For newcomers: The A to Z Challenge is where a bunch of people blog throughout the month of April, choosing a certain theme and then posting with a corresponding letter for each day.
I’m a writer, but in addition to writing (because let’s face it, life happens to consist of more than words), I also cook. This month we’re getting to explore all things kitcheny. Today’s letter is…
Today it’s recipe time! I don’t have a ton of these written down because mostly I just cook by taste – meaning I add a little of this and a little of that until it seems right. But I had so many people ask me for this recipe that I finally measured the ingredients (gasp) and wrote it down.
Cauliflower is one of my favorite veggies (I know, I’m that weird child who not only likes broccoli and cauliflower, but also thinks Brussels sprouts are nearly heaven-sent), and this is one of my favorite ways to eat it.
This is a Paleo recipe, created without any dairy. BUT! If you’re not dairy free, then you can go ahead and exchange the coconut milk for regular milk, and thereby cut the costs of the soup way down.
Ingredients:
1 Pound Boneless Chicken Thighs
1 Medium Yellow Onion, peeled and diced
2 Garlic Cloves, peeled and minced
5 cups Cauliflower Florets
3 cups Water
1 cup canned Unsweetened Coconut Milk
3 Bacon strips
1 Large Carrot
Coconut oil
Pepper
Sage
Seasoning Salt
Garlic powder
Tuscan Garlic seasoning blend
Chicken Flavored soup base, Gluten and MSG free
Directions:
1. Cut the chicken into bite size pieces, cook in coconut oil and season with seasoning salt, garlic powder, and Tuscan Garlic blend. After the chicken is cooked, set aside. Fry bacon, remove bacon from fat and crumble. (Optional: Save bacon fat and add to soup as it’s cooking for extra flavor)
2. Sauté onions and garlic in coconut oil
3. Add cut up cauliflower florets, water, unsweetened coconut milk, add seasonings to taste, simmer until tender.
4. Mash or blend about half of the cauliflower, then put back in the soup
5. Add chopped carrot and chicken
6. Serve and Enjoy!
What I Listened To While Blogging:
The soundtrack for “The Prince of Egypt” (yes, again!)
Where I Blogged:
In my office on the mattress in the corner
Fun Fact:
I have always liked veggies – as a kid I preferred them over sweets sometimes
Question of the Day:
What’s your favorite veggie?
I have been reading your blog for awhile, and enjoying every post. You often make me think about things in a different way, and there are some days I just laugh…..and this was one of those days 😀 For one, I NEVER measure anything when cooking (measuring cups?!?
They make such a thing?!?!) For another, cauliflower….I love it. But more than that, I was one of those “weird children” who loved broccoli and cauliflower. I can remember a time when I was about three and my grandmother was trying to convince me to eat candy while waiting on the birth of one of my siblings. Any child would have jumped at that chance — but I asked for broccoli instead. As if the hospital gift store would have had broccoli!
Brussels sprouts on the other hand……I still don’t like those and have a feeling I never will =)
Anyways, I will have to try this soup. It sounds delicious!! And yes, I will most likely break put those handy little measuring devices the first time. Maybe =P
— Kaitlyn
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Awww, your comment was so sweet and made me really happy!
Haha! Your story about when your little sibling was being born was great! It made me laugh. I don’t think I liked veggies QUITE that much. Brussel sprouts with bacon is the best.I’ve literally eaten it for eight or nine meals in a row before. 😉
Measuring is something I’ve been trying to learn how to do so I can write down what I’m making because people often ask about what I put in my food. Have fun if YOU decide to start measuring, too. 🙂
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Thank you for sharing this recipe, it sounds absolutely delicious! I’ll have to see if I can adapt it to a vegetarian version, because I love soup and cauliflower, so the combination sounds remarkable. I’m with you that cauliflower is one of the best things to exist. My mom makes a cauliflower au gratin recipe I love. I sometimes prefer veggies to candy myself, it’s so tasty and savory. (Plus, anything with garlic has to be good!) 🙂
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I think it would be quite easy to make without the meat – I’m guessing the biggest thing would you’d have to add some more herbs because you wouldn’t have the bacon flavor. You should totally let me know if you make it and how it turns out. 😉
Oh, cauliflower au gratin sounds pretty great! And yes, garlic is the best!
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Brussel sprouts in melted butter. Yum!
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Totally great! But with bacon? Even better!
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Haven’t tried with bacon yet. Have to suggest that to the chef when i get home.
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My favourite veggie is probably asparagus. I am planning to grow some on my allotment this year (can’t harvest it for the first two years though, so a long term plan). Thanks for the recipe
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Oh, fun! asparagus is wonderful, as long as it isn’t mushy. Have fun growing yours. My grandparents grew some before they moved to Florida several years ago.
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Thanks for the recipe. I may try a vegetarian version without the chicken and bacon. I too was the child who loved cauliflower, broccoli and brussel sprouts.
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I think if you add more coconut oil and salt it should work just fine without the meat!
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