Wednesday 27 November 2013

latest on the painting scene

Still busy with this one, but have a small peep.....

project 268.....yankee burger patties

Wow!  The best hamburger patties you can make!  

We have a national 'braai day' in South Africa.(BBQ!)  For the month before 'braai day' TV adverts start having 'braais'......  Magazines have 'braai' recipes......  Chain stores advertise 'braai' stuff in their pamphlets.....my friend having a butchery works very hard!.......and boy!....  the day of the 'braai'!.....the whole country smells like 'braai'!

I found this recipe in a 'woolies' pamphlet in the Sunday newspaper.  I saved it and made it the other day with homemade olive bread rolls......DIVINE!

500 g extra lean beef mince
1 red onion, finely chopped
100 g fried bacon, chopped
150 g cheddar cheese, grated
15 g fresh parsley, chopped
2,5 ml dried oregano
125 g bread crumbs( I save crumbs from rusks for this purpose)
1 egg, lightly whisked
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Combine all the ingredients and divide into 6-8 equal portions.  Roll into balls and press down to make patties.

Add  olive oil to a frying pan and fry over medium heat until both sides are cooked.  Transfer to a baking sheet and place in 180*C oven to cook for 10 minutes.

The tip was to add sliced jalapenos, ruby coleslaw and BBQ sauce on your burger with your favorite toppings.  I did it without the jalapenos.  Who could have thought that coleslaw on a burger could be that nice!

Project 267....divine chocolate pan cake!

The other day I made this pan cake.  I used my favorite chocolate pan cake recipe.  I  made a syrup on the stove top with sugar and strong black coffee....about 2 cups of coffee and 3/4 cup of brown sugar.  I added half a cup of milk at the end.  

I poured this over the warm cake after I removed it from the oven and allowed to cool down.  I finished the cake off with a tin of caramel condense milk.  I don't think I am ever going to bake chocolate cake without coffee again!

PROJECT 266...CROCHET FUNKY BABY BOOTIES


 Times have changed.  Babies are wearing  funky clothes in funky colors nowadays.  Gone are the baby blues and pinks and odd yellow or greens.  
Feeling like doing something different from the felt goodies, I bought four pretty balls of wool.   I decided to make some funky baby booties for 'die verskrikte kat'......my sisters handcraft shop.  Problem:  I did not have a pattern!
I found the basic pattern for a sole on the net, and started using my imagination.  Aren't they just some of the prettiest little baby shoes?  I just love them!

project 265...felt brooches



Being actively busy making literally hundreds of felt key rings, I sat with a lot of off cuts.  I started making small brooches looking almost like pansies with them.  Quite pretty and really only costing the  brooch clips.

I started off by cutting 4-5 petals for the back in colour 1 sewing them all together with a couple of stitches.  Then 2 petals in colour 2 which I attached on top of that and a longer petal in colour 1 again on top.  Added a few beads in the center, a brooch pin at the back and voila! 

 I've packed them in small cellophane packets and sent them all to my sisters shop! 

PS! To check out her shop on Facebook.....Die verskrikte kat....you can even order online....

Wednesday 16 October 2013

Project 264.....a roasted veggy pie

We have a bold and bald chap on TV with a program :Nataniel Tafel.  I love this chap....he is saying the funniest things without a smile....I even got my one son(a real comedian himself) to watch it with me.

He made this the other night as a main for a vegetarian meal, and personally I would it it as a main myself, but my family do like their meat with it.  I made it as a side dish twice now, but thinking of adding bacon the next time I am making it to make it a main for my meat eating family.

Nataniel said you can omit the cheese, but I am not sure if I want to do it!

Roast your veggies of choice in the oven.  Sprinkle it with olive oil before you place it in the oven for about 20 minutes.  I used butternut, sweet potatoes, green peppers, onions and garlic cloves.  I added a sprig of rosemary on top.

Use a roll of puff pastry and cover the base and sides of a pie dish or oven dish, or cake tin like I did.  Add the veggies on top of the pastry.  Add a handful
or two chopped fresh parsley, and salt and black pepper to taste.  Beat about four eggs and pour it over your veggies, and top with the cheese.  Bake at 180*C until done.

What a nice way to serve everyday veggies!

an update on the painting scene.....

