Low Carb

Cheap Low Carb Meals

2012-01-23T14:40:00.000-05:00

I find that thinking about your cheap low carb meals a week (or more) ahead of time helps to save you money as well as time in several different ways. First, it saves trips to the grocery store, ultimately saving you time, gas and headaches. You can save yourself time by planning out different low carb meals that use similar items that you can cook in large batches to use for more than one purpose. Then by more accurately knowing how much of each item you will be using, you can make cost decisions such as bulk buying while shopping. Weekly meal plan examples coming soon!

Low Carb Is Expensive!

2011-12-13T18:03:00.000-05:00

Low Carb Is Expensive!

Okay, I know that is not a revelation from some one like me who has been part of the low carb lifestyle for years now but in light of my new financial situation it has become a bit more obvious. I am still working part time and I am very thankful to be making my bills .... but it has made my low carb cooking a little on the uncreative side :-(

I love to come up with new and tasty low carb recipes to eat and to share online but I have had to cut back on the extras ... you know, imported cheese, expensive sugar free syrup, pretty much everything from the organic grocery store ... I think you get the idea.

So, I have not been posting because I felt like I had nothing to share with my readers but after talking to a fellow low carber that was having similar issues got me rethinking. After all, a lot of people are having money issues right now and they have to change the way they are cooking too. My cooking is not boring ... it is just thrifty! Thrifty low carb recipes to come!

Low Carb Lasagna Idea

2011-01-15T17:36:00.001-05:00

I am Italian low carb cook, so I am always trying to replace pasta in some my favorite dishes (Hooray for spaghetti squash)! I have tried lasagna with thinly sliced veggies instead of pasta but it was not the same :( ... so I tried this experiment, using sliced turkey in place of the pasta! Some think it is genius and some think I am a nut but I think it tasted awesome!

I started with a little bit of low carb tomato sauce on the bottom of the dish and then put 4-5 slices of turkey (Note: I used packaged thick cut turkey with no added smoke or sweet flavor) to cover the entire bottom of the baking dish. Then layer your favorite low carb lasagna ingredients, ground beef, sauce, ricotta cheese, parm cheese, etc.

Add the next layer of turkey and repeat until your baking dish is almost full!

Cover with cheese and bake ... I did mine at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

It was definitely yummy ... so much that I forgot to take an after picture :(

Low Carb Creamy Mushroom Chicken Recipe

2010-10-05T19:29:00.000-04:00

Low carb video recipe of creamy mushroom chicken, great recipe to cook for the family when not everyone is on a low carb diet .... just put theirs over rice but so tasty you won't miss it!

Low Carb Fried Cheese Sticks

2010-04-15T21:51:00.004-04:00

These cheese sticks are totally low carb and awesome! Locate the Spanish specialty cheese "Queso De Freir" in your local store, cut into sticks and fry as is and it will get a nice crust on the outside and gooey on the inside! Roll cooked cheese sticks in garlic powder and serve with low carb marinara, yummy!

Low Carb "Breaded" Pork Chop Recipe

2010-02-25T05:08:00.006-05:00

Do you miss breaded pork chops or fried chicken on your low carb diet? This recipe is the next best thing! This is the first step by step low carb recipe you will get when you sign up for our low carb recipe newsletter below. You get the best recipe I tried each month with step by step pictures and tips to get it just right!

What Is Your Low Carb Diet?

2010-01-28T04:52:00.005-05:00

So although Atkins version of low carb dieting is almost dead, there are tons of new low sugar, low carbohydrate diets always popping up in the weight loss section of the book store. My mom started a diet this week called "Belly Fat Cure" but is a sugar and carb counting diet, even with the word fat in the title!

My girlfriend does South Beach style of low carb diet while I prefer Sommersize ..... so here is my question:

What low carb diet are you on?

Really, I want to know so I can aim the recipes in the right direction! Please tell me what version of low carb diet you use and what kind of recipes and knowledge you are looking for, then that is what I will blog about!

Low Carb For The New Year

2010-01-08T17:40:00.005-05:00

Okay, so I strung it out an extra couple days, eating through the food that I could no longer have on my low carb diet. I actually went through all the food I had in the house on new years day, gathering unopened items to donate to a local food bank as well as getting a bag for family of random open food. But there were a couple items that I just couldn't give away and just decided to eat them.

But now I am on my low carb diet and it's time to get serious!! One of the first things I do when starting my low carb diet is make a big pot of bean less low carb chili so I always have something filling to eat when I come home hungry! Here is a picture of my low carb chili with sour cream mixed in and pork rinds on top for some crunch!

