Cauliflower cheese

[CauliflowerCheeseMeal]

DD (aged 7) wanted just a bowl of cauliflower cheese for tea tonight. She’s had sausage, mash and peas at school for lunch so has a lighter evening meal. I offered sandwiches, crumpets, crackers and beans with toast/bread she insisted she wanted the left over cauliflower cheese from yesterdays roast dinner.

It feels weird to me to have that for tea, but I think I might be UR? She had it warm (microwave). It was basically cauliflower in a cheddar cheese sauce topped with mozzarella and breadcrumbs – I made the sauce myself so know there’s nothing bad in it.

She’s eaten the lot. But I still feel weird about it. Tell me I’m UR and overthinking it

Gosh that was a staple in our house when growing up. My mum was all for balance and we often ate veggie sort of light teas.

It was a staple in ours as we had bugger all money. Fine and filling. She used to give us gravy with it too.

I don't think you ever addressed exactly why you're concerned about it not being a suitable meal.

I'm also still very confused about why your daughter is eating a meal and then you're eating your meal alone later in the evening. Even if she has leftover cauliflower cheese and you have something else, why wouldn't you eat together, at least when schedules allow?

Cauliflower cheese is a perfectly good supper!

@Anonymous48

I don't think you ever addressed exactly why you're concerned about it not being a suitable meal.

I'm also still very confused about why your daughter is eating a meal and then you're eating your meal alone later in the evening. Even if she has leftover cauliflower cheese and you have something else, why wouldn't you eat together, at least when schedules allow?

The original post was at about 4.30pm, so presumably the DD was having tea somewhere around 4pm. I'd guess that 4pm ish is too early for the OP to want to have her evening meal, hence having a snack with her instead at that time.

Nothing wrong with cauliflower cheese, it’s a complete meal. Add some grilled tomatoes, perfect.

One of the best meals!

@purplesequins

I am laughing at the the thought of their faces if I presented my two with cauliflower cheese as a main meal. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that for most people, but I don't think it would satisfy growing teenagers at all

having 2 male teenagers I could serve them one cauli head each. plus a mountain of garlic bread. and then a bag of party rings each for pudding...

. I feel your pain…

I think the bit I find surprising is...she wanted the left over cauliflower cheese

Who has left over cauliflower cheese? Why didn't it just get eaten? It wouldn't last anytime here.

I used to order this in our local pub came with a bit of bread , really nice
Gutted when they took it off the menu

Your DD has a very healthy attitude to food.Dont destroy it!

School dinners are not that nutritious - I wouldn't rely on them as the main meal if the day - esp not as a source of vegetables. The cauli cheese sounds a better meal than the crumpets / crackers etc you were offering

It's better than a sandwich

@Genegenieee

School dinners are not that nutritious - I wouldn't rely on them as the main meal if the day - esp not as a source of vegetables. The cauli cheese sounds a better meal than the crumpets / crackers etc you were offering

Yes quite, we do packed lunch because school dinners are not as good nutritionally.

I grew up on a farm and when the cauliflowers were in season we regularly ate cauliflower cheese as a main meal in the evening (after having cauliflower zoup for lunch ) with some oatcakes on the side for extra carbs. Now I'm married to a man who believes all vegetarian meals are improved with sausages so we have them as a side with our cauliflower cheese.

I know this might be heresy but Iceland do a frozen one, in the packet it looks like individual florets so you can cook a small amount as a side dish.

ALDI do a good frozen one too- and lice the Iceland one is pretty clean when it comes to ingredients-
Cauliflower Florets (60%), Water, Mature Cheddar Cheese (9%) (Mature Cheddar Cheese (𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐤), Potato Starch), Skimmed 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐤 Powder, Whipping Cream (3%) (𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐤), Rapeseed Oil, Cornflour, Salt.

Cauli cheese is def a main meal.
I love it!

I love it too- will eat that with salad as a light dinner.
If I am making it for kids I will add sliced cooked new potatoes to beef up the carb a bit for energy. Who doesn't like potatoes covered in cooked cheese.
If I am making it for myself I will add other veg too- maybe onion, leek or courgette, turnining it into more of a vegetable gratin.

Its fine

As long as my kid has generally esten eell over the week i tend to go with whatever is asked for. Nothing? Fine. Picky tea? Fine. Yoghurt? Fine. Custard and cake? Fine.

Its all fine

Also, cauliflower is veg and cheese is dairy and protein, its all good!

Here’s my favourite - smear a spoon of red pesto on the bottom of the dish, then add the cauliflower on top and the cheese sauce (breadcrumbs and grated cheese topping) and bake. It is bloody lovely!

@KittenKong

Here’s my favourite - smear a spoon of red pesto on the bottom of the dish, then add the cauliflower on top and the cheese sauce (breadcrumbs and grated cheese topping) and bake. It is bloody lovely!

That sounds super yummmy

Love cauliflower cheese. As a child we had it with grilled bacon rashers and a green veg.

I love cauliflower cheese and can just eat it alone for a meal. Dp thinks I'm mad, he likes it but has to be as a side dish with something else 😅

I could it right now actually 😅

If she's hardly eating any school lunch, who are you only offering her carbs in the evening? She needs a really nutritious meal, even if it's just a small portion. Other wise where's the protein and the fruit and veg?

She's really sensible. Cauliflower cheese is way more nutritious than what you're offering.