Creamy cauliflower mash

Hi! How’s the day going? So happy you liked the tartlet recipe! Let me know if you give them a whirl 🙂

Anyone else going through a major mid-summer closet purge?

It happened so quickly, shortly after reading a post my friend Maria FBed about a capsule wardrobe. I was instantly intrigued; before you knew it, I was knee-deep in closet piles, digging and sorting. 

I told the Pilot what I was up to, and he LAUGHED. And then his eyes got really large and he said, “What happens if you go on a crazy shopping binge after all of this?”

His obvious doubt made me even more determined to do it.

Sorting  1 of 1

(The process also made me realize how much of my wardrobe is grey and/or striped.)

After the Pilot saw piles of clothes on the bed (I was teaching a class), he sent me a little tease tweet: 

Tommy tweet

The fear is real 😉

Maria has been my capsule wardrobe(ish) buddy, and she sent me an awesome list for staple pieces. We’re not going to the extreme (37 pieces is a little intense) but definitely minimizing things. If you guys like, I could do a Fashion post about it before the blog revamp launches and the Fashion page officially dies. (I think I’ll do Fashion posts on the main page, but they’ll be rare; they don’t seem to warrant their own page category.)

It felt really great to get everything sorted out and limit pieces to the things I really love and wear often. 

Last night, I made a real dinner: Jenna’s turkey lentil loaf (doubled the recipe and nixed the carrots) with cauliflower mash, sautéed zucchini

Dinner

+ a new wine.

  

Wine  1 of 1 9

Last time I posted the cauliflower mash, a few friends asked for the recipe. It’s really easy, and according to Livi, kind of stinky 😉 This was a Whitney creation, as it’s one of her weekly staples. It’s an awesome side to have on hand, and I especially love it on top of chicken and greens like a gravy.

-Wash and chop one head of cauliflower into large pieces

-Steam on the stovetop for about 10 minutes, until you can easily pierce with a fork

-Let cool slightly and transfer to a blender with about 1 cup of chicken broth and a little almond milk

-Blend on high -use the tamper to push the cauliflower around until it’s nice and creamy- and pour back into your large pot. (I’ll drain and rinse the pot before pouring the blended cauliflower into it.) Stir in a tablespoon of butter, garlic power, salt and pepper to taste, and about a teaspoon of dried chives. Allow to cool completely before storing in the fridge.

Cauliflower  1 of 1 2

Boom! Easy healthy side dish.

Hope you’re all enjoying a wonderful day! See ya in the morning with your August workout calendar (wahoo!) and a new Zumba video.

xoxo

Gina 

What’s something in your closet that you wear allllllll the time? This summer, it’s been my Joe’s jean shorts. Anyone else stuck on the grey striped bus? 😉

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44 Comments

  1. Brynn on July 29, 2014 at 6:48 pm

    I’d love to know more about this wardrobe revamp! Sounds interesting!

  2. Ashley @ A Lady Goes West on July 29, 2014 at 6:59 pm

    I love cauliflower mash. And that’s an easy recipe I may need to try. This summer, which is hardly summery in San Francisco, I’ve been wearing some light-yellow skinny jeans that are comfy and seem to go with everything!

  3. Michele on July 29, 2014 at 7:11 pm

    I make my cauliflower mash just like you except in place of the almond milk I put a tablespoon or two of plain greek yogurt in it. One of my favorite side dishes!

  4. Allison on July 29, 2014 at 7:20 pm

    LOVE cauliflower mash (and have converted my whole family, also) and I laughed when I read through the end of the post, looked down and realized I am currently wearing gray stripes. Whatever girl, stripes are a classic!

  5. Haley @Cupcakes and Sunshine on July 29, 2014 at 7:53 pm

    Cauliflower mash is fantastic. making it.

  6. Erin on July 29, 2014 at 7:56 pm

    Love the blog Gina! I love mashed cauliflower! I also make my a little lumpy and add garlic and quinoa! In the summer I rock the black strapless maxi dress. I got it on super sale from Old Navy last year and it was worth every cent of the $12.99 I paid for it. In the fall/winter/spring I love my Loft jean jacket.

  7. Wendy Heath on July 29, 2014 at 8:08 pm

    Is that the Eddie Bauer grey and white striped tank? I got that this year and I *love* it. I feel so feminine and laid back in it. 🙂

    I wish I had that many wardrobe items!!! You lucky girl..