New Low Carb Diet "Eco-Atkins"

2009-06-19T22:52:00.002-04:00

Study on a new trend in low carb diets, "Eco-Atkins" (which refers to a diet that is low-calorie, low-carbohydrate and high in plant-based proteins) shows great weight loss as well as additional cardiovascular benefits. This is basically a vegetarian low carb diet and is considered to be more heart healthy than traditional low carb diets.

Read the article HERE

Low Carb Italian Stuffed Tomatoes

2008-12-05T17:07:00.001-05:00

6 large firm tomatoes 8 ounces spicy or mild Italian sausage (which ever is your favorite)2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium white onion, finely chopped 2 ribs celery, finely chopped 1 red or green bell pepper, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper 3 tablespoons chopped basil leaves 1/2 cup grounded pork rinds (acts as a low carb bread crumb)
½ tablespoon chopped thyme and oregano leaves1 cup shredded cheese ( I like to use Italian 5 blend mix)1/4 cup grated Parmesan
½ cup sun dried tomatoes in oil (optional- instead of the top or half sun dried and fresh tomatoes)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Cut a third of the top off each tomatoes. Dice the tops up and set aside.
Scoop out seeds, pulp and juice to hollow out the tomatoes.

In medium nonstick skillet, sauté sausage in olive oil, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. When browned all over, add onion to skillet and cook until soft, stirring frequently. Add garlic, celery, and pepper and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring to combine well. Add reserved chopped tomato tops, or sun dried tomatoes, salt, and pepper and stir for another minute.

Remove skillet from heat. Mix in 2 tablespoons basil, ½ tablespoon each thyme and oregano, grounded pork rinds, and Italian 5 blend cheese. Using a large spoon, stuff low carb mixture into tomatoes, packing down firmly. Top with Parmesan and place tomatoes in oiled baking dish. Bake until heated through and cheese turns golden, approximately 20 minutes. Sprinkle with basil and serve.

Low Carb Lemon Butter Spinach

2008-09-30T04:10:00.002-04:00

Reduce in sauté pan on medium heat:

1/2 cup of chicken broth (if using packaged check the label for carbs)
Juice of one lemon
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup white wine

When low carb sauce is reduced by half and starts to thicken add two handfuls of spinach. Mix spinach with sauce for twenty seconds, remove from heat and serve.

Low Carb Szechuan Pepper Fish

2008-07-25T13:49:00.003-04:00

Serving Size: 4

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Low Carb Ingredients:
1 tsp peppercorns
2 tbsp hoisin sauce
1 med garlic clove, peeled through a garlic press
1 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp sesame oil
1 1/3 lb cod, cut into 4 pieces
1 dash salt
4 lemon or lime wedges for garnish

Directions:
Crush the peppercorns coarsely in a mortar and pestle. (If you do not have a mortar and pestle you can wrap peppercorns in a small piece of plastic wrap and crush with a heavy pan.). Mix together the hoisin sauce, garlic, vinegar, and sesame oil.

Place the fish on a broiling pan and spread with about 1/2 of the low carb sauce. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the peppercorns; sprinkle lightly with salt. Bake in a preheated 450°F-230°F oven 7 minutes.

Remove the fish from the oven. Raise the oven rack to the highest position and turn the heat to broil. Spread the fish with the remaining low carb sauce and sprinkle with the remaining peppercorns. Broil 3 minutes, or until the fish tests done, and is slightly crusty.... Serve with lemon or lime wedges.

Per Serving (excluding unknown items):
157 Calories; 2g Fat (14.5% calories from fat); 27g Protein; 5g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 65mg Cholesterol; 278mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain (Starch); 3 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 1/2 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.

More delicious low carb Chinese recipes are available in Nicholas Zhou's cookbook "Real & Healthy Chinese Cooking".

Low Carb Dry Rub

2008-06-09T12:44:00.003-04:00

Here is a yummy low carb dry rub for a pork tenderloin for the BBQ or oven:

1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon coriander seed
1 tablespoon cumin seed
1 tablespoon fennel seed
1 tablespoon mustard seed
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons Spanish paprika
1/2 tablespoon black pepper
2 bay leaves
1 (1 1/2 pound) pork tenderloin

Combine all low carb ingredients (except the tenderloin) and grind in a spice grinder. Apply low carb dry rub directly on pork or coat in a plastic storage bag, making sure pork is dry before applying.

