PAT Broccoli, broccoli, broccoli! We love this simple vegetable. Nothing is easier than blanching broccoli, and once this delicious dressing—a little sweet, a little savory, a little sour, and a little spicy—is added, the transportable dish becomes super-duper. As Gina always says, “A great dressing is like a great handbag and shoes. It makes the whole outfit look (taste) perfect.”

　　

Ingredients

serves 4 to 6

　　Kosher salt

　　6 cups broccoli florets

　　2 tablespoons honey

　　3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar

　　1 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes

　　Freshly ground black pepper

　　1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

　　6 slices bacon, cooked, crumbled

　　1/2 small red onion, chopped

　　1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted

　　1/2 cup dried cranberries

　　

Step 1

Prepare a large pot of boiling salted water and a large bowl of ice water. Blanch the broccoli in the boiling water until tender-crisp and bright green, about 1 minute. Drop the broccoli immediately into the ice water to stop the cooking. Drain, and dry well.

　　

Step 2

Whisk together the honey, vinegar, red-pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Slowly add the olive oil, whisking to emulsify. Add the broccoli, bacon, red onion, almonds, and cranberries, and toss well to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and let the salad marinate and chill for 2 hours before serving.

　　Reprinted with permission from The Neelys' Celebration Cookbook by Pat and Gina Nelly. Copyright © 2011 by Pat and Gina Nelly with Anna Volkwein. Excerpted by permission of Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.Pat and Gina Neely are restaurateurs, best-selling authors, popular speakers, and hosts of the Food Network hit series Down Home with the Neelys. They recently opened their first New York City restaurant, Neely's Barbecue Parlor. They live with their daughters in Memphis, where they enjoy cooking at home with family and friends.Ann Volkwein is a best-selling food and lifestyle author based in New York City and Austin, Texas. Her previous books include: The Arthur Avenue Cookbook, Chinatown New York, Mixt Greens (with Andrew Swallow), and, with Guy Fieri: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives; More Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives; and Guy Fieri Food.