Cauliflower Gruyere & Thyme Gratin

With gusto, I let fall into my home. I'm not talking about pumpkins or mums, either. I'm talking about the breeze.

I’m rarely home alone but when I am I take advantage of it. This time, I threw open all of the windows and let the breeze rip through the house. There are only two times of the year that allow you to do this at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon, and fall is one of them (Spring is the other; summer is far too hot and winter far too cold). I put Elephant Revival on and turned the volume up high as if to drown out other noise, even though the house was silent. I threw my hair into a messy bun on the top of my head (or tried— half of my hairs fell out, and I didn’t bother putting them into place), and I whipped out the pots and pans. 

It was going to be a good afternoon: I had cheese to melt. 

Even though cauliflower is a fall crop, I abuse the fact that modern grocery stores carry it all year around. I can't lie about this with over 19 recipes using cauliflower on this blog, and almost none of them fall-related. 

This cauliflower gratin is rich and hits your "I really just want cheese for dinner" spot, but feels a little more grown up because 1) you're eating vegetables and 2) the cheese is gruyere, which I almost can't say out loud without second guessing myself (groo-year? gru-air?). There's even a little thyme stirred in. 

It pairs well with a glass of red wine, a cold beer, or a dry cider. Fancy enough for something like Thanksgiving dinner, you could cook this cauliflower gratin up for party. But best of all, you can just reheat it as a lazy couch dinner. 

I hope you'll invite fall into your home like I did: it will come out bubbling and strings of cheese will follow as you serve yourself the first bite. Maybe, if it's cool enough, you can get away with wearing your slippers, too. 

Cauliflower Gruyere & Thyme Gratin

Published September 26, 2017 by Caitlin Sherwood

Serves: 8   |    Total Time: 60 minutes

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Ingredients:

• 2 pounds cauliflower florets (about 2 heads)
• Water, for steaming
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons corn starch or arrowroot powder
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1-1/2 cup shredded gruyere, divided
• 1/2 cup parmesan
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Dash cayenne

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375°F.
2. Fill a medium pot with 1 inch of water and place steam basket in pot. Place cauliflower in steam basket, and heat over medium heat until water is simmering. Allow cauliflower to steam for 5 minutes, or until tender. Remove from heat. Drain any water from cauliflower, and then put cauliflower in a 8x8inch baking dish.
3. Now, in a small sauce pan, melt the butter. While the butter melts, whisk together the milk and corn starch or arrowroot powder until no clumps remain. Pour milk into melted butter and whisk. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly so as not to scald the milk, for 5 minutes. Add 1 cup of gruyere cheese. Continue to whisk and simmer until sauce thickens (it should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon), and cheese is fully incorporated. Remove from heat.
4. Stir thyme, black pepper, salt, nutmeg, and cayenne into cheese sauce. Pour cheese sauce over cauliflower and use a spoon to ensure the cauliflower is all coated and the sauce is distributed.
5. Top with remaining gruyere and the parmesan. Place in oven, and bake for 35-45 minutes, until sauce is bubbling and top is golden brown. Allow to cool 10 minutes before serving.

Greek Cauliflower Rice with Feta and Olives

The food processor. It is tucked away high in a cupboard above our fridge, behind mixing bowls. Getting the food processor out means getting out my folding kitchen stool, clearing off the top of the fridge (this is actually a chore, with the amount of stuff we keep up there), and pulling 4 pieces down from three separate shelves (the base, the bowl, the lid, and any blades or attachments). And that's just to get the thing out: don't get me started on dishwashing. 😒

I avoid it. Need a half-cup of shredded cheese? I'll grate it by hand. You'd like those radishes sliced thin? Give me the chopping knife. But some times, on really rare occasions, it's worth it. Like when making almond flour pie crust. Or when making a really, really big batch of pesto, or shredding cauliflower into rice. 

Cauliflower rice isn't a regular menu item around here (we will just eat regular old rice) but the summer sun has me in the mood for light dishes. And you know how dearly I love cauliflower, so it has to be no surprise to you that I'm up for one more way to eat it. And, hey, here's a pro tip: if you hate getting your fancy food processor out as much as I do, you can buy cauliflower, pre-riced at Trader Joe's and the stuff is pretty good. Sure you don't get to see your pretty head of cauliflower in it's full and beautiful form before it gets shredded, but you do save about 20 minutes when all is said and the dish are washed, and I think that's worth it, especially on a week night. 

