Cauliflower cheese

Veg

As simple as it is delicious – a classic comfort food.

Ingredients

• 1 medium head cauliflower, broken into large florets
• 40g/1½oz butter
• 40g/1½oz plain flour
• 400ml/14fl oz milk
• 1 tsp English mustard
• 100g/3½oz mature cheddar cheese, grated
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation method

1. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.
2. Wash the cauliflower thoroughly and place in a large saucepan of salted water. Bring to the boil and cook for 3-5 minutes, until the cauliflower is almost tender, but still fairly firm. Tip into a colander and leave to drain.
3. To make the sauce, melt the butter in a medium, heavy-based pan and stir in the flour. Cook over a gentle heat for one minute. Remove the pan from the heat and gradually add the milk, a little at a time, stirring well between each addition. Return the pan to a medium heat and bring the mixture to the boil, stirring constantly. Simmer for two minutes, then remove from the heat.
   Technique: Thickening a roux to make béchamel sauce
   Watch technique1:57 mins
4. Stir in the mustard and two thirds of the cheese and set aside. Arrange the cauliflower in and ovenproof baking dish. Carefully pour over the sauce, ensuring the cauliflower is completely covered. Scatter over the remaining cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the top is golden-brown and bubbling.

Cauliflower cheese

Veg

As simple as it is delicious – a classic comfort food.

Ingredients

• 1 medium head cauliflower, broken into large florets
• 40g/1½oz butter
• 40g/1½oz plain flour
• 400ml/14fl oz milk
• 1 tsp English mustard
• 100g/3½oz mature cheddar cheese, grated
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation method

1. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.
2. Wash the cauliflower thoroughly and place in a large saucepan of salted water. Bring to the boil and cook for 3-5 minutes, until the cauliflower is almost tender, but still fairly firm. Tip into a colander and leave to drain.
3. To make the sauce, melt the butter in a medium, heavy-based pan and stir in the flour. Cook over a gentle heat for one minute. Remove the pan from the heat and gradually add the milk, a little at a time, stirring well between each addition. Return the pan to a medium heat and bring the mixture to the boil, stirring constantly. Simmer for two minutes, then remove from the heat.
   Technique: Thickening a roux to make béchamel sauce
   Watch technique1:57 mins
4. Stir in the mustard and two thirds of the cheese and set aside. Arrange the cauliflower in and ovenproof baking dish. Carefully pour over the sauce, ensuring the cauliflower is completely covered. Scatter over the remaining cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the top is golden-brown and bubbling.

Having An Off Day? Here’s How to Reclaim a Balanced State of Mind

24 Feb 2013

FinerMinds Team

by

When force of circumstance upsets your equanimity, lose no time in recovering your self-control, and do not remain out of tune longer than you can help. Habitual recurrence to the harmony will increase your mastery of it. –Marcus Aurelius

 

Brian Johnson, author of the Philosopher’s Notes, is back this week with another thought-provoking video.

In this 8-minute video, Brian provides simple, yet effective exercises to help us return to our “balanced state of mind” when we’re having one of those days, or going through a period of time, when we’re just not feeling ourselves.

Having An Off Day? Here’s How to Reclaim a Balanced State of Mind

24 Feb 2013

FinerMinds Team

by

When force of circumstance upsets your equanimity, lose no time in recovering your self-control, and do not remain out of tune longer than you can help. Habitual recurrence to the harmony will increase your mastery of it. –Marcus Aurelius

 

Brian Johnson, author of the Philosopher’s Notes, is back this week with another thought-provoking video.

In this 8-minute video, Brian provides simple, yet effective exercises to help us return to our “balanced state of mind” when we’re having one of those days, or going through a period of time, when we’re just not feeling ourselves.

Support slumps for ruling Popular Party in its Madrid region fiefdom

If elections were held now, the ruling Popular Party would lose its absolute majority in the region of Madrid, its bastion of support in Spain, for the first time in 10 years.

At the same time, rather than advancing at the expense of the PP, the opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) would suffer its worst election result in the existence of the region. The main winners would be the United Left (IU) and the centrist UPyD party.

El Pais

Support slumps for ruling Popular Party in its Madrid region fiefdom

If elections were held now, the ruling Popular Party would lose its absolute majority in the region of Madrid, its bastion of support in Spain, for the first time in 10 years.

At the same time, rather than advancing at the expense of the PP, the opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) would suffer its worst election result in the existence of the region. The main winners would be the United Left (IU) and the centrist UPyD party.

El Pais

Fish

Eating fish once or twice a week may reduce the risk of diseases ranging from childhood asthma to prostate cancer. Fish is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. Fish is low in fat and high in protein. Eating fish during pregnancy may reduce the risk of a premature baby. Healthy ways to enjoy fish include baked, poached, grilled and steamed. Some fish contain high levels of mercury and should be eaten rarely or not at all.

Health benefits of eating fish

Regular consumption of fish can reduce the risk of various diseases and disorders. Selected research findings include:

• Asthma – children who eat fish may be less likely to develop asthma.
• Brain and eyes – fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids can contribute to the health of brain tissue and the retina (the back of the eye).
• Cardiovascular disease – eating fish every week reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke by reducing blood clots and inflammation, improving blood vessel elasticity, lowering blood pressure, lowering blood fats and boosting ‘good’ cholesterol.
• Dementia – elderly people who eat fish or seafood at least once a week may have a lower risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
• Depression – people who regularly eat fish have a lower incidence of depression (depression is linked to low levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the brain).
• Diabetes – fish may help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels.
• Eyesight – breastfed babies of mothers who eat fish have better eyesight, perhaps due to the omega-3 fatty acids transmitted in breast milk.
• Inflammatory conditions – regular fish consumption may relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and autoimmune disease.
• Prematurity – eating fish during pregnancy may help reduce the risk of delivering a premature baby.

Better Health Channel