Off-and-on for the past month, I've been slowly chipping away at
Photo Credit: Death to the Stock Photo
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Maybe it's because we live in Iowa, where there's nothing official about the weather. One week the sun comes out, the ground thaws, and our winter comforter is stored away. The next? A cloudy sky, the weatherman warns of frost, the comforter is fluffed and back on the bed.
With this long welcome to spring, I didn't think there was much more that could be dusted or freshened up except maybe, this little space online.
So the past few days I've spent some time, and it's gotten a bit of a spring make-over. See what you think, there are still a few cobwebs that need tending to, but for the most part, it's ready to go. I hope that it's a bit easier to find a recipe you're looking for or something fun to read.
In the meantime, I wanted to share some of the other resources I've found to be helpful when searching for information about health & nutrition. (Part I of this series can be found .. here)
Secondary Resource Sites
eMedicine -10,000 contributors – 6,500 articles
Merck Manual – Medical info about all diseases, diagnosis, and treatments
Natural News – Thousands of articles, interviews, videos
Nutraingredients USA – A resource site for supplement and food manufacturers
Nutrition Data – Nutrition facts database, easy to use, good graphics
Vitamin D Research Council – Good research synopses and articles about vitamin D
Photo Credit: Death to the Stock Photo
Journal Websites
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine
Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal
Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition
Photo Credit: Epicurious
Subscription-based Websites
Health Quest -Nutrition database containing information about specific nutrients and herbs, health conditions, lab testing, etc
Natural Standards – Drug and nutrient interactions and a large review of herbal and natural products
Questia – The world's largest online collection of complete books, journals, and articles
Websites for Environmental Issues
For certain, there are many more incredible resources, just waiting to be explored. Have a favorite? I'd love it if you'd leave a comment to let me know.
As part of an ongoing campaign to find new and different ways to eat my veggies, I turned to our Plenty cookbook, and couldn't resist this funny looking savory cake made of cauliflower. Its author on a mission to give cauliflower, which he considers as versatile as the beloved potato, “some well-earned glory.”
Here, cauliflower florets are suspended in a golden cake that's made with the better part of a dozen egg, green flecks of basil scattered throughout, with an orbit of onion rings on top, and crunchy, aromatic seeds around the edges
Admittedly I was a skeptic, but sure enough, it made a sturdy omelet that sliced like a cake and worked as a main course. Rather than being run-of-the-mill, as some egg dishes can be, this was unusual and completely addictive. The rosemary-scented onions lent great flavor, the nigella and sesame seeds lining the sides added crunch as well as a nutty, spicy flavor.
As it baked, the aroma of this toasty veggie cake with cheese, basil, and onion, smelled decidedly pizza-like. One bite in, and met with a sweet chunk of delicious cauliflower, I was again reminded why Ottolenghi's cookbooks are never far from reach
Enjoy!
xoxo
ps: If you're new to nigella seeds (like I was), you can read more about them here, or here
pps: This is Part II in a short series about resources for health and nutrition information. Part I can be found .. here
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~ Adapted (only a little) from Plenty More by Yotam Ottolenghi
Parmesan and Herb Cauliflower Cake
Ingredients
- 1 small cauliflower, outer leaves removed, broken into 1" pieces (~ 1 pound)
- 1 medium red onion, peeled
- 3 Tbsp olive oil, divided
- ½ tsp rosemary, chopped fine
- 8 eggs (large or XL)
- ½ cup basil leaves, chopped fine
- 1 cup all-purpose flour I've had success with oat flour and King Arthur's multi-purpose gluten-free flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 6 oz grated Parmesan cheese (or any other mature cheese)
- 2 tsp sea salt, divided
- pinch freshly ground black pepper
- 1 - 2 Tbsp coconut or olive oil, for brushing
- 3 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp nigella seeds
Instructions
- Prep
- Preheat the oven to 400° F
- Line the base and sides of a 9-inch spring-form cake pan with parchment paper.
- Brush the sides and bottom with a thin layer of olive oil (~ 1 - 2 Tbsp worth)
- Combine the sesame and nigella seeds and toss them around the inside of the pan; the idea being that they'll stick to the sides.
- Prepare the Cauliflower
- Place the cauliflower florets in a medium-sized saucepan and add 1 tsp sea salt.
- Cover the cauliflower with water and bring the contents of the saucepan to a simmer over medium heat.
- Allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the florets are quite soft. (You'll know they're done when they break apart when pressed with a spoon)
- Drain the cauliflower and set aside in a colander to cool
- Prepare the Cake
- From one end of the onion, cut 4-6 round slices (each ~ ¼" thick), and set aside
- Coarsely chop the rest of the onion, placing it, along with a Tbsp of olive oil in a small saute pan over medium heat. Sprinkle the rosemary over the top.
- Cook for ~ 10 minutes, stirring from time to time until they're soft and fragrant.
- Remove the onions from the heat and set them aside to cool.
- Transfer the onions to a large bowl, adding the eggs and basil, and whisk well.
- Add the flour, baking powder, turmeric, Parmesan, the other 1 tsp sea salt, and plenty of pepper. Whisk until very smooth.
- Add the cauliflower, stirring gently, so as not to break up the florets
- Bake and Serve
- Pour the cauliflower mixture into the prepared pan, making sure it's spread evenly.