Just an update on the painting scene......no Picasso yet, but would have loved to do it the whole day!

I must still add my name.....

Project 263: felt hearts

As I said before, I am on the felt key ring producing now.  Out of pure boredom, I started making these hearts as well.  It is a very nice hobby, but doing the same thing day in and day out does become quite boring after a while!  I suppose I should not complain, as they are selling well!  And in our house hobby money buys other hobby things!

I made these felt hearts, and added ribbons in between two hearts to make something to hang in a girls room or door.  I think you can clearly see on the picture what I did.

Project 262.....tuna savory tart

I accidentally bought two tins of tuna with added chilies!  I don't know how anybody could have thought that was a great idea to add chilies to tuna!  After opening one for tuna mayo sandwiches, I had to come up with an idea to use the other tin.  I found this recipe in a magazine some time ago, and wrote it down with the intention to make it for a Saturday lunch some time.  In stead of using two normal tins of tuna, I used the one with the chilies and one normal one.  It was so nice, so I decided to make it again the other day with two normal tins of tuna.....pleasant, but not as nice as the chili one!  Now I add one small chili with the original recipe as I can not find the chili tuna anywhere anymore.....maybe they thought it was a bad idea as well, and stopped producing it!  Anyhow....if you can find it, try it in this recipe.....

I give you the original recipe....add a chili if you feel like it....

375 ml milk
8 slices of white bread
4 eggs beaten
a little bit of oil
2 onions chopped
1 celery stalk chopped
2.5 ml fresh garlic crushed
45 ml fresh parsley chopped
1 green pepper(or red if you want to) chopped
5 ml dry mustard powder
10 ml baking powder
1 ml salt
black pepper to taste
500 ml grated cheese(you can use half cheddar and half mozzarella if you want to)
2 tins of tuna(I used tuna in vegetable oil, and added the whole tin.  I suggest you drain the water if using tuna in water)

Soak the bread in the milk until soft.
Sort your onions, celery ,garlic and pepper in the oil until done. 
Add the rest of your ingredients, half the cheese and the soaked bread to the mixture.
Add the rest of the cheese on top, and bake for 40 minutes at 180*C.

This is a lovely light lunch with a salad, and just as nice when it is cold.


project 261.....the best hot chocolat

My husband asked me yesterday why I don't blog anymore, as I always enjoyed doing it.  My excuse....all I am doing is hundreds of felt key-rings....and cooking!  You see, my sister recently started a small gift shop, and I took her about fifty of my felt key-rings.  She sold more than half even before she opened, and now it seems to me that's all I'm doing lately!......And cooking for my hungry family!  But it made me think that I am really neglecting this baby of mine, so I am back.....even if you are getting recipes for some time!

I saw this hot chocolate recipe on TV one night, and it was a hit from the first night!  Much better than those shop bought stuff you get in a plastic container!

For one cup......

Heat 250 ml of milk on the stove top with 2-3 teaspoons of brown sugar.  In a bowl mix 10 ml cocoa powder and 5 ml maizena with a little milk from your pot.  When milk is warm, add the cocoa mixture and a small pinch of salt.  Allow tessence.
o thicken slightly and stir in 2.5 ml vanilla

Monday 12 August 2013

Project 260......cauliflower salad




My son came home from visiting a friend and told me that I should make this.  Unfortunately he did not take the recipe, so we had to mix for some time before we got the sauce the way he wanted it.

Cook your cauliflower in salt water for about five to eight minutes.  It must still be crisp.  I cooked my beans with it, as they need to be crisp as well.  Drain your veggies and allow to cool down.  Grate a carrot with it.

Mix about half a cup of mayonnaise with 15 ml white vinegar and 5 tsp of sugar.  Dress your veggies with this.  Place in the fridge until needed.  Even better the next day!

Thursday 8 August 2013

loosing your dignity instantly.......

I've been absent for a while.....I had a hysterectomy and are currently recovering from it.  But what an experience if you're a nurse yourself and all of a sudden your are on the wrong side of the sheets!  Quite an undignified situation!

I went to a hospital I used to work before and knew half the staff.....should have been a warning signal even before my arrival!  There was forever somebody chit chatting .....just as you think you snooze off, somebody pops in.....very nice to see everybody, but you do not feel your bubbly self.....your hair is flat as you still have the energy to wash it, but when you get to blow drying, it is another story!  You do apply make-up in the morning, but later on the lipstick is gone, and you could not be bothered to touch it up.....hair is already flat!

