Baked Maple Cauliflower and Apples

When you think of fall many things come to mind, two of which might be apples and maple syrup. I decided to step out of the comfort zone of putting them with sweet potatoes or squash and went with cauliflower. This can be made into a side dish to put with favorite protein or made into a salad. My husband would want his served with meat where I like it with arugula as a salad. Top with dried cranberries and optional pumpkin seeds, I like both in the salad version and as a side just the dried cranberries.

Baked Maple Cauliflower and Apples

Makes 4-6 side dish portions, or 4 salads

2-3 large apples, sliced (16 slices per apple so not too thin)*

2lb cauliflower florets

2/3c pure maple syrup

salt and pepper

1/2-1 tsp nutmeg

10 oz baby arugula

1/2c dried cranberries

1/4c pumpkin seeds, optional

*Use a baking apple, I used Gala this time, not a soft apple like a red delicious.

Preheat oven to 425. Remove any longer steams from cauliflower and break larger florets in half. You don’t want the florets to be too small or crumbed as they will cook too quick. In a large bowl combine cauliflower and apples, add maple syrup and toss to coat. Spread apples and cauliflower out on a large rimmed backing sheet, lined with foil if desired for easy clean up. Drizzle any remaining maple syrup in the bottom of the bowl over the apples and cauliflower. Sprinkle with sea salt, pepper, and a little nutmeg. Bake for 45 minutes stirring/ rotating once in the middle. Remove from oven and let sit for a couple minutes as syrup will thicken slightly. If making as a side dish top with dried cranberries and optional pumpkin seeds if desired. For a salad, if making a big batch of salad you can toss arugula with cauliflower and apples or serve it on top of a bed of arugula. Mixing it all together you get the greens coated better. Top with optional dried cranberries and optional pumpkin seeds if desired. Enjoy!