Cauliflower Tater Tots

Oven Roasted Cauliflower Tater Tots

I made a commitment in 2012, to drop a pound a month. I didn't succeed, though I got pretty close! I lost 10 pounds and it has made a world of difference in my energy level.

Diets don't work, at least not for me, but sadly admitting what it is that makes me fat? Well, that seemed to do the trick this year. Because it's not the cakes and cookies that's a problem for me. It's the bread. And, potatoes. I'm slowly evolving into a potato. I get rounder and plumper every year. :(

So that's what inspired me to get creative with veggies. This recipe, which was adapted from a Weight Watchers recipe, is about half the calories of regular tater tots and it tastes better than the potato version! At least, I think so.

Cauliflower Tater Tots
1 large head cauliflower
1 large egg
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon Deer Valley Oomph*

Begin by turning that head of cauliflower into 'rice.' Pop this raw veggie into a food processor and chop it up very fine, into teeny tiny rice-like pieces. If you live in the desert southwest (like I do) the air will dry out the cauliflower bits rather quickly. In more humid climates, spread the little cauliflower bits onto a paper towel to absorb some of the moisture.

And, then... Put the Cauliflower rice into a bowl, whisk an egg, pour that onto the cauliflower, stir in the Parmesan cheese. Using your hands, shmoosh these goodies into tater tot shapes. Spread onto a cookie sheet and bake @400 degrees (F.)

* TIP: Do not use low fat, low sodium cheese.  That's just bad, bad stuff. Fat and sodium contribute mightily to the flavor and texture of cheese. If you want to go that route, skip the cheese altogether. (I worked for Healthy Choice for many years and I know a thing or two about what goes into that crap.)

** Deer Valley Oomph is a southwestern seasoning that gives veggies a great flavor kick. I live in Park City, just down the road from Deer Valley Ski Resort, so this is an easy seasoning for me to find. If you're looking to create your own, try something like this:

Southwestern Seasoning Ingredients: 

• 1/4 cup EACH: chili powder and onion powder 
• 2 tablespoons EACH: ground cumin, ground coriander, dried oregano, dried basil, & garlic powder.

Simple Sugar Cookies

Back when I had a real job... whenever I wasn't doing a good enough job... my boss would crab at my lack of creativity and accuse me of taking a cookie cutter approach.

That was a confusing way to insult me because I've tried to make perfectly consistent cut out cookies since L was a baby and it's a whole lot harder than it looks.

This is my theory as to why most of us leave the creative cookie cutting to Pillsbury:

After we turn 40, we figure out that women's magazines are filled with re-touched photos of flawed people. Once we realize that Angelina Jolie could very well be fat and ugly in real life, we feel a whole lot better about ourselves.

For some odd reason, we haven't quite accepted the fact that food photography gets the same specialty treatment.

I can assure you it does. I once spent 16 hours at a photo shoot because an incredibly annoying art director needed the peas in the pasta salad to be placed in exactly the right spots.

Today, I'd like to encourage everyone to shrug off those ill-conceived notions of perfection. Haul out the cookie cutters, roll up their sleeves and think... Picasso, Dali, and Pollock ~ definitely Jackson Pollock!

Because there are a whole lot of creative masters out there who happily failed Art Class 101.

Simple Sugar Cookies Recipe
No matter how they look, they all taste delightful. This recipe makes 3 dozen average size cookies or 1 gigantic cookie sculpture (in case you'd like to pay tribute to Gaudi!)

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1.5 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 cups flour
• 1.25 teaspoons baking powder

How to:

1. Beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in egg and vanilla.
2. Add flour and baking powder in intervals. (Dough will seem too dry but it will improve when chilled.)
3. Divide dough into four equal parts and refrigerate about an hour.
4. Roll out dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper, 1/4 inch thick for crisp cookies or 1/3 inch thick for soft cookies.
5. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and and bake for 7-8 minutes @ 375 F.

TIP: Be sure to eat lots of cookie dough. This dramatically reduces the amount of time you waste baking the cookies.

Holiday Tea Breads

Daughter, L, is driving up here, this afternoon. (We say 'up' because she lives at the bottom of the mountain, and I live on top.) We've got a full, fun day of holiday baking ahead of us ~ dozens and dozens of Christmas cookies plus a special treat for the gals in my horse club.

I'm an Irish lass. Growing up, tea was big part of our afternoons. Relaxing with a nibble, not the high tea extravaganza those Brits are famous for. :)

Around the holidays, people drop by unexpectedly and it's nice to have a little treat when they come to call...

Tea Breads
* each one of these recipes makes 1 loaf.

Mix together....

• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoons salt

Stir in... 
This is where you can get creative. Start with the basic recipe and then add a few extra goodies to make these breads absolutely delightful.

Chocolate Tea Bread:

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup cocoa

Peachy Tea Bread:

• 1 cup chopped peaches
• 3/4 cup toasted pecans
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk

Lavender Tea Bread:

• 3 tablespoons lavender flowers
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• A simple sugar glaze is lovely on this one.  (2 cups powdered sugar and a little bit of water.)

Pour into a traditional-size bread loaf pan. (Use a spritz of cooking spray.) Pop this mess in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees, for about 1 hour. Use a toothpick to determine if it's done.

Then, brew up a pot of Earl Grey tea and...... enjoy!