Why do I wish for rain every fall? As soon as our Northwest grounds moisten up, our local wild mushrooms start to pop up!

I have been a huge mushroom foraging enthusiast for years and the Pacific Northwest is a mushroom-ers paradise. From the beloved chanterelle and the brilliant lobster mushroom to the sparassis (also known as the cauliflower mushroom), there are a LOT of edible mushrooms out there for the pickin’. Farmer’s Markets are abundant with these tasty NW gems and chef’s menus sprinkled with local finds.

But it’s so fun to pick wild mushrooms – think of it as hunting treasure in the forest! I was introduced to picking wild mushrooms years ago by an amazing group of local enthusiasts. But remember when picking wild mushrooms, you must know how to identify edible species. It’s important to learn from an experienced mushroom forager, go picking with an experienced person, or join a group such as Puget Sound Mycological Society. It’s a great place to learn all about wild mushrooms, meet great people and join in a fungi field trip.

A beautiful photo of my dearly departed friend Patrice Benson who taught me the love of wild mushrooms.
I learned from the best!

If you live in the Seattle area, this weekend is the Puget Sound Wild Mushroom annual show at Bellevue College, where there will be hundreds of species exhibited and a cooking display for you to try something new.

So here’s to the rainy days for a d’lish mushroom bounty! –Kathy

Colorful Wheat Berry, Edamame and Matsutake Mushroom Salad
I used the fragrant matsutake mushroom in this recipe for its lovely flavor profile. But you could also use oyster mushrooms as a substitute. This recipe is also delicious made with farro instead of wheat berries.

Makes about 5 cups

3/4 cup whole wheat berries
2 quarts water
1 Tbsp. each vegetable oil and sesame oil
1 cup thinly sliced matsutake mushrooms*
1 cup frozen, shelled edamame beans, defrosted
1 medium red bell pepper, julienned
3 green onions, thinly sliced
2 to 3 Tbsp. coarsely chopped parsley
1 medium carrot, thinly bias cut
1 cup thinly sliced napa cabbage

Dressing
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. unseasoned rice vinegar
1/2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 to 1 tsp. Asian chili paste, such as sambal oelek
1 1/2 tsp. finely minced fresh ginger
1 1/2 tsp. finely minced fresh garlic

To cook the wheat berries: In a large pot, bring the wheat berries and water to a boil then reduce to a slow simmer. Simmer until wheat berries are very tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Add more water if needed. Drain wheat berries and cool.

To cook the mushrooms: Heat the oils in a large sauté pan over medium high heat and then add the mushrooms. Sauté until soft and cooked through then let cool.

Meanwhile, mix the dressing.

When the wheat berries and mushrooms are cool, combine with remaining salad ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle with the dressing and mix well. The salad can be served right away, or refrigerated for up to 4 hours. Bring to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios® – www.KathyCasey.com

Labor Day is coming up – a holiday that commemorates the workers who have helped make this country great. To many, it also heralds the end of summer and the last 3-day weekend before school starts.

So why not enjoy the last blast of summer with a great picnic potluck among friends and family? Try twisting up your menu with some new drinks and dishes too. Start out with a refreshing drink such as a house-made sparkling blackberry lemon soda – perfect for using up the last of those wild picked blackberries! Serve it dry or add a splash of your favorite local vodka or gin.

For the food – set out an array of apps to make a meal of it. Try giving a sassy twist to some old favorites like Sriracha Deviled Eggs, or something new in the dip department like Creamy White Bean Dip with Garlic and Rosemary topped with chopped up fresh summer tomatoes and served up with fresh cucumbers, and grilled pita for dipping.

The possibilities are endless and delicious! –Kathy

Sriracha Deviled Eggs – Yum!
Photo by Kathy Casey Food Studios®.

Sriracha Deviled Eggs with Crunchy Cucumber & Shrimp
Sriracha adds a spicy kick and a beautiful color to these festive eggs. The shrimp and cucumber topping adds a fresh note and fun texture. Be sure to use eggs that are at least 10 days old or the shells will not peel off easily.

Makes 24

1 dozen hard-cooked eggs

Filling
1/4 cup mayonnaise
3 Tbsp. Sriracha hot sauce
1/4 tsp. Kosher salt
2 Tbsp. thinly sliced green onion
2 Tbsp. finely minced celery

Topping
2 tsp. vinegar
1 tsp. sugar
1/3 cup chopped cooked shrimp, well drained
2 Tbsp. finely minced English cucumber
1 Tbsp. finely minced red pepper (optional)
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro or parsley

Garnish: extra Sriracha sauce and cilantro leaves (if desired)

Halve the eggs lengthwise and transfer the yolks to a mixing bowl. Set the egg white halves on a platter, cover, and refrigerate.

