Sprouts are not just for Christmas

Brown rice risotto - with leeks, mushrooms and broccoli - with brussels sprouts and hazelnuts

It all sounds very worthy - but bloody hell, it tasted fabulous.

Brown rice leek and mushroom
risotto

olive oil
leeks, washed and chopped
brown rice
mushrooms, chopped
vegetable stock
garlic
broccoli
fried onions

Brussel sprouts and hazelnuts

Butter
Sprouts shredded
hazelnuts, roughly chopped

1.  Sautee leeks in olive oil, until soft.
2. Add rice (I used brown rice, which means about twice the time of white rice) and some stock, simmer.
3. Add chopped mushrooms and garlic, simmer - keep on a medium heat.
4.  Keep an eye on the pan, add some water/stock when it is going dry.
5.  After about 20 minutes, add broccoli florets to steam on the top.

Brussel sprouts

1,  In a frying pan - melt a good know of butter, with a tbsp of olive oil
2.  Add shredded brussel sprouts, toss for a minute of two.
3. Add chopped hazelnuts.
4. Toss mixture together - don't burn it - but dont serve it cold :)

Vegetable crumble

Sauteed onion, added cauliflower (well, romanesco actually, but any old cauli would be fine) and brocolli in small pieces.  Added glass of water and put the lid on for 5 minutes to let them soften a bit.  Then stir in tablespoon of flour and enough soya milk to make a white sauce.  The add unfeasibly large handful of grated cheese - cheddar and parmesan today - but some mozarella would add amusing stringiness, season.  Transfer mixture to baking dish and add topping.  Topping - crush crackers left over from Christmas/ dinner parties, and handful of oats, small handful of pine nuts and some chopped basil.  Stir in a few glugs of olive oil and season.  Bake for 20mins or so.  Meanwhile fry onions with green beans for 5 minutes, add crushed garlic (actually, don't this made it a bit bitter) and cherry tomatoes.  Season well.  Steam some cavolo nero (yum yum - victim doesn't like this - go figure! - but I do, so it makes another appearance).  Serve - observe appearnace is somewhat uninspiring - scoff - tastes significantly better than it looks.  Victim said - where's me dinner?  there's no meat! - but having eaten the lot requested that we have it again soon.

Potato bake and vegetable cheese

Why should cauliflower have all the fun?  Sliced, and layered potato, onions and bacon pieces - olive oil on the bottom, seasoned between layers and poured in pint of chicken stock.  In medium/hot oven for an hour or so.  Steamed carrots, runner beans and brocolli florets.  Made cheese sauce with mustard, soya milk, cream cheese, cheddar and parmesan.  Victim had seconds, and then stole a bit more.  Not the most calorie free dinner, but very tasty.

Steak and spring vegetable medley

Steam whatever veg is around - I used tender stem brocolli and green beans.  Fried a finely sliced onion in a dribble of olive oil, added steak and browned, added mushrooms.  Stir for a couple of minutes and chopped mushrooms.  Stir again for a couple of minutes, tip in veg and sauce (spoonful of tomato puree, splodge of american mustard, Lea and Perrins, black pepper - let down with the same volume of water, stir until smooth).  Bubble mixture for a couple of minutes to ensure that the tomato paste is fully heated through, then chuck in big handful of spinach.  Served on a few raw spinach leaves.  Kind of an English stir fry.

Chicken paella with brocolli spears

Chicken and veg paella, with some sprouting brocolli steam over the top - simples :)  presentation still rubbish, but tasted good - even made stressed victim smile.