Recipe: Peppery Egg Noodle, Farmer's Cheese & Cauliflower Gratin

I have recently added Fine Cooking magazine to my monthly magazine recipe research for my clients. I have been pleasantly surprised at range and use of ingredients throughout their recipes - case in point - Peppery Egg Noodle, Farmer's Cheese & Cauliflower Gratin.

Old school, French style casseroles are the best...but I do not do the Americanized, just add creme of mushroom soup casseroles. At least that is what I tell people when they call my service looking for the stuff your freezer full of casseroles style personal chefs.

But this recipe is a case in point (thought I did doctor it up a little), that sometimes there is nothing better than a creme and buttery crusted - so perfect for fall - goodness.

(Peppery Egg Noodle, Farmer's Cheese & Cauliflower Gratin)

• 12 oz. farmer's cheese (I couldn't find any - so I just substituted cottage)
• 3/4 cup of heavy cream
• 3 Tablespoons of butter
• 1/4 cup homemade breadcrumbs (I added some picked thyme and chopped sage)
• 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
• kosher salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 1 small head of cauliflower (1 & 3/4 - 2 lbs.), trimmed and cut into 1 inch long florets
• 1 cup homemade or low-salt chicken or veggie broth
• 9 oz. fresh egg pasta

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Bring a large pot of water to boil, add enough salt to make it taste like 'sea water'.
3. Butter a casserole dish about 9x13.
4. Pulse in food processor farmers cheese and cream.(I added 3 Tablespoons of picked thyme and 2 Tablespoons of chopped sage to this.)
5. Saute breadcrumbs with thyme and butter until golden brown.
6. Separately saute in butter the cauliflower until slightly brown and translucent. (I added White Wine here, about a cup or so - educing completely before removing the cauliflower from the heat.)
7. Cut fetticine with kitchen shears into 3-4 inch pieces.
8. Drop fetticine in boiling water, removing after just 1 minute.
9. Combine cream - cheese mixture, fetticine and cauliflower, until fully combined.
10. Spread into casserole dish. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over and grind some extra pepper on top.
11. Place in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes.