Monday, April 4, 2016

Broccoli Cheddar Quinoa Casserole

It's that time of the month again,  our Secret Recipe Club reveal.

Broccoli Bake

The Secret Recipe Club are a bunch of bloggers, divided into four groups, A, B, C and D.  Each group makes a recipe from an assigned blog within their group and then has to keep it a secret until their particular group's reveal day.
I'm in Group A, and our reveal day is the first Monday of the month, Group B gets the second Monday, Group C the third Monday and Group D,  gets the last or rather the fourth Monday.   And if we're in a month with five Mondays, we generally make a themed reveal in which anyone from any of the four groups can post a recipe.  We are assigned a blog to make a recipe from as well.  We did that in February, with  our Bunnies and Leprechauns reveal.   I made a Spring Green Risotto which was pretty awesome.

And that's half the fun, stalking another blog, finding all kinds of recipes that sound good, and believe you me, I've found some good ones.

My assigned blog this month was The Wimpy Vegetarian.  Not only is Susan the leader of Group A, but she's also a chef,  a weekly contributor to FoodNetwork FN Dish blog  and Parade Community.
And...
She takes gorgeous pictures.
Very intimidating...
But I don't get intimidated easily.

At least I don't usually admit to it.
 

I had fun going through her blog, and found and bookmarked a few fun recipes for the future.  I wanted to make this one, but it was a Secret Recipe Club dish so I couldn't do it.  And I love, love, love celery root,   and this Celery Root Gratin looked so good and it has horseradish in it as well, and I love horseradish so gee, I'm going to have to make it.  I'm also going to make this dish soon, Spiralized Shoestring Garlic Truffle Fries. And since most of the time I'm all about appetizers, these Jalapeno Mac and Cheese Bites will be making an appearance at one of our many gatherings.  I mean, gee, Mac and Cheese and then you add Jalapeno's? 
Really, with my Mexican food addiction, this is a no brainer.

 But the one that caught my eye was this one.   Broccoli Cheddar Quinoa Casserole Tart
I made it for an Easter Dinner we were invited to, and I was tasked with bringing the vegetable.  Well, I knew that a couple of the people there were not Broccoli lovers so I did make a second veggie, and it's a good thing I did, cause there wasn't much left of the casserole by the time dinner was over.  Even the avowed Broccoli haters ate some.  WOOHOO!!!!  
What's left of Broccoli Cheddar Quinoa Casserole

I elected not to make it with the crust.

So here goes, along with my changes in parenthesis. 


Recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Quinoa Casserole
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and bake for 25 minutes or until the eggs are set.
8x8 inch greased pan

 1/2 cup uncooked Quinoa
1 cup water or vegetable broth
1 green onion or scallion, chopped
4 cups Broccoli, stems and florets, cut into bite size pieces.
2 large eggs
2 cups shredded cheddar (I used an 8 oz block of medium cheddar)
1 cup plain low fat Greek Yoghurt   (I used regular plain Yoghurt and added a couple tablespoons of Creme Fraiche for the tang)
1/4 cup Half and Half
1 tsp. Salt  (I omitted this as we use very little salt and the cheese has salt in it anyway)
1 1/2 tsp. Dijon Mustard  (I used Stone Ground Mustard  Did you know that if you add a little bit of mustard to any dish containing cheese, that it makes it taste cheesier?  )
1 tsp. Fresh minced garlic
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire  (I used 1 tablespoon)
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. Curry Powder  (I omitted the curry and cayenne, I knew a couple of the people there would not like the bite)
1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper

Par-cook the broccoli for about 5 minutes, or do as I did, zap them in the microwave for 2 minutes.  Set aside and let cool.  Cook the quinoa with the green onion according to the instructions, set aside and let cool.
Whisk the eggs, Yoghurt, half and half, Worcestershire Sauce and Mustard together along with the spices. 
Broccoli and Cheese and custard mixture
Add the cheese and cooked quinoa, and stir.   Place the par cooked broccoli in a well greased 8x8 inch pan and  pour the cheddar/egg/quinoa mixture over the broccoli and place in a 400 degree oven and bake for about 25 minutes. 
(Take lots of pictures, discover not one of them is even focused and then hurry up and take picture of the casserole in the oven.)
Broccoli Cheddar Quinoa Casserole
Then, after you take it out, admire it while you try to get an artistic shot.
Broccoli Cheddar Quinoa Casserole
and decide that this is as good as it gets, cause you're expected for dinner shortly and need to pack it  up and get going.

Then take a couple shots of the meal, with the casserole on it.
Turkey dinner with vegetables

 And your plate.
Plate with turkey, broccoli casserole, mashed taters and carrots
All in all., a great success.

This casserole got rave reviews, and it is one I will make again.

BTW, the leftovers, they taste great as a breakfast.  



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Sidsel Munkholm - Author
Sidsel Munkholm - Author

Sid loves to cook, feed people and have fun in the kitchen. She shares her successes and the involuntary offerings she sometimes gives the kitchen goddess as well. And she's still looking for the mythical fairy to help her clean the kitchen after a marathon cooking session. Currently working on a cookbook showcasing the recipes from her Danish heritage.

16 comments:

  1. Looks delicious. I'd eat it for breakfast too =o)

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    1. Who says breakfast has to be breakfast food? This had eggs, and cheese and veggies, and tasted great - for both meals.

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  2. Oh, I know getting her blog can be very intimidating... cooking for the boss, right? ;-)

    you did a great job, and I am here salivating over the photos, this would be a great dinner for tonight!

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    1. You got it, cooking for the boss, yikes!!!! It's all good though. Thanks, this was a great addition to the meal, and one that could stand alone, as a main dish. And it was so good leftover for breakfast. I'm just glad there was some left.

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  3. Love this healthy and modern twist on such a classic dish - great SRC pick

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    1. Thanks. And best of all, this can easily become a main dish, it has it all. Plus great taste.

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  4. Serendipity! I was just trying to think of something interesting to do with the broccoli in the fridge! Looks delicious.

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    Replies
    1. Try it, you'll like it. It was not only easy to make but tasted delicious.

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  5. That looks so good! I love that even the broccoli haters ate it.

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    1. Personally, I think it was the cheese but they did eat it. Which I thought was awfully polite of them.

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  6. I am so glad you mention eating it for breakfast, because I would totally do that. I love Susan's blog, and you picked a really good one! As you know, I got your blog this month and I seriously enjoyed going through it, Sid.

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    1. And why not? This had all the best breakfast elements in it. Susan's blog is great and I've got several recipes bookmarked to make from it.
      Thanks for the kind words on my blog, and I love how you picked one of my newest favourites to make. Three ingredients and so simple, yet roasting the cauliflower transforms it, totally. (side note here, I miss Ralph's, I could always find such fun stuff there.)

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  7. This is the kind of week I've had!!! I'm just now getting around to everyone's posts. I'm not much of a boss right now , lol!! I love that you chose this one to make. It's been one of my most popular posts all year. And even my Carnivorous Maximus husband really liked it. How brave of you to take it to an Easter dinner!!! I'm so glad you guys all liked it :-)

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    1. I thought it was a great recipe, and best of all, a friend actually made it the other day and gave it rave reviews. That's one of the best compliments.
      If you're having a week like mine, take a deep breath, and pause for a moment.
      I really enjoyed your blog, I've got a few bookmarked. To make at a later date.

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  8. Susan is an amazing recipe developer - and blogger. I love all her recipes. Although I'm not a huge quinoa fan, she even manages to make quinoa appetizing. You've made a great SRC choice and done Susan proud with your version. Bravo.

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    1. Thank you. I do like quinoa, and this recipe was delicious. I loved going through Susan's blog and bookmarked a lot of recipes.

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