Low Carb Summer

2008-05-18T13:33:00.002-04:00

With the temperature rising quickly here in South Florida, the BBQ grills are getting fired up more often and my thoughts turn to picnic style low carb food! I started getting out my low carb BBQ recipes; low carb dry rub, deviled eggs, cole slaw and so much more!!

LOW CARB DEVILED EGGS

7 HARD BOILED EGGS PEELED
¼ CUP MAYONNAISE
1 TO 3 TEASPOON OF MUSTARD TO YOUR TASTE
½ TEASPOON OF VINEGAR (WHITE, APPLE CIDER)
SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE
PAPRIKA FOR GARNISHING

HALF 7 EGGS LENGHTWISE. REMOVE YOLKS AND PLACE IN SMALL BOWL.
MASH YOLKS WITH FORK AND STIR IN MAYO, MUSTARD, VINEGAR, SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE.

FILL EGG WHITES WITH YOLK MIXTURE. GARNISH WITH PAPRIKA. STORE COVERED IN REFRIGERATOR.

NOTE: PLAY AROUND WITH THIS BASIC LOW CARB RECIPE. TRY ADDING HOT SAUCE, TRY DIFFERENT MUSTARD (DIJON, STONE GROUND MUSTARD ETC.), CHIVES, CRAB MEAT OR ANY LOW CARB INGREDIENT.

LOW CARB EGG DROP SOUP

2008-04-17T17:07:00.003-04:00

Living in South Florida I am definitely not used to it being cold in April but a weird cold snap has got me making low carb egg drop soup!

LOW CARB INGREDIENTS:

4 CUPS CHICKEN STOCK (ALWAYS CHECK THE CARB COUNT IF BUYING PACKAGED)
3 LG EGG WHITES, BEATEN
2 LG. SLICES OF FRESH GINGER
2 LG. CLOVES OF GARLIC, SMASHED AND PEELED
3 GREEN ONIONS (SCALLION), TRIMMED AND FINELY SLICED
2 TABLESPOONS OF CHOPPED FRESH CILANTRO
1 TEASPOON SALT
1/8 TEASPOON PEPPER

IN A LARGE SAUCEPAN COMBINE LOW CARB STOCK, GINGER, AND GARLIC SIMMER, PARTIALLY COVERED FOR 15 MINUTES. REMOVE GINGER AND GARLIC AND DISCARD. BRING THE SOUP TO A SIMMER AND POUR THE EGG MIXTURE IN LARGE CIRCLE ON THE SURFACE OF THE SOUP. ONCE EGGS SET, STIR GENTLY AND ADD GREEN ONIONS, SALT, PEPPER AND CILANTRO. BEST SERVED IN WARM BOWLS.

MAKE THIS SOUP YOUR OWN BY ADDING YOUR FAVORITE LOW CARB VEGGIES INTO THE SOUP LIKE MUSHROOMS, SPINACH OR DICE TOMATOES.

TIP: TO HELP FRESH GINGER STAY FRESH AND LAST LONGER KEEP IN AIR TIGHT CONTANIER OR ZIPLOCK BAGGIE IN THE FREEZER. ALSO WHEN FROZEN IT IS EASIER TO PEEL AND CUT.

Low Carb Cocktails

2008-03-28T15:25:00.002-04:00

I just got back from a vacation in Key West and being able to have a lower carb cocktail or a no carb rum and diet coke meant staying on the diet or not!! Being on a low carb diet is more than just low carb foods, it has a lot to do with low carb drinks too! I mean how can you go to a drinking party town like that and drink?? Check out this low carb cocktail book, a friend was mixing drinks out of here at St. Patty's Day!

Low Carb Chili

2008-02-22T15:07:00.001-05:00

Low-carb chili ingredients:

1lb. ground beef
1 med. onion
1 14.5oz can of dice tomatoes (watch the carbs on the label)
1 14.5oz can of tomatoes sauce
½ a cup of banana peppers with juice or 1 med green pepper or hot pepper of your choice
Chili power to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

Dice the onion and saute it until tender, place aside. Cook ground meat and drain off all fat,
adding the meat to the onions. Dice peppers up and add to onion and meat mixture. Return the pepper, onion, meat mixture back to the heat and add 3 tablespoons of chili power and cook. (If using banana peppers pour the juice into the meat mix) Add both cans of tomatoes and add more chili power to suit your taste. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook over med-low heat for 30 minutes or until desired taste and thickness is reached.

Enjoy this low carb chili by itself with just a spoon of sour cream or add it to other low carb foods like a hot dog or hamburger with your favorite cheese!!

