tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91236627099228404072024-02-19T01:01:53.446-06:00The Ketogenic Diet: Low Carb, High Flavor!My recipes for the world's most decadent diet!Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-52123121465675447712016-06-17T16:07:00.000-05:002016-06-17T16:07:47.762-05:00Lazy CevicheI was looking for something super easy to throw together without turning on the oven or stove on a hot summer night. This is my lazy version of ceviche, using store bought pico de gallo. Sometimes I just like to let the HyVee chefs do the chopping for me! I know that ceviche technically cooks the shrimp without heat anyway, due to the acid of the citrus juice, but I already had frozen cooked shrimp in the freezer, so I just used that.<br />
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Lazy Ceviche</div>
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<span is="null">1 pound bag of small cooked shrimp, thawed</span></div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null">1 pint of store bought Pico de Gallo</span></div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null">1 cup of chopped
cilantro</span></div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null">3 small diced avocados</span></div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null">1 cup of tomato juice
</span></div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null">1 tsp of salt</span></div>
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<span is="null">1 Tblsp of hot sauce</span></div>
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<span is="null">2 Tblsp lime juice</span></div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null">2 tsp
of minced garlic</span></div>
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<span is="null"></span> </div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null">Thaw frozen shrimp and drain well. Put them in a large mixing bowl, add pico, cilantro, and avocados. In a cup, stir together the tomato juice, salt, hot sauce, lime juice and garlic. Pour this mixture over everything else and mix well
. Serve with Beanito chips or homemade low carb tortilla chips. </span></div>
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Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-88550781494549289472016-06-08T14:47:00.003-05:002016-06-08T14:48:48.342-05:00A macaroni and cheese miracle!<div is="null">
<span is="null" title="Edited">We are on a roll with the
Miracle Noodles lately! I changed my auto ship order from Miracle rice to ziti
shaped pasta, and these ziti make a perfect Mac and cheese! </span></div>
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<span is="null" title="Edited">Here's a link to the Miracle Noodle <a href="https://miraclenoodle.com/" target="_blank">website</a>. If you love their products, I highly recommend enrolling in the auto-ship program. I was getting ten bags of Miracle Rice delivered once a month, but I recently switched it to 20 bags of ziti delivered every two months. I appreciate the ease of switching your order up, or even putting it on hold if you don't want to get them for awhile. And they always have free shipping. That's lucky, since the box can be pretty heavy. </span></div>
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<span is="null" title="Edited">Miracle Mac</span></div>
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<span is="null" title="Edited">
2 bags of Miracle Noodle ziti, </span></div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null" title="Edited">3/4 cup of shredded cheese</span></div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null" title="Edited">1/3 cup of heavy cream</span></div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null" title="Edited">3 1/3 inch pats of butter</span></div>
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<span is="null" title="Edited"></span> </div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null" title="Edited"><span is="null" title="Edited">Rinse the Miracle Noodles well and throw into a dry skillet over medium heat to evaporate the excess water off. They recommend that you boil them for two minutes, but I skipped that step and it was fine.</span></span></div>
<span is="null" title="Edited"><span is="null" title="Edited"></span></span><br />
<div is="null">
<span is="null" title="Edited"><span is="null" title="Edited"><span is="null" title="Edited">Combine the shredded cheese, heavy cream and butter in a microwave safe dish. <span is="null" title="Edited">Microwave on high in 30 second increments over 3 minutes and whisk until smooth. </span></span></span></span></div>
<span is="null" title="Edited">
</span><div is="null">
</div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null" title="Edited">By the time the sauce is ready, the pasta should be
dried. Pour the sauce over the pasta, add ground salt and pepper
over it and toss to combine. Makes 2 servings. </span></div>
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<span is="null" title="Edited"></span> </div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null" title="Edited">This is so easy and faster than boxed mac and cheese, and with carb counts like this, it is the perfect keto food!</span></div>
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<span is="null" title="Edited"></span> </div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null" title="Edited">Nutritional information, per serving: </span></div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null" title="Edited">Calories: 271 (242 calories from fat)</span></div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null" title="Edited">Fat: 27g</span></div>
<div is="null">
<span is="null" title="Edited">Carbs: less than 1g</span></div>
Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-42009373651702938842016-06-07T10:16:00.000-05:002016-06-07T10:16:57.583-05:00Keto pancakes! I love breakfast foods, and the thing I missed most with keto was the breakfast carbs. A person can only eat so many eggs before they get bored with the options. A few more ingredients can turn those eggs into something magically cake-like! I went searching online for low carb options to make pancakes and/or waffles. I discovered this recipe from the <a href="http://www.tryketowith.me/" target="_blank">Try Keto With Me</a> blog, who I started following on Instagram. She's got some great looking recipes! <br />
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Low carb baking seems intimidating to me, because it usually requires lots of expensive wheat flour alternatives. I like this recipe because the only out of the ordinary ingredient I had to buy was some coconut flour, and it uses so little that my $8 package will last me a while. I chose to pay for the $8 tub with a screw on lid to keep it fresh, rather than the $5 bag that I'd have to clip shut. Plus, since it's a pancake rather than a baked cake, it is quick and easy. I'm all about instant gratification. <br />
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Here is the <a href="http://www.tryketowith.me/2015/08/01/the-only-keto-pancakewaffle-recipe-i-need/#comment-576" target="_blank">link</a> to the original recipe. I doubled that recipe and left out the optional ingredients, as well as the extra liquid, as I found that I didn't need it. I think it is only necessary if you allow the batter to sit for awhile before cooking it, as it will thicken. I was hungry for pancakes and wasted no time! <br />
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Keto Pancakes<br />
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<li class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">8 <span class="simmer-ingredient-unit">ounces</span> <span class="simmer-ingredient-description">cream cheese, softened</span></li>
<li class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">8 <span class="simmer-ingredient-description">eggs</span></li>
<li class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span class="simmer-ingredient-amount">2</span> <span class="simmer-ingredient-unit">teaspoons</span> <span class="simmer-ingredient-description">vanilla extract</span></li>
<li class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span class="simmer-ingredient-description">2 teaspoons sugar free vanilla syrup</span></li>
<li class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">2 <span class="simmer-ingredient-unit">tablespoon</span> <span class="simmer-ingredient-description">sugar substitute, or more to taste</span></li>
<li class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">1/2 cup <span class="simmer-ingredient-unit">tablespoons</span> <span class="simmer-ingredient-description">coconut flour</span></li>
<li class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">4 <span class="simmer-ingredient-unit">teaspoons</span> <span class="simmer-ingredient-description">baking powder</span></li>
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<div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description">Soften cream cheese in the microwave. Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a heated non-stick skillet (I sprayed mine with butter flavored spray) and cook until bubbles appear on the surface and bottom side is golden. This batter is fairly thin and it will spread quickly when you pour it, so err on the side of smaller pancakes to make them easier to flip. (I learned this the hard way.) This recipe made 10 large 7 inch pancakes, or could make up to 20 smaller 4 inch pancakes, which equals 4 servings. Serve with butter and sugar free maple syrup of your choosing, I recommend Smuckers! </span></div>
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<div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description">Nutritional info:</span></div>
<div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description">Serving size: 1/4th of total batch, however many pancakes that makes depending on size</span></div>
<div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description">Calories 407 (279 of those calories are from fat)</span></div>
<div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description">Fat 31g</span></div>
<div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description">Carbs 12.65g</span></div>
<div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description">Fiber 5g</span></div>
<div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description"><strong>Net carbs 7.65g</strong></span></div>
<div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description">Protein 18.8g</span></div>
<div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description"></span> </div>
<div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description">Variations: </span></div>
<ul>
<li><div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description">add 1 tablespoon orange zest and 1 cup cranberries (+2.25g net carbs to each serving)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description"><span class="simmer-ingredient-description">add 1 tablespoon </span></span><span class="simmer-ingredient-description">lemon zest and 1 cup blueberries (+4.5g net carbs to each serving)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description">add 1 50g size chopped <a href="http://store.chocoperfection.com/sugar-free-chocolate-bars-s/40.htm" target="_blank">Chocoperfection</a> bar and 1 cup raspberries (+2.25g net carbs to each serving)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description">add 2 teaspoons almond extract and 1 tablespoon rainbow sprinkles for "birthday cake" flavor (+2.25g net carbs to each serving)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description">add 1 tablespoon melted butter to use this batter for waffles</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
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<div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description">These pancakes turned out awesome, and I look forward to testing out different variations to this base recipe! </span></div>
<div class="simmer-ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="simmer-ingredient-description"></span> </div>
Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-22188290479453401682015-01-07T13:23:00.000-06:002015-01-07T13:37:27.879-06:00Chorizo & Egg Breakfast burritos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A couple of months ago, I ordered a chorizo and egg burrito at the little Mexican place across the street from my house, and it was awesome. What really struck me what how the texture of the chorizo sausage changed when it was combined with the scrambled eggs. Normally, chorizo is finely ground, and pretty greasy with it's spicy red oil oozing out of it. When scrambled with the eggs, the eggs take on the excess oil and it makes them scramble so fine, that they actually look like ground meat. I wanted to test this out at home. Kent was dubious that it would turn out, but then he actually ended up making these, and was amazed at both how good they were and how well it worked. They were delicious breakfast burritos, and very economical! The chorizo was only a couple of dollars to begin with, but adding eggs really stretches out the amount of filling, and if you didn't know better, you'd just think it was a huge pan of ground pork or something. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDmcoOyEw-gFearYsvBGgzafQ_YkvqghRPwYKCJ4EbJkjYsOfbvZ_UNYuEPPWmf20Jfw2Sdu3wNnnSEGNnOVfFqO6XEY_MvTwyUBBDck_UDIMSwoVSIn101yR8n0OyXzxg_gFWx_3fIY/s1600/20150104_132502-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDmcoOyEw-gFearYsvBGgzafQ_YkvqghRPwYKCJ4EbJkjYsOfbvZ_UNYuEPPWmf20Jfw2Sdu3wNnnSEGNnOVfFqO6XEY_MvTwyUBBDck_UDIMSwoVSIn101yR8n0OyXzxg_gFWx_3fIY/s1600/20150104_132502-2.jpg" height="400" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibit A: This is the final texture of one link of chorizo combined with 7 eggs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the ingredients. These tortillas are incredibly soft and flexible! </td></tr>
