Easy Peazy Potato Salad Recipe

#RitaHutchesonCobbs from the #KitchenWithAHouseAttached

Potatoes. They are a staple in a lot of homes. When I was growing up, fried potatoes was on our supper table almost every night. It use to frustrate my mother that she could cook or bake almost anything better than anyone else, in my opinion, but fried potatoes. My grandmother made the best fried potatoes ever. I don't know what she did different, but when she saw us coming, I got two things, her fried potatoes and a huge vase of flowers. I loved her so much and sitting on their porch swing with her, talking about everything was always the best. 

When I make anything that requires boiled diced potatoes, I boil my potatoes whole, skin and all. The pealing slides right off easily once the potatoes cool. Then I can cut them any way I want. This is a great way to make twice baked potatoes too. Once you have boiled the potatoes and peeled them then you can make the potato salad...told you that this would be easy!

Easy Peazy Potato Salad

4 cups of boiled potatoes, diced

1 medium onion, chopped finely

1/2 cup celery, chopped finely

1/4 cup dill pickle relish

1 tablespoon mustard (I like the honey flavored)

1 container of fat-free sour cream

1 package Hidden Valley Ranch Mix

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Mix all the ingredients together and serve cold. My son, Garrett, likes to warm the potato salad. It is an individual preference I suppose. Regardless, it is "supper" easy to make. If you have extra potatoes, they freeze easily. 

Turkey Burger Sliders with wine sauce recipe

#RitaHutchesonCobbs from the #KitchenWithAHouseAttached

I stand constantly amazed at today's technology. Where once, Granddaddy, watched the football game on local network television and listened to it on a local radio station, now, you can watch it through cable or via your phone. There are multiple apps that you can use to get scores, watch the actual games, several at a time matter of fact or get the highlights. It is interesting how things change. One thing that hasn't changed is food. With football games, I associate hot chocolate, blankets and pom poms. That is what we always carried to local games, but then there was food afterwards. Now, for as long as I can remember, college football has brought the halftime party. Here once again, we added Turkey Burger Sliders to the weekend's menu. Mini burgers that we put inside of gluten free biscuits! I know, can't image, but it was the perfect size and my family loved them more than the tiny rolls I could have bought. Added the  homemade slaw and fixing to the burger and it was a hit!

Turkey Burger Sliders 

with Wine Sauce Recipe

3 lbs of ground turkey

1 large bell pepper, chopped finely

1 large onion, chopped finely

1 egg. beaten slightly

1/2 cup of Italian bread crumbs (gluten free)

1/2 teaspoon each: cilantro, black pepper, garlic

Wine Sauce

1/2 cup red wine

2 tablespoons of bbq sauce

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Mix the meat well and make into small mini burger. Grill or place on a broiler pan and bake at 375 degrees until well done. Remove and place in a baking dish. Whisk together the sauce ingredients well and pour over each burger. Put in the over for ten-minutes. Serve hot.

This makes a great meatloaf too, but I do make more of the sauce to cover the meatloaf really well. Thinking I will try this in a shepherds pie as well. There are so many ideas going through my mind as I share recipes with you. I love cooking now that I have a full kitchen. Living with a two-eye burner, microwave, and a toaster oven for five-years really has made me appreciate this gift that God has blessed me with. There are many reasons we eat at home, it's healthier, saves money, but the main reason is because I am loving having a kitchen. I look where God has brought Garrett and I from and my son and I are so blessed and thankful. I think of that song that has a phrase, "If you could see where He brought me from to where I am today, then you would know..." God is always enough regardless where you are at and He will see you through even when you are afraid He isn't working, He is.

Hugs, Rita

Pulled BBQ Roast with Pineaople Coconut Rice Recipe

#RitaHutchesonCobbs from the #KitchenWithAHouseAttached

I hate to shop! Yup, starting off with a negative. Regardless, if you saw my filing system, you would totally believe me. I go to one department store once a week taking my mother to do her usual shopping and then I take Garrett to his favorite places. I don't go to the mall or the favorite places my girlfriends like to shop. Once, my BFF/daughter called me and asked where I was. When I told her I was shopping she got really excited until I told her I was at a sporting good store. Then she said, "I hope you are shopping for clothes." I replied that I wasn't, I was getting golf gloves for Garrett and looking at guns. She about screamed at me. It was too funny! 

