Four ingredients to the perfect comfort food: Cauliflower Gratin

Whenever we are looking for cozy and simple comfort food in our house, this is one of our go-to dinners.  With just four ingredients (often already in house), thirty minutes, plus a green salad, we are set!





Cauliflower Gratin

• 1 head cauliflower, cut into large florets keeping much of the stem
• 1 cup heavy cream (comfort food, not diet food)
• 1 cup grated cheese such as cheddar and Parmesan
• 2 tbs. Dijon mustard
• salt and pepper to taste

Pre-heat oven to 425.

Drop the florets into boiling salted water and cook for 4 minutes. Drain and set on a kitchen towel to help them to dry.

In a mixing bowl, combine cream, mustard, 1/2 tsp or more of black pepper and 1 tsp. salt. 

Place the cauliflower into a baking dish and it should fit in one layer with only some overlapping of florets.  Stir in the grated cheese to mix well. Then pour over the cream mixture.

Bake in the middle of the oven for 30 minutes or until the edges are dark brown and the center is bubbling.

Maple Roasted Winter Squash

This all started last fall. I bought a few mini squash to use as decoration in my house. And since I try to be an organic gardener and environmentally responsible, I tossed the squash out into my garden once the Christmas season approached and it was time to swap squash for pine cones (I do love a predictable holiday decor sometimes).

Spring came and my garden was coming to life with herbs, cucumbers and tomato plants. Then summer came, the dry heat arrived, and along with this came squash vines. And these vines grew and grew and grew. As fall approached, beautiful mini squash appeared everywhere!

I harvested twenty or so to use as decorations for a large tented dinner that we hosted in October. My three year old niece, while visiting from North Carolina, was able to harvest these mini pumpkins just days before Halloween.

Then Thanksgiving came and of course I had to used these gorgeous gourds to showcase the bounty of this fall feast day.

Anyway, practicality came into play the other night. I was hungry, there was nothing in the house to eat, and it was raining and I didn't want to go the grocery store. And then my eyes lit on the pile of mini squash that were still scattered around my dining room.

So a year after my purchase of some ornamental chachka, dinner was finally served.

Maple Roasted Squash

• Your choice of a winter squash
• olive oil
• maple syrup
• salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the squash in half through the stem end. Remove the seeds (save for composting and next year's bounty). Put the squash cut side up on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper. Mix equal parts olive oil and maple syrup. Brush liberally over the squash. Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Roast in the oven for 35 minutes or until the squash are fork tender.
To use any leftover roasted squash, check out the recipe for Pasta with Roasted Squash, Kale and Brown Buttered Sage in the 'main course' category.

Recipe: Brussels Sprouts and Pearl Onions in Horseradish Cream

The original recipe for this was clipped from Bon Appetit several years ago. And this dish is consistently a winner. The prep work can be done the day before and then it only takes a few minutes to put the dish together, so it's great for entertaining.

Brussels Sprouts and Pearl Onion is Horseradish Cream:

• 1 10 oz. bag frozen pearl onions (easy to find at Marsh in the frozen veg section)
• 1 1/2 lb. brussels sprouts, ends trimmed and blemished exterior leaves removed
• 4 tbs. prepared horseradish
• 2 tsp. flour
• 1/4 tsp. allspice
• 3/4 c. whipping or heavy cream (you can use milk, but the dish will not be as rich)
• 3 tbs. butter
• 1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
• Thyme sprigs for garish (optional)

Drop brussels spouts into salted boiling water and boil for 5 minutes. Add the bag of frozen pearl onions and continue to boil for two more minutes. Drain and set aside. This part can be done the day before.
In a bowl, combine the horseradish, flour, allspice and cream. Stir well. In a large sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the fresh thyme and cook for 30 seconds. Add the brussels sprouts and onions and continue to cook for 3 for 4 minutes, until the vegetables are heated through. Add the cream mixture to the sauce pan and stir to coat all the vegetables. continue to cook, stirring often, for about 3 minutes. Taste for salt and pepper and season appropriately.
Serve garnished with a thyme sprig. Yum!

Bloomington Thanksgiving dinner 2011: Thyme Infused Roasted Root Vegetables

This is another tear out from Vegetarian Times from 1990 something. Simple, easy and full flavor. You can adjust the final result by using more sweet vegetables like shallots, carrots and parsnips. I did this and upped the percentage of potatoes for a certain carboholic in the house.

I use all organic produce for this and Bloomingfoods on the east side is by far the best place for a great assortment of seasonal root vegetables.

Thyme Infused Roasted Root Vegetables

• 8 medium shallots, peeled
• 2 medium red-skin potatoes, cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks
• 2 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks
• 4 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 small rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks
• 1 turnip, peeled and cut into 1 1/2 chunks
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 5 branches of fresh thyme
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper

Preheat your oven to 450.

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and toss to coat evenly with oil, salt and pepper. Pour mixture onto a sheet pan/rimmed baking sheet and spread evenly for best browning of the vegetables. Roast for 35 or 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for a few minutes. Then scrape loose all the vegetables with a metal spatula and serve with a garnish of a thyme sprig.

You can make this the day before, refrigerate and then reheat in the oven for 15 minutes prior to serving at whatever temperature you are baking other dishes or at 350 degrees.