I take back all the mean things that I said about mashed cauliflower. I was too quick to judge! Back in December I made mashed cauliflower at home for the first time. The problem was that I gave it a half-hearted effort and tried to puree it in small batches in my tiny food processor. The result was a chunky mixture that just tasted like mashed up cauliflower. I was unimpressed. I really had no motivation to try it again on my own but a friend of mine loves it and served it to me twice when I was having dinner in her home…and it was awesome! Her secret ingredient is adding a little truffle oil and boy does it taste amazing!

So in this recent eats post you’ll notice not one but two dinners with mashed cauliflower. I credit my friend as well as my Vitamix for my new love for mashed cauliflower. Making it in the Vitamix yielded the smoothest, creamiest mashed cauliflower you can imagine. So, so delicious. It just goes to show that you should always try foods more than once. I almost always find that I actually do like the food…it just has to be prepared the right way. The only foods that this does not apply for are capers and dill. No matter how many times and how many ways I try them…I just do not like. My parents can share some good stories about my disdain for capers growing up! 🙂

What is a food that you’ve developed a taste for over time? What is a food you just cannot develop a taste for? 

Now, onto the recent eats. It’s been a week since I’ve shared them with you and I’ve been tearing it up in the kitchen!

Breakfast

Read my Green Smoothie April week three post. 🙂

Lunch

Easter Sunday lunch/brunch was an awesome omelet with pesto, sundried tomatoes and two types of cheeses. Topped with fresh basil and served with sourdough toast (homemade by my dad!), applewood smoked bacon and fresh fruit. Just as delicious as anything I would have ordered in a restaurant, way cheaper and no fighting Easter crowds!

“Superfoods” salad using Trader Joe’s new Cruciferous Crunch mix, kale, tomatoes, dried cranberries, strawberries, almonds and topped with a Hilary’s Eat Well Veggie Burger. I made a homemade lemon tahini dressing to toss the salad in because I really wanted to mix up my usual dressings. It was awesome. Loved this salad and its variety of textures and tastes.

Lunch at Crisp with a friend. I did a build your own salad with eggs, walnuts, avocado, feta, dried cranberries and chick peas with tons of spinach. These salads are massive but I cleaned the bowl!

Salad and a wrap. Mixed greens, arugula, TJ’s Cruciferous Crunch, avocado, dried cranberries, strawberries, almonds, blue cheese and a balsamic vinaigrette on the salad. The wrap was pesto, turkey, avocado, arugula and brie.

Dinner

Hold onto your hats! It’s been GOOD EATING around here lately!

Deconstructed sushi bowl. I cooked sushi rice and tossed it in a rice wine vinegar and sugar combo. Then I topped the rice with seared sesame crusted ahi tuna, edamame, avocado and a wasabi aioli.

Hanger steak from a local farm that I marinated all afternoon and then cooked in cast iron over mashed cauliflower with roasted artichokes. My secret ingredients for the mashed cauliflower are truffle oil, a good dose of sea salt, chicken stock and a little bit of cream cheese.

Turkey meatloaf with broccolini, roasted carrots and mashed sweet potatoes. This turkey meatloaf recipe was different in that you add a lot of minced sauteed mushrooms to the meat mixture to add some depth in flavor and a more moist texture.

Spiced chicken leg/thigh quarters over mashed cauliflower with roasted baby zucchini. I’ve been making this spiced chicken recipe for many years and it’s so flavorful and simple. Highly recommend!

Etc. 

The last of my Ben & Jerry’s PB&B Greek Frozen Yogurt over a brownie. The brownie was nothing to write home about. It was a flourless recipe using PB2 and cocoa powder and it was very “eh.” I continue to believe that “healthy” baked goods are extremely hit or miss. It’s usually the texture that is just way off for me.

THE BEST LATTE IN CHARLOTTE! Charlotte readers…you must, must, must check out Sunflour Baking Company. They make amazing sandwiches, baked goods and espresso drinks. Yesterday they made me THE foamiest and best soy latte that I’ve ever had. I love their regular milk lattes too and they told me yesterday that they’re working to perfect the almond milk latte and hope to have it on the menu soon!

And that’s a wrap! Have a wonderful day!