#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Food and Life

Recipe: Spicy Whole Roasted Cauliflower

February 10, 2014 · Narrative

A super simple cauliflower recipe made in a way that you’ve never seen it before. Indian flavors, two steps, pure deliciousness.

Untitled

To say I have a new appreciation for cauliflower would be an understatement. Or, at the very least, an appreciation for turning cauliflower into something completely unique and different than how it originally started out. So when my friend Cathy sent me a recipe for a spicy whole roasted cauliflower, it immediately got added to my list of things to make.

Natch.

Gone are the days when we just had straight up cauliflower smothered in melted cheese. Now we’re turning cauliflower into breadsticks and pizza, risotto and mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and steak. In fact, I even have a cheddar and bacon cauliflower pancake recipe coming soon. I made tonight’s cauliflower recipe on Friday, and it ended up coming in handy this weekend. The basic premise of the recipe is you mix Greek yogurt with a handful of spices, cover the cauliflower with this marinade, and bake it in the oven for about 30-40 minutes. It could not get simpler than that, and beyond the simplicity of the recipe, I love the flexibility of it. Although the spices I used are Indian-influenced, you could mix and match any flavor profile you want. Make a Greek version with some oregano and lemon juice. Or perhaps an Italian version with oregano and basil, with maybe some sun-dried tomatoes thrown in for good measure. I honestly don’t think this recipe can be screwed up.

I made it on a night when I needed something easy that required pretty much no thought and ingredients I had on hand already. I didn’t have a dinner plan ready, and Nick had a dance to go to that night. I made the kids a tray of roasted broccoli (they’re not cauliflower converts … yet), and this for me. Leftover ribs for protein.

Now for the cauliflower story from this weekend… I spent Saturday at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) campus in Hyde Park (more details on that coming later this week), and one of the things we did while we were there was to have a Chopped-style challenge. If you’re not familiar with the Food Network show Chopped, you’re basically handed a basket of ingredients and have to make something amazing with it. I, along with three other team members, was handed a basket that had broccoli, kale, bulgur, lettuce, cauliflower, oranges, and Greek yogurt. All those specific ingredients had to be used to create one main dish and one side dish in an hour, and we could also use any Jones Dairy Farm products we wanted, along with any herbs and spices in the CIA kitchen.

Once I saw the cauliflower and the Greek yogurt, it was a no-brainer, and I took the reins for making the side dish, while the other three team members worked on our main course.

There was a team of CIA chefs in the kitchen during our one hour of cooking time, offering assistance as we needed it, and doing some taste testing along the way. Two of the chefs were also judges, along with two members of Jones Dairy Farm. When Chef Michael came around and took a taste of my marinade (pre-bake), I watched his face for a reaction, and he said “Interesting.” I asked him “Interesting bad or interesting good?” “Just interesting. I can’t say anything else because I’m judging.”

Although I wasn’t worried, I was certainly wondering.

When the cauliflower comes out of the oven, it is a beautiful show-stopper, because it gets a gorgeous color as it roasts, and you don’t typically see a whole roasted cauliflower served that way. As I was cutting it up (because it had to be plated for the judges, and the rest of us to try), Chef Michael came back around. I cut off a small, but pretty floret and handed it to him.

“Wow,” he exclaimed, smiling broadly.

“That is definitely wow good, right?” I asked.

“Yes, for sure, wow good.”

Chef Michael was no longer playing coy with me, and I exhaled.

Chef David came around and I gave him a piece too.

“That totally doesn’t suck at all.”

Chef Michael laughed and said that was as good as a compliment as I was going to get.

I was totally ok with that.

There were four total teams competing in the Chopped challenge, and although our team didn’t win (the uniqueness of scrapple croutons on a salad won the top prize), we received positive feedback and high praise from the judges nonetheless. Chef Michael said that he had worked with an Indian chef in the past, who made something similar to this cauliflower, and it tasted exactly like his.

Score.

The only tasting note was the suggestion of a dipping sauce to accompany it. Which I totally agree with. I actually dipped it into honey mustard the night before when I made it for myself because I had some on hand, even though that was a complete mix of flavors. Using some of the leftover marinade for a little bit of dipping would work as well. The reason the dipping sauce is suggested is because the marinade, once baked on, only covers the tops of the florets, so some of the insides don’t get anything.

However you make it, just do it.

It’s CIA- and Chef Michael-approved, and I don’t think it gets any better than that.

PS And we are totally not talking Jones Dairy Farm tomorrow because I had a momentary lapse of everything sacred. We are most definitely talking about a soon-to-be newly minted six year old tomorrow. Jones Dairy Farm on deck for Wednesday.

