GBP's Cozy Casseroles Review #3 & GIVEAWAY!

IF you are just coming in on my review of this fantastic book, you've missed Part 1 and Part 2 -- be sure to give those a look over and catch up -- these recipes are too good to miss out on!!

Gooseberry Patch's 101 Cozy Casseroles

So you know that I have THING for cauliflower -- the low-carb potato, lol. When I saw this next recipe, I KNEW I would be giving it a try. No disappointments here -- Y-U-M-M-O!!

White Cheddar-Cauliflower Casserole

Gooseberry Patch's 101 Cozy Casseroles (submitted by: Lisa Ashton, Aston, PA)

(Printable Version)

1 head cauliflower, cooked and mashed

8-oz pkg. shredded white Cheddar Cheese, divided

1/2 lb bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled and divided

1/2 c. cream cheese

2 Tbsp sour cream

salt and pepper to taste

Combine cauliflower, half the cheddar cheese and 3/4 of the bacon in a bowl. add cream cheese and sour cream; mix well. Spread mixture in a greased 8x8-inch baking pan; top with remaining cheese and bacon. Bake uncovered , at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbly and golden around edges. Serves 6.

GIVEAWAY - FIRST I want to say that I do these reviews and giveaways from time to time. Follow my blog and opt to have the posts delivered directly to your email IF you want to know when a giveaway is in the works. 

So, you've left a comment telling me what your favorite go-to casserole is AND you are following along on Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest. For ANOTHER bonus entry, leave me a comment here on this post telling me either your favorite Gooseberry Patch cookbook OR your favorite recipe from Gooseberry Patch. I am looking forward to reading everyone's favorites!

The prize drawing will be Wednesday May 16th and the prize is your very own copy of 101 Cozy Casseroles - even before it is released - AND a spiffy vintage-inspired Faithfulness Farm Apron AND the cutest little set of 4 individual casserole dishes so you can whip up casseroles to your hearts content :)

P.S. I just can't help myself -- I AM OUTTA CONTROL, LOL!! -- look for ONE more recipe from this book on Monday with another BONUS entry possible.

Low-Carb Living ~ Pumpkin Frozen Custard

Whoot-whoot -- this is my 400th post -- how did I ever find something to say, 400 posts worth, lol. Thanks for being out there reading :)

I know this recipe should appear about October and NOT May, but I love pumpkin -- year-round and recently decided that I had a craving for Pumpkin Ice Cream. In my pre-low-carb days, I'd wait all year for DQ to announce that Pumpkin Pie Blizzards were on the menu and I'd rush right over to get me one - the only Blizzard for the year, lol. Now trips to the DQ are only for an occasional No Sugar Added Dilly Bar (a favorite treat by-the-way). This frozen custard is at least as good as my memory tells me those blizzards are -- probably better since it is totally low-carb. Oh, and I'll understand if you tuck this recipe away until October :)

I also wanted to mention that I am in ♥ with my counter-top ice cream maker -- especially since going low-carb. I am not one who feels the need to add every plug-in kitchen gadget that comes along to my collection BUT this one is worth it's weight for sure.

Low-Carb Pumpkin Frozen Custard
(Printable Version)

3 cups heavy cream
1 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup sugar-free sweetener (Splenda or Truvia are my choices with Truvua coming in a little higher on the carb count)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
4 large egg yolks

In saucepan over medium-low heat add all ingredients except egg yolks and whisk until blended. While cream mixture is heating, beat egg yolks in separate bowl. Take one cup of heated cream mixture and gradually add to egg yolks while continuously whisking (make sure cream mixture does not come to a boil). After adding cream to egg yolks, pour cream and egg mixture back into saucepan. Over low heat whisk continuously until mixture covers the back of a spoon. Remove pan from heat and cool to room temperature. Once cooled, pour mixture into ice cream machine and mix 8-10 minutes until soft set.

Yields 8 servings (1/2 cup each) - approximately 6.5 net carbs per serving

GBP's 101 Cozy Casseroles Review #2 & GIVEAWAY

Gooseberry Patch's 101 Cozy Casseroles

The next recipe I tried from this fabulous book was..........

