Broccoli Salad with Almonds and Raisins!

Raw broccoli has never been one of our family favorites.  Inevitably, any time I set a platter of fresh vegetables out for a family get together, those little green monsters would never get eaten.

I could roast them, fry them up in stir-fry, or put them in a casserole, and all was good.  But raw?  No- never raw!

So, you can imagine the look on hubby's face yesterday, when I announced I was making a broccoli salad to go with his deliciously juicy burgers!!!!

Shhh!  Don't tell hubby I showed you this photo.  He swears that the secret to making the BEST burgers EVER-is the thumbprint in the middle.  He's right!  It does allow the meat to cook evenly-but I still think it's the seasoning he puts on the burgers. (Sorry, that is a secret he won't even share with me!)

Anyway, back to this tangy, yet sweet broccoli salad that I whipped up last night, regardless of the sour look hubby gave me.

I fell in love with this salad years ago-when a co-worker brought it to a potluck.  At first I put my nose up at it just like hubby did.

But everyone else was gobbling it down, so I decided I'd at least try a little spoonful.

My taste buds will never be the same!  They were both happy and confused.

Was it the tangy dressing that had my taste buds going haywire?  Maybe it was the sweetness of the plump raisins, or the saltiness of the bacon.  I didn't know-and frankly-I didn't care.  I had completely forgotten there was raw broccoli in it.

I wanted the WHOLE dang bowl, but of course-so did all my co-workers!

I thought I'd get the chance to eat the whole bowl last night.  Unfortunately, after one spoonful, hubby's taste buds went into overload!  He even forgot about his juicy burger, and devoured his bowl of broccoli salad!

This is the perfect Spring salad-and one I plan to make often at our up and coming family gatherings!

Here is Brenda's recipe:

2 Broccoli Florets, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup red onion, sliced thin
1/2 cup white sugar
12 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup almonds (You can also use walnuts or sunflower seeds)
1 cup Mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons white vinegar

In a large bowl, mix broccoli, raisins, onion, bacon, and almonds.  In a separate bowl, combine mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar for dressing.  Pour over broccoli mixture and stir well.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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What recipes have you found that have excited your taste buds, and changed your view on raw broccoli?