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Chorizo Scrambled Egg Burritos<br />
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1 link of chorizo sausage (we used mild)<br />
7 eggs<br />
shredded cheese<br />
sour cream<br />
salsa<br />
low carb tortillas<br />
optional: jalepenos<br />
<br />
Split open casing of chorizo, and scrape filling into skillet on medium heat. Break up with spoon and cook for five minutes. Reduce heat to low. Whisk eggs together, pour over chorizo, and stir constantly until scrambled but still moist. Remove from heat, and eggs will finish cooking while you warm your tortillas in the microwave and get out the toppings. Assemble burritos to your taste.<br />
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Makes 8 servings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaZFzg6rn1V_EgkaDG1_EOxmQJ8mNIeCxpPnaa32iAbQkiKZniiiIdRHPDy7EU236RfcZa79gdopQKZFxMUjU3yHtSML3quUydHY_W2Nsc1MWszoE9X0X4OIBLXqP1dUi6YawUOoSM2I/s1600/20150104_132632-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaZFzg6rn1V_EgkaDG1_EOxmQJ8mNIeCxpPnaa32iAbQkiKZniiiIdRHPDy7EU236RfcZa79gdopQKZFxMUjU3yHtSML3quUydHY_W2Nsc1MWszoE9X0X4OIBLXqP1dUi6YawUOoSM2I/s1600/20150104_132632-1.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished product- tasty breakfast burritos!</td></tr>
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<br />Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-39000840298145086522015-01-03T15:31:00.000-06:002015-01-03T15:31:11.012-06:00Seafood Chowder<i>This is not the most low carb recipe I've ever invented, but we are kind of poor after Christmas and tried to tailor our grocery list to work around what we have in the pantry and freezer. And what I had in the pantry was canned potatoes, canned corn, and a tin of smoked mussels, an onion, minced garlic as well as a small tub of leftover mashed potatoes in the freezer. It sounded like a good start to a seafood chowder to me. It has a pretty high fat content though, so it should balance out. I'm really proud of myself that we saved those mashed potatoes and then actually used them again a couple of months later, rather than the usual scenario- pushed to the back of the freezer, then finally thrown away two years later. </i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBJV3xXgTK6KNDk0UInSjHp4xif4zOmSmP5UwYn9dpJJvUsetvPcgMOWuz6WLAxau-u9QZLwxAbu_ikIjYn0T61fyMHcXuzakkle5qP4SACiGgWLCO6RpD6BCbinbqgK6-eKjELdn7ts/s1600/20150103_130643-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBJV3xXgTK6KNDk0UInSjHp4xif4zOmSmP5UwYn9dpJJvUsetvPcgMOWuz6WLAxau-u9QZLwxAbu_ikIjYn0T61fyMHcXuzakkle5qP4SACiGgWLCO6RpD6BCbinbqgK6-eKjELdn7ts/s1600/20150103_130643-1.jpg" height="328" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ingredients, 9 out of 13 things that we already had on hand. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-q9CofcFck2B1OVskmY6qTPJB0QnEq_puLC8RZACO2cKa5tr-FleSmnMqfL52qGQb0nSRKsq2vVgVS99JdPWYDb_YgpNAOPlyzK1qdnxPSafZ1f2x7rVGpJtG9JYXr4mvrmqs_b-WpI/s1600/20150103_145355-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-q9CofcFck2B1OVskmY6qTPJB0QnEq_puLC8RZACO2cKa5tr-FleSmnMqfL52qGQb0nSRKsq2vVgVS99JdPWYDb_YgpNAOPlyzK1qdnxPSafZ1f2x7rVGpJtG9JYXr4mvrmqs_b-WpI/s1600/20150103_145355-1.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The seasonings, all of which we already had. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxSAZK6djSc4ixTpA7nu3pGHLdm6pwRvSPZ3-I5VmINzi9n6qukCBamFABXyuMzvSEcuBc7uwx1ylfCqEwqpmrWzyN0TzVioau88eVRGGY0YClMpWtYP4lBFYMelpokiYd30MdbiZY88/s1600/20150103_135820-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxSAZK6djSc4ixTpA7nu3pGHLdm6pwRvSPZ3-I5VmINzi9n6qukCBamFABXyuMzvSEcuBc7uwx1ylfCqEwqpmrWzyN0TzVioau88eVRGGY0YClMpWtYP4lBFYMelpokiYd30MdbiZY88/s1600/20150103_135820-1.jpg" height="400" width="395" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creamy, seafood-y goodness.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Seafood Chowder<br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
1 onion<br />
2 T minced garlic<br />
6 T butter, divided<br />
2 - 14.5 oz cans of diced potatoes<br />
1 - 11 oz can of corn<br />
1- 8 oz bottle of clam juice<br />
4 cups of milk<br />
1 1/2 cups of leftover mashed potatoes<br />
1 lb of frozen peeled raw shrimp (small)<br />
8 oz imitation lobster meat<br />
small tin of smoked mussels<br />
1/4 pint of heavy whipping cream<br />
2 T konjac flour<br />
Old Bay seasoning <br />
Johnny's seasoning salt<br />
cracked black pepper<br />
salt<br />
<br />
In a large skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Peel and finely chop entire onion, add to butter. Sautee until softened and translucent. Add minced garlic, and cook one more minute. Add drained potatoes and corn. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning, 1 teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir to combine. Remove from heat.<br />
<br />
In a stock pot, combine mashed potatoes, clam juice, milk, and 1 tablespoon of Johnny's seasoning salt. Bring to a simmer. Remove 1 cup of this mixture into a bowl, and quickly stir in 2 tablespoons of konjac flour. Stir rapidly to remove lumps. Add mixture back into stock pot. Add vegetable mixture from skillet to stock pot of liquids.<br />
<br />
In the skillet, spray with oil, then add frozen shrimp. The shrimp will quickly release a lot of water and juice. Scoop that liquid off, and add to the stock pot. Sprinkle shrimp with 2 teaspoons of Old Bay seasoning, and cook until pink. Add lobster meat and stir to combine. Add seafood mixture to stock pot, along with 1 teaspoon each of salt, Johnny's, and Old Bay. Stir in mussels, the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter, and heavy cream.<br />
<br />
<i>Serve topped with freshly ground pepper. Makes 6 large portions that are very filling, thanks to the magic of <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/77733-konjac-fiber/">konjac flour</a>. </i>Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-37969534606220585582014-12-30T19:02:00.001-06:002014-12-30T19:03:31.309-06:00Chopped salads = easiest weeknight dinners!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qgs9TN3_zHPJPGDwBkd7lxMvwdZ-4DMhOarovX2izk4YhmseVf6AHhRQznz2ofstjT9cym3U1TEuPLIHMD9QXTNDOuztF-KYpd1IVbg0FxVelgmTveGXts1mR5HjyUzXC_GBroYR59M/s1600/chopped+salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qgs9TN3_zHPJPGDwBkd7lxMvwdZ-4DMhOarovX2izk4YhmseVf6AHhRQznz2ofstjT9cym3U1TEuPLIHMD9QXTNDOuztF-KYpd1IVbg0FxVelgmTveGXts1mR5HjyUzXC_GBroYR59M/s1600/chopped+salad.jpg" height="132" width="400" /></a></div>
My body has been craving salads, which is unusual for late December. I think that it is telling me to get some nutrients after my holiday indulgences, and I agree. I haven't been doing very well with the ketogenic lifestyle lately, and it is time to get back on track.<br />
<br />
Whenever I crave salad, I want something interesting and somewhat gourmet, but I don't always have a lot of time to wash and prep my veggies. I am also somewhat picky about salad greens, because I can not tolerate the chunky white parts of lettuce, so I take a lot of time to go through and remove all of them whenever I make a salad. I discovered these new(ish) Dole chopped salad kits, and they are good! They are easy to eat, since everything is chopped into little pieces, and there isn't much of the chunky white parts to pick out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheisQ_2FL4rYOLj_rw1fNISm8ndbxdvQKMQ2pcZJptt1K6d0SC6dV8VfMoNTqVNSkB4dhqH8vzGzG_tnDoclpKTU5JDuzE-Mj2cacnAPRWD_piUBQWqwcw5RmGDMHskdw36nO7p63PGdQ/s1600/ChoppedSunflowerCrunch304x304.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheisQ_2FL4rYOLj_rw1fNISm8ndbxdvQKMQ2pcZJptt1K6d0SC6dV8VfMoNTqVNSkB4dhqH8vzGzG_tnDoclpKTU5JDuzE-Mj2cacnAPRWD_piUBQWqwcw5RmGDMHskdw36nO7p63PGdQ/s1600/ChoppedSunflowerCrunch304x304.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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We stopped at the grocery store on the way home from work tonight, and I got a Sunflower Crunch chopped salad kit, which has cabbage, kale, carrots, sunflower seeds, bacon bits and a sweet onion citrus dressing. It was $3.49. I also got a rotisserie chicken for $6. Rotisserie chicken is the best thing ever for low carbers. I don't have time to roast chickens! Nor do I really care to touch raw chickens. $6 is such a low price to pay for the convenience of getting one ready to eat. And they are always so juicy and delicious. We took our ingredients home, chopped up the chicken, dumped the salad and chicken into a bowl, tossed with dressing, and devoured. You can't get much easier and healthier than that! And, compared to our usual habit of going out to eat all the time, it was very economical at just under $10 for two people. I've made it my New Year's resolution to eat way more of this meal in different variations- I am thinking around three times a week. Besides Sunflower Crunch, these chopped salads also come in the following flavors: Sesame Asian, Bacon & Bleu, BBQ Ranch, Chipotle Cheddar, and Summer Garden Blend. (Dole should be paying me for this free advertising, but they're not!) That will ensure I am getting all kinds of good vitamins and protein, and it will be so fast and easy. That is a resolution that I think I can stick to! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85H5SdgBWFf-mmHxqxdcE4p1x7-shpY3X80h1p_zaZdgQljZfHD4uWxA79A8R0a29HwxgLZju4Mqg8nlkZZFZaO3b1GbjzO7DB5_NJgf9Hn0y2AeZyvAhFJYAG8IrcF0glhYzBcI_tJc/s1600/IMG_20141230_183058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85H5SdgBWFf-mmHxqxdcE4p1x7-shpY3X80h1p_zaZdgQljZfHD4uWxA79A8R0a29HwxgLZju4Mqg8nlkZZFZaO3b1GbjzO7DB5_NJgf9Hn0y2AeZyvAhFJYAG8IrcF0glhYzBcI_tJc/s1600/IMG_20141230_183058.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-9556568067725622882014-11-25T09:18:00.000-06:002014-11-25T09:20:04.101-06:00Thanksgiving salad<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIf4_T7pRuzEYsiUrpaqMtXxez1U-cJ2i5aMxuLhna9dr-hkOrl0tvy5Jck9bS_kgUW9q2X7os4LPkyE_YMZ4U-B6nUL_CL_l835OYpXRExY1Qwk3TMiYiFFPwojfFujivlFr2_7wpkc/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIf4_T7pRuzEYsiUrpaqMtXxez1U-cJ2i5aMxuLhna9dr-hkOrl0tvy5Jck9bS_kgUW9q2X7os4LPkyE_YMZ4U-B6nUL_CL_l835OYpXRExY1Qwk3TMiYiFFPwojfFujivlFr2_7wpkc/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">organized for your viewing pleasure</td></tr>
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A few weeks ago, Kent made a turkey because we not only wanted a traditional turkey dinner, we also wanted leftover turkey to make jambalaya and for this salad I dreamed up. This is like a Thanksgiving dinner in salad form, and it is delicious! I invented this salad around one of the balsamic vinegars I got from Allspice in Des Moines- a cinnamon pear flavored one.<br />
<br />
Thanksgiving Salad<br />
<br />
Salad:<br />
1 bag pre-washed butter lettuce<br />
2 cups leftover turkey meat<br />
2 pears, thinly sliced<br />
1 cup dried cranberries<br />
4 oz apricot Stilton cheese<br />
1/2 of a red onion, thinly sliced<br />
4 oz pecan halves<br />
<br />
Dressing:<br />
1 part cinnamon pear balsamic vinegar (or use Alessi pear infused white balsamic)<br />
1 part Splenda<br />
1 part olive oil<br />
splash of water to thin<br />
<br />
Toss salad, shake dressing, et voila! Makes 2 large meal sized servings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMK4PHAnjpkVGqlsc68r0tWuEK-MsHfTnI1-GLa_NU5GDElGOHehQ-apXZASvjdz4agZRcXLEnKHDisAgQwxebbpZ-cWw-bqpTy1ZkwDARJsyMUEOqYoJt52xiUMQHy-5dblm6gHWO5jo/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMK4PHAnjpkVGqlsc68r0tWuEK-MsHfTnI1-GLa_NU5GDElGOHehQ-apXZASvjdz4agZRcXLEnKHDisAgQwxebbpZ-cWw-bqpTy1ZkwDARJsyMUEOqYoJt52xiUMQHy-5dblm6gHWO5jo/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">nom nom nom</td></tr>
