Best Broccoli of Your Life Ingredients: 4 – 5 pounds fresh broccoli (or two large bunches) 3 – 4 cloves garlic, chopped kosher salt freshly ground black pepper olive oil fresh basil leaves (optional) Directions: Preheat the oven to 425. Take 4 to 5 pounds of broccoli, cut into florets, but relatively big ones. It is not necessary to wash them, but if you do, dry them THOROUGHLY – that is key. There is an episode of Julia Child cooking with Jacques Pepin when Pepin revealed he doesn't wash a chicken before putting it in a hot oven: "The heat kills all the germs," he said in his French accent. "If bacteria could survive that oven, it deserves to kill me." By that logic, then, I don't wash my broccoli; I want it to get crispy and brown. Now, put the broccoli on a cookie sheet. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper (5 Tbs olive oil, 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt, 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper, but you can just eyeball). Now add about 1.5 to 2 Tablespoons minced garlic or 4 cloves that are peeled and sliced and toss them in. Roast in the oven 20 to 25 minutes, until crispy-tender and the tips of some of the florets are browned. I shake the pan around a bit, but not sure that's necessary. When it's done, take it out of the oven--and here's where it gets really good--zest a lemon over the broccoli, squeeze the lemon juice over the broccoli, add 1.5 Tbs more olive oil, 3 Tbs toasted pine nuts or almonds, and 1/3 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Optional: add 2 Tbs. julienned fresh basil. You can't miss: the magic combo of the crispy broccoli, the garlic, the lemon and the cheese will make this the best broccoli of your life. I guarantee it; you will go ga-ga. Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 20 - 25 min Level: Easy Serves: 4 servings