Southern Style Fauxtato Salad ~ Low Carb

My grandmother made the BEST potato salad!  After she was unable, my mom started making it and it was just like Grandma Butler’s.

Even though my mom didn’t eat anything “white, bland or mushy”, she would always make potato salad every holiday meal for my brother and me. I don’t know how she did it without even tasting, ’cause it was always perfect!

I’ve found out that substituting cooked cauliflower actually works and the results are very tasty.  It’s a simple recipe but makes a great side dish for a BBQ or even a holiday dinner!

Southern Style Fauxtato Salad

1 med head of cauliflower, steamed
4 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
½ small onion, diced
½ cup dill pickle relish
2/3 cup real mayonnaise
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
salt and pepper to taste
paprika

Use your favorite steaming method to cook the cauliflower or
to steam cauliflower, cut into florets and put in a large
saucepan. Add about an inch of water in the bottom,
cover and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat while leaving
lid on while the cauliflower steams, maybe about 7 minutes
or so. Drain and rinse under cold water.

Put in large bowl and cut florets into bite size pieces. Add
remaining ingredients and stir well. Sprinkle with paprika
and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

Serve with grilled meat or as a side for your holiday ham.

COOK’S NOTE: I have used a 12 oz bag of frozen cauliflower
with favorable results. Steam and cut into bite-sized pieces
before adding the remaining ingredients.

Chicken Fried Steak with Cream Gravy ~ Low Carb and Grain Free

I’m adding this recipe to my low carb comfort foods file!

Totally filling and very satisfying, this meal has it all.  It’s fried and topped with gravy.  I felt like I was eating off plan!

On to the recipe…

Process the pork skins and almond meal for the breading until crumb-like.

Put the pork steak into the egg wash then the “breading”.

Cook the steaks one at a time until done.

Top with gravy when serving.  Enjoy!

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Chicken Fried Pork Cubed Steak with Cream Gravy

4 pork loin cubed steaks, medium size
1/3 cup almond milk
1 egg, beaten
1 cup pork skins
1/3 cup almond meal
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
½ tsp garlic powder
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 tablespoon butter

Gravy:
3/4 cup cream
½ cup water
salt and pepper

Put the cubed steaks on a plate and place in the freezer while preparing the egg wash and breading.  The ones I used were very tender and almost fell apart.  Slightly chilling them in the freezer should help firm them up for the breading process.

For the egg wash: In a small flat bowl, combine the almond milk and egg. Beat with a fork until well blended.

For the breading:  In a food processor, process the pork skins and almond meal together until crumb-like.  Add the Parmesan cheese and pulse again.  Add some garlic powder and stir.  Pour into a flat bowl that will be usable for breading the steaks.

Melt coconut oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat.

Dip pork cubed steaks in egg wash and then the breading (on both sides).   Slightly press in the breading on the steak.  Place one steak in the skillet and fry on the first side about 4 minutes, flip and then cook 2 minutes or until done.  (It didn’t take too long and I cooked one at a time so they’d have plenty of room in the skillet.)  Remove from pan and drain if necessary.  Mine didn’t seem greasy at all.

After the steaks are cooked, pour the cream and water into the skillet for de-glazing and making a tasty gravy.  Cook until some of the water has evaporated and the cream has thickened.  Season with salt and pepper.  To serve, spoon over the steaks.

I served mine with buttered steamed broccoli and radishes.  I added cooked rice to my family’s plates.

Serves 4.

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Disclaimer: Some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links.  If you purchase through the links provided, I will receive a very small compensation at no extra cost to you.  Thanks!

French Silk Pie ~ Sugar Free

I love dessert and dessert for me usually involves chocolate! 

I made this recipe several weeks ago and was very impressed with the richness and depth of chocolate flavor. 