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<br />Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-85325320213076154932014-11-25T08:45:00.001-06:002014-11-25T09:19:25.039-06:00Emily's Cabbage & Kielbasa Soup<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-09c4efab-e759-626a-2526-989e42792443" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">It's no secret that I love cooked cabbage. When Kent makes it for me, he first boils it, then transfers it to a roasting pan and drizzles it with garlic butter before crisping off the tops under the broiler. I wanted to make a soup that had a similar taste of garlicky buttery goodness, but with meat and potatoes to make it a complete meal. This is what I came up with, and it turned out amazing! So amazing, in fact, that I ate four bowls of it in a row. If you want to be extra low carb, omit the canned potatoes, but I figured it was okay fat ratio-wise, as long as I topped each bowl with a pat of butter and let it melt in. Heavenly. I wanted a giant pot of this soup, but this recipe can easily be halved. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Emily's Cabbage & Kielbasa Soup</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">128 oz chicken broth</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">26 oz cream soup base (or 3 c half and half)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 head of cabbage</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 onion</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 head (approx 8-9 cloves) or fresh garlic</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">4 kielbasa sausages (2-14 oz packages)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">2- 14 oz cans of sliced or diced potatoes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">2 T butter (more for garnish)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">2 T olive oil</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">freshly cracked black pepper</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">In a large stock pot, heat olive oil and butter. Chop onion, add to pot. Sautee for 5 minutes. Peel and mince garlic, add to onion, continue to sautee for a minute, then add chicken broth and cream base. Core cabbage and chop into one inch squares. Add to pot. Slice sausages in half, then into half rounds and add to pot. Rinse canned potatoes and if using sliced potatoes, cut each slice in half before adding to pot. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until thickest parts of cabbage pieces are tender. Serve with a pat of butter and cracked black pepper for garnish. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Makes approximately 16 servings.</span>Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-52411155119542106432014-08-05T15:01:00.000-05:002014-08-05T15:04:39.286-05:00Cool as a cucumberI love cucumbers! They are my favorite vegetable, besides cabbage or course. I REALLY love when coworkers with overflowing gardens bring in heaps of cucumbers to share! They are especially perfect for the height of summer when it is hot outside, you need to cool down and don't really feel like expending much energy on cooking. Because cucumbers are so full of water, they are very hydrating and good for your skin when you consume them. You can also just put slices on your eyes to reduce puffiness. I love when snacks double as beauty products! Here are two ultra lazy non recipes centering on cukes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJWXv-FeDKshsjaC689-xs1VEpaKu9oozX_EeG3sXMQ8nNZosabRYKoTFBSsD49fmTomhF09iPtdSN8pZVQuz9AwFdPXg4hBIlSeRpiuCPYSG_nTm24GdaCRXjJSoPpdRxE3Vtn9ZS9A/s1600/IMG_20140804_200159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJWXv-FeDKshsjaC689-xs1VEpaKu9oozX_EeG3sXMQ8nNZosabRYKoTFBSsD49fmTomhF09iPtdSN8pZVQuz9AwFdPXg4hBIlSeRpiuCPYSG_nTm24GdaCRXjJSoPpdRxE3Vtn9ZS9A/s1600/IMG_20140804_200159.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Refreshing!</td></tr>
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Cucumber Mint "Spa" Water<br />
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<i>Want to pretend you are relaxing at a fancy spa? Put those extra slices on your eyes and sip an icy glass of this! </i><br />
<br />
1 small cucumber<br />
1 bunch fresh mint<br />
1 1/2 liters of filtered water<br />
<br />
Peel and slice cucumber into thin slices. Put in pitcher. Leave mint leaves attached to stems. Rinse off, then gently rub each leaf between your thumb and index finger to release their oils. Add to pitcher, fill with filtered water and refrigerate. I have found that you can get at least one refill pitcher' worth of water out of your original cucumbers and mint.<br />
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Cucumbers with Guacamole<br />
<br />
1 cucumber (I like English seedless ones)<br />
guacamole in a pouch<br />
Johnny's seasoning salt<br />
<br />
Slice cucumber. Lay slices on a plate and sprinkle with Johnny's. Squeeze a dollop of guacamole on each slice. Devour entire plate without guilt!<br />
<br />
Two notes on ingredients: I have tried various brands of ready made guacamole, and the best one, both for flavor and price, is Aldi's Little Salad Bar brand. It comes in a two pack of pouches, which keeps it fresh longer, and is very convenient to squeeze out. I prefer the mild flavor, as the spicy is pretty hot. It is only $2.99. If you are not familiar with <a href="http://johnnysfinefoods.com/">Johnny's</a>, I highly recommend it! The original seasoning salt goes great on everything, and they have lots of various blends for specific foods, like poultry or seafood. Kent is really into grilling and smoking meats, so we use a lot of this stuff! It is gluten free, and contains MSG, which in my opinion is what makes it so magical, but if you are sensitive to that, it is also available without MSG.<br />
<br />
I hope you are enjoying a summer bounty of cucumbers like I am!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-40574982458818214802014-07-22T11:17:00.001-05:002014-07-22T11:17:22.075-05:00Out of town, out of ketosis, oh well.I spent last week in Chicago for a convention, and took the opportunity to diverge from my ketogenic ways for a little while. I was focused on eating cheaply, and getting things that I would not be able to find at home. I was a little worried that I would reverse some of my weight loss, since I would be away from Kent's good influence, our magic exercise machine, the Noblerex K1 vibration plate unit, aka "The Jiggler," and my usual routine. I am pleased to say that despite having some blatant keto-cheato moments (cough, Magnolia Bakery, ahem), I actually lost three pounds upon my return home. I chalk that up to the sheer quantity of steps I took- I was walking miles all over the giant convention center and the streets of downtown Chicago exploring. For the most part, besides the bakery sweets and the burger and fries, I ate pretty well, even when consuming carbs. I made an effort to always have a salad for lunch, and incorporated vegetables into as much as I could. Sometimes, you have to think of what nutrients you want to give to your body, rather than what you want to avoid. Here are some of the highlights from my week in Chicago!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbekxyuqgWT62nKo9BeNZiFgfaT0inrc6WJm5DwwEor7A7rfY-foc3r4XHW2Ep73RLtBuiE-8gDeRmJF3espVioWoFfIupk4pBfYRQ5ia8enS1nBaNpARwb-Y7h6LiVLGZawZNHj8rFi8/s1600/IMG_20140713_192456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbekxyuqgWT62nKo9BeNZiFgfaT0inrc6WJm5DwwEor7A7rfY-foc3r4XHW2Ep73RLtBuiE-8gDeRmJF3espVioWoFfIupk4pBfYRQ5ia8enS1nBaNpARwb-Y7h6LiVLGZawZNHj8rFi8/s1600/IMG_20140713_192456.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naughty: There was an amazing buffet at the kickoff party for the convention. I did eat carbs, but a lot of the things pictured, I only had a bite or two of. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiez67PoOZ2D64B2a_mCWsQHwm_F_sQpZeJW7Smd0JI_CsU1sn0RP6MjgRSB_H3Ja6Ndl8lOGSSSu8LBxgKfqojTfOeOEr2W267zU-wd5qmNYj0gVERzYU0zMEmd5Ww5o6NruqsZ1-n5Pc/s1600/IMG_20140722_104554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiez67PoOZ2D64B2a_mCWsQHwm_F_sQpZeJW7Smd0JI_CsU1sn0RP6MjgRSB_H3Ja6Ndl8lOGSSSu8LBxgKfqojTfOeOEr2W267zU-wd5qmNYj0gVERzYU0zMEmd5Ww5o6NruqsZ1-n5Pc/s1600/IMG_20140722_104554.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post party hotel bathroom selfie! We stayed at the Palmer House Hilton, downtown Chicago. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4IkuDJagI1K4S78f56CXggyxoHp3Q0gq2Ap10lh2ifHNivGyRl6koKNUEqHgrFkEHX3XmilH_WiL63-8GpvE3nCTeObwIh2ikhPWaEtypbF2Cqz-q1bMs3K4XuN4FAYZtKhwO81OqTo/s1600/IMG_20140714_192605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4IkuDJagI1K4S78f56CXggyxoHp3Q0gq2Ap10lh2ifHNivGyRl6koKNUEqHgrFkEHX3XmilH_WiL63-8GpvE3nCTeObwIh2ikhPWaEtypbF2Cqz-q1bMs3K4XuN4FAYZtKhwO81OqTo/s1600/IMG_20140714_192605.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neutral: My new favorite restaurant- Roti Mediterranean Grill. It was amazing! It's like the Chipotle of Greek food. I still felt virtuous, despite the carbs. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_r14OMgJ1SMgUpkx4wecAvUeYO_2I0DHG8hRr57I19vvYOYvqW41hsZWA3HKmatcL-yMMydo7RysyxjImuV4-Y7l92rzXouU-a_YASxTGVW6y2N3R5EIs1FY5EaXd9tTUu9GFZ5DxJg/s1600/IMG_20140715_124754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_r14OMgJ1SMgUpkx4wecAvUeYO_2I0DHG8hRr57I19vvYOYvqW41hsZWA3HKmatcL-yMMydo7RysyxjImuV4-Y7l92rzXouU-a_YASxTGVW6y2N3R5EIs1FY5EaXd9tTUu9GFZ5DxJg/s1600/IMG_20140715_124754.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice: A couple of my salads for lunch- Southwest Chicken and Asian Chicken. These were both from a cafe inside the convention center, and I was impressed with how good they were. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNeij6J97ng0Yb6L327huON_wu-WXLB74J_sLdi9y98el8X4aqen7VZ9Jdm5adVSt51xJmBNVQa8YC5mp8iBVCsH98cy8vHXIv8pzlBV9iQ-aiLSWtEhxldrBfr7iOUIHNsqPUnKLRV0/s1600/IMG_20140715_194423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNeij6J97ng0Yb6L327huON_wu-WXLB74J_sLdi9y98el8X4aqen7VZ9Jdm5adVSt51xJmBNVQa8YC5mp8iBVCsH98cy8vHXIv8pzlBV9iQ-aiLSWtEhxldrBfr7iOUIHNsqPUnKLRV0/s1600/IMG_20140715_194423.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naughty: A double cheeseburger with sauteed onions, mushrooms and mayo, plus cajun seasoned fries. I had heard great things about Five Guys, and they didn't let me down!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVme7gaLbQ6zeyOjF4nMLhx5wSj0pwwSiU8HttzfY3TWUA5X5V97HcqAopX8GWGardGj67X2Acb2C7qImqWOo_nS2-_9nlhhal9tNBBZYgJVAF9Iq4jFoFDlOGC9AXPs8xwru5tqE-TYI/s1600/IMG_20140716_232616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVme7gaLbQ6zeyOjF4nMLhx5wSj0pwwSiU8HttzfY3TWUA5X5V97HcqAopX8GWGardGj67X2Acb2C7qImqWOo_nS2-_9nlhhal9tNBBZYgJVAF9Iq4jFoFDlOGC9AXPs8xwru5tqE-TYI/s1600/IMG_20140716_232616.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naughty: Magnolia's famous vanilla cupcake, as seen on Sex and the City. I couldn't help but wonder, "Was it the best cupcake I've ever had?" The answer is yes. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlVwxF2zWqxdQsyW5RqXhnomNAEHPla6PVEzwpY8GaXMuCxd80Xy4LzOxR5O-LQ9e20kSGIDvOB5ZZIQacDDiV8dmAEj2przd9BhVyTO5_sAwf25fsx56RUkNkw2afpYAGMrRd6b59_4/s1600/IMG_20140716_232917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlVwxF2zWqxdQsyW5RqXhnomNAEHPla6PVEzwpY8GaXMuCxd80Xy4LzOxR5O-LQ9e20kSGIDvOB5ZZIQacDDiV8dmAEj2przd9BhVyTO5_sAwf25fsx56RUkNkw2afpYAGMrRd6b59_4/s1600/IMG_20140716_232917.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naughty: personal sized pistachio cheesecake. Swoon.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lEIHaBuqjIWCt8Bdu5bdZW9oJEt-3JJAvEI5XUOfpyR7vJXHVylxyLstkjWK_LOmD9NoB8fVS_eVEl6B3KDtGoSmxssNTWoHnudI-wNc_k0LLtZXdMIgXouqkS7NNFuzYlbVUuVu9Z8/s1600/IMG_20140722_101131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lEIHaBuqjIWCt8Bdu5bdZW9oJEt-3JJAvEI5XUOfpyR7vJXHVylxyLstkjWK_LOmD9NoB8fVS_eVEl6B3KDtGoSmxssNTWoHnudI-wNc_k0LLtZXdMIgXouqkS7NNFuzYlbVUuVu9Z8/s1600/IMG_20140722_101131.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice: Bacon and Blue cheese steak salad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQytrBk5fEJXKKDL9bNH5Tdfr3LheMON9A09yb67DE2WHL68cHFqaevWO5bpj-ze_zXZTjSJSmBJbm3PaJDTb9SWnGwsE9Kg-GvZBFxEEgkH870HdDZh1m9jMSjQ7g_kZx54tme2kt1qk/s1600/IMG_20140722_101314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQytrBk5fEJXKKDL9bNH5Tdfr3LheMON9A09yb67DE2WHL68cHFqaevWO5bpj-ze_zXZTjSJSmBJbm3PaJDTb9SWnGwsE9Kg-GvZBFxEEgkH870HdDZh1m9jMSjQ7g_kZx54tme2kt1qk/s1600/IMG_20140722_101314.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naughty, yet again: I had to return to Magnolia one more time for a slice of birthday cake. If it makes it any better, it WAS my dinner. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAHuIpY8T4EztkGUONjhhMntVzpHuO4fxzuI6fPwt8ffpW1foVEanRP5yTiPsMCsdLPLaLg9P-C6B2Tnw6S_wUtTtNCQQvMDs7zZWjEA9SqIXoX411-AdGV82SgYc1PApXqdbCJ21Te4/s1600/IMG_20140722_101442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAHuIpY8T4EztkGUONjhhMntVzpHuO4fxzuI6fPwt8ffpW1foVEanRP5yTiPsMCsdLPLaLg9P-C6B2Tnw6S_wUtTtNCQQvMDs7zZWjEA9SqIXoX411-AdGV82SgYc1PApXqdbCJ21Te4/s1600/IMG_20140722_101442.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fruity spinach salad with pomegranate vinaigrette from the Corner Bakery Cafe next to the Palmer House. Eaten outside on the sidewalk while waiting for the chartered bus! </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It was a great week of adventure out of town, and I made some awesome memories. But I am very glad to be home and back into the routine! </div>
