Broccoli with Fried Breadcrumbs

Ingredients:

12 cups water

2 Tablespoons salt

8 cups fresh broccoli, (measured after it was cut into cut into 1 inch pieces)

2 Tablespoons  butter

1 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs

2 teaspoons olive oil

2 teaspoons butter

1 clove of garlic, smashed

1 teaspoon Worcestershire or soy sauce

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Pinch red pepper flakes

1 roasted red pepper from a jar, cut into ½ inch pieces

Directions:

Heat water and 2 TB salt in a large pot to boiling. Add the broccoli and blanch for 3 minutes. Drain into a colander and immediately rinse in cold water. Drain well and reserve.  Heat 1 TB butter in a large skillet until melted and add bread crumbs. Cook over medium, stirring constantly, until lightly browned (if they look too dry, add a splash of olive oil-you are looking for a sand-like texture here). Remove from skillet and reserve. Wipe out the skillet and add in 2 teaspoons olive oil and 2 teaspoons butter. Cook until butter is melted and add garlic clove. Cook on medium until garlic is just golden and remove and discard garlic. Move heat up to medium high and add  the drained broccoli, Worcestershire, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Stir fry for 10 minutes. Add in roasted red pepper and stir well. Remove all to a large bowl and top with bread crumbs.

Get creative on me: Boy, I can really see throwing some frozen pearl onions in with the broccoli. Maybe some parmesan in with the bread crumbs after they are fried. Tossing the whole shebang with some small cut pasta like orechiette or farfalle would make a great meal. Adding some herb seasoning to the broccoli would be lovely, too.