*Please see COOK”S NOTES regarding raw eggs

FRENCH SILK PIE

1 stick of real butter (softened)
3/4 cup sweetener that measures like sugar ( I used Stevia)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 squares Baker’s chocolate, melted
2 eggs
Real whipped cream for topping
1 prepared crust (I used a nut crust like the one here)

In a stand mixer bowl, cream the butter and sweetener
until well blended.   Add the vanilla and melted chocolate.
Mix well.

Add the first egg and mix for 5 minutes on medium.
Add the 2nd egg and mix for 5 more minutes.
Mixture should be fairly thick (mousse-like) by that time.
Pour into prepared crust.  Chill.

Serve each slice with a dollop of real whipped cream.

*I like to warm the pie up just a few seconds in the microwave
before serving.  Just maybe 3-5 seconds or it melts into a sauce. 🙂

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COOK’S NOTE:  The eggs in this pie are uncooked. On a personal level, I’ve never had sickness from using raw eggs in recipes, the risk which is evidently quite low. But for those who are very old, very young, pregnant, or have a compromised immune system, please do not risk eating raw egg products.

With that being said, buy good quality, organic if possible, eggs.  Check for any breakage, even hairline cracks and don’t use those. Wash the eggs in a sink of soap and water. The salmonella is a bacteria found in chicken intestinal tracts and it gets deposited onto their egg shells, therefore, an unbroken egg should be sterile inside.

 

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Vintage Recipe: Sausage Casserole

Sometimes you run across a draft post that you forgot to publish.  This is one of those times.  From 2009…

This recipe is courtesy of my very good friend, Laura, and is a great mid-week dinner casserole.

Years ago, supper get-togethers were a big thing for us.  On Tuesday nights or possibly Thursday nights, Laura and I would make supper together and after eating, we’d play Trivial Pursuit.   Those were the days before kids and rushed evenings of homework and laundry, laundry, laundry!

When we tried to choose our menu for the evening, Sausage Casserole was always among our choices.  Sausage Casserole or Pizza Potatoes.  Decisions, decisions.

If we had a little extra money, we’d go big-time and have homemade Enchiladas with a side of Mexican Rice and Rotel Cheese dip, which we would pour over everything!

I don’t get to eat like that very often.  I try to make healthier meals nowdays.

Those were the days before internet…or even cell phones!  It was just us friends sitting around, having a good meal and a good time together playing board games and visiting.  Sometimes I long for those quiet, easy in some ways – harder in other, days.

So, I go to my old recipe box and pull out one of these vintage recipes and the first taste takes me back.

This version is made with Dreamfields Penne Rigate pasta.  It was delicious!  Add a salad and crusty bread if you like and you have a meal.

 

Sausage Casserole

1 lb mild sausage
1 bag egg noodles, cooked and drained (I used Dreamfields pasta instead)
12 oz cream of mushroom soup (homemade recipe – see below)
2 cups mozzerella cheese

.
Cook sausage and drain.  Mix noodles with soup.  Pour in 2 qt casserole.  Top with mozzerella cheese.  Bake for 40 minutes at 375º.

Serves 6-8.

COOK’S NOTE:  Now that I’m trying to avoid wheat, I’m thinking this might be good with layered zucchini sliced real thin instead of the pasta.  Maybe with a sprinkle of Parmesan.  Yeah, why not!  add a little more cheese!  🙂

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On Linda Sue’s site, there’s a great recipe for Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup. 

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Almond Flour Biscuits ~ Low Carb • Grain Free

Looking for a sturdy wheat free biscuit to hold up some yummy sugar free pumpkin butter or maybe some sausage gravy?   Not exactly like grandma made, but close to it for sure.  And so tasty, you’ll almost feel guilty.

Almond Flour Biscuits ~ Low Carb • Wheat Free • Grain Free

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of almond flour
1 tsp aluminum free baking powder
½ tsp sea salt
2 tablespoons cold salted butter
egg whites from 3 large eggs

Preheat oven to 400º F.

Mix almond flour, baking powder and salt together in a medium size bowl. Add cold butter and using a pastry cutter, mix until crumbly.

