Do you know someone who “hates” vegetables?
I’ve always had a sneaky suspicion that people who claim they “don’t like vegetables” simply don’t know how to properly cook them. Honestly, would you like vegetables if your veggie repertoire consisted of canned peas, overcooked broccoli, and ketchup?
But, if given my dinner from last night, I’m betting there’d be quite a few converts to the dark veggie-lover’s side!
Veg 1 is my peppers, cooked using the healthy sauté method.
For this particular batch of peppers, I cooked up a big batch the day before, ensuring lots of leftovers. Plus, anything with garlic seems to get more flavorful as time goes by. I’ve learned the hard way to not let chopped garlic sit in the fridge—even if it’s covered! Suddenly, everything in your fridge will take on the garlic-y flavor. That’s not a bad thing as far as savory foods are concerned… but who wants a chocolate-chip muffin with essence of garlic?? Eep.
Delicious veggie #2: Candy! Well, not really, but they’re so sweet and melty that they could be candy.
Roast Veggie “Candy”
- Spices (I use oregano and rosemary)
- raw veggies (I love brussels sprouts for this recipe)
- unrefined coconut oil
- optional, but highly recommended: cinnamon
Roast your veggies, with the first two spices, at 400 degrees (un-preheated) until they’re soft. For my sprouts, it takes around 30-40 minutes. I like to roast ‘em dry and put the coconut oil on right before eating them. But you can coat them in coconut oil first if you’d rather; it’s your call. Also right before eating, sprinkle with the cinnamon.
They’re good warm, but I especially like these veggies straight from the fridge; that way the coconut oil hardens around the sprouts… kinda like a truffle. Candy for dinner! (Be sure to buy unrefined coconut oil. The refined stuff doesn’t have that yummy “coconutty” taste.)
With the red peppers and candy, I also had my favorite-ever pilaf.
Buttery, grain goodness. It was the perfect winter’s-day meal. Never mind that the temperature was in the mid-80s lol. Comfort food is always in season. Oh yeah, as is candy.
So, do you know a veggie-hater?
Or maybe you were a veggie-hater as a kid?
In high school, I had a friend tell me that he could never be a vegan… because the only vegetables he liked were raw onions. He said he ate them like apples. 😕
I wasn’t a veggie hater, but I was absolutely a salad hater. My mom’s salads always were the same thing: blechy limp iceberg lettuce, whole baby carrots, and a glop of ranch dressing (which I hate to this very day!). No wonder I never really enjoyed salads until I got to college and had a real salad bar in front of me every day!
I love the veggieliciousness of your meal, Katie :). And I love how I got to make up a word because no existing words would do that plate justice ;).
My boyfriend is a veggie hater. I am slowly warming him up to them, but he just doesn’t like the texture. It isn’t an issue with taste, just texture! Weirdo.
Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy!
As a kid I only ate a few veggies, but now I eat all of them! There is not too many veggies that I do not like now 😉 Love them all! And I still know a few people that are veggies haters, and I just can’t imagine not liking veggies, LOL They are so good and there are so many ways to eat them.
I want candy! Hahaha now I have that song stuck in my head! 😕
Love ya, Katie!
I lOVE LOVE LOVE VEGGIES!!! I loved ’em as a kid, and I love ’em now 🙂 Even my little sister’s fav food was broccoli, then she moved on to artichokes 🙂
I just bought a new coconut oil today, and it is super coconutt-y! Even if it is unrefined, I find some to be more flavorful than others 🙂
I happen to be eating leftover roasted brussels sprouts at this very moment. They’re one of my favorite things to eat in the Fall. These things are like crack.
These brussels look absolutely amazing 🙂 One of my favorite vegetables but I don’t eat them enough 😛 I’ve had them recently this month but for some reason I rarely buy them!
Anyway I totally agree with you philosophy. People who think “ick” when they think “veg” are really thinking “I hate tasteless overcooked canned boiled blllahhhh” 😀
I had Brussels sprouts once as a child and hated them. But recently they have been calling my name begging me to try them again and give them another chance. You make them look good!
those sauteed brussel sprouts look delishious.
totally spelled that wrong… oops
lol, i feel weird. I loved broccoli as a kid, and i loved brussel sprouts whether they were cooked or not. Although now i have to have something spicy over them– like hot sauce or jalapenos. I’m not sure why lol.
My brother!! He hates all veggies other than potatoes- I swear. We practically have to shove something green down his throat. He’s getting better, though. Oh, and he’s 24 lmho
How nice it is to find a fellow brussels fan, and I see from the comments there are more of us… YAY!!! I have never thought of roasting them, thanks for sharing Katie.
Aw you are so welcome :).
P.S. I’ll answer your sweet email tomorrow when I have time to give it more attention like it deserves!
I have done posts about moms being sneaky w/ food to get their kids to eat it (not good IMO in the long run b/c who’s gonna sneak pureed spinach into the spaghetti sauce when the kid moves out) and also posts on picky eaters and why this happens…is it genetic, is it the parents not offering choices, why does this happen and what to do about it as a parent? Food for thought….
And then veggies as candy…oh roasted beets with a little evoo and ginger are like candy. Seriously so sweet and perfect…I love them!