The following originally appeared on 8/11/08 at Exit 51.
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Mashed Potatoes
Some thoughts on our South Beach journey, now into its 10th day.
My desire to bring the camera into the kitchen is not so strong these days. I’m not yet on friendly terms with these recipes. I don’t know what to expect from them – will they misbehave? So I’m more focused on trying to figure them out. Hopefully as we stumble across ones that become favorites, I’ll be more gung-ho to capture the moments.
Also, all the prep that goes into getting ahead of the curve absolutely wrecks my kitchen. I prefer a somewhat orderly approach to cooking. Instead, my weekend cooking days have seen stacks and stacks of dishes on every available horizontal surface. By the time I get all the week’s “snacks” prepped, it’s time to start fixing an actual meal. And then all those dishes have to get cleaned up, and oh look, time to start pulling things out for dinner. It’s a weary cycle right now. My little dishwasher has gotten more use in the last ten days than ever before, sometimes running twice a day (but it is a really teeny tiny dishwasher).
I’m a wee bit tired of the egg thing. No matter how you cook ‘em, what you add to ‘em, they’re still eggs. And they’re the primary focus of breakfast. For ten days so far. I’m thinking that the eggs and I may take a nice long break once we’re able to vary our breakfast items.
Carbs, I miss you. I really do. I can’t wait to bite into a toasted piece of something this weekend. But please tell mashed potatoes that they might not be invited back into the house. You’d be surprised how something as unpotatoish as caulifower can fool you into thinking you’re having mashed potatoes. Really. Don’t believe me, try it and see.
Not Mashed Potatoes
Cauliflower (1 head)
1 tsp (or so) Fat Free Half and Half (in the interest of full disclosure, I do not use fat free half and half)
1 oz I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray (what is 1 oz? I don’t know. I just give a few sprays and then adjust according to taste)
Cut cauliflower into florets and cook (steam, microwave, boil) until tender. Transfer cooked cauliflower to food processor and pulse until chunky smooth (you may need to break larger florets up with a fork to get a good consistency). Do no overprocess or you will have runny cauliflower puree, and that’s nothing like mashed potatoes. Add half and half and butter spray and pulse to combine. Add salt to taste and serve hot.
Bon Appetit Hon 
Wendi, I often run my full sized dishwasher twice a day on weekends. I blame it on cooking for the suspects, not south beach though! And let’s not talk about last weekend without a dishwasher. Too many hours spent at the sink…
Beth, I don’t know that I could willingly go back to a life without the dishwasher…even just on weekends.
Ahhh, cauliflower! It took until I was 37 years old to develop an appreciation for it. I even grew some of my own this year, but it was disappointing. Attacked by worms in its prime. I will have to try them mashed, but for now my favorite is roasted with a little chopped onion and olive oil.
Oh yes Jennifer, roasted cauliflower is lovely. I think maybe I’ll grab a head of cauli at the store this weekend.
last night, while i was hand washing my little piping bag and tips, a total of 7 items, it took me an HOUR and i remember thinking that i should just drop the hobby because i HATE washing dishes. but today as i’m about to frost up some cute cupcakes i realise that it’s all worth it. i haven’t had a dishwasher in oh… 5 years? and i’m ok with that.
i’ve been meaning to try mashed cauliflower, i have a rather strained relationship with this veg… i like it roasted and pureed into a soup… i might try it mashed….
Lan, if you try the mashed cauli, just be sure not to over process it otherwise it will turn into puree which is halfway to soup.
I lived without a dishwasher for 32 years. I figure I’ve put in my time at the sink. Although there are still things that either can’t go into the dishwasher or won’t fit. So it’s not like I never wash dishes anymore.
oh don’t get me wrong honey, if i had a dishwasher, i would’ve thrown them little evil things in there & been done with it.
That’s my girl. And believe me, if I could get the cat to wash the stuff that can’t go in the dishwasher, I would. He really needs to start earning his keep ; )
You need to add some sharp white cheddar to those suckers! I admit, they’re not bad, but they’re certainly not mashed potatoes!
Ooooh, Kitch I had not considered the application of cheesy accouterments. That would be lovely. Sadly, I think this is as close as my back side would like me to get to mashed potatoes ever again. With the real thing, I should just plaster them on my butt and thighs because that’s where they end up.
But I make a mean mashed sweet potato.
I just added “Unpotatoish” to my vocabulary. Now I just need to make mashed cauliflower so that I can use it in conversation.
Don’t delay Ali. I am such the trendsetter that before you know it everyone will be be using that word. Be an early adopter!
So weird!
I totally just made cauliflower soup ’cause I had no clue what to do with it…but this sounds amazing!! Darn my timing!! *L* Ahh well..next time 🙂
Melanie, I’m so glad you are blogging again! Hope you will try mashed cauli. And you know what, I also make it with frozen…works like a charm.
I’m in love with mashed cauliflower & its the only way I eat it, never been a fan of the it any other way either so win win all around for me with this one.
Anna, see what the trendsetter you are? You’ve known all about mashed cauliflower and I’ve only discovered it recently.
I know! I actually just wrote (and scheduled) my own blog post about mashed cauliflower. It’s an amazing dish.
Sara, I’ve become quite the fan of the mashed cauliflower.
I’ve been looking for this recipe. Thank you!