Once the cold weather sets in I change my approach to food entirely. It becomes all about comfort food which, of course, is usually loaded with carbohydrates. However, this meal that I made last night is nutritious, yummy and elegant. Cauliflower Gratin! A gratin is usually a vegetable dish mixed with a classic cheese sauce topped with cheese and bread crumbs placed in the oven. It can be a meal on it's own or it compliments any protein dish. It is quick and easy to prepare and one of those dishes that you can adjust to your personal tastes. The gratin is a true classic!

what you will need:
1 Cauliflower broken into medium sized florets
2 1/2 cups of hot milk
4 TBS white flour
2-3 oz of butter
1/4 TSP nutmeg
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese. Please no KRAFT stuff that smells awful
1/2 cup of grated gruyere (swiss cheese)
1/4 TSP white pepper
Salt to taste

Melt the butter over medium heat in a sauce pan taking care not to let it brown.  Add the flour stirring briskly with a wooden spoon until you have a smooth past. Be careful not to let the paste turn brown. Remove the pot from the heat, add the hot milk and whisk until there are no lumps. Return the pot to the heat and add the gruyere, pepper, nutmeg and salt to taste. Keep whisking until the sauce has thickened.

Rub a little butter onto the sides and bottom of an oven proof dish and place about a quarter of the sauce in the bottom of the dish. Then add half the cauliflower followed by half the remaining sauce and repeat with the rest of the cauliflower and sauce. Mix the bread crumbs and grated parmesan cheese and sprinkle evenly over the top. Place in a oven preheated to 350 F. Cook until the top is golden brown. About eight to twelve minutes. Serve as a standalone dish or a side dish with fish, fowl or meat.

VARIATIONS.

Just about anything can be added to make your gratin something extra special. Here are a few ideas. Fry a few slices of bacon, chop and add to the cooked cauliflower. Sauté an onion and add to the cauliflower. You can also add cooked mushrooms, left over roast chicken. boiled chopped potatoes, asparagus and so on. Combine a few ingredients like bacon , onions and chicken to make a super one dish meal.

This dish refrigerates and reheats very well.