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Friday, June 1, 2012

Cheesy Cauliflower Tater Tots!

Cheesy Cauliflower Tater Tots
Did you ever find a recipe that sounds really tasty but has an ingredient and recipe instructions that just doesn't appeal to you? That's what I saw with this recipe, but I didn't let it stop me because I just loved everything else about the recipe!

This recipe called for 4 egg whites...and the whipping of egg whites into stiff peaks! I do not like either of those things because I don't want to waste the egg yolks and I'm not that experienced at the stiff peaks egg white whipping thing! It also called for the use of a pasrty bag and star pastry bag tip...I don't own either of those! Plus that's just too much work for making tater tots!

So I used 1 large egg (including the yolk) and just beat it into the cauliflower mixture! Guess what? It worked perfectly! And I used a 10 oz. box of frozen cauliflower florets instead of fresh, to make it even easier! Just thaw and squeeze the heck out of the cauliflower to drain all the excess liquid!

Instead of the pastry bag I just plopped it onto a parchment lined cookie sheet using two spoons. Again, it worked perfectly!

These cauliflower tater tots were delicious! Especially if you're a fan of cauliflower like I am! They have a nice strong cauliflower flavor but are light,fluffy and cheesy! This is a low carb recipe!

Here is the link to the original recipe...'Cheesy Cauliflower Tater Tots'...and below is my photo of how mine turned out! And I included my easy version of this recipe!

Cheesy Cauliflower Tater Tots
Cheesy Cauliflower Tater Tots

INGREDIENTS;
1 Medium head of cauliflower - I used 10 oz. frozen thawed and squeezed dry
2 Tbls. heavy cream - I used light cream
2 Tbls. butter
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 egg whites - I used 1 large egg with yolk
salt and pepper to taste - I used 1/4 tsp. of each
garlic powder to sprinkle ontop after baked - my idea

 MY EASY DIRECTIONS;
In a microwave safe bowl add cauliflower, light cream and butter. Microwave on high for 5 minutes.
Transfer cauliflower mixture to a food processor with cheese and pulse slightly until it's the texture of oatmeal. Add salt and pepper. Place back into bowl. Then add in egg and beat until fully combined.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Drop cauliflower mixture by the spoonful onto parchment paper...you should get about 14 tater tots.
Bake on center rack, uncovered, for about 18 minutes or until nicely browned.
Remove from oven and sprinkle with garlic powder.
Serve warm or room temp.
                                                       

35 comments:

  1. OMGoosh...This Recipe Looks and Sounds So Delicious!! I Love all the Creamy and Cheesy Flavors...YUM:-)

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  2. I love to looks and sound of this recipe. I love mashed cauliflower and have even gotten my family to eat it. This recipe will make that even easier. I can't wait to try these.

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    1. Thank you so much Dee! Please let me know what you think when you make it! =)

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    2. this sounds delicious and I am going to try it soon ...thank you..

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    3. Thank you so much! Please let me know how you liked it! =D

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    1. Hi Rose! Thank you for the helpful tip! I like your food blog...lots of great recipes in there! Stop by anytime!

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  4. Hey Lillian,

    Just so you know, you don't have to buy a pastry bag. And you can get the Star tip with a screw on ring to attach it for like $2 at Walmart.

    I use a ziploc bag, snip a corner, attach the tip and voila, instant pastry bag.

    This is great when you want to make something ahead and use the next day. Make the icing/mashed potatoes/or this tot mix up the day before and store in the fridge in the ziploc bag. Then when ready, snip, Tip and squeeze.

    Keeping in the fridge over night makes a firmer mix that pipes easier and holds it's shape better.

    I hope this gives you some help and new ideas.
    Happy Cooking!
    Rose ( http://rosesbites.blogspot.com )

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    1. Yes, that was the helpful tip I was talking about in my reply! Thanks again! =)

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  5. thank you for sharing the item Cheesy Cauliflower Tater Tots! i think it is very testy.i like all Cauliflower Recipes .

