A New Twist on Mashed Cauliflower: EVERYTHING

Cauliflower is one of my all-time favorite paleo ingredients. From Alfredo sauce, to risotto, to Baked Faux-tato soup, to pizza crust, it can literally be anything you want it to be. It's like the food version of the kid your parents love the most, living fully up to its potential, thereby making everyone else look bad just by showing up. Not that I would know. Only child, hi.

But, like math, simple is best, which is why mashed cauliflower is a perennial favorite in my house. However, no matter how delicious a basic mashed cauliflower might be, there's no reason you can't get just a little creative, without offending your pickiest palettes. Cue: Everything Mashed Cauliflower.

Essentially, the flavors of an everything bagel, in mashed cauliflower.

When I'm playing fast and loose with my health, I thoroughly enjoy Everything bagels loaded with cream cheese. When I'm not speeding down the highway to an early grave, I can still enjoy those flavors this way!

I'd love to take credit for coming up with this recipe all on my own, but I actually had the devil version of this dish (i.e., real mashed potatoes) at the new Bryan Voltaggio restaurant Range with Kyle a couple weeks ago. They were so incredible, and I was amazed to learn there was no cream cheese added to the potatoes, just the Everything seasoning, and immediately knew I'd be going home and ripping them off. So here you have it:

I went to Whole Foods with the good intentions to buy all the spices individually, but then I saw this guy and was like, aw hell yesssss:

Apparently you can buy Everything bagel seasoning and spare yourself the frustration of buying dried onion AND black sesame seeds separately. Oh, and get this--apparently everything mashed potatoes/cauliflower isn't even a new thing...I mean...this thing even SUGGESTS it on the back label!!

I don't know where you've been all my life, but I know where you'll be the rest of it: in my tummy.

Everything Mashed Cauliflower

Makes about 6 cups

• 1 large head cauliflower
• 1/4 cup coconut milk (can or beverage--your call; more if it's too thick)
• 1 Tbsp. pasture butter (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 Tbsp. Everything bagel seasoning

1. Chop cauliflower into large chunks. Steam until tender.

2. Dump steamed cauliflower into a blender with milk, butter, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth an creamy.

3. In a large bowl, mix everything seasoning in with a large spoon. Season with additional salt or seasoning to taste.