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<br />Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-77321374929509661452014-07-10T11:17:00.001-05:002014-07-10T16:03:15.933-05:00Cooking with dog!Arrroooo! (That's a dog howl...) I don't mean cooking dog meat! I am talking about this fun Japanese cooking show that Kent showed me the other night. The narrator/host of the show is a French poodle, who is voiced by a Japanese guy attempting a French accent. It's ridiculous, but entertaining. <a href="http://youtu.be/59HWteukNjs">This</a> is the episode that we watched, and decided to try to make these ourselves. I'm not going to post the recipe, since it is all clearly spelled out in the video.<br />
<br />
We were already familiar with shirataki noodles- pasta made from konjac, a high fiber root, that have zero calories and zero net carbs. We hadn't yet tried to use them for an Asian noodle bowl, but our favorite Vietnamese restaurant recently closed, so we have to do it ourselves now. We had a few differences between our version and the video recipe. We used ribeye instead of sirloin steak. We used splenda + stevia instead of sugar in the sauce. We left out the bean sprouts. Kent added both fresh ginger and jarred garlic to the sauce. It didn't make sense to us to not include garlic! We garnished ours with fresh mint and Thai basil, as well as some fresh jalepeno slices that we let soak in the sauce while the noodles chilled.<br />
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Here are our results!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgTvUM3pj6UU1n6bfc_CA8mEX8FsoeXXBTDJrwoJ0Vj2-gUvr8yJZLTgpx6W8aj3eysSFRYyoqjZx8jZASAuhkAq2AkObi5CQZfMAt2MGgMydIgP5Z4M-scjAA39RIGDYpnUEA_9WS_g/s1600/noodle+bowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgTvUM3pj6UU1n6bfc_CA8mEX8FsoeXXBTDJrwoJ0Vj2-gUvr8yJZLTgpx6W8aj3eysSFRYyoqjZx8jZASAuhkAq2AkObi5CQZfMAt2MGgMydIgP5Z4M-scjAA39RIGDYpnUEA_9WS_g/s1600/noodle+bowl.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tasteful noods.</td></tr>
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Shirataki Noodle Bowls<br />
<br />
2 pouches Miracle Noodle shirataki noodles, drained and rinsed well<br />
2 ribeye steaks (charcoal grilled)<br />
1 cucumber, cut into matchsticks<br />
1 tomato, diced<br />
2 eggs, scrambled into a thin omelette and sliced into strips<br />
<br />
Sauce:<br />
3 Tablespoons soy sauce<br />
4 Tablespoons rice vinegar<br />
1 Tablespoon Splenda<br />
1 Tablespoon granulated stevia<br />
2.4 oz water (we used a 1 oz shot glass to measure this out)<br />
2 teaspoons sesame oil<br />
1/2 teaspoon minced ginger<br />
3/4 Tablespoon minced garlic<br />
<br />
Garnish:<br />
1 fresh jalepeno, sliced<br />
fresh basil leaves<br />
fresh mint leaves<br />
<br />
Drain and rinse noodles after removing them from their bags. Boil in water for a minute. Drain and pat dry. In a dry skillet, cook noodles briefly to remove any excess water. Set noodles aside. Mix sauce, and spoon half of it over noodles. Set remaining sauce aside for finishing bowls. Slice the jalepeno and put the slices in the bowl of sauce. Grill steaks and make omelette. Let omelette cool and cut into thin strips. Also slice steak into strips. Set eggs and steak aside. Cut up vegetables. In two bowls, place half of the noodles in each. Top with steak and egg strips, cucumber and tomato. Garnish with basil, mint, and jalepeno slices to taste. Top with half of remaining sauce in each bowl.<br />
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The next day, I used the leftover ingredients as part of a delicious Asian salad. Kent turned the leftover sauce into a salad dressing, by adding some vegetable oil and a little more sesame oil to it, then shaking to combine in a jar.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglly6uLV6CQks6HZ8v97EFBggdvwCDvwynvX5k3EyYcyzvoiksqyQkV1LHfSZ-3TAaEzbl2pgYGaSF6oafE_eocVj3lj9JAel96BnM1k4QxuIWMwweBqhUUiqcAx4HGafJe9LIjmbxVPA/s1600/salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglly6uLV6CQks6HZ8v97EFBggdvwCDvwynvX5k3EyYcyzvoiksqyQkV1LHfSZ-3TAaEzbl2pgYGaSF6oafE_eocVj3lj9JAel96BnM1k4QxuIWMwweBqhUUiqcAx4HGafJe9LIjmbxVPA/s1600/salad.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
Asian Steak Salad</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Grilled sirloin steak, sliced into strips</div>
<div>
butter lettuce</div>
<div>
sliced cucumbers</div>
<div>
sliced radishes</div>
<div>
shredded carrots</div>
<div>
shelled edamame</div>
<div>
peanuts</div>
<div>
Asian vinagrette dressing- soy sauce, rice vinegar, minded garlic and ginger, sesame oil, stevia/splenda, and vegetable oil</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Shake up dressing, adjust ingredients to taste. Combine all other ingredients in a bowl and toss. Easy!</div>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-82450988557079170142014-07-08T10:11:00.002-05:002014-07-08T10:12:24.148-05:00No compromise cheesecake!I've gotten used to adjusting my expectations when it comes to diet desserts. I love the keto fat bombs that we've been making, but as delicious as they are, they are not the same as good old sugary candy. It's not a flavor issue, it's more of a texture thing. I wasn't sure what to expect when Kent told me about this cheesecake recipe. I was worried that it would seem fluffy and fake. I am very pleased to say that it seems like normal New York cheesecake- nice and dense and decadent! Not only is this cheesecake sugar free and low carb, it also happens to be gluten free! I have a feeling this will be a holiday standby for here on out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxvPdsbUJqzmMHl_OX3LccgVcbVZemwGgMqEA4OYpMofG4iq7zt9I0GoRS4xMK-pmPW1B032dBHWOaMDQJMqN9pr6NG9_fD2uscxV_6Re59fgegeM56k-bP2_npwz3TrHcI33SZLLW_0/s1600/cheesecake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxvPdsbUJqzmMHl_OX3LccgVcbVZemwGgMqEA4OYpMofG4iq7zt9I0GoRS4xMK-pmPW1B032dBHWOaMDQJMqN9pr6NG9_fD2uscxV_6Re59fgegeM56k-bP2_npwz3TrHcI33SZLLW_0/s1600/cheesecake.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right on the money!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Individual Keto Cheesecakes<br />
<br />
1/2 stick of unsalted butter (410 cals, 0 carbs)<br />
1 cup almond meal (720 cals, 8 net carbs)<br />
2- 8 oz packages of softened cream cheese (1600 cals, 16 carbs)<br />
1/2 cup of Splenda, plus 1 Tablespoon (0 cals, 0 carbs)<br />
1/4 cup of granulated stevia (0 cals, 0 carbs)<br />
2 tsp vanilla (0 cals, 0 carbs)<br />
2 eggs (148 cals, 1 carb)<br />
<br />
(239 calories, 2.08 carbs per cheesecake)<br />
<br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place paper muffin liners in a 12 cup muffin tin. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the
butter. Add the almond meal and the tablespoon of Splenda, and stir to combine. Divide this mixture into 12 spoonfuls and place one spoonful in each muffin cup. Using an oiled shot glass, press it down to cover the bottom of each liner. In a stand or hand mixer, combine eggs, Splenda and stevia, vanilla, and cream cheese. Mix on low to combine, then increase speed to remove lumps and make smooth. Spoon filling into each muffin cup, and smooth tops with a spoon. Bake for 17 minutes. The tops will not brown, but they will slightly puff up and crack. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before eating.<br />
<br />
We topped ours with diced strawberries and whipped cream, which will add a couple more carbs. Other stir in ideas or toppings could be blueberries, raspberries, shaved Choco Perfection chocolate bars, or citrus zest. I saw on Pinterest that someone suggested making your own almond meal using almonds dusted with cocoa powder. You could also just add cocoa powder to the regular almond meal mixture. This is a great base recipe that will work with a lot of variations. Now, the hardest part will be controling ourselves, so that we can each eat one of these every night for the rest of the week!<br />
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<br />
<br />Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-27937584349666273932014-07-03T07:52:00.000-05:002014-07-03T07:52:03.958-05:00Recipe: Blueberry Cheesecake Fat BombsContinuing with National Blueberry Month, I used our remaining blueberries from last week's salad on a variation of the <a href="http://theketogenicdiet.blogspot.com/2014/06/keto-sweets-fat-bombs-aka-candy.html">fat bomb candy</a> I talked about last week. Kent is a chocolate fan, but given the choice, I lean more toward fruity options. I wanted to figure out how to make something similar in texture, but flavored with something other than cocoa powder. This one was a winner! It would also be great with the addition of diced strawberries for a very 4th of July theme!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWVwHAit8in5VHi7IV7Du9W7-BILlt467hUV1vmbEbIG8yYQqZRn2-hMWOdW4tg1J31urRTlOF7yGpsEDVCjpcRRMJ5FhyvoAUBC1_jhyZOaje1mZ0W_NcR74m00TYlxb8upmb90A0Kg/s1600/blueberry+cheesecake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWVwHAit8in5VHi7IV7Du9W7-BILlt467hUV1vmbEbIG8yYQqZRn2-hMWOdW4tg1J31urRTlOF7yGpsEDVCjpcRRMJ5FhyvoAUBC1_jhyZOaje1mZ0W_NcR74m00TYlxb8upmb90A0Kg/s1600/blueberry+cheesecake.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluebs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Blueberry Cheesecake Fat Bombs<br />
<br />
7 oz coconut oil, melted<br />
1 package of sugar free cheesecake flavored instant pudding mix<br />
1/4 cup heavy cream<br />
half a pint of blueberries<br />
<br />
Lightly spray candy mold with non stick spray, and place it on a cookie sheet for stability. Place 4-5 blueberries in each mold. In a microwave safe bowl, melt coconut oil. Add remaining ingredients, except for blueberries. Use a blender to quickly combine. (If you delay, the gelatin in the pudding will get clumpy.) Once mixture is thoroughly combined, pour over blueberries into molds. Place in freezer until firm, about 30 minutes. Pop each candy out of the mold, and store in an airtight container in the freezer.Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-17814444171531489982014-07-01T14:27:00.005-05:002014-07-01T14:27:56.671-05:00Blueberry Lemon Salad with Blueberry VinaigretteI was already planning on writing about this salad we invented last week, when I learned that July is National Blueberry Month! It was meant to be! This week, I'll share two blueberry recipes that we've made recently. For the first, let's go the savory direction. I needed to come up with a side salad to take to an informal dinner party. The main course was grilled steak, and I wanted to make some sort of summery green salad that had fruit in it too. It doubled as dessert!<br />
<br />
I was recently in Des Moines with my best friend Shannon, and we visited an amazing store there called <a href="http://allspiceonline.com/">Allspice</a>. Besides having an awesome selection of dried herbs and spices, they have an area in the back with dispensers of various flavors of olive oil and balsamic vinegars. With tiny cups for tasting! It was incredible! It warrants many exclamation points!!! Kent is a master vinaigrette maker, so I had to get some choice balsamics for him as an early birthday gift. (It's no coincidence that I benefit from this gift, too!) After tasting almost all of the vinegars, I decided on a sampler pack of my choice of flavors- four smaller bottles for $36, which appears to be available in the store, but not online. I went with Peach, Cinnamon Pear, Dark Chocolate and Blueberry. We happened to have some blueberries in the fridge already, so a salad inspiration was born! I'd already had the idea to pair lemon zest with blueberries, but then Kent found this amazing Stilton cheese at the gourmet cheese island at Hy-Vee, and it really took it to the next level. If you can't find it, a mild blue cheese or goat cheese would work as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf29Fv7pO_moXgmhA759HxUpas6L8rgFizmRRvFN1EsFgllkBvFTC_D-QyBgRKYnUw03LdAe-_YDvxBIaHME4dHmmqzSMcAJfjC8fEjY1x_4KGbciUhPjhqD691MXH4fhDJrWgf4YxALY/s1600/blueberry+salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf29Fv7pO_moXgmhA759HxUpas6L8rgFizmRRvFN1EsFgllkBvFTC_D-QyBgRKYnUw03LdAe-_YDvxBIaHME4dHmmqzSMcAJfjC8fEjY1x_4KGbciUhPjhqD691MXH4fhDJrWgf4YxALY/s1600/blueberry+salad.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
Blueberry Lemon Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette<br />
<br />
2 bags of prewashed salad greens, we prefer Butter lettuce<br />
(or a combination of butter lettuce with another salad green, like Frisee)<br />
1 pint blueberries<br />
1 cup pecan halves<br />
1 medium shallot, thinly sliced<br />
1 large lemon, zested<br />
1/2 cup lemon infused Stilton cheese, crumbled<br />
<br />
Dressing:<br />
1 part blueberry vinegar<br />
1 part white balsamic vinegar<br />
1 part powdered stevia<br />
1 part granulated Splenda<br />
1 part canola oil<br />
1 part olive oil<br />
<br />