Next, in a small bowl, whisk the eggs with a fork until they are slightly frothy, about 30 seconds. Blend the eggs in with the almond flour mixture until combined.  Place in the fridge for 20 minutes to allow the bits of butter to harden.

Divide the biscuit mixture into 4-6 portions and spoon on to a parchment lined baking sheet or into a well-greased muffin top pan. Bake right away for 10 -12 minutes.  Remove when golden brown.  Makes 4-6 biscuits.

Serve with butter and preserves or top the biscuits with your favorite sausage gravy.

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Nutritional information for 6 servings:

For each biscuit = Calories 147,  Carbs 5, Fat 13,  Protein 6

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DISCLAIMER: If you purchase from the links in this post you are helping support Heart of a Country Home at no extra charge to yourself.  Thanks and Happy Holidays!

How to fold a shirt in under 2 seconds!

I don’t share a lot of videos, but thought this one is too good not to share!

How handy this little tip will be.  Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Cornflake Candy

Sometimes we associate certain recipes with certain people and oh, what good memories they bring.

A lady at my church, Ms. Helen,  made these tasty candy-like cookies for almost every covered dish dinner we had.  What a special lady and how I miss her!

So when another lady, Ms. Dot, blessed me with several boxes of cornflakes cereal, I decided to make some goodies for the helpers at our church’s yard sale.  They were gone in a flash!

Easy, simple, and a great bake-sale item, I hope you try this soon.

Peanut Butter Cornflake Candy

1 cup of white granulated sugar
1 cup of light corn syrup
1 cup of peanut butter
½ tsp salt, optional
5 cups of plain cornflakes

Measure out cornflakes into a large glass bowl and prepare a large sheet pan by lining with parchment paper or buttering the pan.

Combine sugar and corn syrup in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter, adding salt if you want to at this time.  (I usually do all this with a wooden spoon, beating the mixture like fudge.)

Pour over the cornflakes and mix well. Working quickly, drop by spoonfuls on the prepared sheet pan and set aside to cool.

NOTE:  Mixture can also be pressed into a buttered 9 x 13 inch baking pan and cut into squares.

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And if you’re in the mood for some peanut butter cookies or candy, but you’re watching your sugar intake, try these recipes:

SF PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

LINDA’S CHEWY PEANUT BUTTER CANDY

 

Summer Seafood Pasta Salad

I love a cold salad for summer supper.  It satisfies but you don’t feel stuffed.  This bright, fresh, seafood salad is one of my favorites.

Summer Seafood Pasta Salad

8 oz uncooked spiral pasta (I used Dreamfields)
1 package (8 oz) imitation crabmeat, chopped
½ cup finely diced celery
¼ cup finely diced pickles
¼ cup finely diced Vidalia onion
½ cup mayonnaise
1 Tbps ketchup
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
1 tsp Stevia (I used a splash of liquid Stevia)
salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice and seasonings. Set aside.

Drain pasta and rinse in cold water. Gently combine crabmeat and sauce mixture with pasta. Chill for a couple of hours for the seasonings to blend.

*Optional additions: fresh chopped broccoli or cauliflower,  shredded cheese, cooked salad shrimp.

Disclaimer: The links contained in this post are Affiliate Links.  If you purchase through the links provided, I will receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you.  Thanks for your support!

Friendship Casserole – Keep one, share one

This hearty meal makes enough to share!  

 

I happened upon this recipe when I was looking for a dish to take to a friend who had just had surgery.   This recipe is just right!  It makes enough for you to keep and then you get to share with a friend.

FRIENDSHIP CASSEROLE

2 pounds ground beef, browned
1 jar 48 oz of your favorite spaghetti sauce
16 oz bag medium egg noodles
½ cup butter
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
12 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350º
In a skillet, brown meat and drain fat. Then put the meat back in the skillet.  Add spaghetti sauce to meat; simmer for 20 minutes.

Cook noodles as directed on the package (cook to al dente); then drain and
toss the noodles with butter, seasonings and parmesan cheese.  Spray two
9×13 pans with non-stick spray ( I prefer to use my Misto sprayer that I fill with oil).