With a fork, mash the yolks to a smooth consistency. Add the mayonnaise, Sriracha and salt, and mix until smooth (you can also do this in a mixing bowl with a whip attachment). Stir in the green onion and celery.

Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a plain or large star tip, then pipe the mixture evenly into the egg white halves or fill the eggs with a spoon, dividing the filling evenly.

To make the topping, stir the vinegar and sugar together in a small bowl, until dissolved. Add the shrimp, cucumber, pepper and cilantro, and toss until well coated. Top each egg half with about one heaping teaspoon of the mixture. For extra flavor and spice top each egg with a dot of Sriracha and garnish with a tiny cilantro leaf, if desired. Serve immediately.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios® – www.KathyCasey.com

Creamy White Bean Dip with Garlic and Rosemary
I like to serve this dip with crostini, grilled flat breads or fresh veggies, such as pieces of fennel, red peppers, blanched green beans or grilled vegetables. For a variation, top with diced fresh tomatoes, cucumber and your favorite olives.

Makes 3 cups

2 (15-ounce) cans white beans, drained well (I used S&W White Beans in Light Seasoning)
6 cloves fresh garlic, peeled
1/2 tsp. red chili flakes
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. finely minced lemon zest
1 1/2 tsp. finely minced fresh rosemary
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 cup olive oil
Garnish: fresh rosemary sprig

Drain beans well, then combine in a food processor with the garlic cloves. Process for about 1 minute, then scrape down sides of food processor work bowl, and add the chili flakes, lemon juice and zest, rosemary and salt. With motor running, add the olive oil through the feed tube in a slow stream. Process until smooth. Taste for salt and adjust if desired. This dip will keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Serve in a bowl; drizzle dip with a tiny bit of olive oil and garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig if desired.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios® – www.KathyCasey.com

The sun is shining and that means picnics. And no outdoor meal is complete without coleslaw!

There are a lot of different varieties of slaw, and you can certainly switch up the cabbages. Try your next slaw with green, red, savoy, or nappa. But it’s the dressing that really gives slaw that tasty, zippy zing.

There are vinaigrette types, which range from tart and tangy. Then there are creamy or spicy styles, which are my faves.

I love a cooked thickened dressing – why? Well you know sometimes when you dress your slaw it gets kind of weepy and then bland. Well a cooked and thickened dressing takes care of that as it stays coated to the cabbage. Just thicken a simmering vinegar and sugar mixture with a little cornstarch, cool, and then add into mayo with your seasonings.

My recipe for Poppy Seed Pineapple Slaw is a great example of a cooked thickened dressing and is perfect to serve with barbecue-slathered ribs and fresh grilled corn! –Kathy

Poppy Seed & Pineapple Coleslaw
Makes 6 cups

1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple with juice
1/2 tsp. salt
tiny pinch red pepper flakes
1 tsp. finely minced fresh ginger (optional)
1/3 cup cider vinegar
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 (1 lb. ) bag coleslaw greens or 8 cups of mixed shredded green and red cabbage
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1 large carrot, grated
1 1/2 tsp. poppy seeds
1/4 cup light or regular mayonnaise

In a small saucepan combine the crushed pineapple with juice, salt, red pepper flakes, ginger, vinegar, sugar and cornstarch. Whisk together well until the cornstarch is dissolved. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil while constantly stirring; cook until dressing is thickened. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.

Place coleslaw greens, green onion, carrot and poppy seeds in a large bowl. Stir mayonnaise into cooled pineapple mixture, then mix into coleslaw, coating salad well.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios® – www.KathyCasey.com

The side dishes of today should bring variety and spice to our meals. Baked potatoes and rice are still great go-to’s. But with so many interesting new options, it’s time to get creative!

How about trying some different varieties of rice? Try fragrant basmati so tasty jazzed up with chili paste, fresh ginger, chopped roasted peanuts, and a sprinkle of scallions. Or try jasmine rice simply steamed with lemongrass, ginger and garlic.

Couscous is super-fast and easy to make, as is bulgur wheat. Add in fresh parsley, lemon juice, olive oil, dried fruits and some toasted nuts, then finished with a dash of ground coriander.