Use equal parts of each ingredient. (1/4 cup of each will make a generous batch of dressing to be used for multiple salads.) Combine all ingredients in a jar and shake well to combine. We used half and half with the vinegars to conserve our fancy ingredient, and I'm glad we did, because it is plenty flavorful, even tempered by half cheaper white balsamic. We also prefer the flavor of half and half ratios with the sweeteners and the oils. It's kind of hard to explain why, but they just seem more balanced and full when combined, rather just relying on one kind.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLQfEJcyR8OaiDXQ-YSykXEetb91gbXAFdyMr8HmpDu1QptZE9vjte-cnihAUUiNpkkN-tLmfGbV9dpIy5zx8u7dCXU_EOb-Zc4SqFnT_VGwtX6huIauzDI6XEpUJHYPEg5Gw9TC0sB8/s1600/blueb+stilton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLQfEJcyR8OaiDXQ-YSykXEetb91gbXAFdyMr8HmpDu1QptZE9vjte-cnihAUUiNpkkN-tLmfGbV9dpIy5zx8u7dCXU_EOb-Zc4SqFnT_VGwtX6huIauzDI6XEpUJHYPEg5Gw9TC0sB8/s1600/blueb+stilton.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
This salad was so good, we made it again a few days later, but this time, we used a blueberry Stilton cheese, pictured above, which is also found at Hy-Vee. It was really good, but I liked the lemon cheese just a little more. The lemon seemed a little more subtle and ethereal. Two of my favorite qualities in an ingredient.<br />
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On Thursday, we will continue with our blueberry celebration, and I'll share my recipe for blueberry cheesecake fat bombs!Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-34129499891909329532014-06-26T08:37:00.000-05:002014-06-26T08:37:03.599-05:00Keto Sweets: Fat Bombs, aka "candy"I have a chef for a best friend, and a very creative kitchen ninja for a husband, which makes me one lucky lady. I love that both of them are so supportive and excited about experimenting with ketogenic recipes with me. When I was researching ketogenic recipes, I stumbled upon something called a "fat bomb." That didn't sound very appetizing to me, but I'm glad that I looked into it further, because what it really means is keto candy! Fat bombs are an easy way to add fat to your diet, to get that ratio of calories from fat up. I have found that if I'm worried about eating a few carbs (for example, a little watermelon in a salad the other day), eating a fat bomb or two seems to counteract the little bit of sugar and keeps my fat ratio high enough that I remain in ketosis. Kent told me that he used to just eat a spoonful of olive oil once in a while, to get the same effect, but that sounds a little too intense for me. Fat bomb candy goes down a lot easier in my opinion! It seems counterintuitive to say that if you eat a few too many carbs, you atone for your sins by eating candy! But it is true, and like many things about this diet, it goes against what we've learned about nutrition in the past. But, the ketostix don't lie. Since I have begun adding fat bombs to my diet, my ketosis has been kicked into overdrive! I had the darkest test strip ever this morning (the deepest possible purple!), after having a decadent, absolutely not deprived day of delicious meals yesterday. There is no motivation like that to stick to this plan! I am really looking forward to getting a new scale this weekend. The one we have now is so frustrating, because you can weigh yourself 10 times in a row and never get the same result twice. I look forward to an accurate scale so I can really see some results. So far though, my clothes fitting looser is pretty good proof in my book.<br />
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There are tons of fat bomb recipes available online- especially on Pinterest. They have the potential to have endless flavor combos- especially with out large collection of sugar free Torani syrups. They don't require a bunch of fancy equipment, you could just pour the mixture onto a tray and break it up like bark, but I really like using silicon molds, so that's what we used to make them cute. Here are two recipes that Kent came up with, after he tried some that my best friend Shannon made for us. Hers were dark chocolate on the outside, peanut butter in the middle. He didn't want to mess with layers, so he came up with an all in one mixture.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWM2xqJB6PHQ5nu5rr6JQAD5c8ers3-ZPOtwW0_a96XBO8-IEsMm6kHwWHRG7AZGKqubRBEmTdzsYWAZRgwMnY35K_qaAwcfXcgia01uIM_lzJGfRJ9DLtdf-mSL51BrUiAsR5LSpsLcU/s1600/chocolate+peanut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWM2xqJB6PHQ5nu5rr6JQAD5c8ers3-ZPOtwW0_a96XBO8-IEsMm6kHwWHRG7AZGKqubRBEmTdzsYWAZRgwMnY35K_qaAwcfXcgia01uIM_lzJGfRJ9DLtdf-mSL51BrUiAsR5LSpsLcU/s1600/chocolate+peanut.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heaven IS for real. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chocolate Caramel Peanut Fat Bombs<br />
<br />
7 oz coconut oil, melted<br />
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder<br />
1/4 cup granulated stevia<br />
1/8 cup granulated splenda<br />
1/8 cup PB2 (powdered peanut butter)<br />
2 Tblsp. heavy cream<br />
2 Tblsp. Sugar Free Caramel Torani syrup<br />
1/2 cup salted, roasted peanuts<br />
<br />
Lightly spray candy mold with non stick spray, and place it on a cookie sheet for stability. In a microwave safe bowl, melt coconut oil. Add remaining ingredients, except for peanuts. Stir to combine. You will see that the stevia will not dissolve until the cream and Torani syrup are added. Once mixture is thoroughly combined, pour into molds. Top each candy with a few peanuts. Place in freezer until firm, about 30 minutes. Pop each candy out of the mold, and store in an airtight container in the freezer.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqYOTjoZcHmyE1kgW5jYdAqgVbJmHFG_RUX7PCwEox430lJm94p8pTjT1M83_puZNJ6StoSDxB-tWTfAMe0n3B6UMpkiBsylDYyG_I2kt8CEUJMmtW_expZA7vQzrgnJfz6rypRzrmOI/s1600/coconut+macadamia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqYOTjoZcHmyE1kgW5jYdAqgVbJmHFG_RUX7PCwEox430lJm94p8pTjT1M83_puZNJ6StoSDxB-tWTfAMe0n3B6UMpkiBsylDYyG_I2kt8CEUJMmtW_expZA7vQzrgnJfz6rypRzrmOI/s1600/coconut+macadamia.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every time I get one from the freezer, I sing La Bamba! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Coconut Macadamia Nut Chocolate Fat Bombs<br />
<br />
7 oz coconut oil, melted<br />
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder<br />
1/4 cup granulated stevia<br />
1/8 cup granulated splenda<br />
2 Tblsp. heavy cream<br />
2 Tblsp. Sugar Free Coconut Torani syrup<br />
1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts<br />
<br />
Lightly spray candy mold with non stick spray, and place it on a cookie sheet for stability. In a microwave safe bowl, melt coconut oil. Add remaining ingredients, except for macadamia nuts. Stir to combine. You will see that the stevia will not dissolve until the cream and Torani syrup are added. Sprinkle a spoonful of macadamia nuts into each candy mold. Top with chocolate mixture. Place in freezer until firm, about 30 minutes. Pop each candy out of the mold, and store in an airtight container in the freezer.<br />
<br />
There are so many possibilites with these things. I would like to make one that is a dark chocolate shell filled with unsweetened coconut mixed with caramel Torani and chopped almonds for a German chocolate vibe. Or a lemon cookie flavored one using our zero carb protein shake mix (which tastes like vanilla wafers) and lemon essential oil. I will keep scheming and post more recipes as they develop!<br />
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<br />Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-69338378257326728262014-06-24T19:39:00.000-05:002014-06-24T19:39:40.943-05:00Keto Sweets: Drink Your FatWhen Kent did the Keto diet years ago, he had one thing different than this time around- not much of a sweet tooth. That made things easier for him to resist, but it also didn't make him invent keto desserts. This time, with me on board, necessity is the mother of invention, because I do have a sweet tooth, and need to find a fix! It has paid off for him, because although he doesn't crave sweets like I do, he is benefiting from the delicious things I'm coming up with. This week I'd like to focus on a couple of ways we are satisfying the dessert cravings, while staying in ketosis. Today's method is through dessert-like beverages.<br />
<br />
The first idea I had was to make a root beer "float" using diet root beer and a little heavy cream. This quickly became Kent's go to breakfast, because it is quick, easy and portable. I decided to branch out and try some different flavor profiles, and wanted to use some of the many types of sugar free Torani syrup that we have on hand. Cream soda, as a vanilla base, is very versatile with lots of other flavors. Here's a list of the winning combinations I've come up with so far:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqO0fCnJAUPBuWq2JvPRx3trf9DQsGYwr2mb57d2dexFyQKYicdpoEfhHW2dcBcYVAm0tM7sqhoWK0_5DRpo3U7JjHB37L5GlpXCnRpf2NkVyq9clzVzImkicjDMFHPpSxN-ErKMVX3E/s1600/tor-371490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqO0fCnJAUPBuWq2JvPRx3trf9DQsGYwr2mb57d2dexFyQKYicdpoEfhHW2dcBcYVAm0tM7sqhoWK0_5DRpo3U7JjHB37L5GlpXCnRpf2NkVyq9clzVzImkicjDMFHPpSxN-ErKMVX3E/s1600/tor-371490.jpg" height="400" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This stuff is awesome! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Diet root beer with 2 Tablespoons heavy cream<br />
Diet cream soda and 2 Tablespoons heavy cream<br />
+2 Tablespoons SF Chocolate Torani syrup<br />
+2 Tablespoons SF Raspberry Torani syrup<br />
+2 Tablespoons SF Chai Tea Torani syrup<br />
+2 Tablespoons SF Butterscotch Torani syrup<br />
+2 Tablespoons SF Peach Torani syrup, + 1 Tablespoon SF Brown Sugar Cinnamon Torani syrup<br />
Diet orange soda with 2 Tablespoons SF French Vanilla Torani syrup and 2 Tablespoons heavy cream<br />
<br />
I also like to use our Keurig coffee maker to make iced coffee in the summer. We currently have two flavors of K-cups, a chocolate donut flavor, and a vanilla biscotti, which are both sugar free. I really like to brew my coffee into a mug, using the 8 oz strength, when I first wake up in the morning. I put the mug into the freezer to cool off the coffee. Right before I leave the house, I fill a large insulated cup with ice, and pour in my cooled coffee. I add sugar free Torani flavored syrup (usually French Vanilla, Caramel, or White Chocolate), a packet of stevia, and some heavy cream. Stir it up, and I'm out the door. I get my sweet fix, and the heavy cream keeps me fueled all morning.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ms2NBW7zYx3f9u8u9US2i0Nc2oE9zNasZkCQ_2mAdoiFlXdgXBrwzRC8bRGAoJVk1owWzv9xhUOuekhJm04RUSNgoSXcvohYnoWqMqMHt7vqpZ6mnRFM15sPSj0xN2_SEjWBOqoj3XU/s1600/wd_thaitea_S_beauty02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ms2NBW7zYx3f9u8u9US2i0Nc2oE9zNasZkCQ_2mAdoiFlXdgXBrwzRC8bRGAoJVk1owWzv9xhUOuekhJm04RUSNgoSXcvohYnoWqMqMHt7vqpZ6mnRFM15sPSj0xN2_SEjWBOqoj3XU/s1600/wd_thaitea_S_beauty02.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It works best to try to adapt things that are already creamy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I also use the Keurig to just make hot water to brew tea. You can actually put a tea bag inside of one of those reusable k-cups to pressure brew it, or just run the hot water and steep the teabag in your cup. I am not normally a person who likes dairy in tea, but I do love Thai iced tea, which is a bright orange colored black tea that is flavored with vanilla and is traditionally served over ice with sweetened condensed milk. I did the same, but replaced the condensed milk with two stevia packets and some heavy cream. It is just as tasty! I love coming up with alternatives to things I used to love, and I don't feel deprived at all. Sometimes the low carb version is better than the original in flavor, not just in health benefits!Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-44023984300830507312014-06-12T08:14:00.001-05:002014-06-23T10:24:24.697-05:00Be prepared! With any low carb diet, it is crucial that you be prepared with food on hand, or at least a list of appropriate restaurant options. I know that when I get hungry, I get cranky, and the most common argument (discussion, really) Kent and I have is when we are trying to figure out what to do for dinner, and the more indecisive we are, the hungrier and crankier we get! It's a frustrating spiral.<br />
<br />
For foods to keep on hand at home, I have created a standard keto grocery list ready to go in a spreadsheet, so my shopping is easy every time. Here it is, for your reference. If you'd like, you can modify the spreadsheet in Excel to add columns for each of the grocery stores in your area, and keep track of the prices on items to see which store has the best deals. This is called a <a href="http://organizedhome.com/kitchen-tips/make-price-book-save-money">price book</a>. Keep in mind that sometimes places like gas stations and drugstores actually have better prices on certain items than grocery stores do, so keep your eye out! I have not yet made a price book, but it seems like a good idea. A little extra work seems to be worth it in the long run, because eating low carb isn't cheap, and any way to save helps. My grocery shopping is typically split between Hy-Vee, Walmart and Aldi. I like to stock up on certain things when I can make it to a Trader Joe's, but the closest one is two hours away.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="346" scrolling="no" src="https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=DD7BF05668B5A436&resid=DD7BF05668B5A436%21129&authkey=AHmvAXiP8-v_beA&em=2" width="402"></iframe>
