I can be strange.
If this you news to you… welcome to the party.
As such, my friends are pretty unique too. Today Kat is bringing her A game with some #strangebutgood balls. Today I am grateful for friend like her. Friends that just get it, friends that are there even though you’ve barely spoken for a few weeks.
By that same token, I also appreciate you guys coming back and reading even thought I’m behind on replies and blog reading. I swear I’ll catch up one day! Perhaps with an explanation of my job and WHY things are so insane right now.
Without further adieu… here’s Kat. With balls. 😉
Cauliflower “Meat” Balls
By: Kat
I’ve been a lawyer now for 3 weeks! And now I have to start really generating business. At first this seemed really scary, but now I’m ready to just jump in head-first. I want to help entrepreneurs and small businesses get off to the right start in protecting their intellectual property and getting a good, solid business set-up.
This is the life I have dreamed of. (Editor’s note: this makes me so very happy for you – livin’ the dream!)
I would ideally like to work with people in the creative, holistic, food, and fitness industries, protecting their trademarks and copyrights, and helping with creative and strategic business plans. Let me know if you ever need a lawyer, you creatives! (Editor’s note: Shamless plug. I like it.)
In the meantime, since I’m still not quite full-time, I’ve been experimenting like crazy. I thought this would be a squash-y blog post, but I have a new favorite recipe I would like to share instead (squashing my own squash idea… hehe so nerdy!). Cauliflower meatballs. Random brainchild, since I’d never made any kind of meatball before.
These meatballs are incredible! They are hearty, flavorful and as “meaty” as cauliflower can get. They would go with any kind of sauce, from a Tomato and Pesto Mayo (which I used), to a rich marinara. They are also gluten-free.
Cauliflower Meatballs Over Squashes
- ½ head of cauliflower, diced finely
- ½ medium white onion, diced finely
- 6-7 cloves of garlic, diced
- 1 egg
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 T coconut oil
- ¼ C Parmesan cheese
- ¾ C breadcrumbs (I used Glutino’s GF)
- Herbs of your choice
- 1 tsp cumin
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 375. Sauteè the onions and garlic over medium/medium high heat with salt first for a bit (about 3-4 minutes) to get them soft, then add the cauliflower. Sauteè for another 10 minutes, until they are almost cooked.
Pour mixture into a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle in the herbs and cumin (I used about 3T parsley, but you can also use fresh basil/oregano/any herb), stirring to combine. Then mix in the bread crumbs, egg, and oils. It should resemble a meatball-like mixture now.
Mold into 1 ½ in balls. Place on parchment paper. Bake ~40 minutes, or until brown on top. You can then submerge in sauce or serve as-is with dipping sauce.
You can also elect to blend the cauliflower/onion/garlic in a food processor if you want them to have a smoother, more chicken-nugget-type texture.
Personally, I really liked the “meatiness” of having little bits of cauliflower comprising my delish balls. (Editor’s note: That’s what she said.)
At least if I’m nervous about starting my own business/law firm, I know there are others out there equally scared to go against the mold, do something different, be an entrepreneur. I also know that I can come home and be as creative as I want without judgment. (Editor’s note: This is why I love you and I cannot wait until we have our reunion date Saturday!!!)
***
Quick note about #StrangeButGood: It’s ON tomorrow, but next week I’m taking a Thurs-Fri Turkey Day break. Save your Strangess for Friday, December 6th!
Who has been scared to start their own business? Me!!!
Have you ever made cauliflower meatballs, or something equally odd? Does my cauliflower pizza crust count? How about the pancakes?
BAHHHH HA HA HA! I have no idea how I even make time to go to the bathroom because I AM SO BUSY. LMFAO!!! 😉
And while you and I both know, I LOVE ME SOME BALLS. I actually BOUGHT a muffin tin today so I could make MEAT MUFFINS, or I could even make this CAULIFLOWER creation into a MUFFIN! Maybe I am late to the muffin party, but WHATEVER – I AM STOKED!
Lol. You’re right on time for the party! Cauliflower muffins sounds great!
Balls > Muffins
Cauliflower is becoming the ‘wonder’ vegetable- it can be made into anything- bread, buns, pizzas and now meatballs! Mind blown!
Lol! It’s true.. it can be ANYTHING! 😉 Next I’m going to use it to make some kind of cookie/dessert.
My boys and I love cauliflower, so I’m so trying this! YUM!
Yay! Let me know how it goes!
yum! these look and sound fantastic!
Thanks! I hope you try it out!
YUM!! Maybe I could try with flax egg?? Oh how I miss my eggs……
Right?!! I swear all the good stuff has eggs!
The egg just holds it together, so I bet that would work! try adding a little more cheese/nondairy cheese to also help it meld/melt together!
Agreed! It would totally work – I’ve used a flax egg in my cauliflower pizza crust.
