Sorry again no picture. But it was Christmas day, and I was one busy lady.

OK, those of you who don’t love bacon, raise your hand. And those folks who don’t adore cheese, raise your hand. And finally, those of you for whom cauliflower is the devil’s spawn, raise your hand. I would be willing to bet there are far more of you (including my husband), who would prefer to unclog your kitchen drain than eat this white, strongly flavored, cruciferous vegetable.  

But it so happens that I am one of the people who love all things cauliflower. But like I stated earlier, Mr. C. is “cauliflower phobic”. In fact, he’d do just about anything to never be in the same room with a head of cauliflower ever again. Until this recipe came along.

Because even the most ardent of cauliflower naysayers simply cannot resist the cheesy bacon creaminess that surrounds a perfectly crisp, tender bite of this dreaded vegetable.

I made this casserole to serve on Christmas day, and the casserole dish was practically wiped clean. And there were tons of other offerings from which to choose. But very few can resist bacon and cheese sauce. And why should they? Especially on Christmas!

Because if there was ever a day to celebrate life and not give a flying fig what you put in your mouth, it would have to be Christmas. Well, Thanksgiving works too.

But frankly, I am not going to wait until Christmas to make this dish again. I love cauliflower and Mr. C. had no problem eating every tiny bit of the cauliflower he put on his plate.

So, if you too are a cauliflower lover, but those you associate with are less than devoted, give this recipe a try. And I know, you shouldn’t have to cater to those with plebian tastes. But in the real world, not some “made for TV drama where everyone loves everything placed in front of them”, you too should use every trick in your bag of tricks to get your family TO EAT THEIR VEGGIES!

Believe me, I know what you’re up against. But hang in there. Never over-cook veggies. Roast veggies as often as possible. And when all else fails, slather them with a sauce made with bacon and cheese. It’s not the best nutritional alternative, but it works! That and “secret sauce” (recipe below) which was how I managed to get veggies into my children’s and now my husband’s mouth without the use of whips and chains.

And always remember, I am on your side. I know how hard it is to please a crowd. Not everyone will like what you fix. I don’t even like everything I fix. So, why should they?! But keep trying new recipes. It is so much more fun to make dining an adventure. And no, every dish will not be perfect. Perfection is an unachievable goal. Let it go. Just have fun in your kitchen.

So, on that realistic note, I wish you a wonderful New Year, a year filled with new and exciting dishes to prepare, and time to enjoy eating with family and friends. We need each other. We need time together to enjoy food, to respect our differences, and to embrace the joy of just being alive.

So, as always, peace and love to all.        

1 lg. head cauliflower, cut into small chunks

4 oz. cream cheese, room temp.

½ c. sour cream

pinch kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

¼ c. minced green onions

¼ c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

6 slices diced bacon, cooked crisp (divided)

1 c. grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided

paprika

Steam the cauliflower until crisp tender.

Meanwhile, stir the cream cheese, sour cream, salt, pepper, green onions, Parmesan cheese, half of the cheddar cheese, and ¾ of the crumbled bacon together in a large enough bowl to accommodate the sauce and the cooked cauliflower.

When the cauliflower is cooked to crisp tender, add it to the bowl and gently mix until all surfaces of the cauliflower are covered with the cream cheese mixture.  

Scoop into a lightly buttered casserole or baking dish. Even out the surface, then top with the remaining cheddar cheese and the reserved bacon.

Sprinkle on a bit of paprika and bake in a pre-heated 350-degree oven for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Serve hot.

SECRET SAUCE

1 part mayonnaise

1 part soy sauce

Mix the mayo and soy sauce together and serve with your veggie of choice. (Particularly good with crisp tender broccoli.)