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  6. This is great! I am all about using whole eggs, too - i often skip over recipes that require just the whites ;-)

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    1. Hi Justine! Thanks! Most times the yolk will work even if left in...as in this recipe! But I'm sure it wouldn't work with meringues...lol! Thanks for stopping by! =)

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  7. Yey! Thanks! Was just looking at the complicated recipe and wishing there was an easier way as they look delicious! Totally trying your way instead of the pastry bag drama. I think I'll make some BBQ chicken to go with. I bet the Egg Yolk adds some protein too maybe? Might be pregnant with 4th baby, so getting all the protein I can is my main chore right now!

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    1. That's great...congrats on expecting another baby! Thanks for trying these...and let me know how you liked them! =)

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  8. Hi Lillian :-) These look outstanding! My spouse is the opposite of a cauliflower fan, but I love it. For the six years we've been married, I have been trying to figure out how to work it into a meal. This recipe is the solution! Thanks so much :-)

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    1. Hi Tom! Thank you so much for checking it out! I hope you'll try it! =D

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  9. This sounds amazing, Lillian! and it's a healthier version too which makes it even better. I'd definitely like to try this. Thanks for sharing. :)

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    1. Hi JoAnn! Thanks! This is so easy and so tasty! Please let me know what you think of it after you try it! =)

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  10. Tried it with broccoli.....love it and amazing. Thank you!

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    1. Oh...I love the broccoli idea! Thanks for mentioning that! I'm so glad you liked it! =D

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  11. the site is wonderful. love it. But the pop-upfrom from the dress line is totally annoying. it stopped me from printing the recipe I wanted

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    1. Thank you so much! I'm so sorry about the pop-up ad! Was it an ad that floated across the screen? If so, those ads will end in January when my contract is over with Foodie Blogroll.

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  12. Love the recipes but please lay off the exclamation points, they don't go at the end of every single sentence. Sorry to be the grammar police but it would just make your blog look a little more professional :)

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    1. LOL!!! I know, it's a bad habit of mine! Maybe it can be my trademark? I'm just so excited about blogging that it makes me hit the exclamation key with every sentence! =D

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    2. I know Lillian personally--I love her and her exclamation points and this is just how she is in person. She makes people feel good and special. And she loves so much what she does here, her happiness and excitement to bring her fans her recipes just comes through. Don't ever change Lillian!!!

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    3. Awwww...thank you my friend! I am way more excited than I should be about food! I'm such a food dork...lol!

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    4. <3 and it's catching!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    5. Who ever heard of someone being annoyed by !!!!!! Rather petty to me!!!!!

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  13. Trying tonight, but accidentally bought cream cheese instead of heavy cream (my brain...lol) so I am going to use plain yogurt. I'm sure it will still be awesome. It will be served with crockpot bbq chicken tenders, pan "fried" zucchini, and cantaloupe.
    Thanks ;)
    Phyllis in SC

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    1. It was actually harder to make than it sounded, (the processor would only tear up at most 2 pieces at a time, and I had to keep cleaning it out back into the bowl and then add two more pieces and so on)... but I'm sure the outcome will be fine. I also added parsley & oregano, and I added the garlic powder to the mix before I baked it because by then, I was worn out (haha). I've had knee surgery recently so I'm not supposed to stand immobile more than a few minutes at a time. Thank you again for something new to try with my beloved cauly :)

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    2. Did you use thawed cauliflower that was then cooked in the microwave? That should have made the cauliflower very tender and easier to process.

      Sorry to hear about your knee! You're a trooper to be cooking after having recent knee surgery! I hope you back to normal real soon! =D

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  14. Hi Phyllis! I'm sure it would be fine with cream cheese or yogurt! Yum...I love the sound of your menu! Thank you so much for trying the recipe! I hope you love it as much as we did! =D

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Your kind comments are always welcome, so please leave one...Thank you!