Another of Jamie's 30 minute meals

Without half of the meal!
This one was hysterical - the sheer amount, if the recipe was followed properly, would feed an army!!

I decided to make the cauliflower macaroni cheese and first off it was absolutely LOVELY! Second off it actually is pretty quick. I didn't time it but I was WAY under my usual hour and a half.

The recipe below is adapted to make it smaller.

Cauliflower Macaroni Cheese

Serves 4

- 6 rashers of bacon or pancetta ( I used freedom farms streaky)

- 200g macaroni

- 1 small cauliflower (or half a large one),outer leaves removed, quartered

- 250g cheddar cheese, grated

- 250ml sour cream

- a couple of slices of bread - I used a baguette

- olive oil, salt and pepper

- a sprig of fresh rosemary

- a clove of garlic, crushed

Preheat the oven to 220 and get out an oven proof dish, enough to cook the whole thing in later. ( I have a cast iron one that is perfect cos it can go on the stove top too)

Lay the slices of bacon in the dish and put it in the oven to cook through and get crisp.

Boil the pasta and cauliflower together in a big pot for about 8 minutes, or however long the packet of pasta says. When it's done, drain it but save the water it's been cooking in.

The bacon should be nice and crispy so take it out and whizz it up in a food processor with the bread, rosemary, some pepper and a good swig of olive oil.

Put the pasta and cauliflower into the baking dish, breaking up the cauliflower into smaller bits if necessary ( Jamie mashes his) then add the sour cream, garlic, cheddar and about 200ml of the cooking water. Stir it all into a smooth, creamy sauce, adding more of the cooking water as necessary. Do all this on the stove top on a low heat to keep it cooking. When it's the right sort of consistency, scatter the breadcrumbs on top and cook in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until browned and bubbling. Grate some parmesan on top if you want.

Ok the reason this recipe is adapted is that I followed Jamie's to the letter - admittedly the cauliflower was the largest one I've ever seen - but not only did it fill our HUGE pot,  it was overflowing. When it came time to put it into the baking dish I could fit around a third of it in. As it was, what I cooked was enough for 4 big eaters! I didn't, however cut down on the cheese or the sour cream - I like my cheese sauce creamy!

Also, even though I don't love cooking, I am a neat tidy cook, cleaning as I go and all that. I find this impossible with Jamie's 30 minute meals! I mean, really, bomb site or what!

 

It was totally scrummy, though and I'll definitely do it again. The breadcrumby bacony topping is inspired! Oh and I should say that even though Lloyd and I were really hungry last night there is still around 2/3rd of the dish left - guess what we're having today!

( apologies for photos - evening light in our kitchen seems to be very orange!)