  8. Emily on July 29, 2014 at 9:02 pm

    I’m all about the beige sweaters, for some reason. At one point I think I had 12? Don’t even know why; the husband hates beige, and it isn’t really my color.

  9. China on July 29, 2014 at 9:10 pm

    Yes to a wardrobe revamp post!

  10. Kelley on July 29, 2014 at 9:20 pm

    I love your fashion posts! Hopefully you’ll continue to do stitch fix posts, you get the best stuff 🙂

  11. Yaara Leve on July 29, 2014 at 9:24 pm

    Thanks for posting the cauli mash recipe! Looks delish! And I loooove those Joe’s Jeans denim shorts. I have a similar pair of Citizen of Humanity stretchy jean shorts–and the denim is seriously like butter. They are so stretchy and comfortable.
    I’ve been wearing yoga booty shorts all summer with soft cotton Ts from the Gap-it’s all I want to wear now! I don’t know what I’m going to do when it gets cold again–I don’t want to think about pants–lol.

  12. Kailey on July 29, 2014 at 9:33 pm

    The capsule wardrobe idea is intriguing to me too! I’m moving from a house in Michigan to a studio apartment in NYC this weekend (!) and keep trying to pack light/purge mountains of clothes. This was motivating!

  13. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious on July 29, 2014 at 9:52 pm

    I eat a ton of cauliflower mash later in the year vs the summer, but I do love it. I don’t love chopping it though…ha! Funny you mentioned about the gray stripes. My Mom was just saying how I need to expand beyond them and PINK. Everything I own is pink too.

  14. Tia on July 29, 2014 at 9:52 pm

    37 items??! I just bought more than 37 items at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale :O (lots of sports bras, tanks, and capris, but still).

    • Fitnessista on July 29, 2014 at 11:02 pm

      heh heh! best sale ever!

  15. Nour @ GreenShushi on July 29, 2014 at 9:53 pm

    Lol–just bought a black and white striped maxi dress.
    I decided that beginning in the fall, I will only buy several key quality wardrobe pieces and create outfits with what I have. InStyle magazine gives me great ideas on creating outfits. My closet is packed yet I feel like I don’t have anything to wear. Time to simplify things!

  16. Kate @KateMovingForward on July 29, 2014 at 10:52 pm

    Capsule wardrobes are intriguing me too! I’d love to see yours! Way to go for paring down. I’m still not back in all my pre-maternity clothes, but I’ve started a capsule section of my closet with what fits good NOW so I don’t feel frustrated by all the things that still fit weird and make me feel all frumpy.

  17. Leah on July 29, 2014 at 10:54 pm

    Would love to see your wardrobe revamp. That turkey loaf looks good! I’m been craving one. I need to try the cauliflower side dish soon.

  18. Erin @ Her Heartland Soul on July 30, 2014 at 12:21 am

    I’m totally on the grey striped bus!! And that mash loks delicious!

  19. Jasmine on July 30, 2014 at 1:58 am

    Wow I am so interested in this wardrobe change! I’ve been doing my own but only because my style and body has changed since having my daughters. And I can just imagine how the hubby feels. My hubby would also be freaking out lol so will you still be getting stitch fix items?

  20. Lucie@FitSwissChick on July 30, 2014 at 3:08 am

    Cleaning out the closet is so nice!! It always makes me feel good – until the big mess sneeks in again after a few weeks, lol. I wear ripped jeans hot pants this summer all the time. I bought them 1-2 numbers bigger, so they sit lose on the hips – so comfy!

  21. Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed on July 30, 2014 at 7:27 am

    I really need to revamp my wardrobe! We’re moving soon, so it seems like a good time. I also need to purchase some new clothes for work.

  22. Megan on July 30, 2014 at 8:31 am

    Oh gosh I so need to go through my wardrobe! Not only are there a ton of clothes I need to get rid of but then I also need to go shopping. College is over …haha!

  23. Sara on July 30, 2014 at 9:38 am

    That’s so funny you just posted this! I JUST went through my closet over the weekend and did the same thing. I have a girlfriend who is just about my size…she loves it when I purge my closet…she gets to go “shopping” in everything I am getting rid of 🙂 I have a slight shopping problem and have found that I have a 90% black or black and white striped wardrobe!

  24. jean on July 30, 2014 at 10:22 am

    I would love to hear about your closet purging/capsule wardrobe. After you posted about it on Twitter the other day, I looked into it a little. I got rid of FIVE BAGS of clothes & shoes back in the Spring, but I’m sure I could go through my closet again & pare down even more. I’ve been buying dresses for the summer – much cooler than pants.