The moment I arrived, I was weighed.....it the hallway where everybody were passing by......hubby looking over the shoulder to have a peep.....then they took my height and the scale showed the BMI....still in the hallway!

I was escorted to my room which I shared with three other woman.  Outgoing self introduced her to everybody.....the nurse then started asking me all my medical history....in front of everybody....top volume.....even my husband decided to go and have coffee!  The other ladies in the room replied on some of the questions.....and there I was!  I felt like asking 'what about patient privacy?', but they were all so involved in the questionnaire,  that I could not interrupt!

I was then given a white theater gown, a 'paperish' panty that fits small to extra large and a theater cap.  By then it was visiting time for the rest of my roommates, and the one had an old man staring at me all the time.  The nurse came back and asked me if I had shaved......everybody stared at me.....roommates.....visitors.....by now I got up and closed the curtains around my bed myself!  I think the nurse got the hint.....

Anyhow....I did not shave!  Totally forgot about it!  Had to go to the bathroom.....with my beautiful theater outfit and shave.....back in my bed, the nurse came in, and without any warning, lifted my clothing, pulled of the 'paperish' panty......just to check if I had shaved correctly!

Then came the ECG......exposing my DD's....and I had to ask by now to close the curtains properly as they had openings from all the commotion.....

I went to  theater and woke up with the very low blood-pressure....... I did not pass urine the first 12 hours and they started giving me fluid boluses.......by the next morning I looked like a stuffed sausage......my fingers looked like 10 pork sausages......I could see my cheeks!......after some medication, the problem cleared up, and I soon wanted to go home, as I felt well.....the problem......I have not passed stools yet!  Now that was another terrible situation.....they give you suppositories, and all they do is making you windy!  And it felt like all my roommates could hear every sound from the bathroom!

One of my 'roomies' is working in the hospital kitchen, so she organized me some stewed fruit from the kitchen....I had so much that I think I am going to have good bowel action for the next three weeks!

The prunes did the job, and I was eventually discharged.   I have new respect for patient privacy......I lost my dignity instantly........what about the poor patients who can not close their own curtains!

By the way.....I am doing well, and it is good to be back on line!  Look out for my new posts .....can't wait to get going again!

Wednesday 10 July 2013

Project 259.....lamb pie

Cook your lamb with an onion or two and only salt and pepper in the pressure cooker until falling apart.  You can use normal cooking bits for this.  Place in the bottom of your oven dish.  Mix together 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of milk, 1 tsp baking powder, a pinch of herbs(I like to use oregano), a pinch of salt and an egg.  Pour over your meat.  Now slice an onion and place the rings on top of the dough.  Bake it until done at 180*C.  Sooo easy and a great  way of stretching a small amount of meat!

project 258......placemats

I made these place mats from recycled jeans.  I gave them a linen background, a piece of denim and hand sewn the words on it.  I have quite a steady hand and has not written the words on the material, but I do think it is a good idea to use material chalk to write the words.  This was so easy, you can make a set for whatever occasion!  I've sewn the words on different spots just to make them look different, but it is your own choice if you want them all to look the same.

I haven't put batting in these,as the denim is thick, but will surely do it with a thinner material. 


Project 257.....handprint table cloth

I am quite sentimental about this one!  Mine is really used up now, and my kids too grown up to make their mum a new one!

I used a white sheet and one sunny morning we made hand prints on it with material paint.  I used black to make birds, write notices, exc.

We made some overlays at the church a few years ago for a mothers day function, and it is so satisfying seeing all the kids as students and teenagers now. 

This is a great way of capturing memories, and a great gift for grandparents as well.
 

Project 256....shabby schic table runners

I made these some time ago, but seem to use them quite often.  I love to do a table with non- matching stuff, and these are working well.

I've used a linen base, and simply sewn blocks of pretty material and lace together to make a runner.  It was an easy way to use all the pretty pieces of leftover materials!

project 255...baked crustless milk tart.....

I have my usual way of making milk tart (project 35), but I saw this recipe the other day for a baked crust less milk tart, so I tried it yesterday.  Quite nice, but I think my old recipe is much less work!  The family enjoyed it though, and I am sure I'll have to make it again this way in the future!

