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Roasted Whole Cauliflower
Roasted Whole Cauliflower
I’ve become obsessed with roasted cauliflower. Believe it or not, I’ve never had it until very recently. The cauliflower really becomes the centerpiece of any meal, overshadowing any protein that’s served with it. The best part of roasting cauliflower is that you can season it with just about anything.
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Remove the green leaves from the head of cauliflower. Core out the thick center stem, making sure to keep the head intact.
- Mix together the olive oil and spices.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Brush the top side with the spiced olive oil.
- Flip over and brush the bottom side. Place in a preheated 350° oven for 75 minutes.
Val’s Antipasti Salad
Val’s Antipasti Salad
In Italian cuisine, antipasto is looked as an appetizer to prepare the stomach for a meal; dating back to medieval times. Cured meats, seafood, olives, cheeses, and pickled vegetables are some of the many forms of antipasti. Moving forward to modern times, Italian Americans combined these ingredients in pasta salad form with a vinegar-based Italian dressing as the sauce. This particular recipe is my sweetie Val’s personal recipe, which is quite delicious. Other additions you could add to this salad include cherry tomatoes, artichokes, marinated mushrooms, salami, mozzarella, basil; just to name a few.
Ingredients
- 16 oz tri-color rotini or fusilli pasta cooked al dente
- 8 oz Monterey Jack cheese cut into 1/2” cubes
- 8 oz cheddar cut into 1/2” cubes
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 2 cups cauliflower florets
- 6 oz pepperoni cut into half moon slices
- 1 cup pepperoncini peppers chopped
- 1 cup black olives sliced
- 1/2 cup red onion thinly sliced
- 2 cups Italian dressing
Instructions
- Cook the pasta al dente according to package instructions. Rinse under cold water.
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.
Savory Steel Cut Oatmeal
Savory Steel Cut Oatmeal
This concept of “savory” oatmeal was brought to my attention by my coworker Adam. Instead of eating your oatmeal sweet like everyone else, why not add some breakfast meats, parmesan cheese, and top it with a fried egg. This has become my absolute favorite way to prepare steel cut oats and is now my favorite breakfast food. I like the combination of breakfast sausage sautéed with garlic and shallots mixed in with mine, but you can substitute with bacon, ham, leftover pot roast, andouille sausage; just about any type of meat you like.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup steel cut oats
- 2 cups water plus an additional cup, if needed
- 1 dash salt
- 1 tbsp butter
- 3 garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp shallots finely chopped
- 6 oz pork breakfast sausage
- 3 tbsp parmesan cheese
- 2 large eggs or 1 duck egg; fried sunny-side up
- 1 green onion chopped
Instructions
- Bring the oats, salt, and water to a simmer over low heat in a pot. Occasionally stir. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- While the oatmeal is cooking, melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add in the garlic and shallots; sautéing for 2 minutes.
- Add in the sausage. Crumble and cook for 8-10 minutes until browned. Turn off the heat.
- Once the oatmeal is cooked, stir in the sausage mixture and the parmesan cheese. Turn off the heat. And place in a bowl.
- Top the oatmeal with fried eggs, chopped green onions, and more parmesan cheese.
