Creamy Cauliflower 'n Cheese with Bacon

Fresh slices of cauliflower are layered with Pepper jack and sharp cheddar cheese in a creamy sauce and then baked until tender. A sprinkling of bacon and a dash of red pepper makes this a cheesy dish that you won't want to miss. All three of my boys requested that I make this meal again as soon as possible. I served this with our favorite pan-fried chicken thighs^[1], but the cauliflower easily could have been a meal all by itself.

Creamy Cauliflower 'n Cheese with Bacon
Yield: 6 servings
(printable recipe)^[2]

1 head of cauliflower
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded Pepper jack cheese, reserve a cup or so for topping
Optional: 4 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 pieces and cooked until crisp

Rinse and pat dry the cauliflower. Remove all the leaves. Slice from the top to the bottom stem, into 1/4 thick slices. The cauliflower should basically fall apart. The idea is to create thin bite size pieces. Layer the cauliflower into the bottom of a baking dish. I used a round 10 dish. Season the slices generously with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the starch and whisk to combine. Add the milk and continue whisking until smooth and heated through. Add half of the cheese and stir to combine. Continue whisking until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth again. Add the rest of the cheese (reserving about a cup's worth for topping) and stir again until the sauce is smooth and the cheese has completely melted. Taste the sauce and adjust the salt and pepper to taste. Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower and top with the remaining cheese. Sprinkle with bacon if desired. Bake for 20 minutes, or until cheese is golden browned and bubbling. Enjoy!

This recipe is part of Mac and Cheese Mania hosted by Rachel Cooks^[3] and Nutmeg Nanny^[4]. Check out the fantastic collection of recipes that they have gathered to celebrate the creamy cheesy awesomeness of this event! (I already have several new recipes saved to try myself!) Share YOUR favorite Mac and Cheese recipes here^[5] or here^[6] for a chance to win some awesome prizes! Mac and Cheese Mania is being sponsored by Door to Door Organics^[7] and OXO^[8].

References

1. ^{^} pan-fried chicken thighs (www.barefeetinthekitchen.com)
2. ^{^} (printable recipe) (barefeetinthekitchen-recipes.blogspot.com)
3. ^{^} Rachel Cooks (www.rachelcooks.com)
4. ^{^} Nutmeg Nanny (www.nutmegnanny.com)
5. ^{^} here (www.nutmegnanny.com)
6. ^{^} here (www.rachelcooks.com)
7. ^{^} Door to Door Organics (bit.ly)
8. ^{^} OXO (bit.ly)

Source : http://www.barefeetinthekitchen.com/2014/02/creamy-cauliflower-n-cheese-with-bacon-recipe.html

Dont Forget to Watch Asian taste test Korean rice cake with soup