Mix together:

30 ml butter
250 ml sugar
4 egg yellows
250 ml self raising flour
1 l milk
5 ml vanilla

Add in 4 firmly whipped egg whites

Bake at 180*C for 40-50 minutes.  Cover with cinnamon sugar when removing from the oven.





Monday 8 July 2013

just a short note.....

I don't know if it is the same in your house, but I tend to make the same things over and over again!  Yesterday I made gingersnaps(project 24) for the so manieth time!  It is just sooo easy, and you know that they hardly ever flop!  I thought of making something else, but my time was limited.....I know that I can roll exactly 48 balls in 10 minutes when making ginger snaps!  And that is even measuring them with a 15 ml spoon as well!  So why bother making something else if you're in a hurry!

Last night friends came around for coffee, and when I took the ginger snaps out, our friend replied that he's going to take two straight away, as it is his favourite...then I thought....that's me....everybody knowing me, knows that I make ginger snaps!  Unfortunately doing the same things over and over again don't put new ideas on the blog!  But sometimes people just want something they are familiar with....

I have an adopted son, Siswe studying in Pretoria!  My husband is not aware of the fact that I have adopted him! HA HA!  The other night he phoned to ask how it is going on this side, and I enquired about his exam results.  He then said that he reads the blog when he misses home!  He just wants to see what we're up to!  Maybe he just want something familiar there on that side of the country!  Maybe he can smell the ginger snaps!

I don't want to make excuses, but sometimes I tend to do more habitual things, like making ginger snaps over and over, in stead of doing grate new things to place on the blog!  Maybe it is a phase....sometimes I make new things, though....and I forget to take the snap to prove it!  So please forgive if it is going on the slow side with times!...hang in there with me....hopefully the creative juices will start to flow again soon!  For now, I am going to have a cup of coffee with gingersnaps!

See my paintings I am busy with....




project 254...pancakes

It is a mission and a half to bake pancakes for my family!  You bake and bake, but the plate seems to stay empty!  So I must admit, I don't make it often!

My family don't even ask for pancakes! It is so cold lately though, that I decided to make some without receiving any requests!

1 cup flour
1 egg
pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
7.5 ml oil

Mix everything and allow to stand for about an hour.  Spray your pan with spray and cook and then heat half a teaspoon of oil and start baking.  Only add oil to the pan if it start sticking to the bottom.  Add some cinnamon sugar....or ice cream! 

Project 253....a good old fashioned cake

The other day my son asked me to make an old fashioned cake like one I made years ago.....I was mind boggled? What for a cake is that, I wondered....his reply......just a normal sponge cake.....with only a little frosting on top....just to sweeten it slightly.....So I made this humble recipe and he was satisfied....it tasted just like he wanted it!  The cake was polished in no time, I almost did not get a piece for a snap!

225g self raising flour
225 g margarine
225 g sugar
 
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
pinch of salt

Cream together the sugar and margarine. Add the rest and bake at 180*C for 25-30 minutes.  Allow to cool and add frosting as desired or jam in between two layers.

I realised that sometimes we want to make things more complicated.....you put so much effort into making fancy cakes and stuff, then at the end they don't even eat it!  But this old fashioned cake was a real winner!

PROJECT 252....CHICKEN POTATO SOUP

This one is my own recipe!  Created yesterday when I realised the bacon was finished, and I already cooked the potatoes for potato soup!  So I made a plan.....

Boil about 6 large potatoes until soft.  I use the pressure cooker for this as it saves time.  Mash half the potatoes and cut the rest into large chunks.

Saute two large onions and two chopped chicken breasts until done.  Add a teaspoon of thyme. half a teaspoon of paprika, salt and pepper to taste.  Add your potatoes, two chicken stock blocks and a litre of water.  Allow to cook through.  Now add a litre of milk and heat through.  Add two cups of grated cheese.  I served it with cream for those who wanted a richer soup, as it is quite creamy already and I knew the kids does not like it that rich......I must admit.....it is even tastier with the extra calories!

project 251.....easy fish finger dish

This is a very humble dish, but one of my families favourites!  When I really don't feel like cooking, I can make this and they think I have cooked up a feast!