  25. Krista on July 30, 2014 at 10:35 am

    I totally re did my wardrobe in the spring. I spent 4 hours (!!!) sorting and purging. I started by pulling everything out of my closet and putting it on my bed in specific piles (work/ pants/jeans/cami’s/short sleeve/shirts/etc). There was also a donate pile that I added to as I went along. Items that didn’t fit anymore or things I just wasn’t wearing. Then everything I was keeping went back in the closet in categories, then colour. Now it’s super easy to find all my work closes vs my casual clothes and I find I’m wearing a better variety. so satisfying!

  26. Jessie on July 30, 2014 at 10:44 am

    I’d love to see a wardrobe post! Love that kind of stuff! I just moved and need to purge even more.. ugh

  27. Dory on July 30, 2014 at 11:48 am

    Yes please! I saw Maria’s post and was instantly intrigued as well! I’d love to see your version and her version.

  28. Chrissy @ Pink Polish and Running Shoes on July 30, 2014 at 1:27 pm

    It’s funny that you posted this because I was just thinking the other day I need to seriously go through my closet and get rid of what I don’t wear. It stresses me out just looking at everything. At the end of each season I try to clear out my closets and donate some clothes. I always feel better when everything is simplified, clean and organized 🙂

  29. Tracy on July 30, 2014 at 2:07 pm

    I just bought those exact Joe’s jean shorts at the Nordstrom Anniv sale! I’ve barely taken them off since 🙂

    Just added cauliflower to my grocery list…can’t wait to make the mash.

    • Fitnessista on July 30, 2014 at 5:39 pm

      the best!! hope you love the mash, too 🙂

  30. Brianna on July 30, 2014 at 3:28 pm

    I’d love to see a post about your wardrobe revamp! Even though the capsule wardrobe sounds kinda scary/limiting at first, I think if I actually kept track, I’d realize I wear the same 37 pieces each season anyway! Interested to see your fave pieces…

  31. Sarah on July 30, 2014 at 4:07 pm

    The Copola Presents Roso is my Favorite red! You absolutely have to try their Sophia Blanc De Blanc. It’s a sparkling white wine, and comes in a pink cellophane wrapper. I love it for a girls night because everyone loves it, white wine drinkers and red wine drinkers too because of the bubbles.

  32. Hayley on July 30, 2014 at 4:58 pm

    I’m a bit scared about your site revamp. I’ve been following for so long but I am sure it will be brilliant!
    I have a nice cauliflower Cous Cous recipe, process one head and one onion, fry gently with water if it looks like it might catch, one big table spoon coriander powder…done. Lovely with veggie curries. Indian food Wednesday!

    • Fitnessista on July 30, 2014 at 5:34 pm

      thank you for following for so long! i really think/hope you love the new site. we’ve been working really hard to get everything organized and much easier to navigate and find. 🙂 of course, i will love any feedback after it’s live in case we need to make some tweaks.
      i definitely need to try that recipe- thank you!

  33. Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine on July 30, 2014 at 7:18 pm

    I think you’ve inspired me to thin out my wardrobe 🙂 I do it a couple times a year- or if I’ve been in the States and done a lot of shopping, I’ll take 2 pieces out for every 1 new piece I put in. Haven’t been shopping lately (too hard here in Asia!), but my closet is feeling a bit cramped regardless… I make cauli mash all the time. I even love it cold in my lunches. Something comforting about its creaminess rather than all the salads I usually take.

  34. shaina on July 30, 2014 at 10:58 pm

    I do a major purge every time we move and it feels so good! I also do a major shopping binge once I’m no longer pregnant so Patrick better watch. out. haha

    • Fitnessista on July 31, 2014 at 7:31 pm

      heheh

  35. Livi @ Eat, Pray, Work It Out on July 30, 2014 at 11:05 pm

    Yum! I made cauliflower rice last week but mash is next on my list!!

  36. Aly on July 31, 2014 at 11:41 pm

    What are the staples?? I’m in need of a major wardrobe revamp.

    • Fitnessista on August 1, 2014 at 12:47 am

      i can put it on the fashion page!

  37. Vanessa on August 3, 2014 at 4:53 am

    I’d love to see the wardrobe revamp as well 🙂

  38. Becky on August 8, 2014 at 10:26 am

    Haha! I am totally on the grey (& black) bus. :/ Where is the next stop??

    • Fitnessista on August 8, 2014 at 10:46 am

      i don’t even know. i’m stuck here haha 🙂

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