In the veggie category, glazed carrots and steamed asparagus are giving way to more complex dishes like Roasted Baby Eggplants with Spicy Peanut Soy Dressing, which I developed for Sunset – yes, please!

Photo by Kathy Casey Food Studios for Sunset Produce

Roasting root vegetables intensifies their sweetness. I love to pair Roasted Beets with an easy Orange Cumin Glaze. Now that’s not boring, right?

So get out of your side dish rut and try something new. You never know, you may invent the next beloved “green bean casserole.” –Kathy

Roasted Beets with Orange Cumin Glaze
You can prepare this recipe part way in advance: Just roast, peel and slice the beets ahead of time. This can be done up to 3 days in advance. Then finish the rest of the recipe procedure per instructions.

Makes about 6 servings.

5 large beets (about 2 lb.)
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1 tsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
1 1/2 Tbsp honey
1 tsp cornstarch
2 Tbsps butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts
1 Tbsp finely chopped orange zest
2 Tbsps chopped fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Wash the beets and leave root untrimmed. Place beets on a large sheet of foil and seal like a package. Place foil packet on a baking pan and roast in preheated oven until very tender, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Poke beets to make sure they are tender.

As soon as beets are cool enough to handle, slip the skins off and slice into 1/4-inch slices.

In a small bowl mix together the orange juice, cumin, vinegar , honey and cornstarch. Stir until cornstarch is well incorporated.

Place liquid mixture in a large, non-stick sauté pan and heat over medium-high heat, whisking – while adding the  butter and salt. Bring to a boil and add the sliced beets. Cook, turning beets as necessary, until they are hot and nicely glazed. Place on a serving platter or in large, shallow bowl.

Mix together the walnuts, orange zest and parsley and sprinkle over the beets.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios® – www.KathyCasey.com

Asparagus is a sure sign of spring. Looking for new ways to cook it? Well, I love it steamed, grilled, roasted, or sautéed. Just give it a quick rinse and then snap off the fibrous ends at their “natural break.” The ends can be saved for veggie stock or added to your compost.

Asparagus is also great to incorporate into a weekend brunch, in an easy egg scramble with shrimp and herby boursin garlic cheese – Yum!

If you’ve got the grill fired up, just toss asparagus spears in a little olive oil and seasoning, lightly grill and serve with oh-so-Northwest, homemade, toasted Hazelnut Aioli. Perfect for smearing, slathering, or dipping grilled asparagus into.

And don’t think you must go through a huge ordeal to make pickled asparagus! I’ve got a great recipe for Quick Overnight Refrigerator Pickled Asparagus – it’s a snap!

So pick up some asparagus while the season is prime! -Kathy

Photo from Dishing with Kathy Casey.

Grilled Asparagus with Hazelnut Aioli
Makes 4 – 6 servings of asparagus and 1 1/2 cups of aioli

2 bunches of fat asparagus – about 2 pounds
olive oil, as needed
salt, as desired

Hazelnut Aioli
1/2 cup hazelnuts
1/4 tsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 1/2 Tbsps. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 egg yolks*
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup light olive oil
1/4 cup hazelnut oil
1 Tbsp. water

Wash asparagus and with a paring knife trim off the bottom 3 inches (the woody tough part) and discard. Meanwhile, get coals going in grill — you want to grill the asparagus over pretty hot coals.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

To toast hazelnuts for the aioli:
Place the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and toast in oven for about 6 – 8 minutes, or until golden. When cool enough to handle, put hazelnuts in a clean, non-fuzzy dishtowel and rub as much skin off hazelnuts as comes off easily. Set aside until needed.

To make aioli:
In a food processor add the hazelnuts, sugar, garlic, lemon juice, mustard, egg yolks and salt. Process until smooth. In a measuring cup mix together the olive and hazelnut oils. With food processor running, SLOWLY drizzle in the oils; the drizzle should be about the width of a spaghetti strand. The mixture will slowly begin to emulsify, forming a mayonnaise-like consistency. (Don’t add the oil too fast, or the mixture will break!) When all the oil has been added, pulse in the water. Store refrigerated until ready to use. May be made up to 3 days in advance.

To grill the asparagus:
Place asparagus on a large plate and lightly brush with a little olive oil. Place asparagus over very hot coals and grill for about 1 minute on each side to mark asparagus nicely and cook until just done. Sprinkle with a little salt if desired.

Great served hot or warm dipped into or smeared with aioli — I like it served cold, too!

* Note: Raw eggs are not recommended for pregnant women, children, the elderly or anyone with immune deficiencies.

