I made it over the hump, and quite successfully I might add. Today started out with an Atkins breakfast bowl. If you have never had one, I highly recommend you try it, even if you aren't a low carber. It consisted of scrambled eggs, steak, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, and cheese and was delicious. You can find them in the freezer section at Walmart for $2.50. Worth every penny!!
Wednesdays are my students job site day. Of course we couldn't have a job site where there is no tempting food. No, we have to have a job site at Donatos. I used to love this job site, but today it was my enemy. We get free pizza in exchange for folding pizza boxes. Today, I fought temptation and won! I didn't eat any pizza. Instead, I had 2 bunless brawts and some chicken salad. I was very proud of myself.
Dinner was spent at one of my favorite restaurants with my favorite (only) brother. I enjoyed a gyro salad at Yanni's. It's located on Cleveland Ave near 270, and is AMAZING! We also had hummus with pita which I didn't feel guilty about, because it fell within my carb range for the day. Overall, it was a very successful hump day. Now let's hope I can continue this through the weekend :)
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Tasty Tuesday
So even though I'm not a huge dessert fan, I do get a taste for something sweet every once in a while. Sugar, as all low carbers know, is the devil! Therefore, we have to get creative when we want something sweet. With that being said, Tuesday will now be Tasty Tuesday. I will post a low carb dessert recipe every Tuesday.
Most low carb desserts involve some sort of cheesecake since cream cheese is low in carbs. I love, love, love cheesecake but have decided to go a different route for my dessert today. It's still a cake but of the chocolate variety. Without further ado, we have: Low Carb--One Minute Chocolate Mini-Cake for One! or just Low Carb Chocolate Cake if you prefer. (Look for a fun fact at the end of this post).
Low Carb Chocolate Cake (1 Serving)
Prep Time: 4 mins
Cook Time: 1 min
Ingredients:
1 egg, beaten well
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tbs heavy cream
2 tbs cocoa
1/2 tsp sweetener (I use splenda. 5 packets is equal to 1/2 tsp)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbs vegetable oil or softened butter
Directions:
1. In a small bowl, beat egg with fork and add in the rest of the ingredients until a smooth batter is formed.
2. Pour into a mug which will hold 8 ounces (I prepared everything in an oversized mug)
3. Microwave for 1 min.
4. Carbs per serving: 8g
It turns out slightly spongy, but I just pretend it's sponge cake :). It also has a bit of an aspartame taste to it, which I don't mind, but some people can't stand. Overall, it's a good replacement for dessert. Some people put whipped cream on theirs, but I didn't have any. I'm going to look for a low carb recipe for whipped cream.
FUN FACT!!!!!
If you are like most people in the world (except for my mother who has every ingredient in stock for every recipe ever known to man), you probably don't have both baking powder and baking soda in your house. Or maybe I'm the only one since I don't really bake and therefore, see no need for baking powder.
With that being said, I did not have baking powder, which this recipe calls for. I simply made my own. You can make baking powder by taking 2 parts cream of tartar to 1 part baking soda (i.e. 2 tsps. cream of tartar mixed with 1 tsp baking soda). You still use the same amount of baking powder that the recipe calls for (and yes, English majors, I know you are never supposed to end a sentence with a preposition, but "for which the recipe calls" just sound pretentious). Hope you enjoy!
Most low carb desserts involve some sort of cheesecake since cream cheese is low in carbs. I love, love, love cheesecake but have decided to go a different route for my dessert today. It's still a cake but of the chocolate variety. Without further ado, we have: Low Carb--One Minute Chocolate Mini-Cake for One! or just Low Carb Chocolate Cake if you prefer. (Look for a fun fact at the end of this post).
Low Carb Chocolate Cake (1 Serving)
Prep Time: 4 mins
Cook Time: 1 min
Ingredients:
1 egg, beaten well
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tbs heavy cream
2 tbs cocoa
1/2 tsp sweetener (I use splenda. 5 packets is equal to 1/2 tsp)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbs vegetable oil or softened butter
Directions:
1. In a small bowl, beat egg with fork and add in the rest of the ingredients until a smooth batter is formed.
2. Pour into a mug which will hold 8 ounces (I prepared everything in an oversized mug)
3. Microwave for 1 min.
4. Carbs per serving: 8g
It turns out slightly spongy, but I just pretend it's sponge cake :). It also has a bit of an aspartame taste to it, which I don't mind, but some people can't stand. Overall, it's a good replacement for dessert. Some people put whipped cream on theirs, but I didn't have any. I'm going to look for a low carb recipe for whipped cream.
