Crispy Cauliflower

I ventured into the world of Fall gardening this year and I am LOVING it.  I planted cauliflower, broccoli and red romaine lettuce.  It was a year of experimentation since I don't have a lot of experience with these vegetables.  I had my share of challenges - mainly deer and bunnies and insects that wanted to share in my vegetable bounty but  once I got the critters under control - I had a pretty successful Fall garden.  

This is where I need the help of some more experienced gardeners.  How do I know when to cut my broccoli and cauliflower and bring it in?  I want to pick it at the peak of freshness but I have no idea how to know when it's at its best.  

Fortunately, my vegetables seem to be ripening at different rates so I can pick one at a time and eat it the same day that it's picked.   

This week I made crispy cauliflower with the cauliflower that I grew in my own garden.  (I'm such a proud gardener.) 

Crispy Cauliflower
6 cups cauliflower florets
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1 Tablespoon lemon zest
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped scallion
1/4 cup olive oil
3 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 Tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Place cauliflower in a bowl.  Coat with cooking spray. 

Add breadcrumbs, lemon zest and 1/2 c. cheese.   Toss to coat. 

Arrange cauliflower on a foil lined baking sheet.  

Bake 20 minutes at 400.  

Combine scallions, oil, parsley, lemon juice, oregano and red pepper.  

Arrange cauliflower on a platter. 

Spoon parsley mixture over cauliflower. 

I'm pretty sure that the cheese, bread crumb mixture was supposed to stick to the cauliflower and mine did not.  I ended up breaking up the parmesan crisp at the bottom of the pan and mixing them in with the baked cauliflower but I think next time, I'll drizzle my cauliflower with a little olive oil to help the sticking process.  

It looks like I'll have another head of cauliflower from my garden ready to cut in about a week so I might just have to try this recipe again.  

Ciao!

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