Recipe from Dishing with Kathy Casey.

Asparagus, Shrimp & Boursin Breakfast Scramble
Makes about 4 servings

8 eggs
2 Tbsps. water
salt & pepper to taste
1 1/2 tsp. olive oil
1 cup bias-cut fresh asparagus
4 oz. wt. (1/2 cup) bay shrimp, or cooked shrimp, chopped
1/2 cup Boursin cheese (garlic and herb)
chopped parsley or snipped chives for garnish if desired

In a large bowl whisk together the eggs and water until very foamy; season as desired with salt and pepper and set aside.

In a large, non-stick skillet heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add the asparagus and cook, stirring often, until barely tender, about 2 minutes.

Add in the egg mixture and move the eggs around the pan with a spoon or spatula, turning them as necessary until they are three-quarters cooked, about 1 – 2 minutes, and have just started to thicken.

At this point add the shrimp. Fold into eggs, heat through and serve immediately. Dollop 2 tablespoons of Boursin on top of each serving and sprinkle with parsley if desired.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios® – www.KathyCasey.com

Overnight Pickled Asparagus
Makes 1 large jar or about 20 pieces.

1 bunch (about 1 1/4 pounds untrimmed) fresh fat asparagus

Pickling Brine
1 1/2 cups distilled vinegar
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
3 garlic cloves, sliced in half
2 Tbsps. pickling spice
1 Tbsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

Wash asparagus and with a paring knife trim off the bottom 3 inches (the woody tough part) and discard.

Place asparagus in a canning jar standing up or in a glass bread pan or other non-corrosive container. The asparagus should fit tightly in. Set jar or container on a dish towel in a draft-free place in the kitchen.

Place the pickling brine ingredients in a non-aluminum saucepan over high heat. Bring to a hard rolling boil and then immediately ladle brine with the spices over asparagus, being sure to cover the asparagus and poking down the spears if needed. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap.

Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate. Let pickle for at least overnight before eating. Pickled asparagus will last refrigerated up to 2 weeks.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios® – www.KathyCasey.com

Rainbow chard (also known as Swiss chard and silverbeet) is a beautiful green leafy vegetable with deep green leaves and bright red, yellow, orange, or pink stems.

(Photo from Austin Fresh.)

Related to beets, these nutrient-packed leaves are high in magnesium and iron, as well as an excellent source of fiber. They’re also rich in vitamins A, C and K, and they are high in antioxidants (as are all deep green leafy veggies).

They’re so versatile! You can enjoy rainbow chard sautéed, steamed or even raw. It’s also makes a great addition to any “green” juice or blended into a smoothie.

To prepare: strip the leafy part from the stems and cut up or shred depending on how you are serving. Then thinly slice the colorful stalks.

A raw salad with Swiss chard, cranberries, almonds, and goat cheese is a great start to a meal.

For a warm vegetable side dish, sauté the sliced ribs first with some olive oil, garlic and lemon zest. Then when almost tender toss in those brilliant green leaves and cook till just wilted. Finish with a sprinkling of sea salt and a squeeze of lemon. Or try my recipe for Farro with Swiss Chard and Mushrooms.

Now that’s some d’Lish colorful eating! – Kathy

Farro with Swiss Chard, Mushrooms & Goat Cheese
Makes 4 to 6 servings

1/2 cup whole farro grains
2 qts water
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup sliced wild or domestic mushrooms
4 cloves garlic, sliced paper thin
pinch red chili flakes
1 large bunch swiss chard, leaves torn and stems/ribs sliced
1/4 cup chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 lemon
3-4 ounces fresh goat cheese (chevre) or 1/2 cup of shredded parmesan

To cook the farro: In a medium saucepan, combine farro and water and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to a simmer; cook the grain for about 30 minutes, or until very tender, but do not let it become mushy. Add more water if it gets low. Drain the cooked farro and set aside. (You can do this the day before; refrigerate cooked grain.)

Heat oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. Sauté mushrooms and the swiss chard sliced ribs until half cooked, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Add garlic and chili flakes and sauté for a few seconds. Stir in swiss chard leaves. Add chicken broth and cooked farro, and cook, turning greens several times, until greens are wilted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Squeeze lemon over dish to brighten flavor. Serve dolloped with goat cheese or scattered with grated parmesan.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®.

It’s Easter weekend! Soon, all the candy will be unwrapped and the eggs will all have been found – hopefully! Now, what do you do with all those chocolate bunnies, candies, Peeps and colorful hard boiled eggs after the hunt?

