Below I have a summary of updates, a product review and recipe for my new FAVORITE side dish right now: Cauliflower Popcorn!
Update: Boy, do I have some cool crafts waiting for the blog! This summer we made chalkboard coasters from the 2 cent tiles at Lowes and pom pom flowers out of $2 tissue paper. Our house closes soon… so I should be back up and running with lots more recipes and LIGHT to photograph them! Woo hoo!
I have several presentations coming up including: Freezer Meals (expect more of those plans), another cake/cupcake decorating presentation and currently working on my new idea “Trive”. Most of us moms are trying to survive, let alone thrive. I think we all need to just try. We don’t need to be perfect at it… so I married the word TRY and THRIVE together to come up with my new positive psychology concept: Trive. Well, we will see. I am still working on the outline of the presentation of techniques I’ve read or learned from class about thriving and become a happier, wholer, better self.
Product Review: As you know, I love to find healthy shortcuts. Healthy Solutions Spice Blends was kind enough to send me four samples of their seasonings. The contents are similar to Wildtree if you are familiar with that product line. These Healthy Solutions Spice Blends come in many different combinations for meat, seafood, Chili/Tacos, Pork and Poultry Rub, Bold Beef Rub and Savory Meatloaf. They are all natural, low carb, no MSG, no fillers, no preservatives. I think what I loved most about these products – other than they taste good – is that it gave me a menu. I didn’t have to think of what to make or buy. I just purchased the items on the packet from the store like fresh meat, canned tomatoes (canned at home or from the store), and canned beans – and dinner planning was done.
We loved the chili packet. No mixing and stirring 10-20 spices. Just heat up some meat, add the seasoning with some cans of tomatoes, and dinner is done.
I never thought of cooking chicken with orange juice before, but it worked well with the dried orange inside the seasoning packet. The beef rub really kicks up the umami flavors with soy sauce and of course everyone loves meatloaf.
Recipe: It is difficult to make cauliflower super tasty sometimes. My friend has had great luck with the pizza dough recipe that uses cauliflower instead of flour. This recipe is a fast, easy and delicious side dish. For fun, you could put it in some popcorn boxes for a snack. Or eat it with a protein for dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 head of cauliflower (or equivalent in florets)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt or 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (I like garlic)
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees or convection oven to 375 degrees.
- Make sure the cauliflower is washed and dry. Cut into florets unless it is already cut this way.
- Toss the cauliflower in a bowl with the olive to coat. Add garlic salt (or combination of salt and garlic powder) and cheese.
- Place the cauliflower onto a rimmed cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Roast for 15 minutes. Sometimes, mine goes another 5 minutes depending how large the florets were cut. The cauliflower should have a few brown spots.
Cauliflower Popcorn
1 head of cauliflower
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt or 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees or convection oven to 375 degrees.
2. Make sure the cauliflower is washed and dry. Cut into florets unless it is already cut this way.
3. Toss the cauliflower in a bowl with the olive to coat. Add garlic salt (or combination of salt and garlic powder) and cheese.
4. Place the cauliflower onto a rimmed cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Roast for 15 minutes. Sometimes, mine goes another 5 minutes depending how large the florets were cut. The cauliflower should have a few brown spots.
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home
Copyright 2014 Mary Ellen P. Riley