Something else I've been in the mood for? Feta cheese. It's has been finding it's way into all sorts of meals around here lately: everything-but-the-kitchen-sink salads, breakfast omelettes, burger tops, and sautés. The Costco-sized container lasted us not but a week, but still, enough time to make this Greek-inspired cauliflower dish a few times. 

What happens when you find yourself a Costco-sized container of feta and an easy-peasy way to make cauliflower rice? Well, why don't you just make this recipe to find out 😉

Greek Cauliflower Rice with Feta and Olives

Published June 22, 2017 by Caitlin Sherwood

Serves: 4   |    Total Time: 30 minutes

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Ingredients:

• 1 large shallot, diced
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 pound cauliflower, riced or shredded in food processor (you can buy it pre-shredded at Trader Joe’s in the produce section)
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 cup sliced black olives (kalamata is great, but any black olive with do)
• 1/3 cup minced parsley, plus more for garnish
• Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Heat coconut oil in a skillet over medium heat. When the oil glistens, add the diced shallot. Sauté until transparent.
2. Add the cauliflower rice to the pan. Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Allow the cauliflower to brown a bit, and then remove from heat. Stir in the parsley, olives, and feta, and season with salt & pepper to taste. Garnish with extra parsley if desired. Serve warm.

Golden Potatoes

There was a story I intended to tell you today, about a girl who seems to never be able to find the right bowl of porridge. No, this isn't about Goldy Locks, but it may as well be, for if I were her it would be all: "Too hot!" "Too cold!" "Not soft enough." 

As a creative soul, perfection isn't worth chasing... or rather, there is no room for it. I've never been a perfectionist. What is perfection, anyways? But in the kitchen lately I've been seeing flaw after flaw. Not because mistakes are more prevalent than usual, but because I've honed in on details that no one else would otherwise notice, leaving "great" in the dust and searching for "best ever," when in reality there is no "best ever" or "perfect" to be found (think of cookies: some like them chewy, some crispy, some nutty, some chocolatey, etc etc etc). This I know, yet it is hard not to push yourself to find "best ever." 

When I realized that this was happening, I knew I must write. Putting pen to paper--or in this case, finger to key- has always been therapeutic for me. Nonsense becomes understandable when it is written. Trapped feelings become weightless, released into paper form. And this perfection-seeking thing? I knew it had to go. But first, I had to understand it, or at the very least come to terms with it. 

Anyways, what is "best ever" when you are inventing something new? You get to decide. Right now, today, in this hour, best ever for me is this potatoes. Golden Potatoes, AKA Curry & Turmeric Roasted Potatoes.  

If you love breakfast potatoes or home fries or spice blends or exotic twists, this one is for you. I hope you are nodding along. I think Goldy Locks might even like them (we haven't met, I'm just guessing. But it seems she'd be into anything Golden, given the name). 

Golden Potatoes

Published June 1, 2017 by Caitlin Sherwood

Potatoes are tossed with turmeric, ginger, and curry powder given them a golden glow and spicy bite.

Serves: 2-3   |    Total Time: 60 minutes

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Ingredients:

• 2 medium yukon gold potatoes (sweet potatoes will also work if you prefer) 
• 2 cups cold water
• 1 tablespoon oil (olive or avocado)
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/16 teaspoon cayenne (or more to taste)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or a Silicone Baking Mat).
2. Wash potatoes, and dice them into 1/2-inch or 1-centimeter cubes. Place in a mixing bowl, and cover with cold water. Allow to sit for 5 minuntes. This step hepls the potatoes become crispy in the oven! After five minutes, drain the water from the potatoes and toss in oil.
3. In a small bowl, combine spices and mix until well combined. Pour spice blend in with the potatoes, and toss until the potatoes are all coated.
4. Spread potatoes out on prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Place in oven and bake for 40-50 minutes, until potatoes are tender through and crisping on the edges. Allow to cool 5 minutes and serve.