Super Broccoli [Salad] to the Rescue!

Super Broccoli was my alter ego all through my teaching career. My sidekick was "Super Zucchini" that was a petrified 5'3" jumbo zucchini that had been given to me by a Toronto restauranteur. Super Zucchini joined many class photos through the years, sometimes with a blonde wig.

As a retired teacher volunteering in a local Grade 1 classroom I used to use the little "Super Broccoli" stuffy to encourage the students to eat healthily. They knew that Super Broccoli would only visit at their desk with them during nutrition break if they had brought "healthy food" for their lunch or snack. That inevitably led to a discussion of what "constituted" a healthy food....I usually defined it as something that grew and was harvested [carrots, oranges etc.] as opposed to something "processed" like potato chips.

I just created this fabulous broccoli salad tonight and I just love the combination of sugar free bacon, pomegranate arils and the broccoli along with red onion and sliced almonds.

Ingredients

• 6 cups broccoli florets chopped [about 2 crowns]

• 2/3 cup red onion-finely chopped

• 8 slices sugar free bacon - cooked and crumbled

  [I cooked the bacon in a 400F oven for 16-18 minutes]

• pomegranate arils [seeds] from 1 pomegranate

• 1/2 cup sliced almonds

Dressing

[You can create your own using the ingredients below or you can use paleo store bought ranch dressing such as that from Primal Kitchen]

• 3/4 cup avocado mayo

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1/2 tsp onion powder

• 1/2 tsp garlilc powder

• 1 tsp dried chives

• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

• 1/4 tsp pepper

• sea salt to taste

Instructions

1. In a large bowl combine the broccoli, onion, cooked and crumbled bacon, pomegranate arils and sliced almonds.

2. Whisk together dressing ingredients if creating your own, or use store bought paleo dressing.

3. Toss the dressing with the broccoli mixture, cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes to 1 hour before serving. This allows the dressing to settle into the broccoli for the best flavour. You can also dress the salad up to 8 hours before serving, keeping it covered in the refrigerator