Make fresh broccoli even tastier by baking it with cheese.
Bake a rich and creamy broccoli and cheese casserole as a way to entice your children to eat the healthy vegetable. The dish takes under 45 minutes to prepare but makes a hearty side dish or even a main course. Serve the cheesy casserole during holiday dinner parties and freeze leftovers to enjoy later. If you make the broccoli casserole frequently, experiment with different types of cheeses to create an entirely new taste.
Instructions
1. Cook eight cups of fresh broccoli florets in a steamer for about four minutes, or until they are tender yet slightly firm.
2. Melt 1/2 cup of butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 cup of chopped white onion and saute the pieces in the butter until they are translucent and soft. Add 2 tbsp. of all-purpose flour and cook the mixture, stirring frequently, for two minutes.
3. Slowly pour in 1 1/2 cups of milk and bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly. Add 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar, swiss, provolone, Colby or Monterey Jack cheese, depending on your preference. Continue simmering the sauce over low heat while stirring constantly until the cheese is melted.
4. Stir the steamed broccoli florets into the cheese sauce. Butter a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish and pour the broccoli cheese mixture into it.
5. Sprinkle crushed butter-flavored crackers, such as Ritz, over the top of the casserole. Bake the casserole in an oven that is preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.
Tags: broccoli cheese, broccoli florets, fresh broccoli, minutes until, stirring constantly, until they
