Roasted Okra

So, since I grew up (and lived the majority of my life) in Colorado, I never really had a chance to eat Okra.  Truth be told, I think the only place you could even get it (in my hometown at least) was at the Bar-b-que Restaurant I happened to work at in high school. I wasn't too keen oin the idea of fried okra though...so I never tried it.  Plus most of the time it was on the buffet line and--let's face it--things are really never at their full potential in those lines.

Then, we moved to the south, and all that changed.  Okra was everywhere, from the grocery stores to farmers markets to just about every stinkin' restaurant.  So, I gave in and tried some once.  Then had to try it again, and just to be sure I gave it fair trial I had it a third, and forth, and...well....you get it.  I love fried okra!  Crazy huh?  Funny, thing is...I thought I just liked it because it was fried.  I was wrong!  I guess I like the taste of okra itself because when I bought some at the farmers market last weekend and roasted it...it was like a little bit of heaven in my mouth AND tasted almost the same as the fried kind.  Not slimy, not squishy...just perfect okra-ness! Yum!  I can't wait to get more this weekend in fact! :)

Super simple too....
Okra, green or purple
Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Coarse Pepper


Slice up okra into 3/8-1/2 inch pieces.  Toss with Olive Oil, Sea Salt and Coarse Pepper.  Roast (bake) in 425 degree oven for ~8 minutes turning halfway through.  Serve hot, but be careful because they are hot!  And yummy.  :)

Our Easter Dinner 2012

Happy Easter!  Hope you all are getting to enjoy Resurrection Sunday with your family and/or friends!  Since we couldn't spend our with family, we had a couple of friends over for an Easter Dinner after Church.  We ate  food, talked and also played some Pictionary Man, so it was a great time had by all.  Here's what I served...

 You also get a glimpse into my (rather cluttered but it works) kitchen and, for today, buffet line.

 Roasted veggies.  (Summer squash, Zucchini, Onions, Carrots and Garlic with a ~ 1t. EVOO drizzled over then and sprinkled with touch of 21 Seasoning Salute from Trader Joes.  Roasted for ~1 hour at 375 degrees.)

 Hasselback Potatoes (although I baked these for 1 hr. at 375 today instead of microwaving them like my recipe), and Baked Chicken breasts with 21 Seasoning Salute.

 7 Layer Salad.  (Secret family recipe.  Soooo good.  I can hardly ever get enough!  In fact, I'm gonna go have some more...)

 Fresh Squeezed Lemonade in my new Mason Jar Style Drink Dispenser from World Market.  (You can see it here.)  I'm a little nervous abotu the spout because it's just plastic, but hopefully it will be fine.  Love the look, love the glass, loved the price and had been eyeing them elsewhere in the past...

I also served Hot Cross Buns (what Easter Dinner is complete without them?) and a Trifle of layered homemade chocolate cake, strawberries and cool whip (forgot to get a pic of it though.)  Oh and I made a sugar egg this year, as pictured above, a couple weeks ago.  I realized it wasn't nearly as fun to make them without my Mom though. :(

We had a great morning at Church celebrating the fact that He is risen and a good lunch with friends.  Hope you all are having a happy Easter too!  :)