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Mother’s Day

Margaret and Lilacs 1b

I got an early Mother’s Day gift this year: Jon took this beautiful photo of our newly adopted daughter, Margaret.  Doesn’t she look pretty posing with a vase of lilacs from my favorite lilac bush?

Mother’s Day is always doubly special for me because that’s when we celebrate Gary’s birthday!  He’ll be 11 years old this year.  Such a handsome boy!

Gary Crossy Paws

On Mother’s Day I also like to think about our mother Earth (or  “Mother Nature”) — and all of its beauty, specially the wonderful animals.  This year, its great to have beautiful music to listen to as I reflect.  I’m talking about Daniel Redwood’s new album, Songs for Animals, People, and the Earth.  It’s a truly lovely and powerful collection of songs — an inspiring and compassionate soundtrack for the animals and people who love them.  To hear a sample of Daniel’s beautiful album, visit his website.

danielredwood3

If you’re planning to cook something special on Mother’s Day, consider cooking from Nut Butter Universe to make a special brunch or dinner (or maybe a batch of Chocolate Macadamia Truffles with Coconut???).  BTW…there’s a giveaway going on right now on the Vegan Heritage Press blog to win a copy of Nut Butter Universe — so if you don’t have a copy yet (or even if you do!) enter now to win!

Here’s another fun dish I made recently (along with a nice picatta and roasted baby potatoes).  This whole Roasted Cauliflower topped with Cheesy Sunflower Sauce, is a tasty way to “say it with flowers” on Mother’s Day!

Whole Roast Cauliflower 007a

Here’s the recipe:

 Roasted Cauliflower with Cheesy Sunflower Sauce

1 head cauliflower, trimmed and cored

2 teaspoons olive oil

Pinch of salt, black pepper, and paprika

Cheesy Sunflower Sauce:

1 roasted yellow bell pepper, chopped

1/3 cup sunflower seeds, soaked for 4 hours and drained

1/4 cup plain unsweetened almond milk

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup nutritional yeast

1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

 

Garnish:

2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley or dill

Cauliflower:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the head of cauliflower, cut-side down, in a large baking dish with about 1 inch of water. Rub the cauliflower with the oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and paprika. Cover tightly and bake for 20 to 30 minutes. Uncover and increase the heat to 425 degrees and roast for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until tender when pierced with a knife or fork.

Sauce:

While the cauliflower is roasting, combine bell pepper, soaked and drained seeds, almond milk, lemon juice, mustard, and salt in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Add the nutritional yeast, liquid smoke, and paprika, and blend again until completely smooth.

To serve:

Arrange the cauliflower on a platter, spoon the sauce over top, and sprinkle with parsley or dill.  Serve hot.

 

{ 8 comments… add one }

  • Nezumi May 7, 2013, 10:03 pm

    What a beautiful picture and such a nice present!
    It’s funny how Gary crosses his paws. My boyfriend had a cat who did the same thing. He looks very distinguished!

    • Robin May 12, 2013, 4:02 pm

      Thanks Nezumi. We call Gary “Mr. Crossy-Paws”! He IS very distinguished!

  • Susan May 8, 2013, 10:12 pm

    I can’t believe Gary will be eleven, they grow up so quickly! Be sure to give him lots of hugs and belleh pats from me on Sunday!
    Margaret looks like such a very sweet girl, that is a beautiful photo.

    You are the master of cauliflower, I bow before you.

    • Robin May 12, 2013, 4:05 pm

      For sure, Susan. Gary will receive some extra special hugs and belly rubs from you!

      Margaret is a sweetheart. Wish we could bring her inside, but I don’t thinkshe and Mitski would get along.

      Glad you like the cauliflower. I adore thinking of new ways to prepare it!

  • Carolyn May 12, 2013, 11:42 am

    Happy Birthday to Gary! Hope he has a great day of fun and and naps!

    • Robin May 12, 2013, 4:03 pm

      Thanks for the birthday wishes, Carolyn. I’ll pass them along to Gary. So far he’s having a great day napping!

  • bookwormbethie May 13, 2013, 10:15 pm

    thanks for sharing the sunflower cheeze sauce recipe, i have one i usually make but it’s a bit labor intensive, so i look forward to giving your a try!

    can the sauce be heated up on the stove top after its been blendered?

    margaret and gary’s photos are lovely! i love that you call margart your daughter, when i call the vet for whatever reason, i always say “i’m benajmin’s mom” and one of my neighbor’s wished me a happy mother’s day the other day since i’m the mom of a fur baby 😉

  • Health Benefits May 17, 2013, 8:12 pm

    Such amazing pictures! What camera did you use to take these? Beautiful and the lighting was tremendous. You clearly have a knack for photography. Also, adorable cat/daughter ;).

    Thanks for posting this recipe. Always looking for ways to make cauliflower more appealing (not one of my favorite recipes…to say the least). Did a great job posting it in a clear and concise manner. Glad to have found your site and look forward to learning more from you. Thanks :).

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