A medley of fresh vegetables cooked until melt in your mouth tender is a great dish to have on hand. I love cooking this dish. I am sure I am not alone when I say that I attach food memories to dishes. This dish always makes me think fondly of my Grandmother and the first time that it was made for her.
After my D-I-V-O-R-C-E I was single for a very long time and determined to choose a better partner than the first. My Grandmother Theda Faye never liked my first husband from the beginning. She obviously knew something that I didn’t.
When my second husband and I were dating, I introduced him to my Granny first. I wanted to make sure that he passed the Granny test. My beau decided that he would cook a meal for Granny and I. He wanted to butter her up so to speak. There was no opportunity to ply her with wine because my Granny rarely drank alcohol.
My beau knew he was up for Granny-scrutiny. He went all out and cooked a fabulous meal. Roast, Irish Potato Casserole and Vegetable Medley. He even made his Grandmother’s recipe, Out of this World Salad. Mrs W’s salad was far from being a salad and more like a dessert. I agree it is out-of-this-world delicious.
In the rush of preparing the meal, he worked on two dishes at the same time. In his haste, he grabbed the coarse black-pepper to use in the Irish potato casserole but instead shook it over the salad that is really a dessert. The plastic lid to the black pepper fell off and dumped the lot of black pepper into the dessert. I will allow you to form your own conclusions about which words came out after that occurred.
As all cooks know at one time or another, it all falls apart. You have to remember to stay calm. Focus on task at hand and pause to figure out the best solutions. In his case, it was a quick attempt to scoop out the black pepper, pick up where he left off and open the wine. Wine is a good problem solver at times.
He impressed my Grandmother that he could cook. He won her over for sure. Granny gave him the thumbs up. Granny knew what I know, a man who knows his way around the kitchen and grill is great find. If you have one that washes dishes occasionally it’s even better.
In our attempt to honor my goal for losing weight and cooking healthier this year, it was time to cook a vegetable medley. This is a method that we use often in our house as a great side dish for when you have company or to use at multiple meals. Wash, prepare and throw into a casserole dish until time to go in the oven.
We use fresh vegetables when we make this dish. The vegetable medley assortment is easy to change to add in your favorites. The marriage of different fresh vegetables together is heavenly and healthy. How can you go wrong with that combo?
I tried to shout out to Alexa for this song but she did not have it. What? Check out the video version for Kristy Lee’s great rendition of Bill Wither’s Grandma’s Hands. I wish I could hold my Granny’s hands today.
Here’s to all the Grands that have loved and cared for us! Here’s to the time that you may spend with yours while they are here.
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 8-10 People | 20 Minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 45 -50 Minutes |
|
|
|
|
A medley of assorted Brussel Sprouts, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Onion, Garlic and spices cooked in the oven until melt in your mouth tender.
|
- 1 Pound Brussel Sprouts Fresh
- 1 1/2 Cups Carrots Sliced
- 1 Onion
- 2 White Sweet Potatoes raw Sliced
- 4 Garlic Toes Minced
- 1 Cup Water
- 2 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1/8 Cup olive oil
- 10 Turns Black Peppercorns Fresh Ground
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- Preheat oven to 350. Place brussel sprouts in colander. Using a paring knife remove the ends and wash well. Place sprouts in large 4 quart glass oven dish.
- Add in carrots to brussel sprouts and scatter about evenly.
- Wash onion. With Knife remove end and cut in half. Remove outer layer and toss. With knife cut a large chop. Scatter onions in the dish.
- Wash sweet potato well. With a large knife cut a large chop and scatter about dish.
- Scatter the garlic evenly as well. In measuring glass add water, olive oil and italian seasoning. Stir well and then pour over the vegetables.
- Grind black pepper evenly over vegetables. Sprinkle salt over vegetables.
- Place foil over container and bake in oven for 45 minutes or until tender.
- Lagniappe: This is a healthy dish to serve as side next to most proteins. Add in other vegetables for different variety and create your own medley.
Another one of Tracey’s (Mimi’s) wonderful savory gifts. For three years she and her Grill Man were my best friends and cooking partners. She regularly turned the prep time into a celebration and the dishes into blessings that I remember fondly. Miles separate us now but my heart and my palate are still there at “the Porches” with you.
Please know that the miles certainly impact our ability to see you and your bride frequently but they in no way effect your place in our hearts. You always have a room on reserve at the Porches. Thank you for the kind words. I miss the cooking that we all shared in together. Those memories are special and hard to beat. We must organize a trip to your lovely place today. It has been too long, my friend.