Cauliflower Spinach Au Gratin

Cauliflower Spinach Au Gratin

Ingredients:
3 tbsp. butter
1/3 cup flour
2 cups milk
16 oz. frozen or fresh spinach
1 head of cauliflower cut up into bite size pieces (use all of the cauliflower, including green portion)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese shredded (or your favorite cheese)
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup bread crumbs

Directions:
Preheat over to 350 degrees.

In a medium-large sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat.  Quickly whisk in the flour, and slowly add in milk stirring constantly with whisk to avoid lumps.  Add salt, pepper, spinach, and cauliflower.  Cook on medium-low heat for 10 minutes until vegetables are tender.  Add sharp cheddar cheese and cook until cheese is melted.  Pour into baking dish (11 X 7 X 2 inch works well, but basically any medium sized baking dish should work).

Cover evenly with grated Parmesan.  Cover evenly with breadcrumbs.  Cover with foil.  Bake for 25 minutes covered, continue baking for 15 more minutes uncovered.  Serve hot.

Crisp Asian Spinach Salad

Salad:

Ingredients:

About 12 oz. baby spinach leaves, washed, and dried (or alternatively use any lettuce you prefer)

2 large carrots chopped or shredded

1 red, orange or yellow bell pepper minced

½ green bell pepper minced

½ a red onion chopped (mince remaining onion and add to marinade recipe below)

3 tablespoon sesame seeds toasted for topping

Dressing:

Asian Honey Sesame Salad Dressing

Directions:

Place cleaned dried greens in a large salad bowl.  Top evenly with carrots, bell peppers, onion and finally sesame seeds.  Serve immediately topped with Asian Honey Sesame Salad Dressing.

Optional: Top with Porter Marinated Chicken Skewers.  Or try making an extra recipe of Asian Honey Sesame Salad Dressing and use half as a marinade for steak, chicken or pork and the other half for salad dressing.  I would suggest marinating the meat or seafood for at least 2 hours (or up to 24 hours).  Make sure that any dressing exposed to raw meat, poultry or seafood is thrown away and is not ingested!