Mashed Cauliflower

Since a friend recently asked, I'm posting my "recipe" for mashed cauliflower. I put recipe in quotes, because I rarely ever follow a recipe exactly & in fact when I cook, I never make things the same way twice! I make adjustments based on my mood, guests, available ingredients, or based on the overall menu itself.

The great thing about mashed cauliflower is that it doesn't get "gluey" like potatoes if you mash them too much. They also don't typically get too dry if you re-heat them or hold them in the oven to keep warm prior to serving. I actually now prefer the flavor over mashed potatoes, there is a bit of sweetness & they complement a wide range of main dishes. They are not as heavy feeling as potatoes & certainly are lower in carbohydrates & calories. Cauliflower also has a much lower Glycemic Index than white potatoes, which can help you maintain more consistent blood sugar levels.

Anyway, here's the "recipe" with lots of other info to make it delicious (or more complicated, depending on your view of cooking).


1-2 lbs fresh (or frozen) organic cauliflower
whole organic milk
grass fed organic butter
sea salt
fresh ground pepper

optional/additional ingredients:
potatoes
cream cheese
garlic
rosemary

Steam or boil cauliflower until it is easily pierced with a fork (5-8 minutes), drain.
Place cauliflower in food processor, pulsing until desired consistency, or use a manual potato ricer.
Depending on the consistency (frozen will hold more water), add milk & process or stir. Add butter & process or stir. Add salt & pepper to taste.

Depending on the consistency, what you are serving it with, your guests tastes, etc…you may choose to add some real potatoes (similarly steamed & mashed). This can thicken it up a bit & also balance out the flavor if you think your guests might be opposed to just cauliflower. Cream cheese can also help thicken it & make it richer. Garlic is delicious in everything, so add it. Rosemary or other herbs may be appropriate depending on what you are serving it with.

You can put this all in a casserole dish & bake it if it needs to release some water and/or if you are making a large serving for a crowd. It holds fine in a warm oven if you need to keep it warm to put out later.

Enjoy!!

The myth of "Just me"

How many times have I talked to a person in a casual conversation, a client during a training session, a friend or neighbor about cooking meals at home & they say something like, "But it's just me, it's silly to cook meals…it's a waste (of time, money, food, etc)…"

I have nodded in silence after hearing this reply (or something similar) many times & it has always driven me crazy. I come home & try to think of ways to reply that don't seem confrontational or sarcastic.

So here it is friends, I'm saying it now, I think that "Just me" as an excuse for NOT doing something is a load of crap. Why is it that "Just me" isn't good enough? Why isn't "just me" a good enough reason to create wonderfully fresh, healthy meals? Why is that considered a waste?

If you do not routinely need to cook for several people, why is "just me" an excuse to not put time & energy into creating clean, nutritious meals for yourself? Are you listening single friends? Single parents, people with traveling spouses, partners with opposite schedules, empty-nesters -- I'm talking to you.

I would argue that *not* having other people you have to consider is a bonus! You can make meals to suit your tastes exclusively. You have the luxury of picking a few simple recipes a week, tweaking them exactly to your preferences & a typical 4 serving recipe will easily feed you for several meals. How is that a waste? Seems like the perfect use of time & effort to me!

So please stop saying, "It's just me so I don't want to bother doing xyz." Rephrase your thinking & say, "It's just me so I can <insert awesome thing you can do/make exactly as you like>." You are worth it!