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<div>
<br />
Sometimes though, we get busy and realize that we really need to go grocery shopping, but we are hungry right now, and need to go out to eat. I made a list of restaurants in our area that we already like, and the best low carb options at each place. I encourage you to do the same, since every town has different options. I folded this list up and put it in my wallet. Next time I am ravenous, I won't have to rely on my starving brain to come up with ideas when I'm desperate. Here is my list- maybe some of the options will work for you too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnw3ah2CbkEBXzT-e-U8v_pPdjayfVPSXI-h5cFYl7CZVdsZbdQsK40G58AJtXDN7TQP0cGY2brF4C97S9aKqGrNAASppzX64Zg73LGs0VSj3OaCVMEQeSTugSG4NpQyA7-wyf6mo7upc/s1600/bakedfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnw3ah2CbkEBXzT-e-U8v_pPdjayfVPSXI-h5cFYl7CZVdsZbdQsK40G58AJtXDN7TQP0cGY2brF4C97S9aKqGrNAASppzX64Zg73LGs0VSj3OaCVMEQeSTugSG4NpQyA7-wyf6mo7upc/s1600/bakedfish.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baked fish with butter sauce and slivered almonds, steamed veggies from Highway 63 Diner.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHDi3oiWej6WSvT7S08uVrV71EC0NhKfHf8LxK5V3Q6H3Z-LcN6f48R9-HqaJ030woUduBykI792vNJafX2xLs49LFOFdFHDZRSS7-3Ec8AFZReEYD24ezHqWX3iFZ1KHgxc9ka6-AP4/s1600/salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHDi3oiWej6WSvT7S08uVrV71EC0NhKfHf8LxK5V3Q6H3Z-LcN6f48R9-HqaJ030woUduBykI792vNJafX2xLs49LFOFdFHDZRSS7-3Ec8AFZReEYD24ezHqWX3iFZ1KHgxc9ka6-AP4/s1600/salad.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House salad with creamy garlic dressing, cheese curds from Highway 63 Diner.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>I only have the carb counts listed for a few of the items on the list below. Feel free to do the research- I was just going with the basic criteria for us- mostly gluten free with a high calories from fat ratio.</i><br />
<br />
<u><b>All-American</b></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Highway 63 Diner: baked fish in butter sauce, steamed veggies, cheese curds, double bacon cheeseburger without a bun, house shredded salad</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://theketogenicdiet.blogspot.com/2014/05/keto-on-go-pepperjax.html">Pepperjax</a>: Double steak rice bowl, minus the rice, with mushrooms, onions, and cheese. Add mushroom sauce and au jus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Village Inn/Perkins: Steak or pork chop and eggs, with cottage cheese, omelettes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Famous Dave’s: naked ribs, brisket, or any meat with tiny bit of sauce, salad or veggie sides</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Texas Roadhouse: chopped steak with salad, veggies/salads</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Buffalo Wild Wings: wings without sweet sauce</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lonestar Steakhouse: garlic steak medallions, creamed spinach</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Domino’s: wings without sweet sauce</span></div>
<br />
<u><b>Asian</b></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chinese buffet: any meat without breading, veggies like cabbage, green beans, cooked to order hibachi, mayo baked mussels</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hu Hot: any combination of stir fry without noodles (use cabbage)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sauces, per ladle:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">0 carbs- ginger/garlic broth, sesame oil, chili garlic sauce</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 carb- soy sauce, lemon/lime juice, hot chili oil/garlic oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">3 carbs- Five Village Fire Schezwan, Khan’s Favorite, Mean Bean Garlic, Yellow Belly Curry</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">4 carbs- Black Thai Peanut, Sweet Chili Sauce</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">5 carbs- Beckster’s Ginger, Kung Pao Yow, Samurai Teriyaki</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
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<u><b>Deli</b></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jimmy John’s: Italian Nighclub Unwich</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sub City: Sub in a tub</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u><b>Fast Food Burgers</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hardees: Low carb thickburger</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">McDonalds: double cheeseburger without ketchup, mustard, or bun, add extra onions, shred lettuce and big mac sauce</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u><b>Italian</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Marco's Pizza: meatball bake- add extra cheese</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Olive Garden: garden salad without croutons (6c), Antipasti meats and cheese salad topper (1c) Roasted parmesan asparagus (7c), Grilled Chicken Spiedini with creamy alfredo (4c), Steak Toscano (11 c), Herb Grilled Salmon (9c), Steamed broccoil (2c)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u><b>Mexican</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Las Margaritas: ribeye y mas with chile relleno, guacamole</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fiesta Jalisco: Shrimp in lemon juice, carne asada</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbqPHZd_LnXho8htdW-xoGzBUo8oBZoi4ZVxNsr2XuznHtx8arsR5UhTbUjnhy3PPQ7BgRlIBu6DS2UaNu-8lyoor4zGTy5PAgyeEwRpYXayPprPI-AD8w7N-Bu3vTqMp2w6SLAcjSqs/s1600/ribeyeymas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbqPHZd_LnXho8htdW-xoGzBUo8oBZoi4ZVxNsr2XuznHtx8arsR5UhTbUjnhy3PPQ7BgRlIBu6DS2UaNu-8lyoor4zGTy5PAgyeEwRpYXayPprPI-AD8w7N-Bu3vTqMp2w6SLAcjSqs/s1600/ribeyeymas.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ribeye y mas with chile relleno at Las Margaritas. We skip the rice and beans, and add guacamole to our steaks. </td></tr>
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The best way to avoid succumbing to desperate carb cravings is to be prepared. That means either with food on hand at home, with a ready-made grocery list to stay focused and avoid impulse buys, or with a list of keto friendly dining options. It takes a little bit of effort up front, but you will be rewarded again and again for planning ahead! </div>
Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-62027001280124228452014-06-10T10:27:00.001-05:002014-06-23T10:24:58.744-05:00Making the Most of It When Your Meals Are Out of Your ControlI spent last week in Indianapolis as one of the lucky few who were chosen to participate in this year's AFSCME Women's Leadership Academy. It was actually the reason that I started this low carb diet when I did, because I knew it was coming up, and really needed to feel good and have energy for this adventure. The experience was great, but it can be hard to adjust to living in a hotel for a week. The biggest challenge was the fact that I had little control over what I was served for meals, so I had to work with what I had in front of me and make the best decisions I could, given the limited options. Luckily, the most important meal of the day, breakfast, always had easy low carb options. The hotel I was at, Embassy Suites downtown Indianapolis, had a great hot breakfast buffet, and even had staff on hand for customized omelettes. My typical breakfast each morning was scrambled eggs, sausage, and a little bit of fruit, with an iced coffee. It was so tasty, it was actually easy to bypass all the pancakes, french toast and danishes!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFb8j3OUP6csWP-Mwngns-X4Yrzy4fSpJTV4QeyS6mJGRonxry0bT9JfpE6qkvL_GWEGrvjSAnWuv4K298Oc3AO3thu1LyHXAEj8bCdvS-PvcrcV77ozVacR91PFBmPE-tlaECF_wtW2A/s1600/20140604_075702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFb8j3OUP6csWP-Mwngns-X4Yrzy4fSpJTV4QeyS6mJGRonxry0bT9JfpE6qkvL_GWEGrvjSAnWuv4K298Oc3AO3thu1LyHXAEj8bCdvS-PvcrcV77ozVacR91PFBmPE-tlaECF_wtW2A/s1600/20140604_075702.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast of champions!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">I managed to stay in ketosis for the first two days, but quickly realized that reaching keto levels of low carb was going to be hard, and I just needed to do the best I could, and not beat myself up over a few carbs. With limited options and not enough time to leave the building to find other choices, I had to make the best of my situation. (Plus the meals provided were free.) Luckily, all of our meals had more than one main dish, and most of them had something that would work for me. There were a couple that were tough though, like the baked potato bar, and the pasta bar days. Every meal did have a large iceberg, cucumber and tomato salad, and a huge bowl of mixed fruit salad, so I tried to eat some that with every meal. I didn't feel bad about consuming the sugar found naturally in fruit, because come on. That's a pretty virtuous splurge in the grand scheme of things. Here are some highlights of my meal choices last week:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EkcT6r-pd_WF174CUGONQfSdT1dUCN6taFH2lzJyr19vV1T4rCyxRW9me_SEGjnwJzzof0D81IJtdQEmoZjZw2l6M46GBOnMnEnTXGKF6aBbt0JRnAi742ANNuXnCS_gS62NA-1Sljo/s1600/20140601_194237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EkcT6r-pd_WF174CUGONQfSdT1dUCN6taFH2lzJyr19vV1T4rCyxRW9me_SEGjnwJzzof0D81IJtdQEmoZjZw2l6M46GBOnMnEnTXGKF6aBbt0JRnAi742ANNuXnCS_gS62NA-1Sljo/s1600/20140601_194237.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iceberg salad with ranch, green beans with pepperoni, sliced pork, piece of chicken</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-9odIYSqhwz6_bl6X5psHqWjRrsPgK1EEno668gPADJsBTQ5OMh0FuDyzBh0ACQGfDW8RxbahLwylYqs-F5HLyA-K5YdH0no3sGQIXjDGGzR_DexkPxPIOgX0Do24YIWRP6RvgG1IcQ/s1600/20140602_184633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-9odIYSqhwz6_bl6X5psHqWjRrsPgK1EEno668gPADJsBTQ5OMh0FuDyzBh0ACQGfDW8RxbahLwylYqs-F5HLyA-K5YdH0no3sGQIXjDGGzR_DexkPxPIOgX0Do24YIWRP6RvgG1IcQ/s1600/20140602_184633.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was so excited to see a spinach salad with strawberries and feta- that was the first thing that reminded me of home! I made it a meal by adding chicken.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-C6UcU3u8D8buriRNFaoyvKjIoLoVZuvBltUB0C1mbRPOUCKa08iixjODsTBSE7SWACS6LvsBMmsLF7fbnEQLb0TAmLEulvRsBDXl94awsHJ537vrC2iGSW4OEqL3v0-jIiH0-hhyoo/s1600/20140602_190427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-C6UcU3u8D8buriRNFaoyvKjIoLoVZuvBltUB0C1mbRPOUCKa08iixjODsTBSE7SWACS6LvsBMmsLF7fbnEQLb0TAmLEulvRsBDXl94awsHJ537vrC2iGSW4OEqL3v0-jIiH0-hhyoo/s1600/20140602_190427.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steamed broccoli and beef in gravy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVb0ShUiwR3oB-Frt5C-HAUJhmoqtThc6Se7is-NoNim0AJ9qkpDnZKyAIseX-rX06jCCHD2vFRbNBAddO-ZObVep5acmeBcPEKDit4sDaatLZN9teU7QaHFvb4-TZcdIFw9u2J07pGAc/s1600/20140603_124154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVb0ShUiwR3oB-Frt5C-HAUJhmoqtThc6Se7is-NoNim0AJ9qkpDnZKyAIseX-rX06jCCHD2vFRbNBAddO-ZObVep5acmeBcPEKDit4sDaatLZN9teU7QaHFvb4-TZcdIFw9u2J07pGAc/s1600/20140603_124154.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On deli wrap day, I tried to avoid eating most of my tortilla, but filled up on salad.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-71u3jY1pJ_FS9gH1mZlZxZo3ZONGDDhcP0hOJ702WyT6NWd35Ic0YjnTS1LEtwlOmzgq8tfjZ8I0YMJemGByGea6v04tfGZJwftxS_yMlJKNXk7xX3WwyyEkrefDZSPJYuwO_ew1itI/s1600/20140604_125440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-71u3jY1pJ_FS9gH1mZlZxZo3ZONGDDhcP0hOJ702WyT6NWd35Ic0YjnTS1LEtwlOmzgq8tfjZ8I0YMJemGByGea6v04tfGZJwftxS_yMlJKNXk7xX3WwyyEkrefDZSPJYuwO_ew1itI/s1600/20140604_125440.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On build your own sandwich day, I cut up deli meats and cheese to turn my side salad into a main dish chef's salad.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">We did have a little time to ourselves, and I was able to eat some great salads out at restaurants then. Again, probably not as keto as when I can make them myself and control the salad dressing ingredients, but still pretty darn good carb wise, and definitely delicious! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBhOSdQVgWZ49fWpN43W1udYLzx6bTYeJ7CEk_5MEJGgz367dYnlPKjTbTIG9-jPAEwXvWpZvm1UOGtbrhK7CVSHaJoczOIBdo89GZwW_gS3ABA9axFfhLtpgvzi-Bjahy1PQw1mTKdE/s1600/20140601_120014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBhOSdQVgWZ49fWpN43W1udYLzx6bTYeJ7CEk_5MEJGgz367dYnlPKjTbTIG9-jPAEwXvWpZvm1UOGtbrhK7CVSHaJoczOIBdo89GZwW_gS3ABA9axFfhLtpgvzi-Bjahy1PQw1mTKdE/s1600/20140601_120014.