In each pan layer one quarter of the sauce, half of the noodles, then split the remaining sauce between the two. Top each with half of the mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil; bake 45 minutes.

*You can also add some sauteed green bell peppers, onions and
mushrooms to the sauce.  I added mushrooms after checking with my friend to make sure she liked them, too.

**You can use foil pans like these if you’re sharing with a friend.

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NOTE:  I use Dreamfields pasta for low carbers.  It’s possible that another low carb pasta or veggie “pasta” could be substituted as well and be equally delicious.  Enjoy!

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DISCLAIMER: If you purchase from the links in this post you are helping support Heart of a Country Home at no extra charge to yourself.  Thanks and Happy New Year!

Olive Garden Salad

Did I mention how much I love salads? 

I really do!  

This is another special salad I enjoy and got the recipe from my niece who makes it quite often.  When she serves this, she also serves Zuppa Soup (yum!) and breadsticks.  What a meal!

This is some of what you’ll need:

Doesn’t it look good already?!

OLIVE GARDEN SALAD

1 (12 ounce) bag iceberg garden salad (I used iceberg lettuce)
1/4 small red onion, sliced thin
6 -12 pitted black olives
3/4 cup pepperoncini pepper rings
1 -2 small roma tomatoes, sliced bite-size
1 1/2 cups Italian seasoned croutons
freshly grated parmesan cheese, to taste
fresh ground black pepper, to taste

For the dressing:

½ cup Mayonnaise
1/3 cup White vinegar
1 teaspoon Vegetable oil
2 tablespoons Corn syrup (I use 1 Stevia packet)
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons Romano cheese
1 clove Garlic
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon Parsley flakes
1 tablespoon Lemon juice
1 tablespoon Sugar (optional -I use Stevia if I add this)

In a large glass or wooden salad serving bowl, toss together the lettuce,
onion slices, olives, pepper rings, tomatoes, and croutons. Add dressing and toss to combine.

Sprinkle with fresh Parmesan cheese and black pepper to taste.

 

 

 

Toss with these unique bamboo salad hands.

Serve chilled.

 

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Kool-Aid Pie

I’ve been on a Kool-Aid Pie kick lately.

And why not?!  They’re so easy!

I know they’ve been around for a while but it’s a new attempt at an easy and delicious pie.

I’ve had several elderly friends to pass away lately and I was looking for something quick and easy to take to the dinner for the family.    It’s kinda hard to make a complicated recipe when you work full time.  This recipe is exactly that…easy, that is, and delicious, too! You can change the flavor depending on what kind of Kool-Aid you use.

I’ve made three flavors…Strawberry, Lemon-Lime, and Orange.

Delicious…very easy…and perfect for Spring!

KOOL-AID PIE

1 graham cracker pie crust
1 pkg unsweetened Kool-Aid powdered drink mix
1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
In a medium bowl, mix condensed milk and Kool-aid until well combined.  Fold in Cool Whip and spoon pie mixture into the graham cracker crust. Garnish according to flavor.  Chill for 2 hours and serve.

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And for my low carb readers…
3-INGREDIENT LOW-CARB LEMON ICEBOX PIE

from Jimmy Moore’s site.  Sounds yummy!

Sausage and Sweet Potato Hash

Sausage and Sweet Potato Hash

1/2 of a small sweet potato, cut into small pieces
1 large sausage patty (from the freezer section)
2 tablespoons diced onion
salt, pepper, garlic salt or garlic powder
1 tablespoon bacon grease (or coconut oil)

Saute all together in a small skillet until potatoes are tender
and sausage is heated through.  Serves 1.

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Cal 316
Carbs 19
Fat 23
Protein 7
Fiber 4
Sugar 5

Crockpot Mac and Cheese by Trisha Yearwood

Talk about decadent and rich!  That’s this ooey, gooey homemade mac and cheese recipe for the crockpot! When I tested it straight out of the crockpot, I could not stop eating it.  Total comfort food!