You need a batch of savoury rice(see project 69), about 4 fish fingers per person, some white sauce with extra cheese added and grated cheese to top it off.

Fry your fish fingers in a little oil.

Place the rice in the bottom of an oven dish, add your fish fingers on top, then the white sauce and lastly the grated cheese.  Bake until golden brown at about 180*C.  Serve with a green salad.  Quick, easy and extremely cost effective!

 

project 250.....a basket from a 2l soda bottle

I made this for no particular reason!  I think the only reason might be to see the outcome.  Not something I have a use for now, but maybe if it was made from some string or raffia I could have found a use for it....It would have made a good container for some desert roses, and you would not feel bad to hang it outside in the sun. 

The wool I used is a disgusting colour, but I had to try it.  It is amazing how much junk you can turn into something else!  I'd love to start an upliftment programme just creating things from junk!

I've cut the soda bottle in half and punched some holes all around the rim.  I then crochet a small frill around it and gave it a sling.  I think you can even make them in pinks and purples and use them to put your party favours in for a little girls party!

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Project 249....chelsea buns

I got a very ancient recipe book from a family member some time ago, but haven't used it up till now. 

I cleaned my freezer the other day, and discovered some raisins I had forgotten about in there.  Now you might think what the raisins are doing in the freezer.....I hate waste!  So when I make pineapple beer, I always save the raisins, and use them in cooking!  Ha ha!  I am sure this is the first time you hear about somebody doing that!  I just can not think why I should waste such a lot of raisins!

This was my first attempt of making Chelsea buns, as I always thought they are hard work.  I was quite impressed with the outcome. 

To make 12......

280g of flour
pinch of salt
6 tbsp milk
110 g butter
15 g yeast
2 eggs, beaten
55g raisins(I used double)
pinch of mixed spices
half a cup of sugar and a little extra for spreading on top

Mix the salt and flour.  Heat half the butter and  the milk until lukewarm.  Add the sugar and the eggs and the yeast.  Knead till well mixed and keep in a warm place and allow to double in size.  Roll open on a tray sprinkled with flour.  spread the rest of the butter on top.  Fold it double again and roll out again.  Now spread the raisins on top and sprinkle with the sugar and spices.  Roll up to make a roll and cut it in twelve slices.  Place them in your well greased pan.  Sprinkle with a little more sugar and leave to rise double in size again.  Bake for 20 minutes at 220*C.  I poured icing sugar glaze on top with a little almond essence added to it.

Project 248.......a pasta salad

We had this at a friends house the other night, so I decided to make it for a light supper in stead of  using it as a salad.  I served fresh garlic rolls with it......

Cook 500g of pasta according to the instructions on the pack.  Stir in two tins of tuna, a tin of smoked mussels(oil as well) , a small chopped onion, a cup or two of  grated cheese(was not in the original recipe) and a good lot of mayonnaise.  Season to taste with salt and pepper. 

Project 247....a sweet little handbag

I made this cute little handbag the other day, now all the ladies at church want one!  I think I'll give them the pattern though!

I cut the bag from a velvety material and a second set from a pink material to line it.  This was so easy, I made the whole thing in half an hour!  I made a second one and added a material flower, but will add the photo later on as I forgot to take one!

Add a sling and a press stud to close it up.  I think you can even add a zip.

Project 246.....good oats

My son started making this.  He loves oats and would eat it any time of the day.  Unfortunately I do not share his enthusiasm, and it would have been so good for the cholesterol......but I must admit that this way it is much tastier!

Cook your oats as normal, but in milk in stead of water.  We do it in the microwave.  Then add some caramel sugar and stir it through.  Add a little butter.  You can add some fruit if you want to,  or extra sugar on top, but with the caramel sugar it is sweet enough for me.

project 245.........recycled t-shirt throw

This was was other long term project.......

I did the quilt as previously posted and had been busy with this one for some time.  I think this one could have taken much quicker if I had a lot of t-shirts to work from right from the start, but after cutting a few old ones, I had to wait again for others to be thrown out!  But I am much more clever now....from now on I am going to cut all the old t-shirts and roll it into balls so that the next time I want to do something like this, I have some saved up!

I started the blocks with 30 stitches each and knitted normal stocking stitch until the ball was finished.  I crocheted them together with white material and gave it a material backing. 

