Every year I make a big Yule dinner for us. I’m kind of a foodie-ish person, so I do things a little fancy. This year we had roast beef, which I put in the sous vide for 24 hours, then roasted in the oven for about 15 minutes to get the proper crust (makes the beef suuuuuper tender). I also made brussels sprouts fried with bacon, gravy, and Yorkshire puddings.*

However, we don’t do potatoes anymore because The Wife is diabetic, and combining puds and potatoes isn’t a Good Idea. So instead, I usually make mashed cauliflower. I used to steam them in the Instant Pot**, mash them with butter and cheese and call it a day. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t bad, but it was still a bit on the watery side. Passable and tasted good, but not Perfect.

But this year, friends, I tried a thing and I will be making mashed cauliflower this way forever!

I roasted the cauliflower first, and my gods! So amazing. So much so that The Awesome Wife told, nay demanded, that I must share this recipe far and wide for all and yon to enjoy!

So, here ya go:

Ingredients:

• 500 g of frozen cauliflower (or fresh, if you want)
• about 40 g of butter
• milk
• shredded cheese to taste (I recommend something on the mild side, but definitly NOT mozzarella! You want something like gruyere or a mild chedder.)

Instructions:

1. Turn on the oven to 230 C (about 450 F)
2. Put your cauliflower on a cookie sheet or whatever roasting thingo you have. Make sure it’s one layer.
3. Put in the oven for 30-45 minutes, or until there’s browning on the cauliflower and the cauliflower’s shrunk by half. (This is the important bit, really.)
4. In a bowl, put the pat of butter, and when the cauliflower is done, add the cauliflower to the bowl and let the butter melt. (Make sure it’s a decent sized bowl.)
5. Using an immersion (aka stick) blender, blend the cauliflower and butter until it’s smooth. This doesn’t take long.
6. Add shredded cheese to the mix. Mix with a fork until it comes together. The mix will be a little stiff. Add milk a tiny bit at a time until the mix is more proper “mashed potato” consistancy. Feel free to add salt and pepper here if you want.

That’s it! This makes enough for 2 people, but if you want more, just double or triple the recipe.

Now, because I’m a dang adult, and have fulfilled my Wife’s request, I’m going to go and watch Discovery with my Awesome Wife while enjoying a tasty non-alcoholic adult beverage. There may even be leftover puds with cream and sugar free maple syrup later. Because, again, I’m an adult and I do what I want. 🙂

Blessed Yule to all those who celebrate it! Hope your day has been merry, and your night too!

*aka Puds. I always have the Awesome Wife check them and declare them proper Puds, because She is British and I wouldn’t want to offend her on Yule.

** aka The Best Kitchen Appliance Ever Made. I will die on this hill.