Spicy Whole Roasted Cauliflower
Recipe courtesy of Jacquie Bernhardsson

Ingredients
1 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 head cauliflower
1-1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt
1 lime, zested and juiced (I used orange for the CIA challenge)
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon curry powder
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat over to 400 and lightly grease a small baking sheets with vegetable oil. Set aside.

Trim the base of the cauliflower to remove any green leaves and the woody stem.

In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt with the lime zest and juice, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, curry powder, salt, and pepper.

Dunk the cauliflower into the bowl and use a brush or your hands to smear the marinade evenly over the surface. (Excess marinade can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to three days and used with meat, fish, or other veggies).

Place the cauliflower on the prepared baking sheet and roast until the surface is dry and lightly browned, about 30-40 minutes. The marinade will make a crust on the surface of the cauliflower.

Let it cool about ten minutes before cutting.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: cauliflower, Chopped, Culinary Institute of America, Food Network, Hyde Park, Jones Dairy Farm

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    February 11, 2014 at 7:41 am

    Ooo definitely need to try this! My jaw dropped when I saw it on your Instagram (in a good way). It is DEFINITELY a show-stopper!
    Joanne recently posted..Stuffed Cabbage with Ricotta and Pine Nuts

    Reply
  2. debbie says

    February 11, 2014 at 8:14 am

    I’ve never been a fan of cauliflower but I love Indian spices so this may convert me!
    debbie recently posted..Cocoa Fudge Cookies

    Reply
  3. Joelen says

    February 11, 2014 at 10:04 am

    My other half loves cauliflower but I don’t use it very often… I’ll have to try this!!

    Reply
  4. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says

    February 11, 2014 at 10:35 am

    I’ve been dying to try this!!

    Reply
  5. Meg says

    February 11, 2014 at 11:57 am

    Oooh, I love cauliflower — and I’ve definitely never thought of serving or preparing it in this way! Will definitely have to try this. And what a great story of your challenge at the CIA — love it!
    Meg recently posted..Twosday: Show some love

    Reply
  6. Kate says

    February 11, 2014 at 12:12 pm

    This is very dramatic when whole, but it is better cut into florets then dipped in sauce and baked. Each piece gets the full flavor.
    We liked it both ways, but much prefer smaller bites. Any leftovers are great on a salad, or stuffed into a pita.

    Reply
    • Cate says

      April 9, 2014 at 10:26 pm

      Love the idea of stuffing the pieces into a pita!

      Reply
  7. Carrie @ poet in the pantry says

    February 11, 2014 at 12:17 pm

    I loved this idea when you presented it Saturday! So happy to have had you on our team! While we didn’t win, you definitely get a lot of bonus points for your cauliflower–and talk about prepared. What excellent timing! Lovely to meet you this past weekend!
    Carrie @ poet in the pantry recently posted..Jones Dairy Farm Event at the CIA: Day 2 #spon #jonesdairyfarm

    Reply
  8. Cathy says

    February 11, 2014 at 7:51 pm

    Um, scrapple croutons? Recipe please? :-)

    Reply
  9. patsy says

    February 11, 2014 at 8:40 pm

    I love how easy this is… and it’s so gorgeous right out of the oven!
    patsy recently posted..Cosmic Brownies for #Elleapalooza

    Reply
  10. Susan says

    February 11, 2014 at 11:58 pm

    This is definitely a show stopper! I was wondering what the coating on top is and would have never guessed greek yogurt! A meal in itself for sure!
    Susan recently posted..Chambord Marshmallows

    Reply
  11. BeverlyAnn says

    March 10, 2014 at 12:19 am

    I did try this and it is way toooooo hot! I lived in India and I love hot but this is inedible as written; Make the changes and it becomes delicious. Try using only ONE TBS of chili spice. It will still be fire engine hot but edible.

    Reply
  12. Molly (Based on a Sprue Story) says

    April 7, 2014 at 9:50 pm

    We tried this tonight and loooved the yogurt marinade, but our cauliflower was nearly raw after 40 minutes at 400°F. May be our oven’s partly to blame, but I thought I’d mention it. We went ahead and ate it anyway because we were hungry (and it was still good, just crunchy!) but I think we would have needed at least another half an hour to really roast it.

    Reply
  13. D says

    April 15, 2014 at 3:24 pm

    I want to make a different vegetable for Easter and am considering this…but would have to re-heat…has anyone heated it whole or any suggestions of something different to serve that can be re-heated

    Reply
  14. panamanorthchef says

    May 12, 2014 at 8:58 am

    I am a personal chef and this recipe is one of the worst I have ever tried. Spice, cooking time and methods all wrong. A waste of good ingredients. Don’t bother.

    Reply
  15. charlotte says

    July 19, 2014 at 12:10 am

    this was a horrible recipe I dumped it all out .tryed different recipewith Parmesan cheese it was delish!_

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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