FLOWER POT KITCHEN: CAULIFLOWER TURMERIC MASH

1 Oct 2017

CAULIFLOWER TURMERIC MASH

PALEO GLUTEN FREE

Missing those heavy carb loaded mashed potatoes? This recipe is not only going to satisfy that need for that autum winter comfort spoon food this side order won't leave you feeling like you've eaten a pillow with that heavy carb overload that then rises you blood glucose so high you feel the need for a insulin nap! The extra bonus is the Turmeric and Black Pepper health boosting properties. My geeky food science bit below...

Prep time 5 minutes / Cooking time 10 minutes

Ingredients

(Serves 2-3)

1 large head of cauliflower in florets

1/2 tsp Himalayan sea salt

1/4 tsp turmeric

1/4 tsp black pepper
20g grated fresh Parmesan

Bring a large pan of water to a rolling boil, season with a pinch of sea salt, add the cauliflower florets and boil until fork tender around 7 minutes, alternatively you can steam the cauliflower which would keep more nutrients in the cauliflower.

Once cooked drain in a colander for a couple of minutes, place back in the saucepan and mash, season with the black pepper and turmeric, then add the Parmesan, a salty cheese, taste the mash before adding any additional sea salt.

My husband likes lumpy mash, where as I prefer a smooth puree, if you want a smooth finish I use my stick blender to puree the mash rather than a hand held potato masher.

Geeky Science Bit...

Turmeric is super good for you, but more important is the need to eat turmeric with black pepper, why? The curcuma longs L in turmeric is not utilised in our body due to its rapid metabolism in the liver and intestinal wall, combining consumption of piperine a know inhibitor of intestinal absorption found in black pepper significantly increased the concentration of curcumin up to 2000% in turn extending the absorption time.

Turmeric 1500mg RDA

Turmeric is one of those little spices you should try and eat every day, helps control high blood sugar, great if you have or are pre disposed to diabetes, anti inflammatory, anti oxidant helps protect against ageing, anti atherosclerotic, heart protecting and weight reducing actions, another great benefit for diabetes and reducing complications from associated diseases. Important role of curcumin a key component in turmeric in the the prevention and treatment again of diabetes and associated disorders, neuroprotective and anti infections actions. Helps protect against Alzheimer's.

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LIFE MY PASSION

Welcome to my daily life of cooking, one winters day many years ago my family and I were all inspired by a back to back rainy day of River Cottage this got us to stop talking about and start actually doing, suddenly three weeks later eight vegetable beds were dug, greenhouse erected and our first vegetables were propagating, this was the start to raising and growing our own food, our fabulous son Oscar changed our path in life which lead us to sell our small thriving restaurant of 10 yrs and to start our new life (Terrifying!) a life of the self sufficient in touch with nature and seasons, taking a step back and looking forward to a slower change of pace and making the most of every moment.

My passion for cooking was stronger than ever and having time at home with Oscar I found I had a new direction and I was no longer striving for perfection, I was suddenly very passionate for the enjoyment of the other side of food, something I had not realised, being the Chef/Cook and every other duty of your own small restaurant made me see that I never actually took time to cook what I wanted!

So there I was muddy boots and hands digging deep in more than one sense and I found myself transported back in time to where everyone grew some of their own food, it is a wonderful world with a real sense of achievement and loss, Slugs Snails and Caterpillars! But thats another story! Childhood memories of summers when I lived with my grand parents reminded me of so much that I had learnt about the make do and mend generation that I had forgotten.

Now as a family we love our free wild food days where we gather what nature has provided, have gone from being mini mini garden urban small holders, who did raised pigs at home because we could not wait to find land and supporting ourselves from our garden to now owning a very small farm that allows us to grow more vegetables for the whole of our family and neighbours, raise our own gorgeous Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs, (Sausages!) and pets! Dorset Down sheep, chickens for eggs and pet goats! Suddenly having large quantities of produce started to wake up the Cook in me!

The Cook was awake that part of me that wants to cook for the masses and I found myself setting up Flowerpot Kitchen, a Farmers Market Stall, I wanted to use our honest raised meats and make old fashioned pork pies, rabbit pies and game pies from the local game keeper along with old fashioned techniques and the best hot water crust pastry. This in turn grew to a small cottage industry from home weekly supplying three farm shops and a deli along with also attending three farmers markets A few years later there came a time when my son Oscar's health changed and it was an easy decision to stop.

I still hold the occasional pop up 40 seater restaurant or gourmet lunch which we do for local charities for the love of sharing food and to remind that Cook in me why I love our go slower self sufficient life!

So here I am sitting amoung the vegetables watching the chickens loving that every season nature teaches me something new and that nature is in charge! She has taught me to just go with it and grow. Give it a try from a tray of salad on your windowsill to a few tomato plants it all counts.