Bear and I were sick with an awful, achy, fevered flu for the past week. We felt miserable, and by day five we were both going a bit stir-crazy. So we took our sick selves outside, Bear to potter away with his tractor and me to amble down our driveway to pick a big bouquet of the Queen Anne’s Lace I’d spotted the day before.
The cool wind felt heavenly on my fevered face and the walk did me good. With all the glorious rain we’ve had, our ditches are full to bursting with feathered grasses and wildflowers that dance in the wind.
Queen Anne’s Lace has been my favorite wildflower since I was a little girl. It grew abundantly in Canada too and was handy for tucking into a blonde braid or stirring into a made-up concoction consisting primarily of dirt, hose water, and weeds.
“Magic exists.
Who can doubt it, when there are rainbows and wildflowers,
the music of the wind and the silence of the stars?
Anyone who has loved has been touched by magic.
It is such a simple and such an extraordinary part of the lives we live.”
Nora Roberts
I love the look of wildflowers against old wood, don’t you? They seem to belong together.
I bet Bear never thought his old workbench would be such a perfect spot for a bunch of wildflowers to rest.
When I got back home, I tucked the unkempt and rowdy bouquet into my Russian teapot and it has provided endless delight to me ever since.
When I’m feeling crummy I want good, simple, easy food. Food that comforts and nourishes and doesn’t make me want to groan pityingly at the effort. Thai-Spiced Roasted Cauliflower fits the bill nicely.
Poor cauliflower is often neglected in the vast array of more beautiful and interesting vegetables, but it shouldn’t be! This cruciferous vegetable is full of vitamin B (6 different kinds!), K, and C, a powerful antioxidant and detoxifier, anti-inflammatory, and excellent for your digestion and cardiovascular health.
Roasting is a delicious way to eat cauliflower, especially when tossed with a Thai-inspired spice mix that is heady with lime zest.
What things comfort you when you’re ill?
PS – My November Newsletter is out today! “A Little Christmas Dreaming” Click here to read it and click here to subscribe and receive future newsletters. xo
Thai-Spiced Roasted Cauliflower
Ingredients:
Thai Spice Mix Recipe
Mix together the following:
1 tsp each of coriander powder, garlic powder, and onion powder
1/2 tsp each of sea salt, sugar, cumin, turmeric, dried mint, powdered ginger, and chili powder
zest of one lime
Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
Ingredients:
1 head cauliflower, trimmed and cut into florets
2 Tbsp grapeseed oil
1 Tbsp Thai seasoning (see above for recipe)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 F (205 C).
- Place cauliflower pieces in large mixing bowl, drizzle with grape seed oil. Toss gently to coat.
- Sprinkle over seasoning and toss to coat.
- Place baking paper on cookie sheet and spread cauliflower evenly. Add more salt if necessary.
- Bake 25-30 minutes until cauliflower is browned and edges crispy.
- Serve warm.
I love soup when I’m ill. Or unhappy. Comfort in a cup!
I loveeeeeee the simple beauties you show and share Krista, and I hope you’re recovering well from the dastardly flu. I know how sapping it can be. Get strong my friend X X X
Oh yes, dear @132fe8be674f43d4508b19c8db8df791:disqus 🙂 Soup is utterly comforting to me too. 🙂 Thank you for your kind wishes – I’m doing SO much better today. 🙂 XO
Beautiful pictures and delicious recipe! Very nice to meet you, Krista!
Thank you so much, @bbc79bdcc2d33be15d06ef824b703d75:disqus 🙂 It is so good to meet you too. 🙂 xo
Glad to hear you are feeling better now, Krista, Gorgeous post, lovely flowers xo
Thank you, dear @lizposmyk:disqus 🙂 It was a short-lived reprieve, but I’ll take even short moments. 🙂
I love your wildflowers Krista 🙂 Sorry to hear that you’ve been ill. Soup is what helps restore me when I’m feeling sick.
Soup sounds absolutely wonderful today, @wanderingsheila:disqus I think I need to make a pot immediately. 🙂
Lovely and that cauliflower with Thai spice is very cool indeed.
Thank you, @OrgasmicChef:disqus 🙂 It really was mighty scrumptious. 🙂
There is nothing we like more than roasted cauliflower and I have several versions it is just this one makes my mouth water. I will give it a try soon. Lovely photos – as always! xxJackie
I agree, @disqus_WseMqaTPwi:disqus ! Roasting makes it divine. 🙂
I love your wild flowers – so pretty. I hope you’ve now recovered from your flu! I haven’t had roasted cauliflower and but I love Thai flavours so I know I would love this – very good for you too xx
Thank you so much, @8934544a42c0a72de9bcba676bdae42b:disqus 🙂 I’m so glad you like the flowers too. Would you believe they’re still alive and well?! 🙂
Such a lovely post! The Queen Anne’s Lace is dreamy… And goodness but I love your dress in that first photo! (Okay, we have something very silly in common: I’ve always called my husband “Bear” as well. That’s his name, as far as I’m concerned. I just LOVE how you call your honey that…) :))) Hope the two of you are feeling much better soon!
I’m delighted that you call your hubby “Bear” as well, @0f9960b43341e2847f463d47c349ac02:disqus 🙂 It’s such a perfect name for a loving man, isn’t it? 🙂
hope you are both feeling better. I love how you arranged the flowers, and this recipe sounds great 🙂
Thank you so much, @tandysinclair:disqus 🙂 Bear is fit as a fiddle again and I’m inching my way there. 🙂
I hope you too are feeling better! The flowers are just lovely. And I’m always in the mood for thai flavors! They are my absolute favorite!
Thai flavors rock my world too, @joanneeatswellwithothers:disqus 🙂 They’re just so sprightly and delicious. 🙂
I love Queen Anne’s lace as well, I was so delighted to find some growing wild all over the ditches here. =) And roasted cauliflower is SO good. Feel better soon!
How lovely that we both have ditches full of Queen Anne’s Lace, @breannemosher:disqus 🙂 That makes me smile. 🙂
Beautiful pictures as always 🙂 and the Cauliflower recipe sounds delicious.
Oh I LOVE cauliflower! Always have… And as you see, it pairs fantastically well with curry spices 🙂 Putting this on my list of recipes to try soon!
Beautiful photos and a great recipe! This is my kind of food! Karen