This is one of those incredibly simple dishes that I decided to make for a summer dinner for friends, and at the last minute decided this is worth sharing. Not because it’s made from anything special, but because it’s not made from anything special, and yet the dish is special. It’s this little bit of thought that converts two simple sides – broccoli and rice – that might otherwise be kind of boring, into something that has your friends saying, “Wow, that rice is really good!”You’re going to start with rice and cook it according to the package, and then blanch some broccoli florets.And then you’re going to stir that all together with a cheesy simple white sauce……and top it with some sliced almonds. But you know what my favorite part of this is? It’s ready to go for a dinner party and can simply be zapped in the microwave to reheat which is perfect in the summer – no heating up the oven! Although you can also bake it – just be sure the almonds don’t burn. And you what else? You can put whatever vegetables you want into this, so go wild!