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had the Farmer's Market Steak Salad at the Colts Grille next to the hotel for lunch as soon as I arrived. </td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqY_zhzsdSnhPrGKiZdkjjJbyes52RY99eOH2KS11VHpLKXsWfd0eGxoAjCPYH9z-5vDdXJ7NCLWOLiQzKQotzpWZFhraSGIEgRdObw8dHA-Cu2aDezXEuQ2pQ6tXQdCV330uUcLegsg/s1600/20140603_195844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqY_zhzsdSnhPrGKiZdkjjJbyes52RY99eOH2KS11VHpLKXsWfd0eGxoAjCPYH9z-5vDdXJ7NCLWOLiQzKQotzpWZFhraSGIEgRdObw8dHA-Cu2aDezXEuQ2pQ6tXQdCV330uUcLegsg/s1600/20140603_195844.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was really looking forward to going to California Pizza Kitchen on my free night. I always long for their salads, and I wasn't disappointed. I ordered two half size salads, because I couldn't decide on one. This is the caramelized peach salad with craisins, goat cheese, and red onion. I added grilled shrimp to mine. </td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02X7kSnanFK_ch6Ih64e5teGVzGVssRzv1dQl6HpU04xUbZxXZZgDKt3ttPXtdEpM8n6Mhek7gl02q942m1Xm9BAZQkbEDCjGduBM7zIwhVGWYXollb9DGwQB3K2I-j7dr51OqBeMYh4/s1600/20140603_201105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02X7kSnanFK_ch6Ih64e5teGVzGVssRzv1dQl6HpU04xUbZxXZZgDKt3ttPXtdEpM8n6Mhek7gl02q942m1Xm9BAZQkbEDCjGduBM7zIwhVGWYXollb9DGwQB3K2I-j7dr51OqBeMYh4/s1600/20140603_201105.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My other CPK half salad was a California Fields salad, which had strawberries, watermelon, basil, feta cheese and pistachios. I added grilled chicken too. It was AMAZING. (This was the culinary highlight of my week!) I can't wait to recreate this one at home!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">One lesson I learned the hard way, unfortunately, is that I am sensitive to a preservative commonly used on hotel salads. I got sick on the last day of my trip, and luckily was able to made it through the day and get home, but I still felt bad all weekend. I did some research on my unique symptoms (I will spare you the details) and learned about the hotel salad thing. Great! I was trying my best to be healthy and avoid carbs, and it kind of backfired on me. So, my advice to you is that, given the limited options, try your best to choose low carb foods that are cooked, and don't rely on salad as the main part of every meal. In the worst case scenario, just do what you can to minimize your carb intake, like peeling the breading off of your chicken, or eating the contents of a sandwich without the bread. Because you can always go right back to eating how you prefer when it is on your own terms again. I was worried that slipping up on a few carbs was going to bring my sugar cravings back with a vengeance, but I actually found myself craving my keto foods that I had grown accustomed to, not only because they taste great, but also because they make me feel so good! I am so glad to be home, and enjoying being back in the swing of things. I have another week long trip coming up next month, and now I will be better prepared to eat well without getting sick! </span></div>
Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-50504153762715999952014-06-03T16:54:00.000-05:002014-06-03T16:54:31.752-05:00Recipe: Asian Crunch Salad with Grilled Chicken<span id="goog_1446856982"></span><span id="goog_1446856983"></span><br />
It's my goal to come up with as many different salads this summer as I can. The timing of starting a low carb diet in the summer is great, because this is when my body naturally craves fresh, cool, crisp salads the most. There are so many possible delicious combinations of flavors! I am also determined to show the world that low carb doesn't necessarily mean only eating greasy plates of meat. That stuff definitely has its place when you are trying to get a high ratio of your calories from fat. But I try to balance it so that if we have one meal that is full of meat or melty cheese, we also eat a meal in the same day that is very laden with vegetables. Gotta get some fiber, and some vitamins, too! <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZhiHZencRNvqD-5aM1BzmwwfwdtVmZ_Pt55v-H52je7gsF5dDmzvFLmRvNIWlSrE7Mm-4CM_GM88TCHJXN1D-Ia1TH-0JzpvnWYlxfC3Wh0Xg02_EBksIV-BRntaxB0VE38AnGb7Dgg/s1600/IMG_20140518_212504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZhiHZencRNvqD-5aM1BzmwwfwdtVmZ_Pt55v-H52je7gsF5dDmzvFLmRvNIWlSrE7Mm-4CM_GM88TCHJXN1D-Ia1TH-0JzpvnWYlxfC3Wh0Xg02_EBksIV-BRntaxB0VE38AnGb7Dgg/s1600/IMG_20140518_212504.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So crunchy and satisfying! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_1446856982"></span><span id="goog_1446856983"></span><br />
<b>Asian Crunch Salad with Grilled Chicken</b><br />
<br />
1/2 a bag of coleslaw mix<br />
2/3 of a bag of shredded iceberg lettuce<br />
1 can no sugar added mandarin oranges, drained<br />
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and sliced into half moons<br />
1 bag of radishes, pre cut into matchsticks<br />
1/2 a bunch of fresh cilantro, chopped<br />
1/4 cup chopped cashews<br />
<br />
For dressing: <br />
(Makes enough for two batches)<br />
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar<br />
1/2 cup olive oil<br />
3/4 cup splenda<br />
2 shakes of soy sauce<br />
1 Tablespoon minced garlic from a jar<br />
fresh cracked black pepper<br />
a little water to thin it out, if you want <br />
1 Tablespoon smooth peanut butter<br />
<br />
(Everything above the peanut butter is Kent's normal recipe for balsamic vinaigrette that we use all the time, because it is so magical and delicious. I call it <a href="http://theketogenicdiet.blogspot.com/2014/05/recipe-stawberry-salad-with-balsamic.html" target="_blank">Kent's Magical Balsamic Vinaigrette</a>. This version just added a little peanut butter to make it a little more Asian flavored. I think it would also be good with a little bit of sesame oil in it.) <br />
<br />
Combine all dressing ingredients into a lidded jar and shake to combine. It might be helpful to melt the peanut butter in the microwave first. We had to use a fork to break it up a little. Combine all salad ingredients in a bowl and toss with half of the dressing to combine. <br />
<br />Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-72682834562838871052014-05-29T09:29:00.000-05:002014-05-29T09:29:15.854-05:00Recipe: Stawberry Salad with Balsamic VinaigretteThis is one variation of our famous strawberry salad. I am so glad that strawberries are one of the lower carb fruits, because they are my favorite. We've experimented with some variable ingredients in this salad, like spinach instead of butter lettuce, and pecans instead of sunflower seeds. As long as you have the strawberries, blue cheese, onion and balsamic dressing, the basic flavor profile is there. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcLifzhTBoH5SSRcuv7pAhe821KnB-G6zXGrMWI5V-_pUTLo7ngLzJdfLN86s9uwwSFX2uLYnxQ2rRhGK5llpmVoFeu2GIu8NdyPluOUEHU8DSSjIwvM9SltgYoP2w8fJtxxLPpf2FjU/s1600/IMG_20140524_101411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcLifzhTBoH5SSRcuv7pAhe821KnB-G6zXGrMWI5V-_pUTLo7ngLzJdfLN86s9uwwSFX2uLYnxQ2rRhGK5llpmVoFeu2GIu8NdyPluOUEHU8DSSjIwvM9SltgYoP2w8fJtxxLPpf2FjU/s1600/IMG_20140524_101411.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As delicious as it is beautiful. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Strawberry Salad</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">1 bag of ready to eat butter lettuce or other salad greens like spinach or spring mix</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">10-12 strawberries, thinly sliced </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1/3 of a cup of blue cheese crumbles</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1/2 a small red onion, thinly sliced</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">3 Tablespoons shelled sunflower seeds, almonds, or pecans </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Kent's Magical Balsamic Vinaigrette</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
This dressing made me love salads. That's powerful stuff. This is more
of a formula than a recipe. You can use any kind of vinegar or oil, or
add whatever extra herbs or spices to customize it to the salad you're using it with. We really like it with pear flavored vinegar. It is also nice with a little sesame oil and peanut butter to make it Asian style. The possibilities are endless.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Kent's Magical Balsamic Vinaigrette</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Kent usually make this so that each part is equal to a half cup. That way, it makes enough for two or more family sized salads. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i><b> </b><br />1 part balsamic vinegar</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1 1/2 part splenda (we tried stevia, and for some reason the brand we tried, Stevia in the Raw, made the vinegar taste bitter, so we are sticking to Splenda for salad dressing only, and we try to use stevia for other things.)<br />
1 part olive oil<br />
1/2 part water, to thin it out a little <br />
1 heaping spoonful minced garlic from a jar<br />
a few dashes of soy sauce<br />
freshly ground black pepper</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Whisk it up in a bowl, or shake it up in a jar. Viola!</span>Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-82925132897451252014-05-27T16:15:00.001-05:002014-05-27T16:15:20.901-05:00Recipe: Creamy Whipped CauliflowerI've never really been a fan of cauliflower, but the only way I'd ever had it was cut up on a crudite platter. Cauliflower is really an amazing secret weapon for low carb dieters, however, because of it's versatility in imitating other things, from <a href="http://ketodietapp.com/Blog/post/2013/03/12/How-to-make-Cauli-rice#.U4D7c3hg9fs.facebook" target="_blank">rice</a> to mashed potatoes. It takes on the flavors of whatever you season it with. Here's our super easy take on mashed "potatoes." This is what changed my mind about cauliflower! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZBueN22WMAE54Q5WWtEC7Z8tAAYD_nQqtt5cI9I6qz9ivBhyh0eM9r_mao5B3trh3L58Dl2WwSxakZI5BGrsxq7Hm_9oN_U9eJwE0AePE7oauEX53GYrlvirJ8hp4CHQ_-F4mbhrODw/s1600/IMG_20140524_101738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZBueN22WMAE54Q5WWtEC7Z8tAAYD_nQqtt5cI9I6qz9ivBhyh0eM9r_mao5B3trh3L58Dl2WwSxakZI5BGrsxq7Hm_9oN_U9eJwE0AePE7oauEX53GYrlvirJ8hp4CHQ_-F4mbhrODw/s1600/IMG_20140524_101738.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creamy, dreamy cauliflower</td></tr>
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<b>Creamy Whipped Cauliflower</b><br />
<br />
1 medium head of cauliflower<br />
4 oz (half a tub) of any flavor of sour cream based chip dip (We used AE bacon french onion)<br />
2 Tablespoons butter<br />
1 teaspoon salt <br />
cracked black pepper to taste<br />
other seasoning to taste (we used this stuff called Fire Sprinkle that is our friend Drew's secret recipe-it's a spicy barbeque flavor. You could use Mrs. Dash or any other seasoning blend you like.)<br />
<br />
Remove the leaves and stem from the cauliflower. Break it up into medium sized florets. Put the florets into a soup pot and cover with water. Put a lid on it and bring to a boil. Boil until the florets are fork tender. It can't really boil too long, so just walk away for awhile. When the florets are tender, drain the water and put them into a blender or food processor. Add the chip dip, salt and butter. Blend until smooth. Pour into a serving bowl and top with freshly cracked black pepper and other seasoning to taste. This makes 2 large servings, and would be a great easy side to make when you bring home a rotisserie chicken in a hurry. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jjWq6IZXXIYPwHQmMN4tlevW603nWt1idzejSNygKppTVvRMFi5jsNGbKaiEjxF8R-9jdbU_f6Mx-iW5jZUxCUexMGDZCPNKsG_16K4HyZ_ZQ0KL5DHg1AJYGwXdZ0gNV2AVY6k696w/s1600/IMG_20140524_101853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jjWq6IZXXIYPwHQmMN4tlevW603nWt1idzejSNygKppTVvRMFi5jsNGbKaiEjxF8R-9jdbU_f6Mx-iW5jZUxCUexMGDZCPNKsG_16K4HyZ_ZQ0KL5DHg1AJYGwXdZ0gNV2AVY6k696w/s1600/IMG_20140524_101853.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A big 'ol pile of smoked meats- chicken drumsticks and some pork ribs.</td></tr>
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Here's the directions from the <a href="http://www.traegergrills.com/recipes/detail/90#.U4KvjigVfWA" target="_blank">Traeger</a> website for cooking the chicken drumsticks. We bought some that were already seasoned with barbeque flavor. <br />
<br />
When ready to cook, start the Traeger grill on Smoke with the lid open until the fire is established (4 to 5 minutes). <br />
<br />
Arrange the chicken legs on the grill grate and smoke for 30
minutes. (If you don't have a smoker, do this in the oven at 200 degrees for 30 minutes. If you have the option of convection, use it, it works even better this way.) Increase the temperature to 350 degrees and cook for 45 minutes
to an hour, or until an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the
thickest part of the leg (but not touching bone) reaches 165 degrees F.
