Suddenly the little ones were seated in one place instead of whizzing back and forth under foot and the bickering and screeching made way to happy babbling and laughter as everyone got busy doing something useful and feeling good about it. Now the atmosphere lulled to a peaceful pace and my heart began to beat with calm and love.
A perfect Pesach indeed!
I’ve improved on this idea since by preparing the kitchen table as soon as I get into my Pesach kitchen instead of waiting for the scenario I’ve described above to unfold. I also make sure to keep those nutcrackers in close vicinity so as not to lose time (or my head) as I once did. And if your vegetables need peeling, add a few peelers as well. Make sure to have one for everyone and they’ll work like magic wands.
Well, thank goodness broccoli doesn’t need peeling and, because of its high vitamin C content, the following recipe can be a great Erev Pesach picker-upper. I’ve kept the ingredients as simple as possible so you can make it quick, without having to make a special trip to the grocery.
And if you use broccoli on Pesach, go ahead and make everyone happy!
Creamy Broccoli Soup
This creamy soup is not only delicious but healthy as well. I love its taste and spectacular color. Simple can be good.
1 large onion
2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed
1-2 tablespoons oil
800 grams broccoli
2 medium zucchini
Water to cover
Salt and pepper to taste
Peel and dice the onion. Sauté in oil in a pot for 3 minutes. Add the garlic, stir and continue to sauté another minute or two. Add the broccoli and steam on a low flame for about 15 minutes.
Peel and slice the zucchini and add to vegetables in the pot. Add water to cover the vegetables and salt and pepper to taste.
Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and cook for half an hour or just until vegetables soften.
Remove from heat and insert a hand blender directly into the pot. Blend until smooth and thick.
Serve piping hot.
Note: Even if you don’t use broccoli on Pesach, or if you simply want to try something different, you can exchange the broccoli with an equal amount of leek or zucchini.
TopTip: If you’re expecting VIPs who might drop by for a holiday meal, serving a bi-colored soup would be soup-reme: Fill half a bowl with broccoli soup and half with orange vegetable soup. Adds interest and health as well!