cauliflower hand pies

European/Potato Night

For tonight's meal, we nod to the British Isles. We had savory hand pies. I made it with cauliflower and some soy curls in a creamy gravy. The soy curls are optional here, in my opinion, since the cauliflower is the star. For hand pies to work, the gravy needs to be outstanding. If the gravy is insufficient or tasteless the whole pie is doomed. To make these pies more flavorful I added 1/4 c of Dijon mustard to the gravy which I made with almond milk and a roux. 

Do not be afraid of the pastry! As overwhelming as I've found it to be in the past. I guess my hesitation in making pastry lies in all the mess. Flour everywhere! Not anymore. I use a little oil spray instead of flour to roll my dough. The dough! It must be flaky! Cakes must be moist, doughs must be flaky. This must be why I am not a pastry chef- the dough phobia. I am happy to report that that is all in the past. My dough is flaky and since I like more bang for all my bucks, I use whole wheat flour and lace it with herbs. 

Delicious! ~ I type as I write this with a mouth full of creamy cauliflower wrapped in a flaky herbed -dough.

Cost Breakdown:

dough: $1
1/2 cauliflower: $2

onion, pepper, garlic, spices: $1.50

soy curls: $1

milk: $.50

Total to make 8, 4" pies:

$6.00

spaghetti

Pasta? Again? Yup.

Daughter Number One picked spaghetti to make for lunch.

Rules of the house:

(1) Kids have to cook one meal a week.

(2) Kids can cook what they want.

 (as long as it isn't caramel apples and such)

So, pasta it is. Besides, Cat knowing how to make a wonderful tomato sauce is not a hardship and in fact is essential - it being one of the mother sauces. Even if it is the second pasta dish in as many meals. In fact, I feel like we are in Italy!

Cost Breakdown:

pasta: $3

tomatoes: $4

onion, garlic, spices: $1

Total to feed a family of 8:

$8.00