Mom's Texas Hash

Mom's Texas Hash
GPB's 101 Cozy Casseroles (submitted by: Ginger O'Connell, Hazel Park, MI)
(Printable Version)

1lb ground beef
2 onions, sliced (my onion was large so I just used one)
1 green pepper, chopped
8-oz can stewed tomatoes* (I used Fire-Roasted tomatoes)
1/2 to 1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt

Brown beef, onions and green pepper in a skillet over medium heat; drain. Stir in tomatoes with juice and seasonings. Cook over medium heat until warmed through, about 8 minutes; spoon into an ungreased one-quart casserole dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes. Serves 4.

*NOTE: I had a little issue with this recipe. I could not find a 8-oz can of stewed tomatoes. I contacted Gooseberry Patch and they went back to Ginger's original submission which does state 8-oz can stewed tomatoes. It is possible that there is a regional brand that comes in that size that isn't available in my part of the country. The can I bought was 14.5-oz. I added ONE cup of stewed tomatoes and then decided to go ahead and use the entire can. In my opinion, it was perfect.

This is a very yummy recipe. I rounded out the meal with a tossed salad and corn muffins for the carb eaters in my family. The casserole would also be very yummy with a dollop of sour cream or a sprinkle of grated cheese. I think one of the things I liked the most about this recipe was that it easily went together in advance and then I baked it off just before serving. Perfect for those rushed evenings.

Okay, NOW for the GIVEAWAY!! To have a chance to win this cookbook AND a Vintage-Inspired Faithfulness Farm Apron and the 4 individual casserole dishes, leave a comment on the original post. For a bonus entry, follow me on Facebook, Twitter and/or Pinterest. Leave me a comment telling me that you follow along. Look for another great recipe and chance at another bonus entry on Saturday!

GBP's 101 Cozy Casseroles REVIEW & GIVEAWAY!

It's here, it's here - I opened my little mailbox and found..........

Gooseberry Patch's 101 Cozy Casseroles

First I have to say HOW much I ♥ this 101 series by Gooseberry Patch! These beautiful, full-color (every recipe has it's very own photo) books are drool-worthy -- EVERY PAGE!!

So confession time, when I first got my review list for this year's releases and saw that I would be reviewing 101 Cozy Casseroles I was a bit scared...not because I don't love casseroles, I do...not because casseroles are time-consuming or hard to make, they are not. My reasoning, because they tend to be laden with ingredients like potatoes, noodles, pastas, rices, etc...all foods a person who eats low carb tends to avoid. My first inclination was to excuse myself from this review -- then I had 2 thoughts.....I am always making higher carb dishes for company, potlucks and the kids AND I am always telling folks that I have no problems finding acceptable things to eat in ALL situations. This review will be a test of that :)

My first pass thru this book netted 3 very yummy looking recipes that would be perfect for me. On my second pass, I found a few more recipes that would require just a little tweeking to be lower carb. This isn't going to be hard at all. ALL of the recipes look comforting, scrumptious, easy-to-prepare (with staple ingredients) and extremely budget and family-friendly!

The first recipe I tried was ....

Clili Relleno Casserole
GBP"S 101 Cozy Casseroles (submitted by: Georgia Mallory from Fullerton, CA)
(Printable Version)

7-oz can whole green chilies
16-oz pkg shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
16-oz pkg shredded cheddar cheese, divided
7-oz pkg chopped green chilies
salt and pepper to taste
6 eggs, beaten
13-oz can evaporated milk (I used 1 cup heavy cream to lower the carbs)
Optional: salsa and sour cream

Slit whole chilies and remove the seeds; rinse and dry. Lay whole chilies, skin-side down, in a lightly greased 13x9-inch baking dish; sprinkle with half of each cheese. Top with chopped chiles, remaining cheese, salt and pepper. In a bowl, combine eggs and milk; pour over top. Bake, uncovered at 350°F for 45 minutes. Serve with salsa or sour cream, if desired. Serves 8.

I served this casserole as a side-dish for Cinco de Mayo -- it would also make a wonderful breakfast, brunch, luncheon dish or as a meatless main for supper. This was filling, fast and oh, so good!!

