Sunday, January 4, 2015

Grain Free Caramelized Onion & Gruyere Sandwich! GF & SCD Friendly!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2015! It's going to be a terrific year. I can just feel it :)



So I'm sitting in my apartment, back in New York. The snow is really coming down outside, and I am cozy and warm, snuggled under a blanket with the candles on, and a mug of tea in my hands. Life. Is. Good.



This time of year, resolutions are in full swing. People trying to eat healthier, exercise more, keep their personal space more organized, etc.



Well, I am all for that. But sometimes, on a day like today, when it's blustery outside, all you want is comfort food. SOOO, I've decided to update a classic and make it healthier, so we can stick to our resolutions!!

And what did I reinvent?



Introducing my Caramelized Onion and Gruyere Grilled Cheese Sandwich!

Wait wait wait...just how is this "resolution friendly?" -- Welllll -- the bread is actually made out of CAULIFLOWER!!



Yep, you read that correctly! The bread is grain free, and made from cauliflower and almonds!

It's Gluten Free, Grain Free, and Specific Carb Diet friendly!



Here's what you need: (Serves 1)

For the Bread:
1 cup cauliflower
1/3 cup almond flour
1 egg (or 2 egg whites)
1/8 tsp salt

1/3 vidalia onion, sliced
1/4 cup gruyere cheese, shredded

The first step is to get your onions caramelizing. In a non-stick skillet, sauté your onions in 1-2 Tbsp EVOO for about 15 minutes over medium-low heat with a little salt and pepper. Stir them occasionally, letting them become a golden brown color.

While your onions are cooking, place your cauliflower in the food processor. Pulse until it resembles rice. Then, place your riced cauliflower in a clean kitchen towel, paper towels, or a cheese cloth and wring out as much water as you can. **This step is really important!!**

Then, mix your egg, cauliflower, almond flour and salt in a medium sized bowl.

Spray a large, non-stick frying pan with olive oil, and heat over medium-high heat. Divide the batter in two, and create two "skillet cakes." Let them cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until they are golden brown on the edges, and fragrant (they'll smell like roasting almonds). Then, carefully flip with a spatula.



After your flip the bread, evenly place the shredded cheese on each slice of the bread. Cover the skillet with the lid for about a minute to help melt the cheese.

Once the other side is finished cooking, sandwich the caramelized onions between the bread.
You will want to serve and eat immediately.

OK guys. I have to be real with you all. This. Was. AMAZING! It's hard to believe how cauliflower can be transformed into such a decadent gourmet treat! You seriously can't taste the cauliflower. The bread just tastes nutty and delicious.



It has a wonderful texture: it's bread and chewy. The golden brown edges are a little crispy, and SO GOOD! You can actually pick it up and eat it like a sandwich!

And the caramelized onions are out of this world. If you've never had them, consider this your personal invitation. They can seem a little intimidating, but they're actually really simple -- they just take some good sweet time:)



They become almost sweet, because the sugars in the vidalia onion are released and caramelize. They become soft and chewy and they pair perfectly with the buttery gruyere cheese.

I almost forgot! The gruyere cheese!! Melty, buttery, rich and fully SCD friendly, this grilled cheese sandwich is a far cry from a greasy spoon.



In fact, with my "happy tummy" makeover...it can be considered a healthy treat! This sandwich comes in at just under 500 calories, so "splurge" away!

Alright. First week of 2015 coming up. Let's make it a phenomenal one!


120 comments:

  1. We have a ridiculous warm winter this year...today it's 3C, but 14 on wed. Unbelievably warm!
    Those sandwiches look so comforting and great!
    Happy New Year!
    Angie

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    1. Thanks Angie! Crazy crazy weather!! Glad you stopped by:) enjoy your afternoon!

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  2. This looks so delicious!!! Happy New Year! :)

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    1. Thanks Lindsey! Same to you! Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. I will go to great lengths for gruyere. No joke. Happy New Year! I'm looking forward to trying the bread :)

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    1. haha I'm glad I'm not the only one:) hehe thanks for stopping by, Lauren! Have a great afternoon!

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  4. Amazing recipe, my brother-in-law is celiac, that would be a great recipe to make!

