Fran's Cauliflower Gratin and K's Candied Sweet Potatoes

These are two of the dishes Fran and I put together today. I bet she's sound asleep right now.

Gratin of Cauliflower with Gruyere
Gruyère's nutty, earthy flavor is a nice match for subtle cauliflower, and crisp breadcrumbs add texture. Substitute broccoli for the cauliflower, if you prefer. You can prepare all the elements for the dish a day ahead, if necessary. Refrigerate the sauce, the cauliflower, and the breadcrumb mixture separately, and simply assemble before baking.

Yield

6 servings (serving size: 2/3 cup)

Ingredients

• 1 medium head cauliflower, trimmed and cut into florets (about 2 pounds)
• Cooking spray
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 1/3 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Gruyère cheese, divided
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Place cauliflower in a 2-quart broiler-safe baking dish lightly coated with cooking spray; coat cauliflower with cooking spray. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt; toss. Bake at 400° for 30 minutes or until almost tender. Cool 5 minutes.
3. Preheat broiler.
4. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Stir in panko. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese and chives.
5. Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion to pan; sauté 4 minutes or until almost tender, stirring frequently. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add flour; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk; bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in remaining 1/4 cup cheese, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, parsley, and pepper. Pour milk mixture over cauliflower mixture; toss. Top evenly with cheese mixture. Broil 3 minutes or until golden brown and thoroughly heated.