Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

I made these on Friday for the first time for a friend's "girls night out" happy hour.  I am always hesitant to bring something to share when I haven't had it yet, but thankfully, they turned out "okay".  I made them again tonight with some minor changes and they are getting better.  The first night, based on the original cooking instructions, they weren't as crispy as I'd like.  Tonight, I added corn starch and cooked them on a broiler pan (to allow for air to get through) versus just a cookie sheet.  They were definitely better and more the texture I would like.  They may be perfect with a quick broil at the end to add that last minute crisp.

Ingredients:
1/2 of cauliflower head, cut into florets & rinsed
1 cup water
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup corn starch
2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 c Franks hot sauce
1/4 c Rockfish Johnnies Hot Sauce (if you don't have it, use hot sauce...but ask me where to get it!!)
1 tbsp melted unsalted butter
Light Blue Cheese Dressing

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees
Combine water, flower & corn starch in a bowl.  Mix well.
Add florets and combine well
Place mixture on broiler pan (note - line bottom of pan with aluminum foil for easy clean up & spray top with Pam cooking spray)
Cook in preheated oven for 20 minutes
While cauliflower is cooking, melt butter (with maybe 2 min left on cauliflower).  Then add hot sauce and Rockfish Johnnies Hot Sauce.  Mix well.
After 20 minutes, drizzle hot sauce mixture over cauliflower.  Place back in oven and cook for another 5 minutes.
Serve with a side of blue cheese dressing

Enjoy!

Cauliflower Pizza Bites

I brought these to the same 4th of July party mentioned in the Berry Flag Appetizer post.  They were devoured in a matter of minutes!  I really liked them and thought they were pretty easy to make!  I found the original recipe here but after reading their site, I wanted to post where to find the original recipe (here).  (As requested by the original recipe poster, I will not re-post the instructions on how to make these.  Rather, if you want to see the instructions, please click the link for the original recipe and you can obtain it there.)
One thing to note, on the blog I read about these, they tried several methods to try to improve the crispiness and curtail the amount of scrubbing a muffin tin afterward.  I read their recommendations and made mine on parchment paper.  I "dropped" them on using a tablespoon measuring spoon and it worked perfectly.  I topped mine with 1 turkey sausage round.

Enjoy!

Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan Cheese

I don't know why I never thought I'd like cauliflower in the past but it has become one of my new favorite sides!  I found this on the weight watchers community recipe site and it had a ton of reviews.  It is so good and has an almost "nutty" flavor.  This is a super simple recipe but makes a great side dish!

Ingredients:
4 c uncooked cauliflower florets
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Spread cauliflower florets on baking sheet and drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper over top
Bake cauliflower for 20 minutes or until lightly browned in spots
Remove from oven and sprinkle cheese over top.  Return to oven for 5 more minutes then serve

1 point

Enjoy!

Mashed Cheesy Cauliflower

I LOVE mashed potatoes...but I realize I shouldn't be eating them in mass quantities.  So, I wanted to try mashed cauliflower.  This recipe calls for adding cheese to thicken up the consistency but eventually I'd like to see if I can cut the calories in this.  It's to die for and honestly, I crave it!!  I've made them 2x in less than a week.  (UGH...better figure out the less calorie version soon!)

I "eye-ball" the amounts of cheese, margarine and milk but I end up with a similar consistency to mashed potatoes.

(the pic doesn't do it justice!)

Ingredients:
1 head of cauliflower, separated into florets
1 can chicken stock
Margarine
Parmessan Cheese
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Milk
Salt & Pepper

Directions:
Place cauliflower florets in a pan with 1 can of chicken stock and 1 soup can of water (you can add as much water as needed to cover the cauliflower)
Bring water to a boil then cover and turn back the heat to a simmer. 
Simmer for 10 minutes, then drain
Place drained cauliflower in a bowl that you can use beaters
Add margarine; milk & cheese - a little at a time to ensure you get the right consistency (I never measure this it's just eye balled).  They should look like mashed potatoes
Season with salt & pepper
Serve immediately

French's French Fried Onion Chicken with Sweet Potato Fries and Roasted Parmesan Cauliflower

Last night I made French's french fried onion chicken along with baked sweet potato fries and roasted cauliflower.  The chicken has been around in our house for a while now but it's always a winner.  The others were done on a whim to get some healthier sides in the mix.  I've made sweet potato fries before but they were mushy.  I found a recipe here that I loosely followed & it explains how to keep them crispier (by par boiling the potatoes and using wire cooling racks to keep the potatoes off the cookie tray).  I think they'd be even better if I made them in the grill pan (but the grill was out of propane, so that will be next time!).  B didn't like the cauliflower but that's mainly because she didn't even try it.  I thought it was amazing & light.  It will be made again (& maybe adding some roasted pine nuts) so I hope she learns to try it!!  I also think that would be good on the grill as the recipe I found here was intended for the grill.

French's French Fried Onion Chicken
Ingredients:
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded slightly
1/2 cup milk (1 egg white works well too)
1/2 (6oz) container of French's French Fried Onions, crunched up

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Put milk in a shallow bowl & crunched up onions in another shallow bowl
Dip chicken in milk then in onions, covering both sides of chicken with onions
Place chicken in baking dish (sprayed with Pam)
Bake for about 33 minutes

Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients:
2 large sweet potatoes, sliced length wise into even slices
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for drizzling
Kosher Salt
Pepper
Rosemary
Chili Powder

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Arrange cooling wire rack onto baking sheet
Place sliced potatoes in pot of cold, lightly salted water and bring to a boil.  Let boil for about 2-3 minutes
Drain potatoes and put in bowl.  Season potatoes with olive oil; salt; pepper; rosemary & chili powder, turn to coat evenly
Place potatoes on wire rack & bake for about 40-45 minutes, turning at least 1x

Roasted Parmesan Cauliflower
Ingredients:
1 medium head of cauliflower
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for drizzling
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Kosher Salt
Pepper
1/4 cup Fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Place cauliflower in bowl and season with olive oil; garlic; salt; pepper & lemon juice
Put in baking dish and bake for about 15 minutes
Immediately put Parmesan cheese over the cauliflower and serve