Easiest Tip Yet

If you read or listen to every diet that comes along you get a lot of contradictory information with one exception. The ones that aren't just stupid ideas have one thing in common - they have you eat more veggies.

So here you are and you know you need to eat more veggies but you're not excited about that because you cook boring veggies. Let's face it - you suck at making veggies. Don't despair! You just haven't had much practice.

What you don't need as a tip is cheese sauces. That isn't what is meant by eat more veggies. What you Do need to add to your repertoire is herbs and spices and - if need be- salsa.

Let me introduce you to pan steaming. What that is is a saute - steam crossover technique. What it gives you is an opportunity to add a lot of flavor without a bunch of fat and dairy.

This is what you do. Start your veggies in a hot pan with a little olive oil. Lets say you have broccolli florets. You toss them in the hot pan,  keeping them moving for a minute or two. Now you get to have fun. I like to "deglaze" the pan with a little good quality vinegar first and add whatever herbs I'm feeling like. With broccolli you can use whatever from something simple like basil and garlic and then water to steam to something spicy like some good curry and a little coconut milk that you just let cook for a while on medium low.

For the steaming add 1/2 cup of water to the pan and cover and let it steam for 5 minutes or so until it is as tender as you like it.

This works for virtually any veggie that is a little hard in texture.

For other stuff try grilling on your gas grill. That works great for asparagus, zucchini and even mushrooms. A little misting with olive oil and a dusting of salt and pepper and a few minutes on a hot grill and man they are good!

Roasting root veggies in the oven is another way to concentrate the flavors as well as is braising them in a veggie stock.

Put the time into thoughtful preparation of your veggies and there is no reason they won't rock like your special meat dishes you are so good at.

Be well and more soon....