When I do shop, especially for groceries, I look for the best prices and I prep the food when I get home. The meat gets tenderized and seasoned before going into the freezer. That is what I did with this beef roast. I took it out of the packing, pierced it with a fork all over, added meat tenderizer, placed it in a ziplock bag, poured a bottle of bbq sauce over it and one bottle of beer. Then when I was ready to use it, I took it out of the freezer the night before and let it thaw overnight.

The following morning, I placed the whole thing in a crockpot sprayed with cooking spray and let the roast cook for six-hours on medium. When I was ready for it, I sauteed a large chopped onion, pulled the roast and added it to the onion, then added 1/2 teaspoon each of paprika, sea salt, garlic, cilantro, cinnamon and rosemary. I allowed that to heat for 1 minute before adding 1/4 cup of low sodium soy sauce, stirring thoroughly. Sitting that aside. I got the pineapple and drained the liquid into a 4-cup measuring cup and poured the pineapple into the still hot skillet of meat and stirred so the pineapple will warm but not cook. For the rice, I took the 4-cup measuring cup with a bit of pineapple juice and finished filling it up with coconut water and prepared my rice for the dish. 

It was amazing! The pineapple juice and coconut water gave the meat a complimentary flavor since the soy sauce was used on the meat. I am curious now if this would make a good Asian soup for the winter. I may have to try it. Next time I will add egg rolls to the menu. 

As you have seen in my chicken recipes made using the crockpot, a bottle of beer poured over the meat makes a big difference in tenderizing. However, if you are having guest over, it would be a great compliment to them to make sure nobody is struggling with this beverage. A friend of mine said that she can taste it when she goes out to eat and sometimes it will trigger her past. I simple ask, "I will be making my chicken salad and this is how I usually make my chicken...is there anything in my prep that you are allergic too?" I am allergic to gluten so if you use whiskey in your sauce for your steaks...I will need my epipen! Just saying... It is always good to check for nut allergies too... Yup, I'm allergic to these too! It happens, but it is still worth opening your kitchen to others. You don't want to miss the fun and fellowship.

Hugs, Rita

Sweet Coleslaw Dressing Recipe

#RitaHutchesonCobbs from the #KitchenWithAHouseAttached

Football season is here and that means that the halftime party brings food. Each week, I look for fun filled ideas to make the games fun for my son, Garrett. He loves Alabama football and the Atlanta Falcons, so needless to say, the weekends are packed with fun, food and football! Welcome fall!

This past weekend, it was meat and potatoes, a manly kind of snack buffet turned into a supper since the game was mid-afternoon. As a side and to top the turkey burger sliders, we had homemade slaw. It would have been easier to just buy and container of slaw, but, one, it is cheaper to make your own, and two, it make a whole lot more when you do. 

You will need at least 4 cups of shredded cabbage, carrots, onion and whatever more you want in your slaw. I know that you can also purchase pre-shredded slaw mix at some produce sections of grocers too. This dressing is really good and could be used on salads as well. It will keep in the fridge for about a week if you want it for another meal.

Sweet Coleslaw Dressing Recipe

1 cup of vegan or fat-free mayonnaise

1/2 cup fat-free sour cream

1 tablespoons of sugar or sugar substitute

1 1/2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon of lemon (more if you family likes lemon)

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/8 teaspoon of sea salt

1 package of Hidden Valley Ranch mix (one of my favorite)

Mix thoroughly together and pour over cabbage. 

Stir the cabbage making sure it is coated completely with the dressing. 

Enjoy...

My mother use to make a mayo dressing slaw, but then we would get a vinegar based slaw at one of our favorite BBQ restaurants. It is interesting the different ways you can have something so simple as slaw. I loved it on hot dogs as a kid too.  Sneaking cabbage into salads and soups is a great way to get my family to eat it and experience the freshness of that vegetable. It is crunchy and vibrant without all the sweetness of a dressing...however, it is nice to have the option once in a while of something a bit different and a bit fun. Enjoy...

Hugs, Rita

Left-over BBQ Chicken and Dressing Recipe with a bit of Cheese

#KitchenWithAHouseAttached

Once again, finding yourself standing at the fridge thinking, "What am I going to feed them tonight?" I can't tell you the last time I had this happen. Due to whatever circumstance or situation I was living in, I had to adapt to that and the menus and supplies had to be on hand to prepare the food for every meal. Now, I plan, but it may be three to four days in advance with tons of flexibility. Then, like last Saturday, I made food for the football half-time and didn't have to cook until Wednesday! It was fabulous! I made bread...that was it!

