Cauliflower Fried Rice & Pizza a la Cauliflower

You know when a bill comes in the mail, and you quickly put it down without opening because you want to delay the misery you expect to feel from seeing it?  Well, I wasn't spared that with my electricity bill since it came straight to my phone/email (smarty pants requested this service to avoid any delays the postal service may have)! The balance is displayed for all and sundry to see and oh what a balance it was! And even though I expected the change, reflecting my exuberance in the kitchen the past month, I didn't think it was going to be as high as it was! It was so high (for me) that I quickly got over my aversion to gas cooking! Courts....here I come!

But before the nasty email, I did in fact enjoy making two new meals this past weekend. With no one showing up for Bootcamp on Saturday am (need to revisit the sense in doing this) I took the time to visit good ole Coro for some farm fresh goodies. In a addition to the usual staples, I bought a bit more cauliflower instead of buying broccoli since it lasts longer. And when Saturday rolled around I wanted something easy but fun to eat but didn't want to go out to get it. I also wasn't in the mood for cooking anything grand either because homegirl was tired after spending all day on her feet in cooking class. But hunger really took over and I ended up in front of my fridge (and I wonder why my light bill was so high this month) trying to come up with something. What I came up with was deeeeeelish to say the least and involved much of that cauliflower I bought. I can't be given credit for this recipe though since I got the idea from a recipe blog I visit quite often. Check her out here.

Pizza a la Cauliflower

Makes 1 8" pizza pie

Ingredients:

1.5 cups cauliflower rice (pulse raw cauliflower florets in a food processor to a rice like consistency)
2 tbsp almond meal
1 egg (or 2 egg whites)
Tomato basil mrs dash
Salt and pepper
2 tbsp tomato sauce
1/2 tbsp red onions chopped
1/4 cup zucchini (or any kind of vegetable of your choice), chopped or sliced into mini half moons
1/4 cup chicken, cooked and chopped (I used left over chicken)

Direction:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a bowl, mix cauliflower, almond meal, egg white, mrs dash, salt and pepper until combined.
3. Press mixture into a greased pie pan/dish or unto a greased cookie sheet into a round disc
4. Bake in oven for 8-10 minutes
5. Remove crust from oven, spread tomato sauce on top then sprinkle remaining toppings.
6. Return to oven for another 8 minutes or until veggies are heated through and crust edges are golden brown.

Combine all ingredients for crust

Press mixture into pie pan/dish

Let cool before slicing up and sharing it, if its too much for one. Or, you could go ahead and eat it all...I DID! And I have no shame about it...absolutely NONE! :)

Cauliflower Pizza with chicken, red onions and zucchini

Now for meal 2.

So our cooking instructor (yes I am doing a short cooking course) insisted that we go home and practice some of the dishes we learnt in class on Saturday. Right off the bat I knew it would be the fried rice, minus the rice of course. So again, using said cauliflower (was I ever happy I bought more than usual) I  ventured into my version of fried rice. And let me tell you, I would be fresh out of luck if there ever is a shortage of cauliflower because it is certainly going to be a must have in my refrigerator!

Ingredients:

3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 tbsp scallions, chopped
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup chicken, chopped (I used leftovers)
1 egg (or 2 egg whites)
3 cups of cauliflower rice (pulse raw cauliflower florets in a food processor to a rice like consistency)
salt & pepper
mrs dash
worcestershire sauce (or liquid aminos or soy sauce)

Directions:
1. Heat 2 tbsp of evoo in a large skillet and saute garlic and onion for 20 seconds then add scallions
2. Add chicken then egg into the seasonings and continue mixing until eggs are set but still slightly runny.
3. Add remaining 1tbsp of evoo then mix in rice until combined, seasoning with salt, pepper and mrs dash to your liking.
4. Turn heat down low then add as much worcestershire sauce to the rice, mixing it well until rice is brown. Cover skillet, turn heat off and let sit for a minute.

Combined fried ice with worcestershire sauce

Enjoy with a glass of your favourite drink. I had with a glass of moscato....yumminess in my tummy!!!

Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice

 Who says veggies aren't fun to eat! You just have to get creative with it! And it doesn't take much time.