Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes And Cauliflower Food

MASHED CAULIFLOWER AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Add potatoes and cauliflower in a large pot. Add the chicken or vegetable broth to cover the vegetables. You may use water if you like instead but the broth adds extra flavor. Add about 1 teaspoon salt to the pot and 2 of the garlic cloves from the head of garlic that you have already skinned. (Reserve the other cloves for roasting)
• Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes (until the potatoes are fork-tender).
• While the cauliflower and potatoes are simmering, turn your broiler on and place oven rack on one spot below the middle. Put the remaining garlic cloves (you want at least 7 or 8) on a piece of aluminum foil and drizzle with the 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add a dash of salt and black pepper. Place the foil on the oven rack and heat until the edges of the cloves just start to brown, about 5-7 minutes depending on the heat of your oven. Watch closely so the cloves don't burn. Remove the cloves from the oven and mince until it's almost a garlic mash. Set aside.
• Drain the cauliflower and potatoes and return to the pot. Add the butter and the garlic mash that you've roasted and use a potato masher to mash the vegetables until the butter is fully melted.
• Add the milk and mash some more until you reach the consistency you desire. Add more butter and/or milk if needed.
• Add more salt to taste, stir and place in a serving platter. Sprinkle top with fresh parsley, black pepper and a pat of butter (to look even more irresistible) before serving.
• Add potatoes and cauliflower to the insert of your pressure cooker and add 2 cups of chicken or vegetable broth. You may use water if you like instead but the broth adds extra flavor. Add about 1 teaspoon salt to the pot and 2 of the garlic cloves from the head of garlic that you have already skinned. (Reserve the other cloves for roasting)
• Seal the lid on the cooker, select Manual cooking and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. (See next step for preparing roasted garlic while potatoes and cauliflower are cooking.) Once the 10 minutes is up, let pressure release naturally for 5 minutes then finish with a quick release. Remove lid when pressure is completely released and the top can be turned easily.
• While the cauliflower and potatoes are pressure cooking, turn your broiler on and place oven rack on one spot below the middle. Put the remaining garlic cloves (you want at least 7 or 8) on a piece of aluminum foil and drizzle with the 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add a dash of salt and black pepper. Place the foil on the oven rack and heat until the edges of the cloves just start to brown, about 5-7 minutes depending on the heat of your oven. Watch closely so the cloves don't burn. Remove the cloves from the oven and mince until it's almost a garlic mash. Set aside.
• Remove the cauliflower and potatoes with a slotted spoon to a large bowl. (Do not pour any remaining broth or water into the bowl unless you want to make the recipe dairy-free then add the broth in place of milk or butter.) Add the butter and the garlic mash that you've roasted and use a potato masher to mash the vegetables until the butter is fully melted.
• Add the milk and mash some more until you reach the consistency you desire. Add more butter and/or milk if needed.
• Add more salt to taste. Sprinkle top with fresh parsley, black pepper and a pat of butter (to look even more irresistible) before serving.

MOCK MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Core the cauliflower heads and cut the stems and florets into 1-inch pieces.
• Bring 1 inch water to a boil in a large saucepan fitted with a steamer insert. Put the cauliflower into the pot, cover and steam until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Lift the cauliflower pieces from the saucepan and spread out on a large platter lined with a clean kitchen towel. Let the cauliflower dry for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the oil, thyme and garlic in a small nonstick skillet. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is fragrant and beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Scrape the garlic oil into the bowl of a food processor.
• Add the cauliflower, yogurt, Parmesan, and 1 teaspoon salt and several turns of black pepper to the food processor and blend until smooth and light, scraping down the bowl as needed. Transfer to a bowl and top with the butter and some more black pepper. Stir the butter into the cauliflower before serving.

SLOW-COOKER MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Toss the potatoes, butter, 1 tablespoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together in a 6-quart slow cooker. Add 1 cup of water, then cover and cook on high until the potatoes are tender, about 4 hours. (The potatoes might have browned lightly in spots but that is okay.)
• Remove the lid and add the sour cream and 1 1/2 cups warm milk to the potatoes. Use a potato masher to smash the potatoes until they are mostly smooth. If the potatoes need to be thinned out, stir in the remaining 1/2 cup warm milk. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Garnish with chives.

GARLIC MASHED CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add cauliflower, cover, and steam until tender, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat; cook and stir garlic until softened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Transfer half the cauliflower to a food processor; cover and blend on high. Add remaining cauliflower florets, one at a time, until vegetables are creamy. Blend in garlic, Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, salt, and black pepper.