Failing and his wife are keeping this tradition alive with their two young sons. While working as a chef means he can’t always be home in time for dinner, meals are a big part of their daily lives. “With a toddler and an infant, dinner can be a bit hectic — to say the least — but they remind me of everything I have to be grateful for and help me stay positive during these challenging times,” says Failing. “Our kids are still pretty young and eat dinner earlier than us, but I still always make a point of sitting down with them for dinner even if I don’t have a meal in front of me.” “The Dad Special” is a celebration of food, family, and fathers who cook. Featuring chefs, celebrities, and kitchen crazy dads, this collection highlights meals — from family secrets to quick kid delights — meant to honor time spent at the table. One meal that Failing often cooks his kids is this recipe for cauliflower mac and cheese that is also on the menu of his restaurant group. A spin on the classic — and kid-approved — family staple, it incorporates a cauliflower pureé in the cheese sauce (“It’s nutrient dense and delicious). Failing notes that the cheese sauce is a great opportunity to sneak vegetables into the sauce if you want to make it healthier for kids. Or, you know, yourself.
Field Failing’s Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
1 cauliflower (cut into small florets)1 quart milk1/2 tablespoon of onion powder1 teaspoon garlic powder2 tablespoons cornstarch2 tablespoons water2 tablespoons salt1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)1 cup Swiss cheese (shredded)1 quart cooked pasta (Failing prefers shells, but any stubby pasta will do)Breadcrumbs (optional)
Directions
