CAULIFLOWER “MAC” and CHEESE

CAULIFLOWER “MAC” and CHEESE

1 head cauliflower

1 cup cream

1 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon dried onion

1/2 teaspoon each salt and freshly ground pepper

4 ounces cream cheese

3 ounces blue cheese or gorgonzola, crumbled

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

12 slices thick smoked bacon, cooked until crisp and broken into 1/2 inch pieces

1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Butter for the baking dish

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Generously butter a 2 quart baking dish.

Wash the cauliflower well, then dry with a towel. Using a thin sharp knife, remove the florets from the large woodsy stem.

Cut the florets into bite size pieces, and dice the small tender stems attached to them. You should have at least 8 cups. Place in a 2 quart steamer and steam for 5-6 minutes until tender but al dente.

While cauliflower is steaming, make the cheese sauce. Bring the cream to a simmer over medium high heat. Add the cumin, dried onion, salt and pepper and stir. Add the cream cheese. When it begins to soften and melt, stir with a whisk to combine with the cream. Add the blue cheese and whisk until melted. Add the shredded cheddar cheese, and whisk until melted and the mixture is smooth.

Place steamed cauliflower in a large mixing bowl. Pour 3/4 of the cheese sauce over the top and toss with the cauliflower. How much cheese sauce you use will depend on how much moisture remains on the cauliflower, as well as how much sauce clings to the florets. The cheese sauce should be abundant but not pool up. You may need all the sauce, but you may also have enough to coat the cauliflower at 3/4 of the sauce. (Save remaining cheese sauce for another use.) Add most of the bacon to the cauliflower, reserving about 1/2 cup. Mix the bacon and cauliflower well.

Scrape into the prepared baking dish, and smooth the top. Place reserved bacon on the mixture, then sprinkle evenly with the parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and place in oven.

Bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 15 more minutes, until lightly browned and bubbling.

Remove from oven and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. Serves 6-8.