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    1. Thanks Helene! Oh, i bet he'd love this! A lot of store bought GF bread is, in a word, lacking :/ Thanks for stopping by! Have a great afternoon!

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  5. OMG just let me drool over this sandwich for awhile lol. I mean.. I needed this for lunch.

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    1. Hahah thanks so much! Yeah cheese does that to me too:) lol thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your evening!

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  6. Happy New Year!
    This is just my kind of sandwich Caralyn! I love it! Pinned and will try it!

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    1. thank you so much Lyubomira! glad you stopped by:) happy new yeah!

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  7. In my pregan days, I enjoyed 'Raclette'. it might fit in with your dietary guidelines.

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    1. ah yes, raclette. you're right! it is definitely SCD friendly. Actually, every time my family goes skiing in Utah, we go to a traditional "Alpine Raclette" fireside restaurant. always a highlight of our trip. Glad you stopped by, Shen! Happy New Year!! :D

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  8. No way! That is caulifower?! That's crazy and awesome at the same time :)

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    1. Haha thanks Deborah! I know crazy, right?!! Thanks for stopping by! Have a great night!

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  9. Eating deliciousness like this is certainly going to make 2015 a delicious year. :) I'm drooling.

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    1. Hahhaha thanks Kathy:) glad you stopped by! Have a wonderful evening!

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  10. This is a genius of a sandwich!!!!!!! I could never have guessed that this bread was actually made from cauliflower and almonds!!!!! It looks sooooo good and it's going to taste SOOO much better than what it would have tasted with normal bread!!!!! I soooo have to try this!!!!! <3

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    1. haha thanks Samina! I know, the cauliflower is sneaky like that:) thanks for stopping by! have a great day!

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  11. Yum, I love a good grilled cheese sandwich! I've never had cauliflower bread before - sounds interesting!

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    1. Thanks Nicole! It's actually really delicious! I hope you give it a try:) glad you stopped by! happy cooking!

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  12. I love that you made bread out of cauliflower, Pinned and printed. Happy 2015 to you!

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    1. Thanks so much Cheri! I appreciate that:) Same to you! Happy New Year! Thanks for stopping by!

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  13. Caralyn you are so creative! :o That looks like a totally regular sandwich! :D

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    1. hah, thanks so much Lorraine:) Happy New Year! Thanks for stopping by!

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  14. That looks amazing. I just ate breakfast, and now I'm hungry again, lol!

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    1. hahah thanks Ashley! perhaps lunch? :D Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your afternoon!

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  15. Woah now, cauliflower bread? Way to throw a curve ball there, I definitely wasn't expecting that! Amazing what the humble vegetable can do. I love the idea and want to see if I can make it without the egg. Thank you for the delicious inspiration!

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    1. haha thanks Hannah! I know, cauliflower is pretty amazing:) thanks for stopping by! have a great afternoon!

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  16. Oh! I'd really love to try this! I've been substituting cauliflower for rice, lately and it actually works. I like it. I like the idea of the bread. :-) Thanks for stopping by my blog. Happy, Happy New Year!
    ~ Paz

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    1. thanks Paz! cauliflower rice is the best:) thanks for stopping by! have a great afternoon!

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  17. Anything with a caramelized vidalia onion is a winner in my book! Cauliflower bread? Wowzers.

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    1. haha, i agree. thanks Tom! Hope you have an awesome afternoon! thanks for stopping by!

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  18. Happy New Year! This sandwich is calling my name, love the cheesy goodness!

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    1. Thanks Ashley! Happy new year to you too! Thanks for stopping by! have a great day!

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  19. Okay, how in the heck did you come up with the idea for that bread???? It looks amazing. My head is awhirl with trying to think of how I can veganize that. Yum.

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    1. haha thanks so much:) a chia/flax egg should be a good substitute! :D Thanks for stoping by! have a great afternoon!

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  20. This looks wonderful! So perfect with a bowl of soup on a cold day. :) Hope you have an amazing 2015!

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    1. Thanks Carol! I agree, comfort food at its simplest:) thanks for stopping by! Happy New Year!

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  21. Happy New Year Caralyn!
    The bread is amazing, the flavors of the sandwich are my favorites. DELICIOUS.
    Yum.