Crockpot Mac and Cheese by Trisha Yearwood

8 oz box or bag of elbow macaroni, cooked  …  (try Dreamfields)
One 12 oz can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/4 cup (1/2 stick ) of butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
2 large eggs, beaten
Two 10 oz bricks sharp Cheddar cheese, grated (about 5 cups)
Dash of paprika
Cooking spray (I just buttered the dish)

In a large slow cooker, or crock pot (here’s a great 5 quart crock pot) lightly sprayed with cooking spray (or buttered), mix the macaroni, evaporated milk, milk, butter, salt, pepper, eggs and all but 1/2 cup of the grated cheese.

Sprinkle the reserved cheese over the top of the mixture and then sprinkle with paprika. Cover and cook on low heat for 3 hours and 15 minutes. (Mine was done in about 2 1/2 hours).  Turn off the slow cooker, stir the mixture and serve hot.  Makes 12 servings.

Cook’s Note: If you don’t have a slow cooker, grease a 9-by-13-by-2-inch pan with butter, add the mixture and bake at 350 degrees F for 50 minutes.

Low Carb Note: I’m thinking about trying this delicious mac and cheese recipe with cauliflower or baking it as a turnip gratin.  I’ll keep you updated!

recipe courtesy of Food Network

~Did I mention that my daughter has a guitar signed by Trisha Yearwood?  🙂  It was a 15th birthday gift from her grandpa.

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Inspire Me Tuesday

Vintage Recipe ~ Aunt Mary’s “Quick Crunchies” aka Rice Krispie Date Balls

I love looking through Aunt Mary’s little recipe box.  She was one of the best home cooks I ever knew and I always enjoyed eating at her house.

Many days she would call my mom at work and tell her the soup was on.   She almost always had homemade yeast rolls rising in muffin tins.  She’d sit the trays on her hot water heater behind the kitchen door.  I’d lift the tea towel that covered the rolls to inhale the yeasty smell of dough rising.

Good memories.

I found this quick little candy recipe in her recipe box.  I’ve been wanting to try a recipe with dates so I decided this one would work nicely.  This is just one candy I made during the past holidays.  Hope you enjoy!

 

Aunt Mary’s “Quick Crunchies” aka Rice Krispy Date Balls

1 stick butter
3/4 c. sugar
1 (8 oz.) chopped dates
1 c. pecans, chopped
2 c. crispy rice cereal
1 tsp. vanilla
coconut, for rolling

In saucepan, melt butter and sugar over low heat. Add dates and
cook 3 minutes or until mixture thickens and remove from heat.

Add nuts, crispy rice cereal, and vanilla. When cool enough to handle,
form small balls and roll in coconut.

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More of Aunt Mary’s Recipes

Easy Triple Chocolate Cookies

It’s been homemade cookies week around my house!

My youngest daughter has made at least 3 batches of  Magic Peanut Butter Cookies and I made 1 batch of Magic Peanut Butter Cookies using Splenda.

My oldest daughter has been in the decorative creative mood and made Sugar Cookies decorated like snowflakes with white icing and blue sprinkles.  She also made this pretty fall centerpiece using a vase and other items found in our yard.

Now on to some of the easiest, most delicious cookies I’ve made lately…

 

Triple Chocolate Cookies

18 oz. pkg. Chocolate Fudge cake mix
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup oil
1 egg
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, butter, oil, and egg at low speed until dry ingredients are moistened and dough is thoroughly mixed. It will be a thick mixture.

Stir in chocolate chips and pecan pieces.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2″ apart onto ungreased cookie sheets, pressing down slightly on each spoonful.

Bake at 350 for 9-12 minutes on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cool two minutes on cookie sheets, then remove to wire racks to cool.

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Delicious warm and fudgey right out of the oven; these cookies did not last the day!

Have a very happy National Homemade Cookies Day!

…MORE COOKIE RECIPES…

COOKIES