FUN FACT!!!!!
If you are like most people in the world (except for my mother who has every ingredient in stock for every recipe ever known to man), you probably don't have both baking powder and baking soda in your house. Or maybe I'm the only one since I don't really bake and therefore, see no need for baking powder.
With that being said, I did not have baking powder, which this recipe calls for. I simply made my own. You can make baking powder by taking 2 parts cream of tartar to 1 part baking soda (i.e. 2 tsps. cream of tartar mixed with 1 tsp baking soda). You still use the same amount of baking powder that the recipe calls for (and yes, English majors, I know you are never supposed to end a sentence with a preposition, but "for which the recipe calls" just sound pretentious). Hope you enjoy!
Monday, January 13, 2014
Main Dish Monday
I declare Mondays from now on to be "Main Dish Monday". On Mondays I will post a favorite low carb main dish that I have tried and enjoyed. Since it's overcast and rainy here, I'm going to start with a comfort food.
Laurie's Low Carb Meatloaf (6 servings)
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 1hr
Ingredients:
1 1/2lbs of ground beef (can also use a combo of ground beef and ground pork or use ground turkey)
1 cup pork rinds, crushed (I use the bbq flavored ones to give it extra flavor)
2 eggs
1 can tomato sauce, divided (1/3 cup used in recipe. Save the other for the topping)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 tbs parsley (I use dried)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (or more if you like cheese like I do)
1/4 cup chopped onion (I usually just pour a little onion powder in there instead, and of course I don't measure that)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix meat and other ingredients
3. Place in a meatloaf pan or form into an oval and place in a pan
4. Pour leftover tomato sauce and sprinkle parmesan cheese on the top
5. Bake for 1hr
6. After done cooking, pour off the fat.
7. Carbs per serving: 2.1g
Hope you enjoy!
Laurie's Low Carb Meatloaf (6 servings)
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 1hr
Ingredients:
1 1/2lbs of ground beef (can also use a combo of ground beef and ground pork or use ground turkey)
1 cup pork rinds, crushed (I use the bbq flavored ones to give it extra flavor)
2 eggs
1 can tomato sauce, divided (1/3 cup used in recipe. Save the other for the topping)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 tbs parsley (I use dried)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (or more if you like cheese like I do)
1/4 cup chopped onion (I usually just pour a little onion powder in there instead, and of course I don't measure that)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix meat and other ingredients
3. Place in a meatloaf pan or form into an oval and place in a pan
4. Pour leftover tomato sauce and sprinkle parmesan cheese on the top
5. Bake for 1hr
6. After done cooking, pour off the fat.
7. Carbs per serving: 2.1g
Hope you enjoy!
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Weekend Fail
Well, I said I would share both my successes and my failures, and as you can guess from the title of this post, this is definitely one of my failures. It all came down to lack of planning. Granted, I had a menu. I just didn't plan my time very well. I was supposed to attend a ladies brunch on Saturday morning but woke up with back spasms. I was bummed, so I took some ibuprofen and went back to sleep until, I want to say 10am, but in reality it was 1pm. (I love sleeping in. It's one of the pleasures I have as a childless adult). My mother would be horrified by my 1pm wake up time. But I digress.
I had 3 basketball games that day for which I had to run the clock. I had to be at the gym by 2:30pm at the latest. Therefore, after the late start to my morning (er...afternoon) and getting ready, I had no time to prepare something to eat. I decided I would grab a salad on the way. As I was in the car and passing restaurant after restaurant, I was not satisfied with having a salad anymore. I needed something I could sink my teeth into, and that is how I ended up at Rally's. I had 2 BLT's and loaded fries. Yes, when I cheat, I cheat BIG!! I was feeling guilty so I didn't eat the food provided for us at the game. Plus, I had to sing the National Anthem for the varsity game, and I can't eat or drink pop before I sing. I didn't eat again until I got home at 9pm. I had some chicken sausage sans bun, and some leftover Rueben casserole, both low carb options. I was proud of myself for not getting fast food and felt I was back on track. WRONG!
