Snowstorm Driving and Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

The downside of having a studio separate from your house is the occasional hazard of staying to long during a snowstorm. I admit I just left in time to make it home with some scary slippery moments on hills. I took the long way around, avoiding untreated back roads and slowing down toward red lights until they turned green to maneuver through them without having to slowdown. Anyone driving in New England knows what I'm talking about! Now safely home it's time for a little Cauliflower Mac & Cheese to keep my courage up!

 

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

Serves 6 

7T. butter 

4T. flour 

4c. whole milk

8oz. cheese, Cheddar, Gruyere, or any combination of cheese you like.

1t. Dijon mustard 

1/4t. Tabasco sauce

1/2t. salt

1/4t. fresh ground pepper

1lb. elbow pasta

1 medium head of cauliflower, washed and trimmed into florets

2T. grated Parmesan cheese

1/2c. cracker crumbs or bread crumbs

 

1. To make a basic white sauce, In a medium saucepan on medium heat melt 4T of butter. Add the flour stirring until the flour is incorporated into the butter making a smooth paste.

2. Add 1c of the milk, slowly whisking it into the flour/butter mix to avoid lumps. Add the remaining 3c milk, mustard, Tabasco, salt and pepper.  Lower the heat stirring until the sauce thickens about 10-15 minutes.

3. While you are stirring the white sauce, cook the pasta and the prepared cauliflower together according to the pasta's package directions.

4. Coarsely grate or chop the 8 ounces of cheese/s. Slowly add to the simmering white sauce. Stir until all the cheese is melted.  Now you have a cheese sauce.

5. Drain the pasta & cauliflower, put it back into the stockpot. Stir in the cheese sauce. Using 1T of melted butter, butter a 9 x 13  glass baking dish. Add the mac & cheese mixture to the buttered baking dish.

6. Melt the remaining 2T of butter. In a small bowl combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and the melted butter stirring with a fork to combine everything.

7. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the mac & cheese.

8. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 25-30 minutes until browned and bubbly.