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SamuelWilson
02-07-2006, 05:58 PM
I hope everyone's day has been rawesome so far. This is the absolute latest and greatest, model 2006, Spicy Broccoli & Cheese. For those who do not like spicy, just leave out the habaneros.

BROCOLI AND CHEESE
4 cups broccoli, chopped into large bite size pieces (not diced)
1 recipe Alissa's Creamy Cheddar Cheese

MARINADE RECIPE
2 cups EVOO
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 habanero pepper finely diced

Mix well in a large measuring cup or bowl. Do not blend this marinade, just stir to mix. The habanero is to be finely diced with the seeds and membrane. You may add more sea salt and black pepper to your taste.

Directions:

Place the broccoli in a 1 gallon ziploc bag. Pour the marinade in the bag with the broccoli. Ok, now seal the bag and lay it on its side. Spread the broccoli evenly in the bag while it is laying on its side. This allows all the broccoli to sit in the marinade evenly. Here is a trick, undo the seal on one corner of the bag, take a straw an insert it into the bag. Lift up slightly on the corner of the bag where you have the straw inserted (while it is still laying on its side). Pull air through the straw as though you are sipping the air and remove as much air from the bag as possible, then reseal again. This way, you will only have broccoli and marinade in the bag and it will allow all the broccoli to marinade without any dry spots. I have a picture below for demonstration. The reason I am giving you this tip is so that you will get the most out of your expensive marinade. If you just pour marinade in a bowl, then 2 cups of marinade will not cover all of the broccoli and you will have some broccoli more marinated than the rest. My method allows you to marinate 4 cups of brocolli with just 2 cups of marinade. You should let the broccoli marinate for at least an hour, longer if you have more time. It will sofen up and resemble steamed broccoli. Honestly, the broccoli is so tasty at this point, you can practically eat it as is with no cheese sauce. After you are through marinading it, please place in a mesh strainer in the sink and allow the brocolli to strain for a few minutes. You can now add to you to your dehydrator (using a solid tray of course).

Ok, now onto the cheese recipe. As you know, I do not give out Alissa's recipes, however, I can tell you about my modifications. I used the Vita-Mix in combination with the tamper rod to make the cheese recipe and I strongly recommend this if you have a Vita-Mix. It blends the cheese better for a creamier more SAD like consistency. I only make half of Alissa's cheese recipe because it is a lot of cheese. Even with only using half, I still have a cup left over. I add EVOO until I get the right consistency, while I am blending. This ends up being a considerable amount, so don't feel odd if you add over a half cup of oil. I like the cheese sauce to be thinner like melted cheddar cheese. I then add sea salt to flavor, you can start with 1/4 teaspoon and work your way up. Remember it is better to add too little than too much, so take caution. To this recipe, I add 2 finely diced habaneros with seeds and membranes. This turns it into "Spicy Cheddar Cheese Sauce". Ok, once you are through processing your cheese recipe, pour it over the broccoli and dehydrate for 5-6 hours.

Let me go ahead and say, I have only had a small portion make it the full 5-6 hours. I usually eat a quarter of it as soon as I am done making it. I then check the dehydrator in an hour (like it really needs to be checked at that time) and I eat half it then. By the time it gets to 5-6 hours, there may be a few pieces left, but I doubt it.

I will say that my modifications have turned this recipe into something great. I could easily eat this a few times a week, no problem. Actually, a very simple recipe to.

vegggeeemom
02-07-2006, 06:10 PM
Wow! I think you have outdone yourself! That looks great. I think I'm going to give it all a try again and use your spicy version.
Thank you for the pictures as well as that helps people like me that need a visual!

Pam

Apples'nAvos
02-07-2006, 06:12 PM
LOL - Samuel- you're gonna kill me! :) All this yummy food that you keep posting ! I think I need to quit my job and school so I can stay home and make delicious food like yours.
I know you said the longer we marinade the brocolli for the better, but is overnight (like 7 or 8 hours) too much?

Raw Jewelrylady
02-07-2006, 06:21 PM
Samuel...Looks great...do you think instead of Habernero I could sub w/more of the Serranos ?
Lana

Apples'nAvos
02-07-2006, 06:24 PM
Oh - and uhhh ... what is EVOO?
:confused: forgive me if it's something totally obvious, but I can't figure it out

JinxieKat
02-07-2006, 06:32 PM
Extra Virgin Olive Oil


And no, it's not obvious, some SAD chef uses that phrase all the time, only reason why I know it.

Jinx

Rawadventures
02-07-2006, 06:33 PM
Oh (sigh), I just got back from the commisary, buying SAD foods for the rest of my family. I picked up some Kale becuase it was pretty and inexpensive, but I did not get broccoli... bummer. I marinated some broccoli yesterday in EVOO, salt, and cayenne and just dehydrated it a bit to "warm" it and had it for breakfast. The broccoli marinated reallly hits home with me.

I am envious of every person with a Vita-Mix right now because my cheese is just not very thin consistency. I am going to make this again this week though for sure. Of course, the spicy version!

