Eat your Broccoli

 ​This year has been a tough year for our broccoli plants.  We got them out early, and they were flourishing, then the dry weather.  No matter how much we watered they haven't produced any florets.  Our gardening friends nearby have the same problem.  What to do with big beautiful leaves and no florets you ask?  Don't just throw them to the chickens or put them in your compost pile, cook with them.  

My husband Jim and I decided we would eat the leaves. To our surprise we found the leaves to be very tender and have a good flavor.  There are many recipes for broccoli leaves, but we eat them sauteed just like we make our kale.  Use the more tender leaves, wash, chop and cook in a little butter or oil, add  garlic, pepper and cayenne.  The leaves are packed with vitamins A, K and C.  

Another good way to use your broccoli leaves is to make broccoli leaf chips just like you make kale chips only use broccoli leaves instead of kale leaves.  Wash leaves, I tear into smaller pieces and take out the large stem down the middle of the leaf.  The stem can be tough when cooked.  I put the leaf pieces in a large zip plastic bag and add olive oil, salt ( if you use it), garlic and parmesan cheese .  Zip the bag shut, shake well to coat the leaf pieces.  Bake in a 425 degree oven until crisp.  This only takes a few minutes, you need to watch them closely. They make a great snack. 
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Hope you find many new uses for your broccoli leaves.