Strike Two, Cauliflower’s Outta Here

daphne on October 27, 2008

Ok, Ok, I’ll give cauliflower another chance. Geez, I had no idea the cauliflower lobby had so many activists. You guys really love the stuff.  Apparently you’ll go to the ends of the garden to make some converts (or at least leave me a comment…thanks!)

Our final CSA delivery featured this royalty of the cauliflower family, lovely in shades of lavender.

So fancy did it seem that I decided I would try one of the many delicious-sounding recipes that flooded my inbox (does sarcasm come through online?)  No, really, I’m a grown-up and the mature thing to do is to take my medicine eat my vegetables like an adult.

This royal purple variety did present an opportunity to test the uncanny ability of the girls to identify the category of a food item simply by hearing its name:  Present them with tiramisu, and they’re in, foreign language or no;  though fois gras will send them screaming.  Bon bons? Oh yes, yes.  You get my drift?

Which brings me back to the cauliflower:  I boiled, blended and whipped that lavender bouquet into mashed cauliflower, all the while using my happy fairy thoughts to devise the perfect name. The color was extraordinary, like something out of Neverland.  Perhaps a plop of purple passion?  The girls would be on board, for sure.  It’s all in the name…

I sat in the kitchen, mashing and pondering, when Acadia come in.

What’s that Mom? Cauliflower?

Damn!  That child is quick.  I hastily revised my plan, figuring I’d sell them on taste, an angle best known historically for its total lack of success.

I scooped up a spoonful, brought it to my smiling mouth, and prepared to be blown away.  And blown away I was as I hit a major, deal-breaking snag: it was yucky. Really, really yucky.  I know, I know and I am sorry. Truly I am. But what was I supposed to do? It was just that yucky.

The girls didn’t know what to do with themselves at dinner. Not only did mom not make them taste the cauliflower but she’s wasn’t pushing the broccoli either.  They were on to me.  Something was rotten in the state of the kitchen.

(And considering the smell, I’m blaming the cauliflower.)

Mashed Cauliflower

daphne on October 27, 2008

Go ahead and try it, but I can’t make any promises.  This was not a big hit in our house, although most likely my attitude was the problem.  Please, send your success stories my way!

Directions

  • Divide a head of cauliflower into florets that are all roughly the same size.
  • Steam cauliflower pieces over boiling water (15 to 20 minutes), or until the cauliflower is tender.
  • Drain the cauliflower and toss it in a bowl of ice water to stop cooking.
  • When the cauliflower has cooled, put the florets in a food processor along with 1/2 cup of water.
  • Puree the cauliflower on high speed until smooth, but with some very small pieces of cauliflower remaining in the mix for just a bit of texture.
  • Pour all of the pureed cauliflower into a medium sauce pan.
  • Add the cream, salt, white pepper, garlic powder and onion powder to the cauliflower and stir.
  • Set the saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring often, for 5 to 10 minutes, or until thick.

Take my cauliflower, please

daphne on August 30, 2008

Really. Please, take it. It is so totally icky.

I have come a long way from my days of subsiding on nothing more than vanilla yogurt (my childhood motto: have Dannon will travel) and my ironclad stubborn refusal to try anything new. Part of the idea behind joining a CSA (don’t remember what this is? I revealed the mystery of that acronym here ) was bravely tasting whatever the farmer picked for us each week. You know, choking down broccoli in the name of family harmony and health.

The kids are on board, facing up to beets disguised as french fries and taking at least a no-thank-you sized bite of whatever arrives in the red mesh bags. The abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables has been incredible. Check out the pile of produce we pulled in this week:

Gorgeous right? The peaches, divine. Farm fresh corn? The best. And the melons, don’t even get me started on the melons. But the cauliflower? Yuck. I’m digging my heels in. Cauliflower is yucky.

But it is abundant. Last week’s portion allowed me to be neighborly. I sent it home with the babysitter. The week before I placed it benevolently in the donation pile for the homeless shelter. I suppose I should be honest; I haven’t even tried the stuff. I can’t (see above yucky reason for clarification.) I know, I know, the children graciously swallow their bites of whatever bizarro veggie I put in front of them so why am I such a hypocrite?

Because I said so, that’s why. Because I’m a grown up and as far as I’m concerned passing on cauliflower is a privilege of adulthood. I don’t stay up late. I don’t see scary movies. I don’t eat cake for breakfast (well, except for very special occasions.) This is my thing. So there.

Anyway, does anyone want a head of cauliflower? It’s farm-fresh-fabulous, and it’s yours for free.

Update from the bachelor-pad: It’s ladies night! I don’t know whether it was the free drinks or the sugar and spice, but the ladies have finally made an appearance. Here’s one

And right down the vine is her lovely friend:

And another lady who has already snagged her man, done the deed, and is growing an adorable little squash. Mmmmm, can’t wait to snuggle that little babe in a little olive oil and brown sugar.

Meanwhile, the dating game may just gearing up for the squash, but the cucumbers are going wild. We’ve eaten about eight of the sweet treats so far, and there are close to 15 more on the vine. For the uninitiated, here’s a peek at a newby cuc: