Here’s the way I see it; if you simply remove the tasty ingredients and call it diet food you fail! Anybody can make a “healthy” omelet. People will take out most of the yolks and serve it with a slice of wheat toast. YAY! I love some super plain food that will make me sick to smell it, let alone taste it, in a matter of days. It’s time to embark on a journey of muscle mayhem and bring back the flavor. Just to be clear, if you are wanting a greasy cheeseburger, simply stop reading NOW! For the reasonable crowd that is now curious, we shall begin!

There are a variety of foods out there that can be altered in a way that allows it to remain tasty. Yes, it may require a few different ingredients. It may not be something that pleases the palate exactly like the food you intended it to be. What it will be is delicious as long as your mind remains open. Again, this is not domino’s pizza served up bodybuilding style. What it will be is something close, tasty, and not make you want to puke after your first bite. These recipes are things that I have tried, altered, and made appealing to the masses. I compete in bodybuilding, my wife does not, so as you can imagine we have different tastes. These recipes have been approved by her as well as myself.

These recipes are sure to be tasty and fit the nutrition profile you are hoping to achieve. In this series we will be exploring the variety of options with: Cauliflower.
Now, you may be really pissed that you just read “cauliflower”, however these recipes will NOT disappoint. Again, they have been tested and approved by a variety of palates.

Mashed Cauliflower

1 Head cauliflower
1/8C. Skim milk
1 Tbsp. butter (optional)
1/2 tsp. Ground black pepper (optional)
Salt (to taste)

Instructions:
Cut stem and leaves from cauliflower. Cut the remaining cauliflower into several sections. Place in medium-sized microwavable dish. Put in microwave for 7 minutes. Place softened cauliflower into food processor (a bullet blender also works). Pulse a few times. Then add in remaining ingredients. Blend until smooth. The end result should look exactly like mashed potatoes. If not, blend some more.

Cauliflower Rice

1 Head Cauliflower
1 Packet Splenda (optional, and see below)
1 Tbsp. Sesame, Olive, or Macadamia Oil (optional)
Salt (to taste)
Pepper (optional)

Instructions:
Cut stem and leaves from cauliflower. Cut the remaining cauliflower into several sections. Place in food processor, and use the low profile S blade. Pulse in food processor to the consistency of rice.
Options:

1. Use a spoon and stir in splenda and salt evenly. Then, heat 1 Tbsp. sesame oil in a pan, then place cauliflower in pan, and cook for 8-10 minutes. Great with chicken, and stir fry veggies.
2. Heat 1 tbsp of preferred oil, and fry cauliflower (with salt and/or pepper) for 8-10 minutes. Serve with veggies and your choice of lean meat.
3. Place cauliflower in microwavable bowl. Add salt and/or pepper, and cook in microwave for 7 minutes. An addition of fat free or some variety of cheese tastes great!

Low Carb Pizza

Crust:
1 Head cauliflower (Or 2 cups shredded cauliflower, fresh, not frozen)
1 Large egg
1 C. Shredded mozzarella cheese (A yellow cheese works for a darker crust)
1 tsp. Italian Seasoning (Or 1/2 tsp. basil, 1/2 tsp oregano)
1/2 tsp. Dried minced garlic (Or fresh garlic)
1/2 tsp. Onion powder (Optional)
1/2 tsp. Salt

Toppings:
1/2 C. Low Carb Pizza Sauce
1/2 C. Shredded Mozzarella
8 oz. Boneless Skinless Chicken (Cooked, and season as you prefer)

Instructions:
Crust: Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet or baking dish with non-stick spray. If cauliflower isn’t shredded: shred in a food processor until they are about the size of uncooked rice. If cauliflower is pre-shredded, be sure to draw out as much moisture as possible (put cauliflower in a colander and place a bowl that fits inside to press out water). Then, microwave the cauliflower for 6-7 minutes.

In a large bowl, mix the egg and seasoning, then add the cheese, and mix again. At this point the cauliflower should be finished. Pull it out cauliflower and let it cool slightly for about 5 minutes. Then add cauliflower to the rest of the crust ingredients. Spread evenly into pan, and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Once slightly golden, remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.

Toppings:
Shred chicken or cut into chunks. Spread a light coating of pizza sauce onto crust, cover as much as possible, but leave a small bit of the crust showing around the edge. Sprinkle on chicken to cover evenly. Then, top off with shredded mozzarella

When you saw bodybuilding meals that don’t suck, I’m betting cauliflower as the main ingredient, was not what you were thinking. However, these are guaranteed to be delicious. If you don’t like them (and follow the recipe), I’d be happy to finish them (especially the low carb pizza). When you whip up a recipe, be sure to share it on our facebook page www.facebook.com/athleticxtreme