Antoni Porowski’s Ideal Party Is a Casual, Cozy, Polish-Inspired Feast

If you know Antoni Porowski from Queer Eye or from his bestselling 2019 book Antoni In the Kitchen, you know that he’s a man who loves to entertain. In his new cookbook, Antoni: Let’s Do Dinner, Porowski turns his attention to all things having to do w…

If you know Antoni Porowski from Queer Eye or from his bestselling 2019 book Antoni In the Kitchen, you know that he’s a man who loves to entertain. In his new cookbook, Antoni: Let’s Do Dinner, Porowski turns his attention to all things having to do with, yes, dinner. That means vibrant, breezy dishes for your next turn hosting, whether it’s a smaller gathering or a whole banquet.

“Dinner parties are one of my favorite things ever.” Porowski told Food52. “I can spend weeks thinking up a menu. While I want to make sure every dietary need or preference is tended to, I love introducing my guests to dishes or flavors they’ve never tried before.”

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Carla Lalli Music’s Dinner Menu Is Breezy, Elegant & Endlessly Adaptable

Carla Lalli Music is a cooking evangelist. In her new book That Sounds So Good, her mission is to help transform cooking from a chore to a treat. “Some people rollerblade, some foster puppies, some people live life through their travels, and some make …

Carla Lalli Music is a cooking evangelist. In her new book That Sounds So Good, her mission is to help transform cooking from a chore to a treat. “Some people rollerblade, some foster puppies, some people live life through their travels, and some make music...But everything in my life comes back to food,” Lalli Music writes. The idea is to conjure up menus that aren’t just a way to get you through another mealtime, but something that leaves you feeling excited about dinner. Which made her the perfect person to reach out to for a menu for The Big Feast because when we looked at the cookbook, well, the title is a pretty good summation of everyone’s thoughts.

Not only do Lalli Music’s recipes sound good, she makes them simple to execute with what you have available or whatever food restrictions you’re working with. “Each [recipe] is designed to help remove any psychic and emotional barriers that get in the way of cooking at home,” she explains. “There are no desserts with meticulously arranged, color-coded fruit, and no subrecipes that send you hunting for ingredients at three different specialty stores.”

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An Over-the-Top Vietnamese Menu From ‘The Red Boat Fish Sauce Cookbook’

While Rodgers and Hammerstein’s favorite feast might include crisp apple strudel and schnitzel with noodles, nothing says holiday to us quite like savory braised pork belly and honeycomb cakes. The dishes on this menu make for a great feast, one that t…

While Rodgers and Hammerstein’s favorite feast might include crisp apple strudel and schnitzel with noodles, nothing says holiday to us quite like savory braised pork belly and honeycomb cakes. The dishes on this menu make for a great feast, one that takes Red Boat founder Cuong Pham back to his mother’s holiday table of years past. They also have the distinct advantage of reducing the stress of the holiday party: Most of these recipes can be prepared ahead of time, so you won’t need to spend the entire evening in the kitchen and miss out on the merriment.

Taro Shrimp Fritters

Our savory fritters of plump shrimp tucked into a nest of taro will please even the pickiest eater. Take advantage of the taro, which stays incredibly crisp once fried, and fry your fritters up to 2 hours ahead. Keep them on a baking pan lined with a wire rack in a warm oven at the lowest setting until you’re ready to serve. They’re excellent either plated or passed around during the party. Don’t forget the nuoc cham on the side!

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30 White Elephant Gifts Under $25 You’ll Want To Keep Yourself

The holidays usually offer (most of) us some reprieve from the chaos of everyday life, but the pandemic has added another layer of confusion and stress. Life right now is anything but perfect, and for some of us, giving a bunch of perfectly-wrapped pre…

The holidays usually offer (most of) us some reprieve from the chaos of everyday life, but the pandemic has added another layer of confusion and stress. Life right now is anything but perfect, and for some of us, giving a bunch of perfectly-wrapped presents may not be the vibe, or may not be feasible.

Thankfully, a white elephant party lets you revel in this imperfect mess with gifts that are so irrelevant you can’t imagine how they were made, or so genius that you can't imagine how you don't already own five of them. They take the pressure out of finding the perfect present and instead make gift giving about spending time with people you love. I still remember my first one even a decade later. It wasn’t the preppy headband set I left with that made its mark on me, but the pure, unadulterated joy of watching friends and family try to steal each other's gifts and the belly laughs that came with it.

