Turmeric Mashed Cauliflower

 Let me start by saying I L♥VE Turmeric!
I ingest it as much as possible due to the medical benefits I have read about it & I also make a facial mask with it that consists of lemon, honey & turmeric. This blend of ingredients is said to cleanse your pores, smooth your skin & also make your skin tone more even. Turmeric has been said to have anti inflammatory & pain relieving properties which makes it great to use in teas if you would like to go the natural route when it comes to the joint swelling & headaches that can go along with an active lifestyle.  I also love turmeric for the effects it is said to have on the brain! Dr. Andrew Weil states on his website www.drweil.com that "One particularly promising spice is turmeric; one of its components, curcumin is strongly anti-inflammatory. Elderly villagers in India have one of the world's lowest rates of Alzheimer's; the reason may be the turmeric that they consume in their daily curries."  10 other proven benefits of turmeric such as increasing the antioxidant capacity of the body & lowering the risk of heart disease are also listed in a wonderful article at www.authoritynutrition.com!

I'm going to give you options with this recipe, but not to worry, they will all be delicious! You can choose the ingredients you want in order to make this dish more keto/low carb-high fat friendly or more of a low carb & low calorie healthy dish! I just ask that you make any adjustments necessary to achieve the consistency in your faux potatoes that you desire!

Ingredients:
1 Large Cauliflower head or 2 small-med cut into florets (save & cut stalk into pieces because waste not, want not!)
1/4 - 1/2 cup Cream Cheese or Goat Cheese (your preference)
1/4 cup of Heavy Cream or Unsweetened Almond Milk (lower fat preference = less creamy "potatoes")
1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano Cheese
1/4 cup butter or butter substitute such as smart balance
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
2-3 tbsp of turmeric powder or a few large pieces of fresh turmeric root grated fine on a cheese grater
2 tsp mustard
1tbsp chives
1tsp oregano
salt & pepper to taste
paprika

Instructions:
Boil your cauliflower florets until tender, drain, press out any extra liquid & add to a large pot coated with your 1/4 cup of butter while the florets are still hot. Mash the cauliflower with a potato masher. Using a mixer, slowly add in the remainder of your ingredients except for the paprika. If you enjoy thick & stiff mashed "potatoes" add less liquid & add slowly so you may judge the consistency of your dish. If your cheeses are not thoroughly softened & mixing through, turn your burner on low while mixing.

TIP: I always boil my florets in a large pot, then turn off the burner, drain & press my florets for extra liquid & immediately return the florets & butter to the same burner to maintain a heat in which my cheeses will heat & blend thoroughly.

Transfer your Faux Potatoes to a baking dish, sprinkle the top with paprika & grated cheese if you desire & bake for 15 -20 minutes prior to serving to heat thoroughly!

VEGAN TIP: For a vegan recipe, simply make substitutions with smart balance, almond milk, tofutti cream cheese & any nutritional yeast flakes for the cheesy taste the grated cheese would create! (ie: Bob's Red Mill Nutritional Yeast)

KETO TIP: If you are trying a strict keto diet, use only the high fat ingredients for this recipe! The cream cheese, regular butter & heavy cream should all balance your fat to carb ratio while served along a side of meat!