<br />
<br />
How do you think cauliflower compares to potatoes? Kent has nicknamed it "fauxtatoes"!Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-79670377506469364222014-05-26T00:35:00.000-05:002014-05-26T00:35:41.177-05:00Keto on the Go: Pepperjax<i>Keto on the Go is my way of showing how a person on the ketogenic low carb diet can eat out at restaurants without sacrificing their hard work by blowing it! The goal is to be able to find something everywhere someone else suggest you meet for dinner, without being a Fickle Finnick. If you have a restaurant you'd like to me to review, let me know in the comments below! </i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-OJE1yyuOlpeTPxwY3kgoNXZu-zySMHIu-NAVRkgzPCoqpFakt9IyD1Ol7Z3NivMTOiaKr7BPNzEub_fpzI0mDeooQTkBP7RW5qN9AnVg1RNF_znoYhMlEFs5zJdWbs_tYugJ24Sn4s/s1600/IMG_20140519_123916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-OJE1yyuOlpeTPxwY3kgoNXZu-zySMHIu-NAVRkgzPCoqpFakt9IyD1Ol7Z3NivMTOiaKr7BPNzEub_fpzI0mDeooQTkBP7RW5qN9AnVg1RNF_znoYhMlEFs5zJdWbs_tYugJ24Sn4s/s1600/IMG_20140519_123916.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's a meaty mother. She'll get a hold on you, believe it.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.pepperjaxgrill.com/" target="_blank">Pepperjax</a> recently opened in our town, and Kent and I had to check it out, since we are always looking for something new and different in our culture-starved town. (Actually that's not true anymore. Waterloo, Iowa has gotten some better restaurants in recent years that represent more cultures.) Unfortunately, we went the week before we started this diet, so I had what they're famous for- a Philly Cheese steak. It was awesome, and I don't regret it, but now I also have the memory of how good the bread was. Sigh. I wanted to try it again, and see how I could get the flavor I craved, but with a drastically lessened carb count.<br />
<br />
The next time, I ordered the rice bowl (with no intentions of eating the rice). I got it "Gunner" style, which means double the meat, and it also apparently requires that all of the cooks on the line yell out "Gunner!" Sorry guys. I would hate any job that required me to shout on command. I also requested light seasonings, because the normal amount is pretty salty, so I had half as much as usual. They ask you what else you want cooked with the meat, and I really appreciate that is is customizable, since I HATE green peppers. I got my steak cooked with onions and mushrooms. I had two slices of whatever the mild white cheese is on top. <br />
<br />
The awesome thing about Pepperjax is that they have this serve yourself sauce bar over by the drinks. It is nice that if you want something to dip in besides ketchup, it's all available at no extra charge. They've got an Asian au jus sauce, regular au jus, mushroom sauce, and "Kickin' Chili" sauce on the the warm sauce bar. There's ranch, spicy ranch, raspberry vinaigrette, and Dorothy Lynch dressing on the cold sauce bar. The variety of sauces is because you can make any meat a sandwich, rice bowl, burrito, nachos, or salad. I generously ladled on the warm mushroom sauce, and took one ladle of au jus. I probably ingested a few grains of rice that were stuck to my steak, but it was worth it to me to not have to launch into a big explanation to the line cooks about how I really just wanted a bowl of meat. Especially when it was brand new and there was a line out the door waiting behind me. <br />
<br />
It was tasty and filling. I paired this meal with a fine vintage of tap water, to counter the (satisfying) saltiness. According to the <a href="http://www.pepperjaxgrill.com/nutritionchart.pdf" target="_blank">nutritional info</a> from the Pepperjax website, it looks like this added up to an 8 carb meal. It was $10.18 altogether, so not the cheapest meal, but not the most expensive for a sit down, semi-fast food place either. And when your $10 is all for meat, that seems like a decent deal. I will definitely get this again, particularly in the winter when I am craving comfort food smothered in gravy. <b>Grade: Thumbs up!</b>Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-73822375430730919402014-05-26T00:27:00.002-05:002014-05-26T00:37:15.539-05:00Copycat Recipe: Applebee's Shrimp and Parmesan Sirloin<i>Can we match, or even, I dare say, <u>improve</u> upon our restaurant favorites as home? Let's find out, shall we? This week's copycat recipe...</i><br />
<br />
I really love the shrimp and parmesan topped sirloin from Applebee's. But I knew we could do it better! So we made it ourselves at home, using ribeye steak- our preferred fattier, therefore, more flavorfully keto steak, over leaner sirloin. It was also my chance to see how it tasted paired with my favorite way to cook broccoli, which I dreamed up while wishing the side of veggies I was eating at Applebee's at the moment was more exciting. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjithFm6Thww3duNx7qOUD7OKMy2fjQ8wpd1o_3ARGIv965oUZMAXWy2bgBHtYZimkkvY7d3OiEvAnawO9fkI3XMV-V_ANj0-g7zmIdq2YGvi-8UCSVEC96Jued-QcUnLOgr_XEEIMupRU/s1600/Steaksshrimp_parm_sirloin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjithFm6Thww3duNx7qOUD7OKMy2fjQ8wpd1o_3ARGIv965oUZMAXWy2bgBHtYZimkkvY7d3OiEvAnawO9fkI3XMV-V_ANj0-g7zmIdq2YGvi-8UCSVEC96Jued-QcUnLOgr_XEEIMupRU/s1600/Steaksshrimp_parm_sirloin.jpg" height="202" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our inspiration.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpGkYzGIlc9in2Gtvd0OJ2fDA45EuOGJ05ZmawsIK6FTHj7n1V50L0N01PQMw5ME8BVE5mnw4aXxlsP7lD2Ex-Lf_AX3kkkPmjaEMAHzLl3s30TTVrTzK4hFxVMRdl65nux6NOzFvZr0/s1600/IMG_20140523_184402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpGkYzGIlc9in2Gtvd0OJ2fDA45EuOGJ05ZmawsIK6FTHj7n1V50L0N01PQMw5ME8BVE5mnw4aXxlsP7lD2Ex-Lf_AX3kkkPmjaEMAHzLl3s30TTVrTzK4hFxVMRdl65nux6NOzFvZr0/s1600/IMG_20140523_184402.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Expectations: exceeded.</td></tr>
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<b>Grilled Ribeye with Shrimp and Cheese</b><br />
<br />
2 ribeye steaks<br />
16 shell on, raw large shrimp<br />
Johnny's all purpose seasoning <br />
1 bag of Kraft Touch of Philly 5 Cheese Italian Blend shredded cheese<br />
<br />
Peel and thread shrimp onto skewers. Season with Johnny's on both sides. Tenderize both steaks, and season with Johnny's on both sides. Cook steaks on charcoal grill until medium rare. Cook shrimp skewers on grill as well, turning once, until opaque. Top steaks with shrimp and a handful of cheese. Put under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until cheese melts and starts to brown. Season with cracked black pepper. Serves 2 (large portions)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyHA4Wu2FlRZgkkzaWLk0NX7fbeQRmX6tA7POjrMgTCmWpo1APjm-tFx17lqJZznqBLLkmIRwhHVM5HjCMbCX5-e-0sfy2JvMBAtYzMlSeBiMXnzbAG7elURaePprHQiy7kr0inpCId8/s1600/IMG_20140526_001555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyHA4Wu2FlRZgkkzaWLk0NX7fbeQRmX6tA7POjrMgTCmWpo1APjm-tFx17lqJZznqBLLkmIRwhHVM5HjCMbCX5-e-0sfy2JvMBAtYzMlSeBiMXnzbAG7elURaePprHQiy7kr0inpCId8/s1600/IMG_20140526_001555.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choppin' brocoli, choppin' broco-li-hee!</td></tr>
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<b>Steamed Seasoned Broccoli</b><br />
<br />
1 large head of broccoli<br />
1 tsp. red pepper flakes<br />
1 Tblsp. minced garlic in a jar (including juice)<br />
the juice of one lemon<br />
<br />
Cut broccoli into small florets. Put into a large microwavable steamer bag. Add the red pepper flakes, garlic, and lemon juice. Steam according to directions on the bag (typically 3 minutes). When done, shake in bag to combine all ingredients and serve. (Be careful of steam when you open the bag!)<br />
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<b>Overall rating: A+</b> We totally exceeded our expectations, but we should have known- with these ingredients, how could we go wrong? Next time we may add some Cavendar's Greek seasoning to the shrimp skewers. Or try to make our cheese into more of a sauce. I realized later that the Applebee's version mentions white wine in the cheese sauce. But overall, it was totally delicious, and we were once again remarking about how decadent this diet is as we savored it's umami. Winner!Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-5473718767983202822014-05-25T21:32:00.001-05:002014-05-25T23:35:51.801-05:00Recipe: Smoked Salmon Salad with Creamy Lemon Garlic Dill DressingWe have a stockpile of salmon in our freezer right now. When we got our new car in February, the salesman from the Volkswagen dealership chatted with Kent, and found out that he works at a company that designs computer games, and is therefore fairly computer savvy. He asked Kent if he'd be willing to help him with his computer, which wasn't working, so Kent went over and ended up replacing the hard drive and revamping it for him. As a token of appreciation, we received a bunch of the salmon and trout that he had caught. This is just the kind of funny stuff that happens to Kent, being a nice guy and willing to help people. We'd already tried some of it grilled, and wanted to try to smoke it at home. Kent loves his Trager pellet-fed smoker, and found a <a href="http://www.traegergrills.com/recipes/detail/36#.U4KkUCgVfWA" target="_blank">recipe</a> on how to smoke his own salmon. It turned out great! I wanted to use it to make some sort of recipe that used the same flavors as one of my <a href="http://itsalwayssomethingisntit.blogspot.com/2006/03/this-is-recipe-for-happiness.html" target="_blank">all time favorite pasta dishes</a>, minus the pasta, of course. This is what we came up with. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1JAkbmje3ObUfuhyorWmkVrne94WualOzd0CLf9MI-ytKH5nlIhgBmlf1doW7OQl19f7nGruYLcRK7y3On8xVhkDE5lAucMo4_rTMhkglynXlOQTUFdTfQ6p-DqVbo-M8N7zUrOVWi4/s1600/IMG_20140525_195552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1JAkbmje3ObUfuhyorWmkVrne94WualOzd0CLf9MI-ytKH5nlIhgBmlf1doW7OQl19f7nGruYLcRK7y3On8xVhkDE5lAucMo4_rTMhkglynXlOQTUFdTfQ6p-DqVbo-M8N7zUrOVWi4/s1600/IMG_20140525_195552.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-mixing, so you can see what's in it! </td></tr>
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<b>Smoked Salmon Salad with Creamy Lemon Garlic Dill Dressing</b><br />
<br />
1 large filet of smoked salmon (probably need 2 if using store bought)<br />
1 package of Spring Mix salad greens<br />
6 radishes, thinly sliced<br />
1/2 of an English cucumber, thinly sliced<br />
1/2 package of sugar snap peas, roughly chopped<br />
1/4 of a red onion, thinly sliced<br />
1/2 a pint of cherry tomatoes, each one cut in half<br />
<br />
For dressing:<br />
1 cup mayonaise<br />
1/2 pint of buttermilk, approximately<br />
1 Tablespoon dried dill<br />
1 Tablespoon lemon zest<br />
Juice from that lemon<br />
1 Tablespoon minced garlic from a jar, including garlic bits and some of the juice<br />
1/2 Tablespoon cracked black pepper<br />
pinch of <a href="http://itsalwayssomethingisntit.blogspot.com/2013/06/tea-sandwiches-for-posh-party.html" target="_blank">Maldon</a> or other salt<br />
<br />
Whisk mayo in a bowl, and add buttermilk a little at a time until the consistency looks right. Add remaining ingredients and whisk to combine.<br />
I like to use my mandolin slicer to get perfectly uniform slices of radish and cucumber. I even used it for the red onion, and that method completely eliminated any onion tears. In a large bowl, combine all salad ingredients. Take a picture for Instagram. (Wait, that's just me.)<br />
Pour all dressing on the salad and toss to combine. This makes enough for 3 huge salads, so if you plan on taking some for lunch the next day, set aside some of the dressing first and pack up your lunch portion of salad before you put the dressing on the rest to keep it crisp. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1AgnQUmQm0poa8QJLRaVhvVWSMY8qOF83kRRKB_2-muacM8GphS7JBcim1sMTjzaffti4-66eSljWjfgWEY2FlTXTF3M2FAYgAx715zdFxZJM7qfsbIuWoOerDQVPaYFL1DDlfEFzUg/s1600/IMG_20140525_200556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1AgnQUmQm0poa8QJLRaVhvVWSMY8qOF83kRRKB_2-muacM8GphS7JBcim1sMTjzaffti4-66eSljWjfgWEY2FlTXTF3M2FAYgAx715zdFxZJM7qfsbIuWoOerDQVPaYFL1DDlfEFzUg/s1600/IMG_20140525_200556.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here it is all mixed up and ready to eat. It is so hard to force myself to stop and take pictures first, but I do it for the greater good. :)</td></tr>
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<br />Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9123662709922840407.post-74323583611499421052014-05-24T12:58:00.000-05:002014-05-24T12:59:06.987-05:00Keto on the Go: McDonalds<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zAPIm-GqDzPPTM_jPXjnFVOnPUIJ0BFVyyOErv5evGj5XKVFH5HPE6FFdflyAADh92ohf-PazmjmSDh7qQ8u6azGsrEcE1QMzbeZoqi2Q-03ZKctZVYidSwGmUacn_A5C_gfiqrbMSo/s1600/IMG_20140524_123923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zAPIm-GqDzPPTM_jPXjnFVOnPUIJ0BFVyyOErv5evGj5XKVFH5HPE6FFdflyAADh92ohf-PazmjmSDh7qQ8u6azGsrEcE1QMzbeZoqi2Q-03ZKctZVYidSwGmUacn_A5C_gfiqrbMSo/s1600/IMG_20140524_123923.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LEAF lettuce please, not shreds! </td></tr>
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When a person is looking for some cheap, fast, high fat food, McDonald's is the place to go. Hardee's offers a Low Carb Thickburger, and it's pretty good, but it is also $6. Sometimes you just want something super cheap, like a $1 McDouble. You can order them normal and just use the bun as a holder, but not eat it. We have had success in the past ordering a burger with lettuce instead of a bun, and it comes in a little dish with green leaf lettuce on either side for no extra charge. Kent was frustrated today, because the drive through worker obviously couldn't grasp what he was asking for, and told the cook to give us shredded lettuce. Not very helpful for picking up our burgers! Lesson learned- be specific and don't assume the teenager taking your order understands what you are talking about. But, we also realized that this could be good sometime if we actually ordered it with shredded lettuce and Big Mac sauce for a Big Mac Salad. This time though, we just ate our burgers with silverware. A couple of these and a Diet Dr. Pepper make for a pretty satisfying $3 lunch!Emily Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437656746236230461noreply@blogger.com2