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Monster Cookie Bars

Monster cookies are one of my all-time favorite cookies to bake and eat. I make them all of the time. Well, now I have a new favorite dessert, Monster Cookie Bars. They are basically monster cookies, but in bar form. I adjusted my classic recipe to mak…

Monster cookies are one of my all-time favorite cookies to bake and eat. I make them all of the time. Well, now I have a new favorite dessert, Monster Cookie Bars. They are basically monster cookies, but in bar form. I adjusted my classic recipe to make a bar cookie and they are fantastic! I…

The post Monster Cookie Bars appeared first on Two Peas & Their Pod.

Creamy Baked Cauliflower

We love a great cauliflower recipe and our Creamy Baked Cauliflower is up there as one of our favorites. We’ve served this dish as both a cozy side dish as well as a hearty main course and its been a hit every single time! One of our favorite things about cauliflower is its versatility. You can turn it into a mash, a crust for pizza, roasted, and in our case today baked up like a…

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The post Creamy Baked Cauliflower appeared first on Spoon Fork Bacon.

Creamy cauliflower bake recipe in a dish with some served onto a plate.

We love a great cauliflower recipe and our Creamy Baked Cauliflower is up there as one of our favorites. We’ve served this dish as both a cozy side dish as well as a hearty main course and its been a hit every single time!

One of our favorite things about cauliflower is its versatility. You can turn it into a mash, a crust for pizza, roasted, and in our case today baked up like a casserole!

How to Make Our Baked Cauliflower Recipe

Ingredients

Creamy baked cauliflower ingredients all measured out.

Process

  1. Preheat oven to 375˚F. In a mixing bowl toss oil, cauliflower florets, pearl onions, and salt and pepper together until cauliflower and onions are evenly coated. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Spread mixture onto a baking sheet in a single layer.
  2. Roast cauliflower and onions for about 20 minutes or until lightly caramelized and softened, but florets still have a bite to them. Remove from oven, set aside and cool.
Cauliflower and pearled onions on a baking sheet.
Roasted cauliflower and pearled onions.
  1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
  2. Once butter has melted whisk flour into butter until fully incorporated. Cook for about 1 minute.
Butter melting in a pot.
Butter whisked together with flour in a pot.
  1. Whisk milk into roux until mixture is smooth. Simmer, whisking occasionally, until mixture thickens. Add mustard and season with salt and pepper. Stir together until mixture is smooth. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in small handfuls of shredded gruyere, waiting until each handful has fully melted before adding more. Continue until all gruyere has been added.
  2. Add half of shredded cheddar and half sliced green onion until fully incorporated and sauce is smooth. Pour cauliflower and onions into cheese sauce and gently fold together until just combined.
Cheese sauce for creamy baking cauliflower.
Cauliflower with a cheese sauce in a pot.
  1. Pour mixture into a baking dish.
  2. Top baked cauliflower with crispy onions and remaining cheddar and bake for 15 minutes or until top has browned and is bubbling.
Creamy baked cauliflower in a baking dish ready to be baked.
Creamy baked cauliflower topped with cheese and onions to be baked.
  1. Remove baked cauliflower from oven, top with remaining green onion and season with more black pepper. Cool slightly and serve.
Creamy cauliflower baked recipe in a casserole dish.

Variations for Our Creamy Baked Cauliflower

  • Although we love that our baked cauliflower recipe is vegetarian friendly, we’ve definitely stirred some crispy bacon into the casserole a few times and have never regretted it!
  • The pearl onions can be swapped out for chopped onions or even some caramelized onions, which adds a really nice and subtle sweetness to the dish!
  • Add some other herbs like minced thyme or tarragon depending on your personal preference.
  • Stir some wilted, leafy greens into the casserole for some added fiber and to make this dish even more hearty.

Make Ahead Instructions

Our baked cauliflower recipe can be made up to 1 day ahead of time. To make ahead of time, prepare the recipe through step 12. Once the casserole has been assembled, without the toppings, tightly wrap the baking dish with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate.

When ready to bake, remove plastic wrap or foil and top with remaining shredded cheese and fried onions. Add 5 additional minutes to the baking time, remove from the oven and finish with remaining green onions. Serve.

Baked cauliflower recipe in a baking dish with a scoop out.

