December 2020

Broccoli Delight was born on a night when I came home from work very hungry and without a plan, and my near-empty fridge came through for me.

It's also a dish that my teenage son claims is the “best thing you make.” While this could be construed as an insult considering how many other things I’ve made for him, I’m pretty sure it’s meant as a compliment, and that what he’s getting at is that pan-roasted broccoli florets bound to one another by melted-crispy sheets of cheese never disappoints.

For creamy, tender roasted fingerlings, we tossed the potatoes with oil and arranged them in a 13 by 9-inch metal baking pan, where they fit snugly in a single layer. Covering the pan with foil to start helped the potatoes steam instead of drying out in the hot oven. Removing the foil and letting the potatoes finish roasting uncovered allowed them to brown for more flavor. Shaking the pan halfway through roasting ensured that the browning was even.