Cauliflower and broccoli gratin

This is a version of what the Brits call cauliflower cheese. I guess it can be served with whatever you like e.g. fish fingers, or pork chop or a piece of fish... whatever you like really. I don't bother having a potato or rice accompaniment to this, I think the gratin is perfect as an alternative.

Ingredients (serves 2)

•     1 small head of broccoli
•     1 small head of cauliflower
•     2 tbsp butter
•     2-3 tbsp flour
•     300 ml milk
•     60 ml double or whipping cream (these differ from single cream by their fat content)
•     1/8 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
•     1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper/paprika
•     salt and pepper to taste
•     1 egg yolk
•     100g grated hard cheese e.g. cheddar, greve, gruyere (whichever you like), plus extra for sprinkling on top.

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 200C.
2. Bring a pan of salted water to boil.
3. Cut small florets off the broccoli and cauliflower, approx 2 in./5 cm in height.
4. Start cooking the cauliflower in the boiling water. When it has been boiling for about 4 mins add the broccoli and boil everything for a further 3 mins. They should be quite tender but not soft enough to eat yet.
5. Drain veg, but set aside about 100 ml of the cooking water.
6. Melt butter slowly in a small saucepan, without letting it colour
7. Add the flour and stir constantly with a wire whisk. When this is blended together in a yellow lump start adding the milk, cream and cooking liquid in small amounts so they can be easily incorporated without lumps forming. Make sure you are whicking quite rapidly at this point.
8. When the sauce is starting to thicken (be warned it tends to stay runny for quite a while and you could be tempted to thicken it with more flour - don't, just be patient it will thicken), add the cayenne, nutmeg and salt and pepper. Feel free to add more of the spices to taste.
9. Remove the sauce from the heat, whick in the egg yolk and the cheese.
10. Put the florets of cauliflower and broccoli in a baking dish which will hold them compactly in a single layer.
11. Pour cheese sauce over the broccoli and cauliflower pieces and then sprinkle the remaining grated cheese on top.
12. Bake in the oven for 20 mins, until golden brown on top.

Hyvää Ruokahalua!