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    1. Thanks, Maribel! Same to you! Hope your 2015 is off to a great start! Thanks for stopping by!

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  22. Grilled cheese is my favorite and this one looks gooey good! Nothing better on a winter day!

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    1. Thanks so much! i agree, comfort food at its simplest! thanks for stopping by! have a great evening!

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  23. Tsk Tsk...I was giving all kinds of side eye when I read healthy, then you tell me it's made out of cauliflower?! The bread looks so "real" I cannot wait to try this recipe! Bravo girl you did that!

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    1. Haha thanks Christina! I know, I debated calling it "healthy"...seeing that it is a grilled cheese afterall, but the cauliflower whisperer made me do it:) haha thanks for stopping by! Have an awesome night!

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  24. Wow! This sandwich looks divine!! I'm in awe of how it really looks like a slice of bread. Yum!!

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    1. Thanks Tamara! It even tastes like bread too! :) thanks for stopping by! Happy new year!

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  25. I WAS NOT expecting the bread to be cauliflower!!! HA! Amazing :)

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    1. Hah thanks Gigi! I know, it's sneaky like that;) hope you're having an awesome time on your trip! Thanks for stopping by!

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  26. oh my gooshness this looks SOSOO yummy ;-) I love comfort food like this!

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  27. I am going to have to try this bread, as I still haven't found a gluten free bread that I like, or that holds together.

    Also, cheese and caramalised onions = YUM!

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    1. Thanks Danni! Yeah this held together really nicely:) thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

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  28. Oh man, you had me at the caramelized onions...but then I saw the gruyere cheese. This sandwich sounds like my heaven!!

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    1. Hahaha thanks David! Yeah Gruyere gets me like that too ;) thanks for stopping by! Happy new year!

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  29. Get out of town!!! I was like man this looks so indulgent (and it definitely is still with that cheese haha) but cauliflower bread? It's like MAGIC! ;)

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    1. Haha thanks Lauren! right!? Cauliflower is a superstar:) thanks for stopping by! have a great afternoon!

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  30. This sandwich looks absolutely amazing. Caramelized onions are the best!
    Hope you New Year is off to a great start!

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    1. Thanks Kelley! I agree, caramelized onions are one of life's little pleasures! haha thanks for stopping by! happy new year!

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  31. With an epic sandwich like this, there's no way to not have an epic 2015!

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    1. haha thanks! cheers to an epic 2015! glad you stopped by!

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  32. We're getting weather down below zero tonight, so comfort food is definitely on my mind. I'm thinking soup, but this looks wonderful. That "bread" is amazing! Very creative -- thanks. Happy New Year!

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    1. Yikes! That's f-f-f-freezing!! thanks for stopping by! stay warm!!

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  33. Cauliflower bread? I love it! I'd love it even more with caramelized onions and gruyere in the middle -- pinned!

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    1. Thanks Marcie! I know, crazy, huh? Thanks for the pin! Glad you stopped by! Have a great night!

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  34. Caramelized onions are just magical! And this sandwich sounds pretty darn magical too! haha

    And I agree - this frigid weather definitely calls for some comfort food!

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    1. Thanks Ashley! magical - haha i like that:) thanks for stopping by! enjoy your evening!

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  35. What an amazing grilled cheese sandwich! My mouth is watering just at the thought of it!

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    1. Haha thanks Liz! Glad you stopped by! Have a wonderful night!

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  36. What a yummy grilled sandwich! So tempting ;)

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    1. Thanks so much Kiran! :) Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

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  37. Now this is quite a grilled cheese! DROOLING over here!

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    1. hahah thanks Joanne:) Glad you stopped by! Enjoy your afternoon!

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  38. Awesome bread Caralyn! Even though I've cut back on dairy now, the sandwich looks gorgeous!

    Happy New Year!

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    1. Thanks so much Vicky! :D same to you! Happy New Year! Thanks for stopping by:)

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  39. Oh man... I have a wicked cold right now and would kill for this and a cup of tomato soup! Looks amazing (and healthy!).

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    1. Thanks Laura! Aw I hope you feel better soon! Being sick is no fun at all. Thanks for stopping by!

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  40. I can never say no to a sandwich like this, especially in this Chilly weather. My husband's going to fall in love with those onions too!

