Tasty Tuesday {Cauliflower Mac n Cheese}

Mac n Cheese is comfort food at it's finest.  It's the dish that everyone can relate to; the dish that everyone of all ages loves and the dish that makes us feel at home.

I love mac n cheese.

But in all efforts to be healthy, the world is beginning to resort to substitutes.

Cauliflower Mac n Cheese.  It's happening.  And I'm not upset about it.

My sister, Becky, was making this, who got the recipe from our sister-in-law, Megan, who tweaked the recipe from here (let's be real, we're totally ok with adding bacon even though we're trying to be healthier.  Well played, Megan, well played).

It's really good and even my nieces and nephews liked it.  My brother-in-law did not believe in the idea, but was easily converted with one bite.

Don't judge it till you try it, folks.

(It's also a good idea because the leftovers are even better.)

Cauliflower Mac n Cheese

Ingredients

Salt, as needed, plus 1/2 tsp

1 large head cauliflower, cut into small florets

4 strips of bacon

1/2 large onion

Vegetable oil spray

1 cup heavy cream

2 ounces cream cheese, cut into small pieces

1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar, plus 1/2 cup for topping the casserole

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/8 tsp garlic powder

Preheat oven to 375* F.  Bring large pot of water to a boil.  Season the water with salt.  Spray an 8x8 baking dish with vegetable oil spray.  Cook the cauliflower in the boiling water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.  Drain well and pat between several layers of paper towels to dry.  Transfer the cauliflower to the baking dish and set aside. 

Cook your bacon on a large skillet, keeping it soft since it will cook more in the oven.  Remove it from the saucepan, and sauté your onions in the same pan.

Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan, and whisk in the cream cheese and mustard until smooth.  Stir in 1 cup of the cheese, salt, pepper and garlic and whisk just until the cheese melts, about 1 to 2 minutes.  Remove from heat, pour over the cauliflower, and stir to combine.  Top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake until browned and bubbly hot, about 15 minutes.  Serve.

Happy Tuesday!