Didn’t eat all those marshmallow Peeps? Don’t fret about any leftovers – they are just the thing to melt into my Jelly-Bean Rice Crispy Tweeps. The Peeps stand in for the traditional marshmallows folded with Rice Krispies cereal. Rip the peeps tiny heads off and save for “garnish!”

Peep heads for garnish

For the adults, grab a few of the kids chocolate bunnies and stir yourself up some Bunny’Licious Chocolate Mocha Fondue using a splash of your favorite liqueur – I like to use Grand Marnier. Serve with an assortment of fruits for dipping or any other leftover Peeps.

Peeps lined up for a chocolate dip

As for the extra eggs? Make deviled eggs of course! And get creative with the fillings, from brunchy Bacon Cheddar to Retro Shrimp Cocktail variations. You can find over 50 more inspiring ideas in my D’lish Deviled Eggs cookbook – any of which would be great to use up those Easter Eggs. For more deviled eggs ideas, check out www.DLishDeviledEggs.com and follow @ChickysTweets on Twitter.

Happy Easter everyone! –Kathy

Jelly Bean Rice Crispy Tweeps
Makes 30 treats

3 Tbsp. butter
6 packages yellow Peeps® – 30 peeps(you can use bunnies too for pink treats)
6 cups Rice Krispies® cereal
1 cup small jellybeans

Pull 30 of the peeps heads off and set aside for garnish.

In a large sauce pan heat butter over low heat melt the butter until melted. Then add peeps and stir over low heat until melted. Then stir in rice crispies and jelly beans. Stir until cereal is well coated and jellybeans are distributed.

Place mixture in a pan sprayed 8”x8” baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and press down to compact the crispy treats. Let set for at least 15 minutes before serving. To serve cut (5×6) into 30 squares.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®.

Bunny’licious Chocolate Mocha Fondue
Makes 4 servings

6 ounces of left-over chocolate bunnies
1/4 cup hot, strong brewed coffee
1 tablespoon liquor such as: Grand Marnier, amaretto or Frangelico liqueur (optional)
For dipping: fresh fruit for dipping cut into chunks, such as: pineapple, strawberries, raspberries, apple wedges and oranges
Other fun things for dipping are: pound cake chunks, holiday cookies, small chocolate chip cookies, other candy such as Peeps® …..

Break up or cut bunnies in small pieces (chocolate chip size) into a glass or ceramic bowl and pour hot coffee over them. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. If coffee is not hot enough to melt chocolate, then microwave for 10 seconds. Stir in liqueur if desired.

Transfer mixture to a fondue pot or pretty bowl and serve warm with long forks and lots of goodies for dipping.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®.

(Photo © Kathy Casey Food Studios from D’Lish Deviled Eggs)

Bacon Cheddar Deviled Eggs
Eggs, bacon, cheese … they go hand in hand. These all-American eggs are great to serve as an app or a fun salad garnish—or grab a couple for breakfast on the go.

Makes 24

1 dozen hard-cooked eggs (recipe follows)

Filling
3 Tbsp mayonnaise
3 Tbsp sour cream
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)
1 tsp minced fresh garlic
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup finely grated sharp cheddar cheese

Topping
1/4 cup finely chopped crisp-cooked bacon
2 Tbsp very thinly sliced green onion
Freshly ground black pepper

Halve the eggs lengthwise and transfer the yolks to a mixing bowl. Set the egg white halves on a platter, cover, and refrigerate.

With a fork, mash the yolks to a smooth consistency. Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, if using, garlic, salt, and pepper, and mix until smooth. (You can also do this in a mixing bowl with a whip attachment.) Stir in the cheddar until evenly mixed in.

Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip, then pipe the mixture evenly into the egg white halves. Or fill the eggs with a spoon, dividing the filling evenly.

To make the topping, in a small bowl, mix the bacon and green onion. Top each egg half with about 3/4 teaspoon of the mixture, and then sprinkle with black pepper.

Hard-Cooked Eggs
1 dozen large chicken eggs

Place the eggs in a large nonreactive saucepan and add cold water to 1 inch above the eggs. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Turn off the heat and let the eggs sit for 10 minutes. Remove from the stove and run cool water over the eggs in the pan until they are cooled. When cool, carefully peel them under running water.

Recipe from D’Lish Deviled Eggs by Kathy Casey, Andrews McMeel Publishing

Often tossed up with the obligatory broccoli and carrot medley, cauliflower is coming into its own!