- Arrange the reserved onion rings on top.
- Place the cauliflower cake into the center of the oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until it's golden brown and set (a knife or toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out clean)
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20-30 minutes before serving.
- It's best served just warm, rather than hot, or at room temperature.
43 Comments
This was not only a fun looking dish, but so tasty it actually complimented the comical looks. Very much a keeper!
This looks and sounds delicious. I want to try this dish. I think my family would love this.
I am still trying to Spring clean my home, here in the UK. It certainly can take a long time to get the home organised, lets pray I complete before autumn lol! But what better way to treat yourself once all done than with this veggie cake.
Savory cakes are kinds hard to come by, not that many people are into making these kinds of cakes. Using cauliflower and other veggies I think would be a wonderful taste bud experience.
I rarely make a savory cake. I’m intrigued by this one. It’s lovely and would be a delicious addition to Sunday Supper.
That looks out rages! I did not know that Collie flower could look that delicious. I am totally going to try this.
I have never heard of a savory cake before but this really looks interesting. Something I may have to try. I love cauliflower.
Ohh I’ve not heard of savory cakes but how interesting does this sound, it is certainly something I would be open to trying myself.
I love savory bread items before! I always want to bake after I watch the “Great British Baking Show”, but my stuff never turns out so well.
Now that is my kind of cake. I’m staying away from sweets and I could live off of veggies, especially cauliflower.
Now that is my kind of cake. I’m staying away from sweets and I could live off of veggies, especially cauliflower.
It is so great to find new ways to enjoy your veggies! I know I tend to stick to the same old ways to prepare them. This looks amazing.
I will have to make this over the weekend for the family! It sounds super tasty and I’m always looking for something new to try… great flavor choices, YUM!
It looks so healthy & delicious! Will try recipe soon! Thanks for the resources re health. Very informative.
There are so many awesome recipes out there for cauliflower. I had no idea you could make a cake with it too. I really want to try this recipe!
When I read the title of this recipe as Parmesan & Herb Cauliflower Cake, I couldn’t imagine cauliflower in a cake ever! This recipe looks like a pizza with a twist. It looks so yum! I’ll definitely try this one!
As soon as I saw the word parmesan you had me, I LOVE parmesan and yet combined with cauliflower sounds amazing! Definitely going to try this!
I am excited to make Parmesan & Herb Cauliflower Cake. It looks so delicious and easy to make. I will have to give it a try this weekend. I am always looking for healthier recipes to make.
I have a head of cauliflower in the fridge just waiting to be used up. This sounds like a great way to cook it.
One thing i do have to say about florida is at LEAST the weather’s somewhat reliable. I’m the summer it rains around 4 For about 15 minutes, and then it’s sunny again lol. This recipe looks pretty cool though. Maybe I can sneak some extra veggies into dinner after all
I like parmesan and herb on many things. This sounds like it has an interesting flavor, and it’s appearance reminds me of a frittata.
Cakes are a favorite of mine but I am not used to them being savory. This recipe sounds so yummy, I will have to give it a try.
This cake looks amazing, I love cauliflower in a differents variations. I want to prepare for my boyfriend who is vegetarian something similar but without eggs. Do you have some recipe without eggs?
oh my, this looks amazing! This would be such a great brunch dish
I’ve never heard of a savory cake, but it looks like a good thing to try to make it and taste it.
What a great way to enjoy cauliflower! I am definitely going to give this a try next time we have friends over.
I am cooking with cauliflower a lot recently, and always looking for new ways to use it, this sounds amazing I am going to be trying this x
This is amazing. I would love to make this for the family. It’s perfect for breakfast or lunch or whenever you feel like eating something delicious for the rest of the day. Weather’s been quite unpredictable lately, can’t blame you for stalling! I think your site is getting better and better.
This sounds delicious. I love Cauliflower but have never tried to make this. I am going to give it a try !!
This looks really pretty and tasty. I do love cauliflower and this looks like an interesting new way to cook it.
This is one of the neatest recipes I’ve seen in a while. I love the colors and fresh ingredients you used!
This looks so freakin’ good especially because I like cauliflower! <3 Will be sharing this with my mom haha xx
I would love everything about that dish except those onions on top. I’ve never really been a fan of raw onions. Otherwise, it looks amazing!
This is a very interesting recipe. I can imagine doing it for dinner some evening. And it might be a way to sneak veggies by my daughter.
I love arty that onion detailing on the top looks! Definitely something I want to try attempt myself for a dinner party or something 🙂
I’ve never tried a savoury cake but I love cauliflower and parmesan so I am definitely intrigued
That looks so delicious, and the red onion detail like others have said makes it look so cool! I’m not normally a huge fan of cauliflower when it’s not been boiled or roasted, but I’m tempted to try this.
My mum and I would both love this recipe, so will forward to her and see whether she can rustle it up 😉 x
This looks so, so tasty! I love the way the onions rings sink into the top too!
wow this looks and sounds so awesome!! I’d love to eat more meals like this!
The cake looks so yummy. I like cauliflowers and seeing a dish made of it with cheese is mouth watering. Those onion rings nice for decoration. 🙂
This looks really tasty! Great way to hide some veg from the kids too!
I think your blog is great but then again you know that I think that 🙂 I love the look of this cauliflower cake and he’s right cauliflowers definitely deserve more attention x