Broccoli Dip

Spring has arrived!  I know so many of you are extremely happy about that fact, and don't get me wrong...there is nothing like a perfect spring day, but my family and I LOVED all the snow this winter.  We had so much fun! The fires, the food, the snow fun, all the wet clothes constantly about, the board games, the sledding!  I personally was hoping for just one more big storm, so we could go "extreme" sledding again, since we found some amazing sledding spots this year.

Spring gets everyone outside and moving.  We run/walk/bike, we get our properties cleaned up and our gardens in order.

I am a gal who is always on the move.  I talk fast (really fast), I move fast...I never seem to sit still for long. However, last weekend I slipped and fell.  Just a simple slip in my girlfriends kitchen as I was demonstrating how my grandmother had recently fallen when a door hit her...and whoop...a second later I was on my butt. I KNEW I had hurt myself instantly, I had felt my knee kind-of go in two directions as I went down.  Fast forward to today - 6 days later.  I am on crutches and have a knee brace with metal rods down the sides.  I tore my MCL and possibly damaged my ACL.  IF the ACL is damaged, surgery is required but I will not know that for a few weeks.  Apparently my knee is giving my Ortho Doc mixed signals.  Half say the ACL is damages, half say its ok.  He is befuddled and says "I always know whats going on, this time I don't...I'm annoyed". Leave it to me to make his life more interesting, lol!

I will never take my knees, legs or any part of my body being in working order again for granted! The whole crutches thing is SO annoying...How can a gal with 2 kids keep the weight off of a leg?  I can't cook with crutches, food shop, clean, carry anything etc.  I go up and down the stairs on my butt (which my kids find amusing), the simplest of tasks take forever and then after, my knee is killing me.  I keep telling myself the better I do at not using my knee, the quicker this will be behind me.  Don't get me wrong...I will take this situation a million times over rather than something life-threatening to myself, kids or husband. Gladly.  I just never realized how much I would be compromised without the full use of my legs.

Since I will not be able to get outside and exercise as I like to once the weather is nice, I will have to focus on eating a little bit healthier knowing that summer is just around the corner.  So to kick that off, here is a dip that I think is both refreshing and light.  Something I enjoy munching on and don't feel so guilty about.  Its perfect for spring & summer!  I came across the idea for Broccoli-Guac a couple of years ago over on Domestic Fits who was inspired to make it after hearing Chef Ludo Lefebvre speak of making it.  I put my own twist on it and here it is.

Broccoli Dip

3 cups chopped broccoli
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped (if you want heat, leave in some or all of the seeds)
2 stalks green onion, chopped
1-2 cloves garlic, quartered (depending on your preference for garlic)
A big pinch of Kosher salt
Black pepper to taste
A squeeze of lemon
¼ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt

Brink a pot of salted water to a boil and cook your broccoli until its past done and mushy. Drain your broccoli and blot it dry.  Meanwhile, place all other ingredients in your food processor and process until smooth.  Once your broccoli is ready, add it in and pulse until smooth.  Chill and serve when ready with veggies, tortilla chips, pita chips or whatever you like.

Colleen's Notes:  Do I think you can add Asiago or Parmesan cheese to this...yup!  Do I think you can add some perfectly ripe avocado to this...Oh-huh!  Play around with this and let me know what you come up with.

If you like a good dip as much as I do, check out these favorites:  5 Ingredient Hot Onion Dip (the easiest and most addictive hot dip you can possible prep in 5 minutes flat), Greek Feta Dip (this is always a hit) or this 10 Minute Tapenade (so easy and crazy good).