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<\/a>Care for a bowl of cheddar and fractal soup?\u00a0\u00a0No thanks?\u00a0 Just what is that strange, dinosaur-like item below?\u00a0 That my friends is a Romanesco broccoli.\u00a0 A gift from Jenny & Rink of Shooting Star Farm<\/a>.\u00a0 Something between a standard broccoli and a cauliflower in flavor.\u00a0 The structure is described as fractal because\u00a0it is built up of one shape that repeats over and over no matter the size.\u00a0 In this case it is self-similarity in spiral\u00a0pyramid form.\u00a0 Like nature’s matryoshka doll I suppose.<\/p>\n \u00a0Romanesco Brocolli, Brocoflower, Roman Cauliflower<\/em><\/p>\n What could be more perfect to\u00a0highlight my first taste of this vegetable than\u00a0in a warm bowl of cheddar soup?\u00a0 I consulted my trusty American Cookery<\/a><\/em>\u00a0book for\u00a0a basic Cheddar soup recipe.\u00a0 With a couple of changes and additions, I came up with something quite delightful.\u00a0 I used shallots instead of onions and I substituted the chicken broth with \u00a0miso paste diluted in water.\u00a0 Before serving, I topped the soup with sliced Jonagold apples, purple potatoes,\u00a0broccoli,\u00a0and bacon of course!<\/p>\n RECIPE<\/strong><\/p>\n Ingredients<\/em><\/p>\n Toppings.<\/p>\n Boil the Romanesco broccoli in some salted water for 2-3 minutes then place it in an ice bath.\u00a0 Boil the potatoes in the same water then fry the bacon.\u00a0 Mash the yellow potato and set aside.\u00a0 It will be use to thicken the soup.\u00a0The apples and purple potatoes can be sliced right before serving.<\/p>\n For the soup.<\/p>\n Gently sweat the onions with the butter in a saucepan until soft.\u00a0 Add the garlic and cook.\u00a0 The mashed yellow potato goes in along with the miso, water, and milk.\u00a0 Simmer for 5 minutes then add the cheese.\u00a0 Stir until everything is melted.\u00a0 Add 1\/2 c. of the chopped Romanesco broccoli and turn the stove off.\u00a0 Add the toppings in the serving bowl and enjoy.\u00a0 If you want to make the meal extra special, start or end it with a shot of Yahara Bay<\/a> Honeycrisp apple brandy.\u00a0 I’m very proud to say that this meal is as local, as regional, and perhaps as good as it can possibly get. \ud83d\ude42 Cheers!<\/p>\n By the way, Driftless Appetite is now on twitter.\u00a0 Please follow us\u00a0if you are a twitterette!\u00a0 Many thanks.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/driftlessappetite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/romanescobroccoli.jpg\" "\\"romanescobroccoli\\"")
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