Mashed Potatoes Primavera

I'm eating this dish right now, as I blog. So, please excuse the occasional "yum" that slips out! Yum.

Occasionally, when I'm teaching, a small part of my brain is going over the foods and spices I have in the house and rearranging them into the delicious meal I will cook when I get home. That was the case today, and rather than make a typical, though tasty stir fry, I came up with this delicious, colorful, and hearty meal. I credit the inspiration to the fact that the wine I have at home just wouldn't be right with a stir fry.

Happy, delighted
Productive and healthy too!
Anti-McDonalds.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 medium onion, chopped
  
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  
• 1 piece shallot, chopped
  
• Basket of grape tomatoes (or the equivalent of any other tomato)
• 1 1/2 cups chopped cauliflower
• 3 large carrots, chopped
  
• 1 cup chopped broccoli
• 1 handful chopped spinach
• 2 baking potatoes
• 1 Tbsp Rosemary
• 1 tsp thyme
• Dash cayenne pepper
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• water
• 1/2 cup cabernet
• Parmesan, or other similar cheese
• Butter - just enough, according to the day you have had
  

1. Over medium heat, heat wok or large skillet for one minute. Add olive oil and heat one minute more. Add onion and heat two minutes more, while chopping garlic.
2. Add garlic, and heat while chopping shallot. Boil small-medium pot of water enough to cover two potatoes. Peel and chop the potatoes for quicker cooking.
   
3. Add shallot and tomatoes. Heat while chopping cauliflower. Add potato pieces to boiling water.
   
4. To the wok, add cauliflower, and cover, cooking 5 minutes, or until cauliflower is soft (those of you who know me, know I like my cauliflower a little overcooked). Chop the carrots.
   
5. Add carrots, water, wine, rosemary, thyme and red pepper. Cover and cook 5 minutes, or until tender. Chop the broccoli.
6. Add broccoli and cover, cooking 5 minutes, or until tender. Chop the spinach.
7. Add spinach, and cover, cooking until you're ready to eat. At the same time, drain the potato and return to the pot, adding butter to taste, any additional rosemary and mashing.
8. In a low-bowl, dish up the mashed potatoes, and top with vegetable mixture. Grate cheese on top, and enjoy immediately. Luckily, you have the rest of the bottle of wine to enjoy with it!

* All vegetables may be replaced with whatever you have in your fridge.