spice up your life.

February brings heart health awareness, love and, if you live near me, the reminder from Mother Nature that winter is not quite over. So, I thought it would be fun to take a lesson from the past aka Spice Girls to spice (and heat) things up a bit! (Karaoke session not included.)

Tonight I planned smoked Gouda mashed potatoes as a side dish to BBQ chicken. I know this sounds like a time zapper but it’s really not- TRUST ME! I lead a busy life professionally and socially… the last thing I want to do is spend a ton of time in the kitchen. Time is money, right?

Reasons to LOVE this:
-The trick to this delish dish is fitting the components into your daily routine, which I will show you all below.
-This is perfect for entertaining since every guest loves mashed potatoes.
-Your kitchen will smell amazing because of the smoked Gouda!
-This is a great way to introduce flavors like smoked Gouda you love but don’t experience frequently.
-It works as a side dish to compliment almost any protein served as a main course.
-To save additional time, this can be made on Sunday night if you plan to serve it early in the week.

Need:
2 pound bag red potatoes (sometimes called new potatoes)
2 tablespoons minced garlic (I buy this fresh at the grocery store to make things easier)
1 tablespoon EVOO
1 cup fat free half and half
1 small block of smoked Gouda cheese
Crushed red peppers
4 oz (half a small tub)cream cheese (I use the 1/3 less fat type since this is a heavier dish)
2 tablespoons butter

Hollyized Steps- To Do Once Get Home from Work:
(About 35 minutes)

Wash and cut all potatoes with skins into fourths. You can immediately fill a large pot with water and set on the stove to boil.

While you wait, add the EVOO and garlic into a pan and let it set for three minutes on medium. Once the time is up, set aside. Be careful, the oil will spatter a bit so use a screen to prevent being burned.

Take the cream cheese out of the fridge and let it sit on the counter- you’ll want it to be soft when you add it to the mixture later. Then grate the entire block of Gouda.

Add the potato chunks to the boiling water and leave boiling for 25 minutes. (My method for now is standing back and throwing them into the pot which sprays boiling water all over my range. I’m open to any suggestions or more successful techniques!)

Drain the potatoes and add into a mixing bowl. Then mash them! (I have not yet expanded my culinary tools so I channeled my inner Girl Scout and used a whisk as a masher. Resourceful, eh?)

Add the half and half, butter, half the grated cheese, cream cheese, garlic and crushed red pepper to your liking. Mix until it looks all combined. I like to keep mine kind of lumpy for the added texture.

Spoon mix into a baking brownie pan coated with EVOO. Then top it off with the remainder of the Gouda cheese.

Hollyized Steps- After Gym or Social Engagement:
(25 minutes)
Now, if you are rushing off to an activity or the gym, you can just throw this in the fridge. When you return home, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then bake the dish in the oven for 25 minutes while you shower, change, watch an episode of Kardashians or whatever your heart pleases. (I showered and made my chicken during this time so that everything would be ready around the same time- such a tricky science!)

I’m always starving after yoga- this is a fabulous hearty meal that didn’t interfere with my routine. Dinner is served… enjoy!

Print Recipe

spice up your life

Course: Side Dish

Ingredients

• 2 lb bag red potatoes (sometimes called new potatoes)
• 2 tbsp minced garlic (I buy this fresh at the grocery store to make things easier)
• 1 tbsp EVOO
• 1 cup fat free half and half
• 1 small block smoked Gouda cheese
• 4 oz cream cheese (half a small tub) (I use the 1/3 less fat type since this is a heavier dish)
• 2 tbsp butter

Hollyized Steps:

To Do Once Get Home from Work (About 35 minutes)

• Wash and cut all potatoes with skins into fourths. You can immediately fill a large pot with water and set on the stove to boil.
• While you wait, add the EVOO and garlic into a pan and let it set for three minutes on medium. Once the time is up, set aside. Be careful, the oil will spatter a bit so use a screen to prevent being burned.
• Take the cream cheese out of the fridge and let it sit on the counter- you’ll want it to be soft when you add it to the mixture later. Then grate the entire block of Gouda.
• Add the potato chunks to the boiling water and leave boiling for 25 minutes. (My method for now is standing back and throwing them into the pot which sprays boiling water all over my range. I’m open to any suggestions or more successful techniques!)
• Drain the potatoes and add into a mixing bowl. Then mash them! (I have not yet expanded my culinary tools so I channeled my inner Girl Scout and used a whisk as a masher. Resourceful, eh?)
• Add the half and half, butter, half the grated cheese, cream cheese, garlic and crushed red pepper to your liking. Mix until it looks all combined. I like to keep mine kind of lumpy for the added texture.
• Spoon mix into a baking brownie pan coated with EVOO. Then top it off with the remainder of the Gouda cheese.

After Gym or Social Engagement (25 minutes)

• Now, if you are rushing off to an activity or the gym, you can just throw this in the fridge. When you return home, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then bake the dish in the oven for 25 minutes while you shower, change, watch an episode of Kardashians or whatever your heart pleases. (I showered and made my chicken during this time so that everything would be ready around the same time- such a tricky science!)