Tuesday Dinner: Vegetarian Mashed Potato Bakey

Easy Vegetarian (Mashed Potato Bake)

Ingredients:  

4 large idaho potatoes

3/4 cup of Boca Meatless Crumbles

1/2 (5oz) package of Philly Cooking Cream Italian Herb 

(Or just regular cream cheese)

2 tablespoons butter or margerine

1/4 cup of half and half (or a little milk and a little extra butter)

1 bag steamable green beans (or veggies of your choice)

2 lbs cauliflower

4 oz shredded cheese of your choice (I like to use Colby Jack)

Diced Onion (depending on preference)

Plus you'll need a dash of:

Garlic Salt

Pepper

Parsley

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 375.

1. Clean, peel, and dice the potatoes. Throw the potato cubes in to boiling water for about 10-12 minutes, or until cubes are mash-able and soft.

 2. While the potatoes are cooking, clean cauliflower (remove as much of the leaves and green stem as possible) and place it in steam-able container (I always steam it in the microwave). Add a bit of water to the container and cook for four minutes.

Take out, and cut up cauliflower in to little pieces, completely removing any parts of main stem and leaves. Add a little bit more water, return to microwave, cook for another 4 minutes. 

By now, most of the water should have evaporated (if not drain it), and the cauliflower should be soft and ready to mash. If not, cook until soft.

If soft, then mash! :)

 

3. Once potatoes are cooked, drain and move to big bowl.

Mash!

(Get all of that aggression out!)

4. Once fully mashed, add cooking cream, half and half, and butter. 

5. Add mashed cauliflower to mashed potatoes. Add extra butter/cooking cream if necessary. Add half of diced onions to mixture.

6. Line the bottom of the baking pan with the BOCA meat and green beans (defrosted). 

Add the mashed potato/cauliflower goodness on top.

Sprinkle some garlic salt, pepper and parsley on top. Sprinkle remainder of onions on top as well.

7. Place in oven. Bake for 30 minutes.

At this point, the Inu attempts to help by guarding the oven. I'm sure he assumes he'll be rewarded for his services...

8. After 30 minutes, cover with cheese, bake for additional 15 minutes, or until cheese is a melted bubbly brown goodness.

Enjoy!

Makes about 4 generous servings, or 6 regular servings.


The cost of this meal:
 (Based upon regular prices, not sale or coupon prices)

2 lbs potatoes $0.50
1/2 package cooking cream $1.50
1/2 package of cheese $1.00
2lbs cauliflower $2.00
3/4 cup BOCA shreds $1.25
1 package steamables $1.25
Other stuff $.50
       

Total:  $8.00

And since I did use coupons/sales to purchase these things, I would say that making the whole dish honestly cost me around $4. So that's around $1 a meal!