I have become totally addicted to blogging. When I'm not reading other peoples, I'm cooking and taking photographs of food, or tapping away at the keyboard, or I'm scribbling thoughts on scraps of paper. I'm dreaming of food and I've gained weight in the last month. I've also been neglecting the children (a little). It's okay there's no need to call ChildLine - I've come up with a solution. I stay up later and later to make up for this. Also, if you know my children... Little and Small will not allow anyone to ignore them for long. Not in a horrible, spoilt brat way but they know whether to be outrageously funny or so interested in what you're doing you have to give up and be interested in what they want. So I spend my normal amount of time with the kids and then spend half the night surfing. Though admittedly if they're otherwise occupied during the day I do saunter guiltily over to the computer, sit down and before I know it some time has passed...It might be a good idea if I got my head down and got on with plans for the business but what do I do, I start blogging and procrastination sets in again... It should be my middle name. Or I could just look at blogging as a way of easing myself back into working gently... or should that have read, gently ease myself back into working. Did someone mention cauliflower cheese at the beginning of this...
The Little Foodies love this, as do I. We served this with some really good gammon from our village butcher, which I put in the oven for the last 15 minutes of cooking time. Probably not the traditional, or best way to cook it, but it works and it's easy and the oven was on...
Cauliflower Cheese
1 medium cauliflower
1.5 oz (400g) butter
3 tablespoons of plain flour
300ml (half pint) milk
1 teaspoon English Mustard
1oz ( 25g) Y Fenni (grated)
2oz (50g) Gruyere (grated)
2oz (50g) Mozzarella (harder version that you would put on pizza)
** I never pre-cook the cauliflower as I like it to still have bite when served. **
First pre-heat oven to 200C, 400F, GasMark 4
Make a basic white sauce - Melt the butter in the pan, stir in the flour and cook gently for a minute. Then add the milk a little at a time, stirring continuously until all the milk is incorporated. Bring to the boil and then add the mustard, grated Y Fenni and Gruyere cheeses.
Wash the cauliflower, break apart into pieces and put in an ovenproof dish.
Cover with the cheese sauce
Slice the mozzarella and place on top randomly.
Cover with tinfoil and bake in the oven for approx 45 minutes to one hour. You could greatly reduce this if the cauliflower was pre-cooked.
10 comments:
That looks so good! and with the mix of cheeses it's bound to be lovely.
I've started reading blogs at night too, it's a nice wind down after a busy day. I have to watch though and leave myself enough time to write up food pictures as well!
You're right it is a nice way to wind down. The mix of cheeses was good, I also still like it with good old cheddar but we had those cheeses left over. I'm interested to see what you choose to cook from Arabesque (from your other comment):) Amanda
I never cook the fish when I'm making a fish pie, but it never occurred to me that you could do the same with cauliflower ... BRILLIANT - I love it when you can cut out one whole process to improve the dish AND cut down on washing up!
Thanks for sharing
Joanna
joannasfood.blogspot.com
I had a laugh with your post and could relate a bit to it, Amanda! While I finish preparing food João (my husband) asks "do you want me to get the camera??" :)
I talk when I sleep (I used to be a sleepwalker when younger) and João told me this morning that while dreaming I kept asking him to add more sugar and stir (!!)
Food is all over the place for me, too. Good to know I'm in such good company! :)
I love cauliflower and what a delicious way to have it!
This sounds like a blissfully comforting dish. Would it be wonderful if there was some way to combine blogging and work? Pity it doesn't pay for most.
Mmmmm.... cauliflower cheese. I love the stuff. Can't get enough of it! I love blogging and reading other's blogs. I get up at 5 o'clock every morning just so I can write my own and then visit everyone else's. But it's worth it. I love using up all the bits of leftover cheese I have in the fridge for cheese sauce. You can come up with some really delicious results! I am curious as to your business?? (I know, I'm a nosy old bird!)
All looks lovely - you've got me hankering after more Y Fenni - will have to find some!
Looks beautiful.I uasually make Broccoli cheese,little variation makes a gorgeous dish:))
Dreamy, I adore Cauliflower Cheese and your combination of the cheeses sounds wonderful! I too like a bit to my cauli!
Joanna, I try cutting out all sorts of processes in cooking, sometimes it works, others it doesn't. Over the years I'm sure it's saved lots of time/effort.
Patricia,my husband asks the same.. Are we completely mad?
Truffle,Wouldn't it just!
Marie,I'll tell all soon, I promise.
Tash,You had me hankering after NCC cheese, particularly the nettle, have asked my mum to send me some.
Asha,sounds good with broccoli.
Freya,Thank you, def better with bite.
Thank you for all your comments. It's really lovely getting comments. Amanda
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