Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Bacon Cheddar Cauliflower Chowder - LOW CARB!

What is this???
Yeah.....the sight of that got me, too! SOUP!!!  And I love soup!!  With BACON!  And CHEESE!

I found the recipe on Facebook and couldn't resist clicking on the link that took me to the blog of Iowa Girl Eats.... and the recipe for this lush soup.  Meant to be a replacement for Potato Soup, it seems more like a rich, cheesy rice casserole to me.....but in soup form!  Yeah....no?

I did alter the recipe just a tiny bit.....don't I always?  I started by cooking my bacon....I used 5 slices.  Why?  Because!
 
Beautiful, huh?  So, while the bacon was frying, I used my mini food processor to chop up two celery heart stalks (change...recipe calls for one) and three green onions (change...recipe calls for onion powder, but I like the real thang).   
Once the bacon was done, I poured out all but a tablespoon or so of the bacon grease, then threw in the celery and onion to sauté for about 3-4 minutes, then I threw in....CAULIFLOWER RICE! 

Yes...I stalked Trader Joe's for two weeks before I finally asked the secret to finding this stuff on the shelf (fresh) or in the freezer case (organic, frozen).  Yes...I'll tell you the secret, but don't take them ALL!  The fresh is delivered at night and the frozen in the morning, so get there early!  I don't do early, but I did for this stuff (yes, I should just make my own, but...I'm a busy girl!)  Then I threw in the lush, chicken bone broth (yes, I make my own....in the crockpot!) and let it simmer for about 12-15 minutes. 
Next?  Another item I stalk Trader Joe's for.......their pantry friendly, heavy whipping cream!  OMG, how I love this stuff!  It's reasonably priced and it KEEPS ON THE SHELF!  I used two of them.

Then I added about 1.5 cups of cheddar cheese...medium...not from Trader Joe's. 
You could see this coming together so rich, and lush!  I could hardly wait to eat this stuff....so, I did...I poured a ladle of it into a bowl and ate it...standing right there at the stove!  Then I decided to try it garnished.  I used the bacon and cheese as in the recipe, but I added chopped green onions.
Because I love them.  On everything!  And yes,  it tastes just as delicious as it looks!
It does.....  It really does!   Guess what I'm having for lunch today!