purple cauliflower & cornbread

Theres such little things in life that are such huge deals to me. I'm easily pleased :) and amused for that matter. With colors, and food, and inspired by people and words, just the smallest things, can make my day. Or give me a realization of need of change in my life, or a push to do something. I do like that about me. I know I don't have it all- ever. So I'm constantly trying to change, and evolve, and become a better person. I love being around people who make you want to be a better person, don't you? It's funny, cause even just today at work. I was talking with this girl who is a customer, but also a friend, we connected since were both originally from the south. ;) But I told my co-worker after she left, it's amazing how some people, just simply make you want to be a better person. Don't you see- were all examples to one another. If someone is rude to you- your reaction is either to be nice back and wish them well, or be even meaner back to them. Theres that point in our lives where we really have to chose, who we are and how we go about situations. I understand there have been times in my life when I was wrong, and I didn't admit to that. And thats disappointing to me because I am ashamed of not owning up to my faults. When it was clearly there.

Our prides, we hold so dear. But seeing inside someones vulnerable soul has so much more beauty. Seeing someones truth. Is a blessing. Cause were all good people. Deep down. I truly believe it. I know we are. I know some of us become tainted as we grow up, and chose to live a lifestyle we think suits us and the personality we've created. But it's ever changing. Your not always going to be the same person, unless you want to be. Sometimes I don't like how I am, sometimes I do. But the whole percentage of the time, we need to really trust who we are and love ourselves completely. If we can remember this I'm sure were destined to love so much more and have more compassion and kindness for others. 

Well now I know that's no way to leave you- with just words of wisdom ;) And you know , no post is a good post, unless there is recipe. Since this post is inspired by my southern friend. I would like to share with you my southern dish I made the other night. Well the night before I started my cleanse that is. I had been really wanting to make cauliflower mashed potatoes. Like reaaaal bad. So I went to buy cauliflower. And guess what I found. OMG. Purple cauliflower. 

Amazing right? It's ridiculous!
So as you can see- I made some purple cauliflower mashed potatoes. I thought when I bought it, how cool would this look! But of course through cooking, the color is a bit lost :( so it was more like lavender cauliflower mashed potatoes. Regardless. For being colorful carb-less 'mashed potatoes' they were good!

Accompanied with the cauli-mash, were vegan faux chicken nuggets and steamed rainbow chard. as well as one other thing. Oh right, cornbread. Yeah. your gonna be so surprised when I tell you what I did to this cornbread. Like some of you already know, I'm a healthy nut. I like to convert everything unhealthy- into healthy. It's kind of like my passion, my drive!  So when anything calls for sugar, it first off- annoys me. Then I get un-annoyed and realize it's time to make my own recipe out of this. So I always do. Thats what I've done here!

purple cauliflower mash:

1 head of purple cauliflower
Sauce:
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/4 cup water
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp oregano
1/4 teaspoon sea salt (optional)
black pepper (to your liking)
2 tsp whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons water

Directions: Cook cauliflower in boiling water until very soft. Then put in colander to drain. When cauliflower is cool enough, get excess water out of it. Then put it in the food processor. 

In another sauce pan combine all sauce ingredients except for the flour. Stir all ingredients first at a boil, then add in the flour. It should get thick from that. Then your set, add the sauce to the mashed cauliflower, stir it up and you have cauliflower mashed potatoes! Yes it's that easy.

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-2 tbsp chia seeds
6 tbsp water ( chia egg)
-1 cup whole wheat flour
-1 cup cornmeal
-2 tbsp. Joseph's sugar free maple syrup
-2 tbsp. organic sugar
-4 tsp. baking powder
-3/4 tsp salt
-1 cup unsweetened almond milk
-1/4 cup apple sauce
+ cayenne pepper or chopped jalapenos, if you like it spicy! 
if you've never tried it this way, you must!

Preheat oven to 425 
Spray a baking pan
Mix all wet ingredients and also dry separately
Then combine and mix together
Place mixture in pan

Cook for 15-20 minutes!
and try not to go crazy as they're cooking as I did ! Oh my goodness, it smells soooooo good. I love the smell of anything corn! But cornbread. Yikes! Well thats it for tonight my loves! Hope you are inspired to jump into your kitchen and get to cookin'!