Ok I so want to make these, I think I may have to make them for my family when I go home for break.
awesome!! I hope they love it, i know you will!
you can literally make cauliflower into anything these days, can’t you? This is so creative!
Thanks!! I love it, too!
I love finding new and crazy ways to put veggies in to EVERYTHING. I like your kind of strange 🙂
Lol… everything is better with veggies!
These sound delicious! And as far as strange creations go, I’ve made tofu meatballs before. Also great!
I bet that would be! Tofu can taste/feel like anything!
I keep forgetting to re-make mine! I did a tofu-lentil like 2 years ago and haven’t made it since. So many foods!
Laura, thank yo for bringing Kat into our lives – so special!
Kat, I LOVE what you plan to do – after reading you here, I am not surprised you want to help people! You will succeed cause you are you!
Thanks Jody! You are so incredibly sweet! I hope to meet you in person one day! Please let me know if you ever need help with anything!
Love it! Now, if only I could digest cauliflower! Love the creativity 🙂
You have problems digesting cauliflower? I’m so sorry to hear that! I also thought about trying this with sweet potatoes or pumpkin if you want an alternative!
I bet it would work with broccoli!
YUM! With my cauliflower obsession, it is pretty much a guarantee that I would love these. These are my kind of meat balls! 😉
You would. Try it. Balls. 😉
Mmm, those sound yummy!
Love the editors notes haha!
These look amaze-BALLS 🙂 I haven’t made cauliflower balls before but I have made cauliflower pizza and it was the bomb. Def going to try these soon.
Thanks for sharing the recipe Kat and good luck in your new job!!
Her editor’s notes are my favorite part, too! Balls!
And thanks for the “good luck,” I need it – and let me know if you ever need anything! 😉
Hee hee. Balls.
This is PERFECT for my sister- she’s a vegetarian and I’m always at a bit of a loss of what to cook her besides side dishes.
I totally understand. I hope you try these and that she loves em!
Hmm, I wonder if I can fool my husband with these. He hates cooked cauliflower!
Congrats, Lawyer Kat! I’m so excited for you 🙂
And to Laura, I totally understand getting behind on responding to comments. I do the same and I feel so bad. Unfortunately, there are only 24 hours in the day. I could use the 25th for that.
I bet if you puree them in a food processor before baking them, he could be fooled into thinking they are potatoes or something!
And thanks!! I’m so excited to lift-off!
A 25th hour would be so amazing…
Mmm, ‘meat’ balls have never looked better 😀
Cauliflower is so flexible!
Cheers
CCU
P.S I seem to have lost around 1000 subscribers on my blog and I don’t know how, so if you were subscribed, could you resubscribe please? it would really help me out!
I wonder how you lost your subscribers… I can help! I hope you find the rest of them.. how odd.
And yes, Cauliflower is flexible, and bendable, and you can pretty much do anything. I still need to try laura’s pancakes!
don’t you just love cauliflower? you can use it in so many recipes
I really do just love cauliflower. AMAZING!
Oh the wonders of cauliflower! Is there anything that veggie can’t do? I’ve made pizza crust, pancakes, and even falafel with it! Love love love! Congrats in getting your business started, Kat! And Laura, take your time…we’ll be here when life calms down a bit…just for the love of GOD, make some time to go to the grocery store! 😉
Thanks, Heather, I need all the luck I can get.. and I’m still very very very excited. If you need ANYTHING and you want to protect trademarks and copyrights for your cookbooks, recipes blogs, etc, I would love to help!
I want to try the falafel idea.. is there a recipe for it on your page!? link me! 😉
Thank you, I will surely keep you in mind if my dreams of writing a cookbook ever become reality! 🙂
The falafel recipe actually comes from a fellow blend…Sarena from The Non-Dairy Queen! She doesn’t post as much anymore, but she has an amazing collection of gluten-free and dairy-free recipes! Here’s the link: http://www.thenondairyqueen.com/2011/06/baked-cauliflower-falafel-and-i-need.html
Sarena IS amazing! I need to make these…
OOH, I can’t wait for the catch-up post with the update, Laura! NO problem on catching up later (says the girl who reads everything 3 days late lately because she’s too obsessive to just clear out the old posts and insists on reading everything!!!) Kat, thanks for sharing the recipe – I made something similar to this last night from another blogger’s recipe and loved it, so I can’t wait to try your version! Your business aspirations sound fantastic – all the best of luck!
Hahaha – I have the SAME obsession. When people tell me they just clear their reader (or whatever repalcement they use) it blows my mind.
I like Kat, I like cauliflower, and I like balls so this post is perfect. Kat – good for you for getting out there and doing your own thing, professionally as well as personally. You are a role model, and it doesn’t hurt you like to say balls.
Laura – no worries. Life is hectic and sometimes the blog has to take the back seat. Do your thang, and we’ll be here when you’re ready.