SamuelWilson, what an inspiration you are! Thank you for all of the time you take to share your tips and hints with us. I have not found anything so far that you have made or revised that I have not liked! You really go the extra mile to share this with us... Thanks!

aisah
02-07-2006, 06:38 PM
Oh lordy Lord!! That looks super YUMMY!! Gosh you got me melting like those cheese there!! Oh help me God!! :o

Thank you SamuelWilson for sharing. I will have to try 'on' the last spring collection first before getting to 'purchase' ingredients for this new collection of Broccoli and Cheese :D

Urm, Apples'&Avos.... i am not SamuelWilson but let me try... *clears throat..... in a manly tone*, "EVOO is Extra Virgin Olive Oil".... ahem!! :p

best ~ a

SamuelWilson
02-07-2006, 06:39 PM
Apples'nAvos, EVOO mean Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I am so glad you brought up the question of how long to marinate. I should have provided more information about that. I would say that overnight is too long with this marinade. The EVOO can over power your broccoli, which you don't want. I would say no more than 2 hours. I also want to add that even if you can only marinate it for 30 minutes, it will still be beneficial. Keep in mind, the purpose of the marinade is to make the broccoli more like SAD broccoli that has been sauteed in butter or steamed.

Lana, sure you can use serrano peppers as a substitute. I would say go for 2 in your marinade and 3 in the cheese sauce just for starters. Then as you make more of this recipe you can add more until you find your heat level. The last thing you want to do is get over zealous and make it too hot to eat. I know that with the cheese sauce, that 2 habaneros makes it spicy, but not too spicy.

vegggeeemom, yes, I encourage you to try this recipe again and go easy on the sea salt, just add little bits at a time until you figure it out.

SamuelWilson
02-07-2006, 06:47 PM
I want to add that I use Celtic Sea Salt (fine ground) in these recipes and it truly makes a difference. If you are using Redmonds or some other brand, I do not think you will get the same result as I am using Celtic Sea Salt.

Apples'nAvos
02-07-2006, 07:00 PM
... i am not SamuelWilson but let me try... *clears throat..... in a manly tone*, "EVOO is Extra Virgin Olive Oil".... ahem!! :p

You had me cracking up LOUDLY with that one, Aisah! :)

Thanks for the reponses about EVOO guys - I knew that it had to be something that I was probably using on an everyday basis, but ...aaaahh... well .. my brain was just not making the connection!

Oh - and thanks for the response about the marinading time - I would have done it overnight and probably spoilt it. No prob - will marinate it in the afternoon then and have it for dinner instead of lunch.

:D

SamuelWilson
02-07-2006, 07:08 PM
Jinx, thanks for answering Apples'nAvos question about EVOO.

Rawadventures, thanks for your kind words. I need to come to Jacksonville and check out Native Sun Natural Foods Market on San Jose Boulevard. I am guessing you shop there a lot.

Rawadventures
02-07-2006, 07:15 PM
Samuel,

Yes, I do shop there whenever I can. I love that store. I love thier juice bar too! They are opening up a new one (supposed to be bigger), near the Old St. Augustine Rd. exit off of 295. I think that opens in March or May... one of those "M" months! :D

I just made a batch of creamy chedder, but did not use Mac nuts. I don't think mine were raw and the last time I made the cheese I was just not thrilled with the "after taste". THIS cheese tastes SO good - even without the macadamia nuts!!!! My dh is picking up some broccoli for me so I will have my broccoli and cheddar... YUM... can't wait!

SamuelWilson
02-07-2006, 07:32 PM
Gad zikes! 66 views and 12 replies and I just posted it a little over an hour ago.

JinxieKat
02-07-2006, 07:36 PM
The least I can do Samuel! I know that I am perfectly happy to answer such questions if it gives your 'creative juices' to keep flowing with all the neat raw food ideas. I can hardly wait till my dehydrator arrives. I think I know what I'm making first.. Broccoli n Cheese, spicey style!

Hehehe! :D


Jinx

Lady Green Jeans
02-07-2006, 07:45 PM
SamuelWilson,

Soon as I saw your name, had to check out the recipe. Sounds really great. Question regarding the marinade. Do you pitch it or is there enough to save in the fridge for a future use?

SamuelWilson
02-07-2006, 07:49 PM
Lady Green Jeans, if you are going to marinate something immediately after you marinate the broccoli, you can probably reuse it. However, I do not reuse marinade.

I have a method to marinate 4 cups of broccoli with only 2 cups of oil. I realize that EVOO is expensive so I explained this method so you can be as efficient as possible.

Doe
02-07-2006, 08:04 PM
Lady Green Jeans,

I have saved marinade in the freezer and reused it several times. It actually seems to have more flavor. I've never done broccoli, usually mushrooms. Anyhow, thought I'd let you know.

Teri S

Rawmney
02-07-2006, 09:04 PM
Samuel Wilson, you are a brave man to take on those habaneros!

I don't even like broccoli and were it not about 30 degrees out, I'd be off to the store RIGHT NOW to go get some and get this started.

Enjoyed your story of eating things our of the dehydrator. Few of my potato chips survived their time yesterday. I think we could have a whole thread on "meals I have eaten before they were fully dehydrated."

Thanks as always!
Rawmney

Doe
02-07-2006, 09:09 PM
Samuel, that does look just like cheese sauce. It's amazing how you will decide what you want then create it.

Teri S

Nini
02-07-2006, 10:47 PM
SW, you're the man.

Incredible recipe and pics. Thanks for all you do!

SamuelWilson
02-07-2006, 11:12 PM
Rawmney, Doe, and Nini, thanks so much for the positive feedback. I really do like this recipe. I look forward to fixing it again.

PICOHEALTH
02-08-2006, 08:12 PM
I am going to do this - can I marry you and take you home?

raven
02-09-2006, 12:19 PM
looks great! i will definitely try this recipe.

suzy