Low Carb - Creamy Cauliflower with Chipotle Recipe

2008-02-05T17:42:00.000-05:00

Low Carb Creamy Cauliflower with Chipotle

1 small whole garlic bulb
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 head cauliflower cut into florets
8 oz cream cheese
3 Tbsp cream
1 Tsp minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

Preheat oven to 425

Cut off pointed end of garlic bulb. Place garlic on heavy duty foil and drizzle with olive oil. Bake 30 minutes and cool. Squeeze pulp from garlic into large bowl and set aside.

Meanwhile, arrange florets in steamer basket inside Dutch oven with 1 to 11/2 cups water (do not immerse steamer in water). Steam cauliflower, covered over high for 15 minutes or until very tender.

Place cauliflower in bowl with garlic; stir in cream cheese, cream and peppers until combined. Process with hand blender until smooth, season the low carb cauliflower with salt and pepper to taste and serve!

I love living low carb!

ADA Approves Low Carb Diet

2008-01-22T15:27:00.000-05:00

Well, it is about time!

The ADA revises it viewpoint on low carb diets in 2008 stating “low carbohydrate diets might seem to be a logical approach to lowering postprandial glucose”. Last year the American Diabetes Association stated that low carb diets were not recommended in the management of diabetes.

View the ADA “Nutrition Recommendations and Interventions for Diabetes” HERE

Low Carb Shrimp Appetizer

2008-01-13T04:59:00.001-05:00

This is a low carb appetizer, but also sounds good as a low carb snack!

Makes approximately 3 dozen low carb appetizers

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c packed watercress leaves
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 green onion slices
1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c mayo
1 1/2 lb. cleaned medium shrimp, cooked till barely pink
1/2 lb Chinese pea pods, blanched

Directions:
Place all ingredients except shrimp and pea pods in food processor or blender. Process until well blended. Chill.Wrap shrimp with pea pod and secure with a toothpick (or a thin strip of leek or red pepper tied in a knot). Serve with watercress sauce.

More delicious low carb Chinese recipes are available in Nicholas Zhou's cookbook "Real & Healthy Chinese Cooking".

Low Carb Cheesecake Video

2008-01-07T07:57:00.000-05:00

Check out this low carb cheesecake video!

Low Carb Crepes With Ham Sauce

2008-01-03T14:02:00.000-05:00

Low Carb Crepes
Makes 6 low carb crepes @ .7 carbs

Ingredients:
4 eggs
4 T heavy cream
dash salt & pepper

Whisk ingredients together. Heat a little oil in an 8" non-stick frying pan. Pour about a 1/4 cup egg mixture in at a time, swirling pan quickly to cover bottom in thin layer. Let cook few minutes until bottom is brown and carefully flip. Lightly brown the other side and remove from the pan. Repeat with the rest of the batter.

Low Carb Ham Sauce for Crepes
Serves: 2 (2 crepes each) Carbs per serving including crepes: 6.7 carbs (5.7 net carbs)

Ingredients:
4 Crepes
1 T butter
1 T soy flour
¼ cup light cream
¼ cup water
1 t Dijon mustard
4 oz ham, chopped

Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the flour all at once and stir over the heat. Remove from the heat, add cream, water and mustard. Return to heat, stirring until thickened. Add the chopped ham. Serve in or over rolled low carb crepes.

Low Carb Resolution

2008-01-01T13:55:00.000-05:00

Low Carb Resolution

Okay so we all know this is the notorious time of year we all start jumping back on our low carb diets and swear to lose the weight we picked up over the holidays. I too am jumping back on my low carb diet to combat the sugar weight I gained. I will be posting low carb recipes and diet tips at least twice a week to help us all lose the carbs!

Low Carb Diet Better In Metabolic Syndrome

2007-12-17T03:14:00.000-05:00

Low carb diet study

A new study indicates that a low carb diet is better than a diet low in fat in reducing inflammation and blood saturated fat in metabolic syndrome, which is a condition afflicting one quarter to one third of adult men and women and is an established pre-cursor to diabetes, coronary heart disease, and other serious illnesses. A diet low in carbohydrates is more effective at reducing high triglycerides, saturated fatty acids in the blood and markers of inflammation.

Read the article here:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071203091236.htm

Low Carb Creamy Chicken and Mushrooms

2007-10-29T08:46:00.000-04:00

Video taped my girlfriend cooking this Low Carb Creamy Chicken and Mushrooms recipe to show how easy it is! This delisious low carb recipe makes 4 servings at 8 carbs each.