Healthy Fried Chicken and Mashed Cauliflower (sugar free • gluten free • low carb • dairy free • gaps)

This is a meal that we make often Everyone in the family loves it. The mashed cauliflower is one of my daughter's favorites and it was a great food for her to start feeding herself with a spoon and now she's a pro with it. It's very easy to throw together quickly with ingredients that I almost always have on hand. It works great to take for lunch to work the next day too.

You can go HERE to see my recipe for Healthy Fried Fish. This chicken is pretty much made in the exact same way. I first pound out my chicken with a mallot, rinse, pat dry and season with salt and pepper. I then add garlic pepper, onion salt, marjoram, italian seasonings (whatever you want really) to the coconut flour mixture. This recipe is so easy and versatile, it can be used with so many different proteins.

I have seen lots of different recipes floating around online for mashed cauliflower, or "caulitators" as they are sometimes called. My husband thinks that calling them that is deceptive because they have nothing to do with mashed potatoes, which he is a huge fan of. I agree, but mostly because I think they are so yummy, and they don't really need to be compared to mashed potatoes anyway. These don't taste like potatoes, although the texture and look are similar. Over the years, I have come up with a recipe that goes over well with pretty much anyone who tries them. Most people downright love them. I often get requests for it at family gatherings because they are always a huge hit with the kids (even the picky ones that won't eat cauliflower normally)!

For an updated (and better in my opionion) version go HERE.

Mashed Cauliflower
sugar free • gluten free • low carb

Ingredients

• 2 Large Heads of Cauliflower
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 4 Tb butter
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder (or more)
  
• 1/2 tsp Onion Powder (or more)
• 1/2 tsp parsley
• 1/2 tsp basil
• 1/2 tsp marjoram
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp mustard
• Fresh Ground Pepper, to taste
  
• Sea Salt, to taste
• 1/2 C Fresh Grated Cheese of Choice for topping (I like extra sharp white cheddar or sometimes mozzarella, anything is good)

The amounts for seasonings are just estimates. I just take everything and dump it in, to be honest, but this should be pretty close and you can play around with what you like)

Directions

1. Steam Cauliflower (either in a steamer or on the stove in a large stock pot with about an inch of simmering water on the bottom of the pot) for about 25-30 minutes until they are VERY soft. You can steam them for less time, they won't be mixed up as smoothly later, which is still yummy, and will retain more nutritional value.
   
2. Preheat oven to 350.
   
3. Drain water in a strainer over the sink, shake to release as much water as you can.
4. Place in large mixing bowl with cream cheese, butter and seasonings and mix until very well combined with a hand mixer. It should resemble mashed potatoes. Taste it and see if you need more seasonings and add accordingly. I use alot of garlic!
5. Place in an 8x8 glass baking dish and top with fresh grated cheese. I mix up the cheese depending on what we have, but I think a strong cheddar is my favorite. Don't add too much or it will cool and be too thick and gooey when its done cooking.
   
6. Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes.
7. Serve and Enjoy!
   

This was added to the Pennywise Platter Thursdays and Food Renegade