Cauliflower Mashed “Potatoes”

I try not to talk about myself on here too much because I know you’re just here for the food, but, I have to share one thing. I quit my day job! As of January, 2012, I am a fulltime freelance photographer. Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen. <3

Vegan Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes Recipe, How to Make, Vanessa, Vkrees, Food Phototgraphy

Anyway, back to the food.

Every Thanksgiving I end up asking myself why I don’t eat mashed potatoes all the time. There is no rule saying they can only be consumed on Thanksgiving. So then I go and look up recipes and am reminded why they are reserved for a day of overindulgence – cream, butter, & loads of salt. I set out to create a version of mashed potatoes that I feel okay about eating whenever.

The end result doesn’t actually have potatoes in them. They are cauliflower and bean based. It’s pretty crazy how much they taste like mashed potatoes though…

Vegan Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes and Gravy Recipe, Vanessa Rees, Vkrees, Food Photography

Ingredients

  • 1 head cauliflower
  • 1 can of cannellini beans
  • Salt and pepper
  • Gravy

Directions

  1. Steam cauliflower florets until they are quite soft
  2. Mash up a can of beans with your fork
  3. If you like very creamy mashed potatoes, combine the cauliflower and beans in a food processor. If you like chunky mashed potatoes, puree the cauliflower in the food processor and stir in the mashed beans.
  4. Add salt and pepper (and some roasted garlic if you’d like) to taste.
  5. Eat/serve with gravy.

Marshall is pretty suspicious…

Marshall, Cat, Vkrees Photography

Ruby - Congratulations! How exciting to be a freelance photographer!
Also, mashed potatoes are my absolute favorite food- these look like a great (and healthy) twist on the original!

Heather@Sundaymorningbananapancakes - Congratulations Vanessa- love the post.

Best of luck to you in your new venture :-)

Denise - Vanessa! I am so happy for you! Out of words! Congratulations! Have a cake to celebrate ? (:

Susan - That’s wonderful – I love your photos! (I am particularly in love with your kitty photos).

Jay B. - What a wonderful recipe and easy recipe. I love mashed potatoes, so i will definitely try it out. Your photos are also very amazing. Keep up good work. J. B.

Shokoofeh - I really like your style and creativity in photography, so I am sure you will do great as a freelancer! Good Luck! :)

Sneh | Cook Republic - Congratulations! That is awesome! :)

Rachel @ Bakerita - Congrats on being a full-time photographer!
Based on these pictures, you’ll do incredibly.
These look delicious, and guilt free?! Sign me up.

Mary - You will need to make this for me!!

Mrs. Measurement - I’ve had cauliflower mash at a restaurant before. This looks unbelievably easy, and not as fat-laden as other recipes that call for butter and heavy cream. I can’t wait to try this out as a side dish with our meals.

Jes - Congrats on taking the full-time freelance plunge! I can’t even imagine how exciting and scary it must be at the same time. As for the cauliflower, I’m a huge fan of overindulgence & potatoes, but I could go for the simple rich look and taste of the cauliflower. Never thought of adding beans to the puree before–genius!

Danielle - Congrats on the work venture!! I’ve been so in love with your photos since discovering the blog through Mofo! I so wish I could freelance, finding work in the city has been a complete pain in the neck. Good luck and keep the great photos (and food) comin’!

Georgia - The mash and gravy look good, but Marshall looks like he needs some convincing. ;) Good luck in your new venture!

Fanny - Well, I’m here for the food, but as much for the photos and if the blog happened to be about you sometimes I would be here for that too. Just saying. That mash sounds intriguing.

art and lemons - Congrats, Vanessa! Would love a bowl of these mashers and gravy for breakfast…

Laura - Hey Vanessa! I posted on your facebook a well, but this is so exciting and I am so happy for you. And I love mashed cauliflower. Sometimes I even eat it for a meal…sans gravy. And Nora I am with you. I used to eat mashed potatoes whenever I could…ah for a 16 year old metabolism again.

