2 teaspoons cocoa powder

Corned beef, which makes an appearance on many St. Patrick’s Day tables, isn’t the only food to which “corning,” or salt-curing, can be applied. Corning originally was named for the corn kernel-size pellets of salt used to preserve meat in times before refrigeration, but the method today is used to permeate food with flavor.For a vegetable-forward take on the classic boiled dinner, we submerge a whole head of cauliflower in a spice-infused brine for several hours, allowing thorough absorption. Salt also weakens the cellular walls of the vegetable by drawing moisture out of them, rendering the vegetable more tender.

To ensure the brine reaches into the dense core, we use a paring knife to pierce into the stem end before dropping the head into the hot liquid. After removing it and patting it dry, into the oven it goes.To finish, a mixture of butter and whole-grain mustard is slathered on the brined vegetable before it’s coated with dill and panko breadcrumbs and returned to the oven until the surface is nicely browned. Every bit of the cauliflower ends up deliciously seasoned, and its meaty yet tender texture is complemented by the crispness of the breadcrumb crust.Cut into wedges for serving, the cauliflower makes a fine vegetarian main or side.

Start to finish: 1 hour (25 minutes active), plus cooling and brining2 tablespoons coriander seeds

2 tablespoons caraway seeds

1 tablespoon yellow mustard seedsTensions rose and emotions flared as the hours dragged on into early Wednesday morning. House Republicans are working to push

through a gauntlet of committees and mounting opposition from Democrats, advocacy groups and even some wary Republicans themselves.Right from the start, one meeting was immediately disrupted by protesters shouting down what the panel’s top Democrat called “cruel” cuts to Medicaid.

“People feel very strong because they know they’re losing their health care,” said Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., on the Energy & Commerce Committee, Tuesday afternoon.And on it went. As midnight passed, two panels were still going, processing more than 100 amendments from Democrats that were largely failing, as Republicans marched ahead with their plan.