Cooking & Spirituality: Fall Cauliflower Loaded Casserole

By Lucia Ferrara

This is a super easy and super fast to assemble casserole perfect for cool autumn evenings. Even though the main ingredient is a vegetable, kids love this recipe. It is a crowd pleaser, which makes it idea for a pot luck dinner or a tailgating party.

As a side dish, it goes great with a steak. I’ve served it with chicken and pork cutlets, too. It can be the main dish if served with bread and salad or as a side dish. Add a potatoes (cubed and steamed) if you need it a bit more hearty. Leave the bacon out and you have a tasty meatless meal. This Cauliflower Loaded Casserole is a very versatile recipe you will want in your dinnertime repertoire.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Prepare a 9×13 baking dish with spray cooking oil.

Ingredient list

• 1 head cauliflower, chopped and steamed al dente.
• 8 oz baby bella mushrooms, cleaned and sliced.
• 6-8 strips of bacon, fried crispy and crumbled.
• 2-5 tablespoons chives, chopped.
• 2 cloves garlic, minced.
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup sour cream
• 2 cups of shredded Colby and Monterey jack cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Bake 20-30 minutes in a preheated oven.

A couple notes: 1) White button, cremini, and portobello work as well in this recipe as baby bella mushrooms; use what you like. 2) I like the Colby and Monetary jack cheese combination, but may be you don’t. Use the cheese you like best. Guoda, cheddar, Swiss or Helvetia cheese all work.

Cooking as Spiritual Practice

The following is excerpted from the prayer “Autumn Psalm of Contentment” by Fr. Edward Hays, in the book Earth Prayers by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon (HarperOne, 2009)

O sacred season of Autumn, be my teacher,

for I wish to learn the virtue of contentment.

As I gaze upon your full-colored beauty,

I sense all about you an at-homeness with your amber

riches.

You are the season of retirement, of full barns and harvested

fields. …

May I know that like you I am rich beyond measure.

As you, O Autumn, take pleasure in your great bounty,

let me also take delight in the abundance of the simple things in life

which are the true source of joy.

With the golden glow of peaceful contentment may I truly appreciate this autumn day.

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[Lucia Ferrara, the Director of Hospitality at Precious Blood Renewal Center. Share your thoughts with Lucia or ask her questions using the form below or by sending an email to info@pbrenewalcenter.org.]

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