Baked Cauliflower Volcano (Vegetables Au Gratin)

• Cream Sauce:
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 3 1/2 ounces processed cheese food, grated
• 3/8 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Vegetable Base:
• 1 small head cauliflower, stalk removed
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 2 cups diced potato
• 1/2 cup chopped carrot
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup green peas
• 1/2 cup chopped green beans
• 1 tablespoon crushed black peppercorns, divided
• salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons bread crumbs (optional)
• 3 1/2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly pour in milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Simmer until sauce is thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in processed cheese, heavy cream, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and Italian seasoning.
3. Prick whole cauliflower in several places with a fork. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower and cook, uncovered, until slightly tender, about 3 minutes. Drain.
4. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion; cook and stir until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add potato, carrot, red bell peppers, peas, and green beans. Season with salt. Increase heat to high and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables start to release their moisture, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon crushed black peppercorns.
5. Transfer vegetables to prepared baking dish. Place whole cauliflower in the center. Pour some sauce over cauliflower; fold remaining sauce in with vegetables. Sprinkle bread crumbs on top. Scatter Parmesan cheese on top. Sprinkle remaining 2 teaspoons peppercorns over cheese.
6. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown on top, about 20 minutes.

cream sauce, butter, allpurpose, milk, cheese food, heavy whipping cream, salt, italian seasoning, vegetable base, head cauliflower, butter, onion, potato, carrot, red bell pepper, green peas, green beans, black peppercorns, salt, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese

Taken from www.allrecipes.com/recipe/246047/baked-cauliflower-volcano-vegetables-au-gratin/ (may not work)