Nora - This looks absolutely delicious. I used to eat mashed potatoes every chance I got. Of course, as I got older, I realized that probably wasn’t the best idea. I almost miss the days of blissful ignorance… Anyway, I’ll have to give this recipe a go!

And congrats on your recent decision! You’re an amazing photographer and I wish you luck with your new venture :)

Kristen - Oh my gosh – I am insanely excited for you!!!!

Soma - I wait with a heartbeat to see your posts:) Congrats! now you get to do what you love and what you are immensely good at!

aha a mashed potato without the potato! now that is something. The beans is what makes it creamy i guess?

Caitlin@The Vegan Chickpea - i feel the same way about mashed potatoes! i don’t eat them because they are just too heavy when it comes to my tastes and my belly. but cauliflower and beans?? now that’s right up my alley! i will definitely be giving this one a go. (i wonder what my mashed potato loving husband will think :X i think i’ll just tell him they are mashed potatoes and see what he says ;) )

Irish Chocolate Whiskey Ice Candy

These are a combination of poptails (alcoholic popsicles), fudgesicles, and ice candy/flav-o-ice. They are insanely good and a little dangerous because of it. The alcohol is well masked.

Ice Candy bags, which are common in the Philippines, are seemingly impossible to find in the USA. I couldn’t even find them online. After hours and hours of looking, I found a workaround. This 1″ polytubing from Uline works perfectly. All you have to do is tie a knot on both ends of the tubing after filling it w/ the chocolatey goodness. Or, if you get really into it, you can get a sealer and avoid tying knots altogether.

I have my dear friend Lauren to thank for naming these. =)

These were inspired by Epicurious’s Vegan Baileys recipe.

Ice Candy, Flav-O-Ice, Chocolate, Baileys, Poptails, Fudgesicle, Recipe, Vegan, Popsicles, Food Photography, Vkrees, Vanessa Rees

Ingredients:

  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk creamer
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup fresh brewed coffee
  • 3/4 cup whiskey
  • 2 medium bananas
  • 2 Tbs Dark chocolate shavings

Directions

  1. Blend everything together except the chocolate shavings.
  2. Stir in the chocolate shavings.
  3. Cut a 10″ piece of polytubing and tie or seal one end of it.
  4. Put your mixture in a measuring cup and carefully pour it into the tube until you have about 3″ left on top. Use a funnel if you need to.
  5. Seal or tie the top of the tube so that it is closed.
  6. Repeat until you’ve used up all of your mix.
  7. Stick in the freezer for at least 12 hours.
Marshall Cat Food Photography Vegan Recipe Ice Candy Vkrees Vanessa Rees

Ana Cristina (cristina_nar) | Pearltrees - [...] VegNews Magazine Irish Chocolate Whiskey Ice Candy » V.K.Rees Photography [...]

Stumbling Over Chaos :: It’s beginning to look a lot like linkity! - [...] Irish chocolate whiskey ice candy (via The Kitchn) [...]

A Smoothie To-Go » V.K.Rees Photography - [...] I explained in the Irish Chocolate Whiskey Ice Candy post, if you live in the US – where ice candy bags are impossible to find – you will [...]

Soma - Your photographs and recipes amaze me beyond words every single time I come here!

Cara - How do you sleep at night being such the creative genius that you are????!

Cara - How do you sleep at night being such the creative genius that you are????!

Katie (Sweet Tater) - i found your blog last month and have since decided it is the best one i read. gorgeous photos. smart recipes. strong content. cat [period]. get it, girl.

Jes - Wow, those are amazing looking, love the flavor combo!

naomi - OMG-GENIUS! LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!! And loving that gorgeous photo!

Kristen - Girl… I can’t get over the things you come up with. This is brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!

The Americaine - Why didn’t I know about these in college? Perhaps because I would not have enjoyed them responsibly…

Denise - Such a smart v-bailey’s recipe! Awesome, really. I am going to start making this from now on. Thank you for putting this up and Happy Thanksgiving (: Have lots of fun at home!