NOW down to business!! You know these reveiws do not happen without a GIVEAWAY!! No exception here. Not only can you win this wonderful, comfort-food masterpiece, you will ALSO recieve a spiffy Faithfulness Farm Vintage-Inspired Apron AND a cute little set of 4 individual casserole dishes!

To win this WONDERFUL cookbook and the other great prizes, you need to leave a comment for me here at Faithfulness Farm - tell me what your go-to casserole recipe is! There will be 2 more recipes shared from this book this week AND additional chances to win. The winner will be announced next week - Wednesday May 16th!! HURRY and enter -- I can't wait to read what your favorite casseroles are. Oh, and IF you have won a prize here before, still enter in -- you can win again!!

In The Merry Month of May!

Super Moon photo credit

What a WONDERFUL month May is shaping up to be. Do you have plans to get out and view the SUPER MOON this weekend? I sure plan to.....I have lots of plans for this month. Starting with VACATION -- I am taking off some time from my job. Some of that time will be vacation and some will be STAYcation -- I am looking forward to BOTH. I have plans for flower planting and porch furniture painting and graduation receptions attending. Leisure mornings with a cup of coffee in hand, lunches and dinners with friends and working on some cookbook reviews. Ahhh!

Look for a Low-Carb Living post next Friday. Enjoy your weekend!!

10 Things I LOVE About Spring!!

HAPPY MAY DAY!! Okay, so I know that spring is in full swing -- has been for a while. That said, until April 17, I really didn't have much time to notice. I've been making a point of noticing since then.

I do have to admit that I usually don't think of myself as a *spring person* but as I thought of my list, I found that there are TONS of things I love about spring besides that winter is finally over. This list is both random and in no particular order - just what popped into my noggin.

Longer days - the longer days do come along kind of gradually and then Daylight Savings Time starts and there seems to be so much more day for spending.

Sleeping with the windows open - Sleeping with windows open only happens in Nebraska in the spring and fall months -- too cold in winter and too hot in summer. I love hearing the outside sounds -- a distant train, crickets, leaves rustling in the breeze, thunder in the distance.......

Spring Cleaning - YEP, I even love spring cleaning. That doesn't happen until tax season comes to an end but once it does I LOVE digging in and cleaning up. Organizing, clearing cobwebs and rearranging things are all things I enjoy.

Green – the entire greening process of the grasses and leafing of the trees! Seems like the prairie goes from black and white to GREEN in a flash.

RAIN – we sometimes get some more severe weather in the spring . Although I love a good thunderstorm at times, the soaking, gentle rain is my favorite. The robins out hunting for worms are such a fun sight.

NO Coat (or scarf, or gloves, or hat) – Okay, this is the Southern CA girl (I was raised in San Diego) showing. I HATE coats and all that goes with them, lol. Mostly I hate being all bundled up and then going into stores and such that are warm -- do you hear the menopausal, hot-flash prone complainer that I can be, lol.

FLOWERS ~ My dear Grandma instilled such a love of flowers in me -- like me, she had many favorites but Irises were pretty much at the top of the list -- MOST of the spring flowers are on my list but Irises do have a special place in my heart.

More time OUTDOORS ~ Running, walking, biking, gardening, puttering in the yard, sitting on the porch or deck with a cup of coffee or glass of wine, lunch or even supper on the deck......I just love being outdoors!

Sale season ~ No matter what they are called in your neck of the woods - garage sales, yard sales, rummage sales, tag sales -- spring is when the season opens for the year. Also, spring is prime time for thrift shopping. Gotta love that!! I am 2 (TWO) sizes smaller than I was last spring/summer so I have been a shopping fool :)

Sunrises, Moonrises, Stargazing ~ and just about any other times on the porch w/cuppa in my hand. Really enjoying my wicker furniture find from last fall and getting in lots of porch time this spring!

So there is 10 and I didn't even mention baseball, gardening, sandals, baby animals (REALLY have enjoyed seeing the calves this year) or any of the other wonderful things that warmer weather brings :)

Get out and enjoy what is left of spring -- better start thinking about my summer list :)