It can be boiled, steamed, roasted, pickled or eaten raw! Although tasty topped with a cheese sauce, there are lots of healthy and amazingly d’lish ways to cook up a head of cauliflower.

Oven-roasting gives cauliflower a nice sweetness and a little bit of a nutty flavor. Perfect when paired with cherry tomatoes and salty Kalamata olives.

A great new trend that I’m seeing are “Cauliflower Steaks” – yep, you heard right! Cut a couple inch-thick slices across the middle of the head and grill until tender. You can cut up the rest of the florets, cook in milk with spices like red curry, ginger and garlic, then process in a blender to make a tasty puree to serve with your “cauliflower steaks!” Try my recipe for Grilled Cauliflower Steaks with Red Curry Puree, its healthy and delicious … and very low calorie!

I know the cheddar and cauliflower combo is hard to beat… so for those that like to splurge I also whipped up a recipe for a Cauliflower Cheddar Custard – I cook the cauliflower in milk, then mix with egg and cheese and bake in small custard dishes. Serve this rich and delicious savory custard next to a delicious steak or a lovely crisp green salad.

And look for tiny baby heads of cauliflower at your farmers market this summer – very tasty to roast or grill whole.

And one of my most favorite phrases is the cauliflower inspired “my little chou chou” (“my little cauliflower”) – a French term of endearment. –Kathy

Grilled Cauliflower Steaks with Red Curry Puree
Photo by Kathy Casey Food Studios®.

Grilled Cauliflower Steaks with Red Curry Puree
Makes 3 entrée servings or 6 as a side dish

1 large head cauliflower
1 Tbsp. olive oil for grill
kosher salt and pepper to taste
——————————————
1/2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp minced fresh garlic
1 tsp minced fresh ginger
1/2 tsp Thai red curry paste
1 cup non-fat milk
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
kosher salt and pepper for cauliflower

Garnish: fresh chopped mint and cilantro, lime wedges and sliced cucumber if desired

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Cut 3 large 1-inch steaks out of the center of the cauliflower. Cut each one in half. Set aside.
Cut remaining cauliflower into florets to produce about 3 cups.

In a medium saucepan, heat the 1/2 tsp olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and sauté until just tender but not browned. Stir in the curry paste and then add the milk, salt, lime juice, and the 3 cups of florets. Increase heat to medium high, cover tightly and simmer cauliflower until cooked tender – about 10–12 minutes.

Remove from heat and carefully transfer the cauliflower and liquid to a blender or food processor. Cover the lid with a towel and process until smooth. Taste for seasoning and keep warm.

Meanwhile heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush cauliflower steaks lightly with olive oil.
Place cauliflower steaks in pre-heated pan, season with salt and pepper and cook on each side until nicely grill marked (about 5 min on each side) and then move pan to the oven and continue cooking steaks until just tender (about 7-10 minutes). Or you can cook the cauliflower on an outdoor grill all the way, with the lid down to assist with cooking.

To serve, spoon some of the cauliflower puree on plates. Top with grilled cauliflower, and garnish with chopped herbs, lime wedges for squeezing and cucumber if desired.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®.

Cauliflower Cheddar Custard
This makes an excellent light supper served with a salad, or an accompaniment to a big juicy grilled steak.

Makes 4 servings

1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups finely chopped cauliflower
1 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 tsp salt
tiny pinch cayenne pepper
2 tsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp. sherry wine
4 eggs
1 cup (5 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

In a small saucepan, combine the milk, cauliflower, garlic, salt and cayenne. Heat over medium heat until simmering, then cook for about 5 minutes or until cauliflower is very tender. (Do not let it boil.)

In a small cup or bowl, mix the cornstarch and sherry until smooth. Whisk this slurry into the hot mixture and let cook for about 1 minute or until thickened. Remove from heat.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs until well combined, and then stir in 1/3 of the hot cauliflower mixture. Then add the remaining hot cauliflower mixture and stir well to combine. Fold in the cheese.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Divide mixture between 4 well-buttered 6-ounce custard cups. (Use a ladle to do this and be sure to stir up mixture well when portioning.) Set custard cups on a rimmed baking pan and bake for about 20 minutes or until the tops are golden and a wooden toothpick inserted in the centers comes out just barely clean. The centers should still be just slightly wiggly as the custards will continue cooking for a bit after they come out of the oven.

Serve in the baking cups, or let cool for a couple of minutes, then run a knife around the edges and turn out into plates to serve.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®.