More Delicious Cauliflower Recipes You Will Love

Creamy cauliflower bake recipe in a dish with some served onto a plate.
Print

Creamy Baked Cauliflower

A delicious, vegetarian friendly recipe for our Creamy Baked Cauliflower! This recipe makes an incredible side dish, but is also hearty enough to stand alone as the main event for any dinner!
Course Side Dish, sides
Cuisine Amercian
Diet Vegetarian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 339kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 small heads cauliflower, trimmed and cut into bite sized florets
  • 1 cup frozen pearl onions, thawed
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 2 cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
  • 4 ounces shredded gruyere cheese
  • 4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
  • 3 thinly sliced green onions
  • 1 cup crispy fried onions
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375˚F.
  • In a mixing bowl toss oil, cauliflower florets, pearl onions, and salt and pepper together until cauliflower and onions are evenly coated. Lightly season with salt and pepper.
  •  Spread mixture onto a baking sheet in a single layer.
  • Roast cauliflower and onions for 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly caramelized and softened, but florets still have a bite to them. Remove from oven, set aside and cool.
  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
  • Once butter has melted whisk flour into butter until fully incorporated. Cook for about 1 minute.
  • Whisk milk into roux until mixture is smooth. Simmer, whisking occasionally, until mixture thickens.
  • Add mustard and season with salt and pepper. Stir together until mixture is smooth.
  • Remove saucepan from heat and stir in small handfuls of shredded gruyere, waiting until each handful has fully melted before adding more. Continue until all gruyere has been added.
  • Add half of shredded cheddar and half sliced green onion until fully incorporated and sauce is smooth.
  • Pour cauliflower and onions into cheese sauce and gently fold together until just combined.
  • Pour mixture into a baking dish.
  • Top with crispy onions and remaining cheddar and bake for 15 minutes or until top has browned and is bubbling.
  • Remove from oven, top with remaining green onion and season with more black pepper. Cool slightly and serve.

Notes

Make Ahead Instructions
Our baked cauliflower recipe can be made up to 1 day ahead of time. To make ahead of time, prepare the recipe through step 12. Once the casserole has been assembled, without the toppings, tightly wrap the baking dish with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate.
When ready to bake, remove plastic wrap or foil and top with remaining shredded cheese and fried onions. Add 5 additional minutes to the baking time, remove from the oven and finish with remaining green onions. Serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 339kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 280mg | Potassium: 598mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 575IU | Vitamin C: 72mg | Calcium: 359mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Creamy Baked Cauliflower appeared first on Spoon Fork Bacon.

34 Gender-Neutral Toys for Kids of All Ages

Watching kids tear into a wrapped gift is always fun (the colors! the happy characters!) But shopping for the perfect gift? Not quite. The amount of gendered toys out there (we’re looking at you Barbie and G.I. Joe) makes it tricky to shop for kids wit…

Watching kids tear into a wrapped gift is always fun (the colors! the happy characters!) But shopping for the perfect gift? Not quite. The amount of gendered toys out there (we’re looking at you Barbie and G.I. Joe) makes it tricky to shop for kids without setting them up for a lifetime of gendered thinking. In fact, according to an NPR report on kids’ toys, toys are more gender-divided now than they were half a century ago.

But the good news is that many companies are starting to rethink things. Take LEGO, which recently announced it is (finally!) getting rid of very gendered kits in favor of ones that appeal to all kids. And they’re not the only ones.

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Every Good Holiday Party Needs Latkes

I am known for throwing overly ambitious dinner parties. Sometimes they work out really well—usually when my guests are smart and bring lots of beer and a hefty salad. Sometimes they do not, and I’m pretty sure everyone ends up going throug…

I am known for throwing overly ambitious dinner parties. Sometimes they work out really well—usually when my guests are smart and bring lots of beer and a hefty salad. Sometimes they do not, and I’m pretty sure everyone ends up going through McDonald’s drive-thru when they leave my house.

My problem is that my imagination often outpaces my organization skills, which, I'll be honest, were never really that strong to begin with. 

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Where to Donate Your Thanksgiving Leftovers

Big Thanksgiving meals with family and friends means leftovers (as evidenced by examples G, O, B, B, L, and E).

But in a season where a lot of us are surrounded by so much, it’s important to remember those who aren’t as fortunate. In 2020, an estimate…

Big Thanksgiving meals with family and friends means leftovers (as evidenced by examples G, O, B, B, L, and E).

But in a season where a lot of us are surrounded by so much, it's important to remember those who aren't as fortunate. In 2020, an estimated 40 million Americans lived in food insecure households. Food insecurity, while a slightly ambiguous term, generally refers to to limited access to adequate amounts of nutritious food due to financial constraints.

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Our Beloved Holiday Swap is Back—& Better Than Ever

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: the Food52 Holiday Swap is back for 2021. And the best part? It’s back in full swing.
If you haven’t been involved in the Swap before, here’s the backstory: Ten years ago, F52er Noëlle (aka, enbe) posted on th…

It's the most wonderful time of the year: the Food52 Holiday Swap is back for 2021. And the best part? It's back in full swing.

If you haven't been involved in the Swap before, here's the backstory: Ten years ago, F52er Noëlle (aka, enbe) posted on the Hotline, suggesting a simple food-centered gift exchange between members of the community.

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