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Food writers (and I include myself) are often talking about what new things you can do with that package of chicken breasts or that pound of ground beef to get out of the same-old, same-old cooking rut. But we might not spend enough time talking about what to do with that head of cauliflower or broccoli. We can all feel as uninspired looking at those stoic spheres as we do with our proteins, right?
So off we go, on the hunt for a new and simple side dish. This is definitely one to keep in mind when you’re making a stir fry or other Asian-influenced dish. It’s especially useful since you can make the drizzle ahead of time, pop the vegetable in the oven, and get to work at the stove making the rest of the meal. The cauliflower or broccoli needs no attention as it roasts, only the sound of the buzzer to remind you to take it out of the oven.
CAULIFLOWER WITH SESAME DRIZZLE
Start to finish: 30 to 35 minutes
1 large (1¾ pound) head cauliflower (or substitute the same amount of broccoli heads)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 Tbsp. untoasted sesame seeds (optional)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
1 tsp. honey
1 tsp. Sriracha sauce
Preheat oven to 400 F. Cut cauliflower into florets. Place cauliflower on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Toss well, and then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for about 25 minutes, until crisp-tender and browned at the edges.
Meanwhile, if you are using the sesame seeds, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add sesame seeds and stir frequently for about 1 or 2 minutes, until they start to become golden; don’t let them get too brown. Transfer to a plate.
In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame oil, honey and Sriracha sauce. When cauliflower is roasted, transfer to a serving platter and drizzle the sauce over it (or pass the sauce on the side for everyone to drizzle over their own portion). Sprinkle the top with sesame seeds, if desired, and serve hot or warm.
Serves 4
Nutrition information per serving: 145 calories; 87 calories from fat; 10 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 490 mg sodium; 12 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 6 g sugar; 5 g protein.

The first two passenger vessels built by Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark for Entertainment Cruises’ Potomac Riverboat Co. division have been delivered to Washington, D.C., and are now in service, Metal Shark said in a news release.

Ship-building, which the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says employed nearly 1,100 people in St. Mary as recently as two years ago, continues to boost a local economy stung by low energy prices.

The two 88-foot, 149-passenger high speed aluminum catamaran vessels Potomac Taxi I and Potomac Taxi II departed Metal Shark’s Franklin shipyard in mid-September, traveled the Gulf of Mexico coastline and crossed Florida via Lake Okeechobee before proceeding northward up the Atlantic coast to Washington, D.C.

Both vessels commenced operations Thursday, with runs from Georgetown and Alexandria to The Wharf in Washington D.C. for a grand opening ceremony hosting Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and members of the media.

The new vessels will provide commuters in the Washington D.C. metro region with service between Old Town Alexandria, Virginia; National Harbor, Maryland; and Georgetown and The Wharf in Washington DC. Potomac Riverboat Company parent Entertainment Cruises is the nation’s largest dining and sightseeing cruise company, with a fleet of 30 ships operating in over a dozen major US cities.

“From the start, the Metal Shark team has been professional, organized, diligent and skilled. They have done an excellent job of communicating with our team and working together to keep the project on track,” said Entertainment Cruises CEO Kenneth Svendsen. “We have been pleased with the workmanship and attention to detail by all involved. Above all else, we can tell Metal Shark has a commitment to process and to doing things the right way.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This an article by local Centers for Disease Control Sentinel Physician Dr. Robert P. Blereau of Morgan City.
A recent study found that vaccinating pregnant women with the tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine during their third trimester was nearly 78 percent effective in preventing pertussis in their infants younger than 2 months of age.
The reason for using the Tdap triple-combination vaccine is because no single pertussis vaccine is being manufactured.
Infants younger than one year old are at the highest risk for severe complications of death from pertussis.
Typically, between five and 15 babies die from whooping cough each year in the United States.
Most deaths are in those too young to be protected by getting their own whooping cough vaccine, which begins at two months of age.
Before the pertussis vaccine was introduced in the 1940s, more than 200,000 cases of pertussis were reported in the United States each year.
After the vaccine was introduced, pertussis cases dropped to fewer than 10,000 by 1965 with the lowest number of just over 1,000 reported in 1976.
Starting in the 1980s, however, pertussis cases began to rise again with a peak of more than 48,000 cases in 2012.
That year the Centers for Disease Control began recommending women get a pertussis vaccination during each pregnancy, with a subsequent drop in the number of cases.
So far in 2017, more than 11,000 cases have been reported.
Less than half of pregnant women who delivered infants in the United States between 2015 and 2016 received the Tdap vaccine.
The CDC recommends pregnant patients receive Tdap vaccine during every pregnancy, preferably during gestational weeks 27 through 36, to protect infants from pertussis in their first months of life.
This vaccination timing results in the greatest transfer of protective antibodies from mother to infant and provides the best protection.

A 36-year-old Morgan City woman was caught with Subutex and cash allegedly obtained from illegal drug sales after a home search Tuesday, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Amanda L. Smith, 36, of Everett Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:51 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of Subutex with intent to distribute and transactions involving proceeds from drug activity.

Investigators with the Morgan City Police Department Narcotics Division with the assistance of the St. Mary Parish Narcotics Section executed a search warrant on a home in the area of Everett Street. During the investigation, Smith was developed as a suspect.

Investigators located suspected Subutex and found evidence that the drug was destined to be sold in illicit sales, Blair said. Investigators also located $640 in cash and found evidence that a portion of the money was derived from illicit sales of narcotics, Blair said. Smith was jailed.

Blair reported responding to 37 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Leigha Duay, 28, of Pacetti Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:17 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and improper turning.

—Skye Guillory, 22, of Pleasant Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:17 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

—Joshua Haywood, 33, of Franklin Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:17 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Narcotics division investigators observed a vehicle negotiate an improper turn in the area of Railroad Avenue. A stop was initiated and Duay was identified as the operator of the vehicle. Guillory and Haywood were occupants of the vehicle.

Guillory and Haywood were in possession of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia, and Duay was in possession of drug paraphernalia, Blair said. Duay, Guillory and Haywood were jailed.

—Danielle Pellegrin, 31, of Fourth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:18 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of Subutex and improper turning.

Narcotics division investigators observed a vehicle negotiate an improper turn in the area of Freret Street. A stop was initiated, and Pellegrin was identified as the operator of the vehicle.

Pellegrin was in possession of suspected Subutex, Blair said. Pellegrin was jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 41 complaints and reported the following arrests relating to east St. Mary Parish:

—Shawn Harding, 47, of Peggy Street in New Iberia, was arrested at 5:23 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of simple burglary of a vehicle.

Detectives received information of a vehicle burglary that occurred on Evergreen Avenue in Bayou Vista Saturday morning. Based on that information, detectives developed Harding as a suspect in the case.

Working together with detectives of the Morgan City Police Department, investigators collected evidence that Harding stole a purse and wallet from the victim’s vehicle, Hebert said.

Harding was booked into jail and later released on recognizance bail.

—Claiborne Sauce, 46, of Taryn Lane in Franklin, was arrested at 8:31 p.m. Tuesday on charges of disturbing the peace intoxicated and remaining where forbidden.

Deputies responded to a call for service regarding a disturbance at a home in Ricohoc. While speaking with Sauce at the location, deputies smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage on him and observed other indicators of impairment, Hebert said.

Deputies also learned that Sauce refused to leave the home after being asked to do so by the resident, the sheriff said. Sauce was jailed with no bail set.

—Walter Fowler, 54, of Fifth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:51 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of Schedule I drugs. A correctional deputy transported Fowler from the Iberia Parish jail to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail is set.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.