Fake Mashed Potatoes and Shepard's Pie

For the cauliflower mashed potatoes:
1 head of cauliflower
2 cloves of garlic
1/4 cup milk


For the shepard's pie:1 can of corn
1 cup of frozen peas
1/2 cup of chopped carrots
1/2 chopped onion
1/2 lb extra lean ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp nutmeg



For the fake mashed potatoes:
Cut the cauliflower into florets and place in a microwave safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high for a full minute. Dump into the Vitamix with the milk and garlic cloves. Select Variable 1 and increase speed to 8. Blend for about 30 seconds. 


For the shepard's pie:
Cook the meat and onions on the stove with olive oil until browned. Drain of oil and then add spices. Spread peas, corn, and carrots in a shallow baking dish and top with a layer of meat. Next, pour on cauliflower mixture and spread evenly. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then broil for 3.

Taste score: 7/10

Likes: I only eat peas with mashed potatoes. Why? Because I love garlic mashed potatoes and can hide in the vegetables without hating them...which makes shepard's pie an excellent meal to sneak in some veggies. This recipe is filling but not high in calories. I really liked the texture- just like the "real" thing!

Dislikes: I could definitely taste the difference between cauliflower and real mashed potatoes, but this close enough for the starch trade off. I will take Outback Steakhouse garlic mashed potatoes anyday, but they certainly don't have the same nutritional value!

Nutrition score: 8/10
The key to this recipe is extra lean ground beef. You can add a lot of saturated fat just by buying the lean version. Why switch out potatoes? Potatoes are high on the glycemic index, which affects our blood sugar quickly and then makes us feel hungry sooner: http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/questionsandanswers/a/potatoglycemic.htm