This twist on a Chinese classic is a creative way to sneak more vegetables into your diet. Not only are these orange cauliflower bites healthy, but they taste just as good as the restaurant chicken version — husband approved!
You guys, I’m having a moment. An I-want-to-throw-my-smartphone-off-a-cliff moment. I get that smartphones are cool and they help us stay connected to people, but really, what I want more than anything else right now is to put my phone under the tire of my car and crush it the next time I back out.
Why? Because I am sick and tired of the distraction and wasted time that smartphones cause. Not just in my life, but in all of our lives. OK, rant over. Thanks for letting me vent.
But in all seriousness, can we agree the world might be a better place if we learned to put our phones aside a little bit more?
I remember life before smartphones. I especially remember dating before smartphones, and oh, how glorious those days were. Time with my love was never interrupted by notifications. The only time we looked at our phone was to see what time it was. Our attention was fully devoted to being present and in the moment with each other. It’s no surprise to me that most of the memories I have from our relationship are from when we started dating. Because that was life before smartphones. Life before distraction became the norm.
When Mr. MLS and I first got married we set a few boundaries around our newly purchased iPhones. No phones at the dinner table. No phones while we are watching TV or a movie. No phones when we go on a walk. It was easy at first.
But over time our boundaries became less and less adhered to — as if social media was more alluring than being present with the love of my life. What’s the honey? Hold on, I have to check my phone. Sounds terrible, right?
Here’s another question I have for you: Have you been there? Have you ever had the dynamics of a relationship interrupted by a smartphone? I have a hunch we’re all nodding our heads in collective agreement at this very moment.
I wonder how Jesus would have responded to the interruptions of smartphones if they were around during his ministry here on Earth. While Jesus doesn’t speak specifically about smartphones in the Bible, he does talk about distraction in Luke 10:38-42 at the home of Martha and Mary. I’m sure many of you are familiar with this story but I think it deserves another reading:
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Smartphones weren’t a thing in Jesus’ day, but distractions were. And in this passage of scripture Jesus uncovers the tragedy of self-imposed pressures and distraction — Distraction keeps us from loving and living well. More specifically distraction is a waste of our time.
I think there is a time and place for smartphones (and I certainly won’t be running over mine anytime soon) but I think it’s also time we remind ourselves: People — not phones — are our priority in this life. Amen?
Today my second priority is to eat this amazingly delicious, mouthwatering, sweet and tangy dish of Chinese Orange Cauliflower Bites. I like to devour a whole plate with rice, mandarin oranges and other veggies for dinner, but the recipe works great as an appetizer too. Enjoy and … maybe start setting some boundaries on your phone by not checking notifications while your cooking! 😉 XOXO, Lauren
- 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup canned coconut milk
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour (I use gluten-free)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- For the orange glaze:
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- ½ cup orange juice
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- Preheat oven to 450° F. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray and set aside.
- To create the batter, whisk together coconut milk, flour, garlic powder, garlic powder, ginger, onion powder, and salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Stir until smooth.
- Coat cauliflower pieces with batter and place on baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes until cauliflower turns slightly golden brown.
- While cauliflower is baking, whisk together the vegetable broth, orange juice and zest, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar and ground ginger in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring mixture to a boil. Combine cornstarch and water in a small bowl and stir until mixed. Pour cornstarch mixture into the saucepan and stir until glaze thickens, about 2 minutes.
- Remove glaze from heat and cauliflower from oven once both are done cooking. Let cauliflower bites cool and place in a medium bowl. Spoon pour glaze over cauliflower bites and toss until each piece is evenly coated.
- Serve with rice or quinoa, vegetables, orange, pineapple, or even cashews!
Orange anything is my favorite! One of the best “asian” flavors!
I will gladly crush my phone (and laptop) under a car with you….real!
I’m so glad you like these! Thanks Rebecca! Cheers to paying less attention to our phones!
I love the idea of using cauliflower this way!
And I have a love hate relationship with my phone and laptop and appreciate it when we go on vacation to places that I can’t use either 😉
Best,
Chrystal
Thanks so much, Chrystal! Technology can do wonders for us, but it can also hurt our relationships. It definitely takes a balance!
I am trying to like Cauliflower so this seems like a great way to get on board!
Yes! Let me know if you end up making it, Dina, and enjoy!
cauliflower is so versatile and yet I often forget about it! I love finding new ways to eat it! Going to try this this week thanks!
I love orange anything, so I’m excited to try this recipe. I’ve never seen anything like it!
I have some cauliflower in the frig now so I’m going to try this recipe!
Oh yum! These sound so good! What a fun idea!
Thanks so much, Emily. It’s a fun recipe to make, too!
This recipe looks delicious. I’ll be replacing chicken with cauliflower soon:)
This is such a clever recipe!
I feel you on the distractions! I actually purposefully leave my phone on the opposite side of my desk so I’m not aimlessly scrolling social media – and at night I force myself to have at least two hours where I don’t touch it and actually watch tv with Jesse – otherwise I’m absorbed in my phone or ipad and totally not paying attention to him or the tv!
Thank you, Kristy! That’s great you have boundaries in place. My husband and I are trying to put them back in place. Have a lovely, distraction-free week!
Fabulous way to eat cauliflower! And great reminder to unplug. I’ve been taking time to go out into the yard and piddle around. I often feel like I sit at my computer All.Day.Long. I’m loving the change.
That’s great, Liz! I’m glad you’ve been able to find some time to get away from it all. You inspire me to do the same!
Oh my, this looks so tasty!
Thank you, dear Kim!
Wonderful recipe, looks absolutely fabulous. Can’t wait to try it soon!!
Thank you, dear Megan! I hope you like it!
so unusual but so delicious , can’t wait to try these out xoxo
I totally feel you on this! Smartphones are convenient but sometimes they can complicate life. Love this recipe!
Lovely post. I am too often Martha. My head goes a mile a minute. This recipe is so pretty and sounds delicious too!
You are so right about distractions. Thanks for the reminder to stay in the moment and live it. Martha and Mary are a great illustration of your point! We need to keep those priorities straight! And I love this recipe!
Its look sooo delicious. Perfect dish!
thanks for sharing recipes with us here. Looking more from you dear
I LOVE cauliflower bites! They are absolutely delicious and so easy to make. These look great!