Cauliflower Shepherd's Pie

It's cold. It's rainy. It's the kind of cold that you can't get out of your bones. The perfect weather for comfort food. I love comfort food: crunchy and soft loaves of bread; pastas with every kind of sauce; pounds of butter; bricks of cheese; and that's just one meal! (I kid)

I decided to go sugar free again until Thanksgiving so I had to find some low carb/healthy recipes. Sugar free in the summer time is easy with the abundance of fresh veggies and fruits. So I've spent countless hours scouring the internet, Pinterest, and cook books for things I could modify. I found a picture (no recipe) for shepherd's pie with cauliflower mash instead of potatoes. And then I made it. Yum! Here's the basic jist of what I did:

1 glug EVOO
2-4 shallots, finely diced
2-4 garlic cloves, finely diced
1lb ground hamburger
1/2 of a 1lb bag frozen peas
1/2 of a 1lb bag frozen carrots
1/2 c water
1 head cauliflower
1/4 cup cream cheese
1 tsp wasabi paste
(I don't measure spices, so use your discretion or if in doubt go 1/8 tsp and taste, taste, taste!!) (You can season with anything you like. I just start adding, taste and add more. Here's what I remember using:
salt
pepper
chili pepper
Penzy's Forward spice
Old Bay Original spice
garlic powder
Penzy's Chicago Pepper blend
truffle salt (totally got lost in it all)


Cut the cauliflower into florets. Place in microwave safe bowl. Cover with saran wrap. Microwave on high 5-8 minutes or until cauliflower is fully steamed and soft to the touch.

While the cauliflower is steaming, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add shallots and garlic. Cook for 2 or so minutes until aromatic. Add the hamburger and cook until brown. Drain excess fat. Add peas, carrots, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer and cover until frozen vegetables are softened (5 minutes). Add remaining spices, stir well. Remove from heat.

To finish off the mashed cauliflower, add cream cheese and mash florets with potato masher or immersion blender. Mash until consistency resembles mashed potatoes. Stir in wasabi and pinch of salt.

Spread mashed cauliflower over hamburger/veggies in an even layer. Place under broiler on medium until top slightly browns (5 mins).

And voila! Low Carb Shepherd's Pie. So perfect on a cold and rainy night!

Soft-Boiled Egg and Asparagus

Please excuse my absence for the past year or so. I had some health issues that kept me from all of my extracurricular activities. Without getting into the nitty gritty of it all, I was FORCED, against my will, to go on a no carb diet. Being from Wisconsin, where most meals are served with a loaf of bread and beer is a main food group, this is not something I expected to succeed at. However, after more than a few slip ups, (and paying the price dearly for it) I have been converted. There are so many options for meals that aren't centered around a starchy, white base. I have spent more time on Pinterest over the past months than I care to acknowledge, but I have rounded up quite a few delicious recipes that are carb and sugar free. (sugar being the main ingredient I have been forced to avoid, and in case you were not aware... Sugar is in EVERYTHING!) 

I was lucky enough to be started on this diet at the beginning of summer when fresh vegetables are aplenty. Asparagus is one of the first vegetables available and I am obsessed with it. That's putting it lightly. I bought so much at the Farmer's Market, I could barely fit it all in the fridge. I had to come up with some interesting ways to eat all of it and hence, the pictures below. 

I love me some hard-boiled eggs. So easy and delicious, and great for on the go. I also love poached eggs. So decadent and that runny yolk, oh my! Well believe it or not, until recently, I had never had a soft-boiled egg. I don't know why, but I'm so glad to have the rest of my life to enjoy them! And they are pretty easy to make. I've only had one bad experience so far and it was my own fault for trying to take a short cut. Here's a fool proof method for the perfect soft-boiled egg. And while you are waiting those excruciating 6 minutes, sauté some asparagus in olive oil with garlic, S&P. (btw, did you know instead of cutting off the ends of your asparagus, if you gently bend the stalks they will break at the perfect point to remove the stringy, coarse butts!)

Assemble your sauteed asparagus (I cut mine up because it was so thick and is easier to eat) and top with perfect soft-boiled eggs. Sprinkle on some S&P and enjoy that moment when you cut into your eggs and the whites are firm, but the yolk spills out over your plate.... mmmm! And sop it all up with the fresh, crisp summer asparagus. Carb free is not so bad!