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    1. Thanks Pamela! definitely cold weather eats:) thanks for stopping by! enjoy your evening!

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  41. This looks incredible! Hard to believe it is gluten free!

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    1. Thanks Eva! Crazy what cauliflower can do! glad you stopped by! Have a great night!

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  42. I would never ever have guessed that it was made with cauliflower! It looks so tasty!

    www.LUXESSED.com

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    1. Thanks Anouk! I appreciate that! Yeah cauliflower is pretty sneaky☺ thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

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  43. I love caramelized onions and Gruyere is one of my fave cheeses! Cauliflower/almond bread sounds AMAZING!! This whole combination sounds absolutely delicious!

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    1. Thanks Jacquee! Yeah those two are combination domination! Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your afternoon!

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  44. Looks amazing! It would be hard to lose with the gruyere and caramelized onion, and I'm very interested in the cauliflower/almond meal bread! Takes me a whole lot longer than 15 minutes to caramelize an onion, though, more like 45.

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    1. Thanks Mary! yeah this was a real treat! thanks for stopping by! have a great afternoon!

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  45. What a creative bread this is! The sandwich looks super delicious and perfect for a blustery day.

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    1. Thanks Amy! I appreciate that:)we've definitely had our share of blustery weather! Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!!

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  46. it looks really, really good <3 will surely give this a try soon:)

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    1. Thanks so much! Glad you stopped by! Have a great night!

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  47. I'm yet to try to use cauliflower as a carb replacement! This looks soo good though.

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    1. Thanks Jane! Yeah it's a pretty fast trick! Thanks for stopping by! Have a great afternoon:)

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  48. What a fantastic adaptation! This looks so perfect for a cold snowy day!

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    1. Thanks jess! Hope you're staying warm! Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

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  49. HOLY COW, that looks amazing.. caramalized onions and gruyere cheese are seriously pretty much my favorite thing on the planet, lol!!!

    Anyhoo, I found your blog through a fellow blogger, and just thought I would stop by and say hi! It would totally make my day if you did the same... or better yet, keep in touch!! <3 - www.domesticgeekgirl.com

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    1. Thanks Gingi! I appreciate that! Thanks for stooping by! Have a great night!

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  50. Great recipe! This looks like the ultimate comfort food :)

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    1. Thanks medha! Comfort food to the max:) thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your evening!

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  51. This sandwich looks ridiculously good!

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    1. Thanks Jen! It was pretty yummy! Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

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  52. Happy New Year! This sandwich looks incredible! Love that the bread was made with cauliflower and almonds - genius!

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    1. Thanks so much Kelly! Same to you - Happy New Year! :D Have an awesome night! thanks for stopping by!

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  53. Wow, cauliflower as bread, who would have thought? What a great spin on an old classic :)

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    1. Thanks Jess! Yeah, pretty tricky:) Thanks for stopping by! Have a great night!

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  54. You seem so knowledgable! Thanks for sharing!
    I've been a vegetarian for so long now, I really love finding a recipe that's new and different :)

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    1. Thanks Meg! It had pretty much been sink or swim in having to learn the ropes of this diet! Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

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  55. This sandwich looks delicious and so comforting!! Who knew grain free bread could look so damn delicious?? :) Happy New Year!

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    1. Haha thanks Cara! Right!? Who knew!! Thanks for stopping by! Happy new year!

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  56. Wow, that's amazing "bread!" What a great idea. And I'm always down with caramelized onions!

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    1. Thanks Mir! Me too! Always down for caramelized onions! Thans for stopping by! Have a great afternoon!

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  57. Wow! This sandwich looks so good. These onions must taste great in it.

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    1. Thanks Ilona! They were super tasty! Glad you stopped by! Have a great day!

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  58. OMG yes!! I love the look of this. I really want one right now!

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    1. Haha thanks Lucy! Glad you stopped by! Have a great night!

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  59. This is genius! I so look forward to giving your cauliflower bread a try.

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    1. thanks Cara! :D i hope you love it! thanks for stopping by! enjoy your evening!

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  60. Oh my good this looks just so good. I wish you could come over and make it for me :)

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    1. Haha thanks Renee! If I coukd fedex it to you I would!! Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

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