Broccoli wasn’t commercially harvested in the U.S. until the late 1920s. Incorporating it into the American diet took a bit longer. Consider this Carl Rose cartoon from the Dec. 8, 1928 edition of The New Yorker:
These days, we’d understand an education campaign was necessary to correct these problems. Sadly, most broccoli advertising during the last century, to the extent there was any, often did not take that form.
Particularly in the 1950s and 60s.
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A family recipe provided by Jennifer Kiel of Washington, DC, from her mother-in-law’s collection, started in Kent, Ohio. |
Chicken-Broccoli Casserole
Six whole chicken breasts
One medium sized onion
Juice of one lemon
4 Tbsp. butter
4 Tbsp. flour
Salt, pepper to taste
One can chicken soup
3 Tbsp. dry sherry
1/2 cup half and half
3 (10 oz.) packages frozen broccoli spears, cooked
1/2 cup slivered blanched almonds
Grated Parmesan cheese
Paprika
Simmer chicken and onion in water to cover, with lemon juice, until chicken is tender. Cool and remove meat from bones; dice in fairly large pieces. Reserve 2 cups of the broth.
Melt butter in saucepan; stir in flour. Gradually add chicken broth; cook, stirring until thickened. Stir in salt, pepper, undiluted soup, sherry and half and half.
Place well-drained broccoli spears in layer in an 8×12″ baking dish. Cover with half the sauce; top with chicken; cover with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with almonds and Parmesan cheese and add sprinkling of paprika. Bake at 325 degrees for one hour. Serves 6 to 8.