Will Run For Pineapple Fried (Cauliflower) Rice

Are you're thinking that the only way that cauliflower could possibly taste like rice, mashed potatoes or couscous is if you have no taste buds?  Those words might have come out of my mouth in the past.  I was probably running up a hill.  In the rain.  With a headwind.  Chomping on some sort of chew/sport bean that Pace Bunny pulled out of some pocket.  I hope it was a pocket.

I'll admit that I was pleasantly surprised with how well this recipe turned out.  It may not have exactly the same taste or texture as rice but cauliflower is an excellent carrier for curry, ginger, garlic, pineapple and all of the other delicious ingredients in this recipe.  It's definately worth giving it a try (and pulling out the food processor). 

Try not to eat all of the pineapple & cashews.

Almost party time.

Add some tofu.  Party.

Pineapple Fried (Cauliflower) Rice

(approximately 5 x 1 C servings)

1 small cauliflower separated into florets and processed in the food processor.

1 T coconut oil

1 medium onion diced

2 cloves garlic minced

1 tsp minced fresh ginger

3 T Bragg + 2 tsp red curry paste

1 1/2 C diced fresh pineapple (it won't be nearly as delicious otherwise)

1/4 C raisins (optional)

1/2 C frozen peas

2-3 T fresh cilantro

1/2 C raw cashews

protein of choice (tempeh, tofu, scrambled eggs)

In a large skillet melt 1 T coconut oil over medium heat.  Add diced onion and cook until translucent.  Add garlic & ginger cook approximately 1 minute longer.   Add cauliflower and Bragg curry mixture.  Allow to cook for approximately 5 minutes.  Add pineapple, raisins, peas, cilantro & cashews.  Allow to cook until peas are tender (approximately 5-7 minutes) and there is no liquid remaining.  Serve with your choice of protein.

Will Run For Roasted Cauliflower with Cocoa & Chipotle

cauliflower not macaroons

Imagine you just gave your first needle to a real live patient.  Real.  Live.  You didn't gag or throw up in your shirt (because that's happened) even after some unfortunate events involving adult diapers briefs & a beard.

  As you finally walk through your front door you see a plate full of coconut almond macaroons.  It's a celebration!  Unfortunately, your celebration ends in cocoa & chipotle roasted cauliflower.

Farmer thought that we were celebrating her having survived her first day of nursing placement with macaroons.  Instead we were celebrating with cauliflower.  Typical.

When you aren't expecting macaroons cauliflower + cocoa + chipotle (together at last) is pretty delicious.  Apparently, cauliflower and cocoa is old news.  Who knew. Give it a try.  A girl can only eat so much pureed cauliflower. 

Farmer is pretty excited about this round of placement.  Instead of hanging her head out of the car window while she gags after I ask her about her day she pulls out what seems like hundreds of scraps of paper covered in numbers and abbreviations and starts to tell me all about her day.  I deserve it.  What do I expect after way too much talk about running records, DRA, & sight words.

Really, I'm pretty excited for her.  3/8 of a nurse is way better than 1/4.  

Roasted Cauliflower with Cocoa & Chipotle 

(serves 1 if you eat with your elbows out)

1 head of cauliflower 

1 T coconut oil

1 tsp cocoa

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

1/2 tsp chipotle powder

Preheat oven to 400 F.  While your oven & baking stone are warming up separate cauliflower into large  florets.  Melt coconut oil, add cocoa, smoked paprika, and chipotle powder to coconut oil.  Drizzle cocoa mixture over cauliflower and mix until evenly distributed.  

   

Roast for 30 minutes or until the edges are crispy.  Stir cauliflower 15 minutes into roasting.

Serve with macaroons.

Will Run For Cheddar Cheese Sweet Potato Soup

comfort food

I probably shouldn't be surprised that Farmer was reluctant to believe that I made cheddar cheese soup or more accurately that the soup actually contained cheddar cheese ( when I hear the words cheddar cheese soup I can't help but think of the orange gelatinous monstrosity that is no name condensed cream of cheddar).   I also wouldn't be surprised to find out that she has scurvy.

It's exam time.  I don't think I really need to say more than that. 

I decided to hop on the cauliflower band wagon and try a cauliflower and sweet potato soup.  Farmer was right the soup didn't actually contain any cheddar cheese but you can easily substitute grated old cheddar if you don't share my love of nutritional yeast.  But really, who doesn't love nutritional yeast?

Cheddar Cheese Sweet Potato Soup

(6-8 servings)

ingredients

1 medium head of cauliflower cut into small chunks

1 large sweet potato

1 can full fat coconut milk

1/4 tsp smoked paprika

1/8-1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

5 C broth

1 large sweet onion

1 T olive oil

3/4 C nutritional yeast or cheddar cheese (or both!)

In a large stock pot heat oil & add onions until they are soft.  Add sliced potatoes & cauliflower and cook for additional 5 minutes.  Add broth.  Cook 20-25 minutes or until cauliflower is tender.  Add coconut milk and spices.  Puree.  Top with green onion, grated cheddar cheese, smoked paprika & freshly grated nutmeg.

cheddar cheese soup with cheddar