Vegiegail - Hi Vanessa! What a fabulous holiday idea! I love the original recipe for vegan Bailey’s Irish Cream, and I always have chocolate and So Delicious Coconut Milk Creamer on hand. (Though I’ll have to go out and buy some more whiskey! :) ) I can’t wait to make these candies! Thank you so much for sharing!

Pretzel Donuts

Chocolate covered soft-pretzel donuts. Ahhhmazing.

Pretzel Donuts Recipe Vegan Vkrees vanessa rees food photography

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups warm
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 4.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tbs earth balance, melted
  • Vegetable oil, for pan
  • Water for boiling
  • 2/3 cup baking soda
  • Kosher salt
  • 0.5 lb semisweet chocolate


Directions

  1. Combine the water, sugar, yeast, and kosher salt in a bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes.
  2. Add the flour and earth balance, a little at a time,  to the yeast mixture. Stir until well combined.
  3. Knead the dough, for 5 minutes, on a lightly floured surface.
  4. Put 1 tsp of oil in a clean bowl and put the dough into the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit in a warm place an hour.
  5. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
  6. Bring the water and the baking soda to a boil on the stove.
  7. Put the dough onto a lightly oiled work surface and divide into 15 equal pieces.
  8. Roll out each piece of dough so that it is about 5″ long.
  9. Put  each piece of dough into a hole in the donut pan and push the dough down with your finger until it fills out the entire shape.
  10. Use a fork to carefully lift the dough out of the pan, and 1 by 1, place it into the boiling water for 30 seconds. Take the dough out of the boiling water and put it back into the donut pan.
  11. Once all of the donuts have been boiled and placed into the donut pan, sprinkle them with salt and stick the pan in the oven for 12 minutes, or until light brown.
  12. Let the donuts cool completely.
  13. Melt the chocolate in a bowl.
  14. Dip the top of the donuts into the chocolate and set it aside to harden.

 

Lazy Vegetarian Wins Again » s-rinehart photography blog - [...] still really need to make VK Rees‘ Pretzel Donuts, [...]

Searchable Saturdays « Vegetarian 'Ventures - [...] 4. Wyatt bought me a donut pan for an early birthday gift. Where to even begin? Maybe here or here?? [...]

Salty Sweet Week – Sweet & Salty Bites From Other Blogs - [...] Chocolate Covered Pretzel Donut From V.K.Rees Photography [...]

Heather@Sundaymorningbananapancakes - Okay I should know better than to look at foodie blogs first thing in the morning – I am officially craving pretzel donuts!

Y - These look amazing! That does it, I NEED to buy a donut pan.

art and lemons - I adore everything about these pretzel doughnuts and your site. So glad to have found it!

Maggie Muggins - That’s brilliant! I’m totally crushing on you right now.

Scissors and Spice - Girl! That is all sortsa crazy awesome experimental!

vkrees - Soma- The material is some kind of plastic that I found on the side of the street. I have no idea what it was in its previous life but I loved the textures on it so I took it home w/ me. =)

vkrees - Georgia- Hah! I know! He wasn’t as interested in the pretzel donuts as everyone else was.

Georgia - I miss Marshall! ;)

Soma - amazing indeed! I have a bad case of weakness for anything donuts and this is not helping me just staring at your awesomeness with a cup of coffee only by my side. I want some.

What is the background? Slate?

vanillasugarblog - sweet jessus!!
what else can one say?

Ruby - These look absolutely incredible! I just discovered your blog and I’m already in love with your recipes and photos- they’re giving me great inspiration for my own blog!

Jes - Soft. Pretzel. Donuts. Be still my wildly beating heart!

Russell van Kraayenburg - What a great idea! I bet the chocolate goes perfectly with the pretzel doughnut. Yum!! As always, gorgeous shots!

PS thanks for the shout out in your other post! I must admit you are a huge inspiration in my own venture into food photography.

dana @ my little celebration - Ooh, wow! These look fantastic! Genius. What do they taste like? Are they really like a donut or more like a fluffy pretzel with chocolate…?

Apron of Grace - Move over Krispy Kremes:) Lovely photos!

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