So, when I had left over BBQ chicken, I made a couple of casseroles. This was one of them, a dressing that was creamy as well as hosting a crisp topping. I even had cranberries on hand to have with it. Using left-overs is a great opportunity to make casseroles, soups, stews, and even dips. Did you know you can make your own bread crumbs from day old bread? What about chips? You can use them too in your bread crumbs or you can make your own chips! I love making our tortilla chips. I can't say that Kale Chips are my favorite, I would rather have kale in my salads or with my greens.

So, let's make a dressing...

Left-over BBQ Chicken and Dressing

with a bit of Cheese

2 cups of BBQ Chicken, cooked, chopped or pulled

1 large onion, chopped finely

1 green bell pepper, chopped finely

2 large eggs, beaten slightly

5 cups vegetarian broth

1/2 a pan prepared cornbread, crumbled 

(I make a large iron skillet size)

1 cup of shredded cheese (fat-free)

1/2 teaspoon each parsley, black pepper 

(Garrett loves it, use less if desired), cilantro, Italian seasoning

1/8 teaspoon garlic

* sage, optional...I don't use sage because it has been known to enhance seizures.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix the ingredients together, yup, with your hands! Get messy!

The mixture should be slightly moist. If not, add a bit of broth or milk.

Pour into a baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake for 35 minutes or until top is slightly brown.

Serve hot.

This is great served with sour cream, cranberries, mashed cauliflower (love them), greens or a large salad. If you freeze this dressing, bake 3/4 the way done, then when you are ready to enjoy, thaw and finish baking the remaining time. 

Enjoy, Hugs,

Rita

Left-over BBQ Chicken and Cheesy Rice Casseroe

What can I say? I am a truly blessed momma! Two days a week, Garrett has my lunch ready for me so that we can leave for his Special Olympic activities. I may get a soy butter and dill pickle sandwich (lol actually happened once) to a turkey and cheese lettuce wrap. However, when I have been really blessed, I get something like this: a banana and supper warm chicken rice casserole from supper the night before! I love this boy to pieces! I get napkins, a real fork, and then a cup for my coffee! He is the Hallmark Movie wrapped up in a son.

Using left-overs is something I have done ever since I learned to cook. Taking vegetables to make soup, meat to create a chili, bananas to make desserts, even pineapple juice to use in cakes instead of water. There are lots of ways to use various things. Chicken can be used in so many ways, more so than probably hamburger. This past week, I had chicken left from making chicken salad for the football game so I thought of making a couple of casseroles for the freezer and one for supper. So, here is the BBQ chicken I combined with rice adding some cheese to make a creamy casserole that is great for a quick supper any night and for the freezer. If you make it for the freezer, as any casserole, bake 3/4 done and then cook the remaining time when you are ready to eat it. Make a salad during the cooking time and you will be ready for a great supper.

Left-over BBQ Chicken and

 Cheesy Rice Casserole

2 cups of prepared white rice

2 cups of prepared brown rice

1 large onion, chopped finely

5 cups of bbq chicken, cooked, chopped well or pulled

2 cans gluten-free cream of mushroom soup

1 container fat-free sour cream

1 package Hidden Valley ranch dressing mix

1/2 teaspoon cilantro

1/8 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon garlic

salt and peppr

4 cups of shredded cheese (fat-free Kraft melts) with 1/4 cup reserved

1 cup of gluten-free Italian bread crumbs

1/4 cup of butter (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix together all the ingredients, except 1/4 cup shredded cheese.

Pour into a baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.

Top with reserved shredded cheese. 

Thinly slice the butter and scatter across the top of the casserole (optional).

I also added about 2 tablespoons of the bread crumbs sprinkled over the top.

Bake until golden brown. Serve hot.

This will be a great Thanksgiving and Christmas recipe to use left-overs with. I usually make a soup with some of the left-overs so, add the soup to this recipe and you will have a great Sunday after the holidays meal. 

Enjoy, Hugs...

Rita

#KitchenWithAHouseAttached

Swedish Meatball Recipe with a bit of help...

Football season brings food, fun and...well, Garrett, and his love for Alabama Football Games!

Halftime is probably my favorite part because I love to cook.