I decided to test it out on my hubby the other night as it was extremely cold the night before....-7*C the morning!  My brand new gerbera plant froze inside the house! 

So I placed it at the foot end of the bed at night....My husband thought it was great!  The next morning he said that his feet was warm all night!  Might not be the prettiest thing, but wow it's warm!



 

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Project 244.....warm asparagus dish

A few years ago we decided to buy a caravan.  The kids were growing up and we had to pay for 5 adults when going to the Kruger Park!  We visionalized many break away weekends......forgetting that hubby is always working on Sundays!......and school sport takes the Saturdays......

I think I was a gypsy living in a lovely caravan in my previous life! Ha ha! .....but staying with your whole family in a space as big as your bathroom!.....that's another story!......The caravan was sold after the second trip to the Kruger Park......two weeks over December!  Our one friend called one morning at 08H30.....it was 36*C inside the caravan with the aircon going!  Imagine the heat outside!.....The caravan was sold when we got home!.....The only snag...we can't go to the Park for two weeks at a time anymore....way too expensive!  But a day or two here and there makes up for it....

Anyhow......a friend gave me a camping cookbook when we bought the caravan as a 'house warming' gift.  During that two week holiday I made this for the first time....from my camping cookbook!  We were three families that camped together....all in there own caravans!.....and at night we 'braaid' together and we shared side dishes.  This one was very popular and although we are not doing the caravan camping anymore, the dish is here to stay.

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup bechamel-sauce(white sauce)
 
1x460g tin asparagus
1 tsp paprika
1/2 cup grated cheese(not in the original recipe)

Mix the mayonnaise with the warm bechamel sauce.  Heat the asparagus in the water pickling water. You can place lettuce leaves at the bottom of your dish if you feel like it(I've done that before).  Spread your asparagus at the bottom.  Add sauce on top, then grated cheese and lastly paprika..You can now leave this on the side of your fire if you use it as a camping dish or melt the cheese slightly in the oven or microwave.  Don't do this if you used lettuce!

Project 243...a pretty scarve

My aunt blessed me a while ago with a bag full of material.  I think she was an impulsive buyer at some stage in her life, as there is pretty pieces of chiffon, but only about a quarter of meter each.  I think she just had to buy a piece for the sake of having it, and without having an idea of what she wanted to do with it!  Most of them still having price stickers on them.....as little as R1.99/metre!

I decided to hem them and made some scarves to stretch the boring winter cupboard a little!  Such an easy way to use a pretty piece of material!
 

Project 242...cabbage frikkadels

I woke up this afternoon(I'm working night duty) and literally tasted this!  My mom used to make these when we were kids, but I can not recall myself ever making it!

A 'frikkadel' is the Afrikaans word for a meatball.  It is basically
meatballs wrapped in cabbage, and then cooked in a soup-based sauce.

I mixed my meatballs as usual and kept it aside.  I then blanched the cabbage leaves in boiling water for about 3 minutes and immediately dipped it in cold water thereafter.  I then wrapped the meatballs with the cabbage leaves, sprinkled some spicy tomato soup-powder on top and added some boiling water.  I covered my dish with foil and cooked it for some time at 200*C in the oven.  I removed the foil about 10 minutes before dishing up.

Wednesday 12 June 2013

post 241....slippers from old t-shirts.....

The colour is disgusting!  Looks like a bumble bee, but using old t-shirts for different projects gave me the idea to try this!  I used a favourite crochet pattern for a chunky wool.  I followed the pattern as normal, but ommitted the last rows as the t-shirt material is thicker and the shoes would have been too large.  They are quite handy wearing them indoors, and I would definately try it again using another colour!  Maybe I should design my own pattern! 

project 240...tuna and apple salad

We made this salad for lunch the other day....so easy, but really tasty.

Spread lettuce in your salad bowl.  In a separate container mix two tins of tuna, a chopped onion or spring onions or onion rings, two chopped apples and about a cup of mayonnaise and a squirt or two of lemon juice.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Put everything on top of the lettuce and and use some extra apples to decorate.

Tuesday 11 June 2013

Project 239.....the best white sauce......

I saw this in a magazine a long time ago, and am doing it ever since when I make cauliflower or broccoli.

Make your normal Bechamel sauce.  Add half a cup of cheese and a teaspoon of wholegrain mustard.  This is divine!