Very Good Cauliflower Cheese

Directions

Preheat the oven to 220°C (210°C fan)

Peel the onion and spike it with the cloves. In a small pan, simmer the milk with bay leaf, nutmeg, and onion to infuse. When the milk comes to a boil, turn off heat and cover. Leave for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, break the cauliflower into florets and cut the stem into inch long sections, removing any woody parts. Bring a pan of water to the boil, salt it, and at the cauliflower. Boil for 3 to 5 minutes, until just knife tender. Drain and put to one side.

In a heavy based saucepan, melt the butter. Add the flour and stir until it toasts just a little. Add the warm milk, little by little, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Season with salt and pepper and allow to simmer for about 10 minutes before adding the cheese and cream.

Combine cauliflower and cheese sauce in a baking dish. Top with more cheese and bake for 20 minutes.