About three-years ago, I made a first game feast for my son and from that day forward,

it became a Saturday tradition...

It has become comical how during the football week, various people have made

suggestions as to what to make "Garrett" for Football Saturday!

For the second game, Diane suggested Swedish Meatballs, something I had never made.

Diane and her husband Don, who is one of the "let's talk sports" regular coffee buddies 

to Garrett's tea at Starbucks...are fabulous friends.

A sampling of the second game halftime buffet...recipes have been posted throughout the week...

Sweet Macaroni Salad and Andrea's Fat-Free Tex Mex Dip, another friend recipe with a twist...

Now, Diane's suggestion...

Swedish Meatball Recipe

(my sauce came out thick this time, so I will change it a bit next time!)

2 lbs of ground turkey

2 large eggs, slightly beaten

1/4 cup fat-free milk

1 cup Italian bread crumbs (gluten free if desired)

1/2 cup onion, chopped finely

(I saute mine so the family don't know they are there)

black pepper and kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon cilantro

Sauce

1/2 cup 1-for-1 gluten free flour

3 cups of vegetable broth

1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions:

Preheat oven at 375 degrees.

Form meatballs into desired sizes, I make them about 2" round.

Place individually into a baking pain or broiler pan so any grease will drain off.

(Have used a muffin pan.)

Bake 30 minutes or until done.

Place in a baking dish and pour sauce over meatballs.

While meatballs are baking:

Spray skillet with cooking spray.

Pour flour into skillet and brown slightly.

Slowly add broth whisk while doing so until it thickens.

Add heavy cream and continue whisk until sauce thickens but is still creamy.

It will be a gravy consistency.

I hope you have a great fall season

and that your team spirit will flow.

Do remember that regardless that in Christ,

we are united regardless of sports, seasons or peoples...

our ultimate attitude is a witness to all every moment of everyday.

May He find us faithful, true and pleasing always.

Hugs, Rita

Andrea's Fat-Free Tex Mex Dip Recipe

From the #KitchenWithAHouseAttached

Do you have those friends in your life that prove themselves the definition of a friend? I realized the definition of friend in reality when it was shared through a scripture perspective during a study of 2 Corinthians in the Bible. Paul is writing a letter to the church at Corinth telling them about unity, forgiveness and so forth. However, through references elsewhere, the passages ties together the depth of what a person is to do...listen, encourage, support, no gossip, be unified, grounded in what is righteous and godly, balancing all on what God says...what God says in His Word. I experienced that, but it was after my life-experience when I realized there were four people, all women, in my life that did just those things. They stood strong with me the last two-years of my marriage, knowing all that I was going through. I removed the veil of reality I was living in and followed their advice even when my marriage ended with my husband walking away. After that these same women were there and have been. It was said in just a few words, "A friend stands closer than a brother," but that friend needs to be standing firm on the Word of God and, to be honest, if they are, they won't be any room for the enemy to take advantage of the situation because these same friends will call account again based on the Word of God. 

So, now, this one of the four ladies, is Andrea. She is fantastic! Although we are on different sides of the fence when it comes to football teams, she Auburn and Mr. Garrett's house, Alabama, as Garrett says, "We have to love them anyway," lol. I was having coffee with Andrea, making my grocery list for the week, when she suggested this Tex Mex Dip to go with Tortilla Chips. She texted me the recipe and I had to make it. I sent her the photo of the results and have no idea if that was what it was suppose to look like, but it certainly is delicious. I have some other ideas for this dip so keep watching! So, get some tortilla chips warmed and let's dip!

Andrea's Fat Free Tex Mex Dip Recipe

(The original recipe wasn't fat-free, so I adapted)

2 cans fat-free refried beans

1 cup fat-free mayo

1 cup fat-free sour cream

1 package gluten free taco seasoning

1 small can chopped black olives (only fat, so optional)

1/2 cup onion, chopped finely

1/2 cup tomatoes, diced super small

2 cups fat-free cheddar cheese

Directions:

Using a 9x13 glass dish, spread refried beans evenly in the bottom. 

Mix mayo, sour cream, and taco seasoning together well, then spread on top of refried beans.

Top the taco mix spread with half of the olives, onions, and tomatoes.

Add the cheese on top of the pretty veggies.

Place the remaining veggies on top of the cheese.

Serve at room temperature with warmed tortilla chips. 

