A Big Bowl of Comfort
This recipe is a whole bunch of random, y’all. Roasted broccoli, potatoes, and chickpeas with a honey-dijon dressing, topped with Honeycrisp apples and melted cheddar cheese.
I’m not going to lie. I had a craving and I went with it. It turned out just as I imagined too; warm, comforting, and satisfying.
But what in the world do you call a dish like this?
I still don’t know, hence the title above.
I’m going to go ahead and blame my random cravings on the fact that I turn 30 tomorrow. The child in me asked for cheesy comfort food with sweet Honeycrisps and I obliged.
Even though it might sound like it, I’m not upset about saying goodbye to my 20’s. I’m actually really excited for what the next decade holds.
New aches and pains. A baseline mammogram. More grey hair. Oh my…I’m only kidding. It really will be great. Better than great!
As long as I keep squeezing in a little green with my comfort food then I think I ought to hold up okay, right?
I’m not sure exactly what’s on the agenda for my birthday but I do know that I’ll be taking a day off from the kitchen to let someone else do the cooking for a change. If it’s one lesson I need to take with me into my 30’s, it’s learning to take time to relax and enjoy life a little more.
So wherever you are and whatever you find yourself doing this weekend, I hope you take some time to just relax. Whether it be curled up with a good book or a big bowl of comfort food. Happy weekend, friends!
Ingredients
4 cups broccoli florets
4 cups diced red potatoes
1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons high heat oil for roasting (I used sunflower oil)
salt & pepper to taste
2 Honeycrisp apples, diced
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Honey-Dijon Dressing
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon raw honey
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (you can also use a baking dish for roasting).
- Arrange the potatoes on the baking sheet and toss with one tablespoon of oil and salt & pepper. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
- Remove the potatoes from the oven then add the chickpeas and toss with 1/2 tablespoon of oil. Then place them back in the oven to cook for 10 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the oven and then add the broccoli. If it doesn’t fit then you can just place it on a separate baking dish and leave the potatoes and chickpeas in the oven. Roast the broccoli for 20 minutes while allowing the potatoes and chickpeas to continue to cook as well.
- Meanwhile prepare the dressing and dice the apples. Once the veggies are done, distribute them into separate bowls and turn the oven to broil. Top the bowls with the dressing and apples, sprinkle with cheddar cheese and then place them on a cookie sheet to be put in the oven for about 3 minutes so that the cheese melts. Alternatively you can microwave them for 30 seconds to melt the cheese. If you opted to broil them, be sure to handle the bowls with mitts. Serve warm and dig in!
Happy birthday, Sarah. I am glad you are taking time out to relax. I am still learning to do that at age 70!
I know you will find a wonderful restaurant to go to. I always drool over the places you find for incredible meals. FL does not offer those unique places…at least that I have found.
Have a great birthday week end!
Thank you Carolyn! Yes, I do have the advantage of amazing restaurants here! I can’t deny that. I hope you had a wonderful weekend as well! :)
Happy happy birthday Sarah!! I hope you have a fabulous weekend!!
Thank you so much Melissa! I had a great birthday. I hope you had a wonderful weekend as well! :)
ohmygod that looks perfect! It’s cold here right now, so I need a big bowl of that. Have a great weekend and happy birthday!!
LOL, I love the name of this! It looks like a big ol’ bowl of veggie mac ‘n cheese to me :) I never would have thought to throw these ingredients together but it definitely looks amazing and perfect for fall.
Happy birthday! Hope you have a great weekend celebrating. I turn 30 in Feb. and I’m not even the least bit sad about it. Our 30s will be awesome :-)
That’s the spirit!! :)
Happy Birthday, Sarah! I hope you have a great relaxing weekend. I’m glad you’re taking the day off from cooking! Definitely let someone else do it for you. :)
This bowl of roasted veggies definitely looks comforting. I think I’ll have to give it a try next week. I love every ingredient in that list.
Happy Happy Birthday!
Loving all the flavors in this – and textures too! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!
I love a random bowl of goodness like this. I hope you have a fabulous birthday!!
Happy Birthday Sarah! You are much braver than me when I turned 30. I think I hid in my closet for 2 days. ;) Enjoy being spoiled!
You did not! ;)
Thank you for the well wishes. It was a great birthday! :)
I’d say you came up with the perfect title — this dish DOES look like a big bowl of comfort. And I love that you’re looking forward to your 30’s instead of dreading them. I feel the same way and would actually never want to go back to my younger years with all their uncertainties and insecurities. I hope you have an amazing birthday weekend, Sarah :)
Happy Birthday!!! Hope you have a great day, and yes NO COOKING for you!!
Hooray for apples! I love fall. Happy Birthday!!
Happy Birthday! :) And that looks very appetizing, esp seeing as I am hungry at the moment. Have a great weekend!
Thanks Mercy! I hope you had a nice weekend too! :)
Ahhh, this looks amazing and SO comforting! I want to dive right in! Thanks for stopping by my blog and keep in touch!
Happy birthday love! This looks BEYOND amazing. I’m a huge roasted broccoli fan, and who doesn’t love a juice honeycrisp with some melty chedda? Wahoo!!
First, I love the name of this! It sounds delicious – apples and cheddar are soooo good!
Second, happy happy birthday friend! Welcome to the 30s club :) Not that I’ve been here long but so far it’s pretty great! lol
Happy Belated birthday :) <3 Welcome to the 30s!
We’re still young :) I hope you had a nice birthday, Sarah. I’m sure Brandon made you happy :) A bowl of comfort sounds right, no reason to come up with along fancy name when you have a dish so well presented and photographed.
I just made this for lunch and I LOVED it! The dressing was delicious also! I think I will use the rest on my salads for the week. I definitely expect this lunch to be a regular repeat on the fall/winter weekends!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Kelli! Thank you for letting me know. :)
I am extremely pleased with this dish. It came out so delicious… and it was so easy to make! Thank you so much!
Thanks Allie! It’s one of my favorites but I cringe when I look at the pictures, haha! I’m glad you could see past that and give it a try. :)