Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower and a Cookbook GIVEAWAY!

When I go into any book store, I usually head right for the cookbook section, in the hopes of finding something to whet my appetite.  With the way that I eat, I'm especially interested in gluten-free cookbooks, or in cookbooks that are relatively low in gluten containing recipes, like any of the Moosewood series.  When I read online that Amy Green, the blogger behind Simply Sugar and Gluten free had released a cookbook, I knew I'd find some gems in her collection of recipes.  This book is full of morning goodies, healthy and hearty meals and side dishes for lunch and dinner, and ends with cookies, bars, and many other desserts.

Amy Green started omitting wheat and gluten from her diet when her health and weight brought her to a doctor who practiced alternative medicine.  He said these ingredients "were going to kill" her.  That prompted a wake-up call as to what Amy ate -- for just a few weeks.  After six years, she finally decided that unless she omitted these foods from her meals, she would have no control over her weight.  She started with whole, unprocessed foods, eating fruit when she needed something sweet.  Eating this way has allowed Amy to maintain her over 60 pound weight loss.  Pretty awesome!

I totally resonated with her story, and really enjoyed flipping through the book to see what sort of recipes she had developed.

For breakfast, Green includes several variations on the friendly gluten-free buckwheat pancake, and an apple carrot breakfast cake that I know I'd love (or want to transform into cookies!).  Other tantalizing recipes include slow cooker ketchup and black bean veggie burgers.  Most recipes are vegetarian and many have vegan adaptations.

This book really highlights Amy's skill at creating wonderful gluten free and sugar free baked goods, like a fresh fruit tart and almond butter cupcakes.  In these, she sticks to sweetening with stevia, agave nectar, palm sugar, honey, or maple syrup.

One side dish completely caught my attention: the Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower.  I love cauliflower pureed in soups and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, so this sounded like an awesome alternative to mashed potatoes.

Look at the texture of this stuff.  You'd never guess it wasn't creamy potatoes.  But the cauliflower, mixed with a bit of flavorful broth and rich Parmesan, blends into a delightful creaminess that will have you savoring every bite.  I made this tonight, along with some risotto.  Without planning on it, both Andrew and I mixed the cauliflower with the risotto.  It was the most luscious and silky dish I had tasted in quite some time.  While I know potatoes are full of good things for our bodies, cauliflower is also super beneficial for our over all health.  As a cruciferous vegetable, cauliflower is full of fiber and helps to support the function of the colon.  Being of the cruciferous family, cauliflower also helps reduce our risk of cancer because of its detoxifying properties, its abundance of antioxidants, and its ability to reduce our inflammatory response.

Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower

Adapted from Simply Gluten and Sugar Free by Amy Green

• 1 large head cauliflower, chopped into florets
• 3 1/2 cups vegetable broth, divided
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup low fat yogurt (Amy used sour cream, but I didn't have any)
• 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
• salt and pepper to taste

 In a large saucepan, cook the cauliflower florets in the vegetable broth.  Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer for about 20 minutes, until the florets are fully cooked.  Drain and reserve a cup of the broth. Transfer the cauliflower to a blender or food processor.  Add in the milk and 1/4 cup of the broth.  Puree, adding more broth if necessary.  Once it is lusciously smooth, add sour cream or yogurt, and puree again.  Season with salt, pepper, and Italian Seasoning to taste.  Transfer to a serving bowl and stir in the cheese.  Taste, savor, enjoy.

Would you like to win a copy of Amy's book?  The wonderful folks at Ulysses Press have given me two books to give to two lucky winners!

Here's how to enter -- leave a comment for each entry that you make:

1. Leave a comment sharing your favorite vegetable to make a puree with
2. Like Spiced Plate and Simply Sugar and Gluten Free on Facebook
3. Share this giveaway either on facebook or on your blog (I don't have a twitter account anymore, so I won't be able to check those!)

You have until midnight on Thursday to enter.  The winners will be announced Friday morning.  Good luck!