I am thinking this will be great on top of bake potatoes too! Maybe I am leaving the fat-free zone lol. How about on top of steamed cauliflower? I am thinking pasta too! Maybe I am just ready for more dip...loving the fall and football season.

Hugs and thankful for friends God has placed in my life!

Rita

Rita's Sweet Macaroni Salad with Sour Cream Recipe

From the #KitchenWithAHouseAttached 

This time of year brings outings, family gatherings and, of course, football. As I was planning what we would have during the halftime portion of the first Alabama football game, my son, Garrett, asked for Macaroni Salad. I could have bought a box of it, but why when I could make a larger bowl of it for the price of two cups plus a bit healthier. This was a twist when I added a bit of sweetness to it using brown sugar instead of regular sugar and then adding balsamic vinegar. It was super delicious. Cutting the calories allows for a bit of indulgence elsewhere so why add them into hidden places of elbow pasta...let's create a rockin' awesome salad:

Rita's Sweet Macaroni Salad with Sour Cream Recipe

1 16 ounce box gluten-free box macaroni elbow pasta

1 cup vegan mayo (love the taste if I have to use mayo)

1 cup fat-free sour cream (can use 2 cups if no mayo)

1 table spoon balsamic vinegar 

2 tablespoons brown sugar substitute 

1 cup celery, chopped finely

1/2 cup onion, chopped finely

Mix all together well. Put in the fridge for one hour and serve cold. 

Happy Football Season!

Go Teams!

#RTR

Hugs, Rita

The first Alabama Football Halftime Buffet is planned!

#RitaHutchesonCobbs at the #KitchenWithAHouseAttached 

This week, I heard one of my lovely ladies from one of my group fitness classes ask another lady regarding Alabama football, “You have never heard of people devoted to football like us?? Where are you from?” The conversation went on, but it was all in good nature humor and we were seriously laughing, but it was the truth. In Hartselle, Alabama, I will be bold enough to write it, come Friday night, it is where everyone is at…the Hartselle Football stadium! If the hometown high school is playing locally, then that is where the people go. Most have seasonal tickets and will be standing in line when the booth opens pre-season as early as six in the morning to get theirs. We love to support our team and we go crazy about it more than any other sport at times.

Then there’s college football, pardon the pun, but that is a whole nother game! Alabama and Auburn! Not from here? Indeed, that is something that should be at the top of your check-list in moving to Alabama…pick a team before heading this way. When a high school student picks a college, they will stay true to their family’s devotion regardless if one or the other offers the better school for the degree they need. See, each college in the state offers a focal point for education regardless if they say they do or not. For example, here is a simple list: UAH offers Engineering while UAB is medical, UA at Tuscaloosa is Athletic and Law, Athens State is Education, Auburn is Agriculture, Music, Pharmaceutical and one of our local community colleges is Nursing while one in South Alabama is well known for offering scholarships for track and golf. It is like this in other states I am sure, but I haven’t heard where most things shut down for college football like the state of Alabama.

Which brings me to, Garrett Cobbs! My fabulous and wonderful rockin’ awesome number one Alabama fan! You may love football, consider yourself devoted to football, but, I am sorry, this guy is sold out to the team, every coach they have had in his lifetime, and ready for every sport Alabama has to offer. He once asked a guy, “Are you an Alabama fan?” The guy swore he was, until Garrett found out that he only watched Alabama football. Garrett quickly told him that he was just an Alabama football fan and since he didn’t watch all their sports he wasn’t a true Alabama fan. Bless him!

Each Alabama football game, however, I make Garrett a half-time buffet. The great part is the food lasts through Monday. I have my motives. Sometimes, friends come over and join us for the game and spend time with us. With today being the first game, here is the menu thanks to the suggestions of some amazing friends:

Swedish Meatballs (the sauce came out a bit thick, but delicious)

Sweet Macaroni Salad with Sour Cream

Andrea’s Fat Free Tex Mex Dip

Also, planning to make chicken salad and banana pudding which I have made several times, but the pudding will be fat free, but added the not-so-fat-free recipe link. I am excited about the dip. Andrea is an amazing friend and entertained often. She has so many great ideas and recipes!

Hope you have a fabulous football season filled with hot chocolate, warm blankets, total wins (for Alabama lol cause I have to live with Garrett for the next year!) and great memories!  I will post the recipes for the three other dishes this week! Enjoy the game!

Hugs and...RTR!

Rita