we’re not starving you. Look at all this food in the car!”

“These are snacks. I want a meal at McDonalds. And besides, Broccoli Heaven doesn’t exist.”

“Really? Why do you say that?”

“Because broccoli doesn’t go to heaven.”

Boy’s got a point. Can’t argue with that.

Wonder how McDonald’s is coming along with their Organic and Eco-Friendly Happy Meals!

Happy trails!

— Lynn

Copyright 2008 OrganicMania


3 Responses to “Broccoli Heaven”

  1. Julie Power on May 20, 2008 8:36 am

    Oh dear that is too funny.
    broccoli heaven!

    Mind you, we have a great broccoli pasta dish here that everyone eats, including our five year old twin boys.

    Our bit of broccoli heaven.

    Okay, take about four heads of broccoli and steam or see directions below for another easier method.

    Take a very large (yep, don’t skimp on the water) pasta pot, fill it with water, salt it, bring it to the boil.
    add pasta (big fat ones) and cook until al dente.

    (You can cook the broccoli in the pasta pot and then take it out and then add the pasta if you want to save washing up.)

    drain. But save a cup of pasta water for later.

    To save washing up (also good for environment) use same pot …

    add three tablespoons of olive oil, add a load of garlic, add a small tin or two of anchovies, fry for about a minute. (add some fresh red chili if it is for adults)..

    then add the pasta and broccoli and mix up … add the pasta water.

    at this stage, you can add pepper, butter, stock or parmesan .. if you are an italian food purist, you may not want to add parmesan when you’ve already used cheese.

    Okay, even if you have a family that turns up their noses at anchovies, believe me, noone will notice them if you have mixed them up a bit… just tastes great later.

    anyway this is a good easy meal that everyone in our household and extended family eats.

    It is indeed a bit of broccoli heaven.

    bon appetite.

    Yum! — Thanks for the recipe! — Glad it made you laugh. — Lynn

  2. Gift of Green on May 20, 2008 9:01 am

    Omigosh, this post totally made me snicker into my non-organic latte in a disposible cup. Well…did they go to McDonald’s? :)

    No, Pizza Hut….more on that in tomorrow’s post…! :) Glad you got a laugh out of it… — Lynn

  3. Guest post: Healthy, Organic and On the Road - A Dilemma | Crunchy Domestic Goddess on August 2, 2008 4:01 am

    […] be easily accessible from most major interstates. No, they’re not perfect – I still dream of Broccoli Heaven, my fantasy roadside snackbar. But they’ll do in a pinch! What’s been your experience? Leave a […]

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