animal_cookie - I looked a broccoli salad recipe up for you. I haven't tried it, but I think it looks excellent! I will probably try it for the first spring picnic or something.
Broccoli Salad
I will share a recipe that is always a hit. I wasn't sure whether to put this in the slow cooker thread or this one, it can be done in a slow cooker or a large saucepan - your call. It's worked both ways for me. It is also vegan without the toppings, provided you trust the source of the beans. Trader Joe's organic black beans are my preferred main ingredient and I am 99% sure they're vegan.
This recipe is my own, but for the basis I credit my friend Melissa's mom in Miami.

She makes hers with pork and canned tomatoes, I leave both out but you can add them if you want. This yields about 2-3 main dish servings or 4 side dish servings, and the recipe can be doubled or tripled with no problems, especially if you have a larger slow cooker than I do. This recipe is PERFECT for my 1.5 qt slow cooker.
Black Beans & Rice
INGREDIENTS:
2 regular sized cans black beans (16 oz, I think)
1/2 to 1 cup white wine or beer (depending how saucy you like them)
1 finely chopped small yellow sweet (preferably Maui or Vidalia) onion or 2 regular size shallots
I clove finely minced fresh garlic
1 bay leaf
Olive oil for sauteeing
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
To garnish (any/all to taste):
Purple onion
Monterey or pepper jack cheese
Cilantro
Sour cream
For the rice:
1 cup white or brown rice (I use basmati or jasmine - it's delicious and fluffy and the texture is perfect). If you're in a pinch, Minute parboiled rice in a bag is edible, I suppose.

2 cups liquid (choose from veggie, chicken broth or water - broth will flavor it better. I use low sodium Swanson's Natural Goodness chicken broth ideally)
1. Saute your onion and garlic in a small amount of olive oil.
2. Empty cans of beans and place in a colander for rinsing (note: you will not get gas if you rinse your beans, little known trick) with cool water.
3. When onion and garlic are caramelized (i.e., browned without being burned) set aside.
4. Place black beans into either your slow cooker or a large saucepan. Add onion and garlic, bay leaf, and a few dashes salt and pepper.
For the slow cooker: Simmer on low, covered, 3-5 hours. It's safe to taste and see when it's done b/c there is no meat.
For the stove: Crank it up till it's barely boiling, then turn to low, cover and forget about it for 1 1/2 or 2 hours.
5. Now make the rice. You can add the liquid to the rice and simmer it, or cook it in a rice cooker (best option), but my way is to saute the rice lightly in olive oil, add the liquid, bring to a boil, reduce the heat, put the lid on it and DO NOT LIFT THE LID FOR 20 MINUTES. (That's really important.)
6. Turn everything off, serve in bowls with the rice at the bottom and garnish... and enjoy a healthy, easy meal.
