help with veggies!

Broccoli is one of my favorites, I like it steamed with salt and pepper. Use sweet potatoes in place of white ones, the sweet potato is versatile and a slow burning carb. I love cabbage cooked in a skillet with some ginger and garlic, let it wilt and then dash soy sauce over it and let it absorb some of the flavor. I can eat an entire head of cabbage that way. You can fix fresh green beans the same way and they are amazing as well.

Puree cooked veggies and mix into mashed potatoes, if scared, start with just a bit and slowky build to 1/3 or so, even more. Veggies that work well include:

Butternut squash. Makes slightly sweater and gived golden color
Spinach. Beautiful green color, works esp. well when serving salmon
That parsnip would be amazing too, lovely sweet flavor, not "rooty" at all

Also, just commit to try different veggies. Every week pick a new seasonal veggie, google recipes and go for it. My newly found new veggies include garlic scapes (make pesto with them), beets ( roasted like you roast potatoes or cooled and served with spinach walnut salad like one often does pear), and bok choi ( google way to serve with garlic or oyster sauce). I will admit that I also got to know which veggies I just do not like ( jerusalem artichoke!), but it was worth the experiment

I love my veggies! (I'm also a carnivore too) and love making them a dish of their own rather than just limply plonked on the side of the plate for token's sake.

Here's a few recipes that make veggies extra special, I've used the same website (BBC Good Food- it's awesome!!) for convenience. The nutrition values and portions are on there too.

Fennel Bulbs:

Creamy Fennel Gratin: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4784/fennel-gratin
Broad Bean & Fennel Salad: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/11325/broad-bean-and-fennel-salad
Barbequed Fennel with black olive dressing: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2358658/barbecued-fennel-with-black-olive-dressing.

Broccoli:

Broccoli with sesame seeds, peas & honey: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/164617/broccoli-and-peas-with-sesame-seeds-soy-and-honey
Stir fried Broccoli with coconut: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1852642/stirfried-broccoli-with-coconut
Brocolli stuffed baked potatoes: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/12689/broccoli-baked-potatoes

Carrot:

Sweet potato & Carrot gratin: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2751666/baked-carrot-and-sweet-potato-mash
Vietnamese carrot salad: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/9313/vietnamese-carrot-salad
Sticky carrots with thyme and honey: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/893653/sticky-carrots-with-thyme-and-honey

Red Cabbage:

Braised red cabbage with beetroot & apples: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4385/braised-red-cabbage-with-beetroot-and-apples
Red cabbage with blue cheese and bacon: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1826703/red-cabbage-salad
Red Cabbage 'detox' salad: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1314/dagmars-detox-salad

Butternut Squash/Pumpkins

Spiced glazed roast squash: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4137/spiced-glazed-squash
Roast Butternut with chilli & Sage breadcrumbs: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5260/roasted-squash-with-chilli-and-sage-crumbs
Pumpkin and chickpea (Garbanzo) Curry: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/7732/pumpkin-curry-with-chickpeas

Aubergine/Eggplant (UK/US- same vegetable!)

Aubergine & Houmous Grills: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4016/aubergine-and-houmous-grills
Roasted Aubergine with pomegranites and parsley: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/12282/roasted-aubergine-with-pomegranates-and-parsley

Spinach:

Creamed Spinach: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/74604/creamed-spinach
Spinach with toasted pine nuts & Garlic: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2943/spinach-with-pine-nuts-and-garlic
Indian Spinach Dumplings: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3878/indian-spinach-dumplings-with-yogurt-sauce

Kale:

Chinese style kale: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5138/chinesestyle-kale
Kale with chorizo & almonds: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8140/chorizo-with-buttered-kale-and-roasted-almonds
Kale Pesto: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2872687/kale-pesto

Courgette/Zucchini (UK/US- same vegetable again!)

Quinoa, courgette & Feta salad: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/666660/quinoa-courgette-and-feta-salad
Courgette, Tomato & Swiss cheese gratin: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/6341/courgette-tomato-and-gruyre-gratin
Courgette fritters: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4650/courgette-fritters
Courgette & Feta cakes: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3774/courgette-and-feta-cakes-with-dill-yoghurt-sauce

Bell Peppers:

Pepperonata: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/740657/pork-escalopes-with-peperonata
Turkish baked eggs & Peppers: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1263668/turkish-onepan-eggs-and-peppers-menemen
Roasted peppers with black beans: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1393/peppers-with-black-beans-
Italian stuffed peppers: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2499647/piedmontese-peppers

Chicory/Endive

Chicory & Orange salad with ginger dressing: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1387/chicory-and-orange-salad-with-ginger-dressing
Chicory, pear & hazelnut salad: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1467/red-chicory-pear-and-hazelnut-salad
Braised Chicory with cider & bacon: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4070/chicory-braised-with-bacon-cider-and-garlic

Peas

Broad beans and peas with mint butter: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1397634/broad-beans-and-peas-with-mint-butter
Braised peas with lettuce: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4366/braised-peas-with-lettuce
Pease with roasted onions: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1805653/peas-with-roasted-shallots

Leeks

Cheesy ham wrapped leeks: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2699/cheesy-leeks-and-ham-
Creamed baked leeks with cirtus crumbs: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/13246/creamy-baked-leeks-with-citrus-crumbs
Braised leeks with apples: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1959661/braised-leeks-and-apples