Mock Macaroni & Cheese Made with Cauliflower

You don't miss the macaroni at all!

Ingredients
1 medium head of cauliflower, chopped into small chunks and boiled just until tender, drain
6 T butter
6 T flour
4 c milk
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cracked black pepper
Paprika

Preheat oven to 350*.  Lightly grease a 2-qt. casserole dish.  Set aside.
In a large pot melt butter, add flour.  Whisk together and cook for 1-2 minutes whisking continually. Slowly add milk and whisk until smooth.  Add salt and pepper.  Continue to cook until mixture thickens.  Remove from heat and add all but 3/4 c cheese.  Stir until cheese is completely melted. Add cooked cauliflower, stir well and pour into prepared casserole dish.  Top with remaining 3/4 c cheese and sprinkle with paprika.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and cheese on top is melted.  Remove from oven and let sit for about 10 minutes before serving.

Yum!

Vegetarian Sancocho

Sancocho is a Spanish soup/stew, typically made with meat.  This is a vegetarian version that Angie Martinez made on The Chew.  It is very yummy and improves with age.  I liked it even more the second day.


Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons chopped garlic

1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger

1 unripe green plantain (peeled and roughly chopped)

1/2 pound yucca (peeled and roughly chopped)

1/2 pound sweet potato (peeled and roughly chopped)

1 medium green bell pepper (seeded and chopped)

1 medium tomato (chopped)

1/2 pound dried red kidney beans (soaked overnight)

4 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley

2 sprigs fresh oregano

1 fresh or dried bay leaf

4 sprigs fresh cilantro (plus extra leaves for garnish)

2 tablespoons aromatic bitters (optional)

1 tablespoon sugar

kosher salt

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.  When hot, add the garlic and ginger and cool until just fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.  Stir in the plantain, yucca, sweet potato, bell pepper, tomato, and beans, and cook for another 5 minutes.

Add the parsley, oregano, bay leaf, cilantro, bitters, if using, and sugar along with 3 cups water and bring to a boil.  Lower the heat and simmer until the beans are tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.  Season with salt.

To serve, garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.

Delish!