That brings us to today. On the way to church, I stopped at McDonalds, because I was craving a bacon, egg and cheese bagel. I, of course, ordered that and a hashbrown, because you can't have one without the other. And why not top it off with an orange juice?! I had planned lunch and made a fabulous meal of steak and loaded cauliflower casserole (recipe below). It is my absolute favorite side dish. Not just my favorite low carb side dish, my favorite side dish EVER! I was so full from my steak and casserole, that I didn't feel like making dinner tonight. I had plans to make low carb pizza, but instead, I ordered a real pizza...and ate 4 slices. Again, when I cheat....I cheat BIG!!
So as you can imagine, I'm not feeling very proud of myself. The good news is that I have leftover casserole to take for lunch tomorrow and burgers thawing in the fridge for dinner. My lunch hour will be spent planning this week's menu and making a shopping list. And, as I heard on some movie at sometime...Tomorrow is another day with no mistakes in it. (If anyone knows what movie that quote is from, please leave me a message in the comments. thanks!)
As promised, here is the recipe for Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
Ingredients:
Cauliflower (I use 4 bags of frozen steamable)
16oz container of sour cream (If you have more, throw it in there. Makes it creamy)
bacon (chopped and cooked. Save some for garnish)
shredded cheese (I use sharp cheddar, but you can use whatever kind you like. I don't measure. My belief is that you can never have too much cheese. Save some for garnish)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cook the cauliflower and chop in a food processor or with a potato masher to your desired consistency. (I puree mine).
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
Pour into a 9x13 or smaller pan.
Garnish with leftover bacon and cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Mix
I had 3 basketball games that day for which I had to run the clock. I had to be at the gym by 2:30pm at the latest. Therefore, after the late start to my morning (er...afternoon) and getting ready, I had no time to prepare something to eat. I decided I would grab a salad on the way. As I was in the car and passing restaurant after restaurant, I was not satisfied with having a salad anymore. I needed something I could sink my teeth into, and that is how I ended up at Rally's. I had 2 BLT's and loaded fries. Yes, when I cheat, I cheat BIG!! I was feeling guilty so I didn't eat the food provided for us at the game. Plus, I had to sing the National Anthem for the varsity game, and I can't eat or drink pop before I sing. I didn't eat again until I got home at 9pm. I had some chicken sausage sans bun, and some leftover Rueben casserole, both low carb options. I was proud of myself for not getting fast food and felt I was back on track. WRONG!
That brings us to today. On the way to church, I stopped at McDonalds, because I was craving a bacon, egg and cheese bagel. I, of course, ordered that and a hashbrown, because you can't have one without the other. And why not top it off with an orange juice?! I had planned lunch and made a fabulous meal of steak and loaded cauliflower casserole (recipe below). It is my absolute favorite side dish. Not just my favorite low carb side dish, my favorite side dish EVER! I was so full from my steak and casserole, that I didn't feel like making dinner tonight. I had plans to make low carb pizza, but instead, I ordered a real pizza...and ate 4 slices. Again, when I cheat....I cheat BIG!!
So as you can imagine, I'm not feeling very proud of myself. The good news is that I have leftover casserole to take for lunch tomorrow and burgers thawing in the fridge for dinner. My lunch hour will be spent planning this week's menu and making a shopping list. And, as I heard on some movie at sometime...Tomorrow is another day with no mistakes in it. (If anyone knows what movie that quote is from, please leave me a message in the comments. thanks!)
As promised, here is the recipe for Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
Ingredients:
Cauliflower (I use 4 bags of frozen steamable)
16oz container of sour cream (If you have more, throw it in there. Makes it creamy)
bacon (chopped and cooked. Save some for garnish)
shredded cheese (I use sharp cheddar, but you can use whatever kind you like. I don't measure. My belief is that you can never have too much cheese. Save some for garnish)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cook the cauliflower and chop in a food processor or with a potato masher to your desired consistency. (I puree mine).
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
Pour into a 9x13 or smaller pan.
Garnish with leftover bacon and cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Mix
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Friday Funday
So I'm sitting in Starbucks researching low carb coffee drinks and decide that I should start a blog about my low carb life.
Why? You may ask. Well frankly, I think it will help me stay on track and make this a permanent lifestyle change instead of a 3 week challenge (more about that later).
This summer my doctor told me I was a good candidate for weight loss surgery (words every girl loves to hear). It put a fire under me for about 2 weeks. I started weight watchers and vowed to exercise. I, of course, didn't exercise. (I HATE to exercise). And I stopped weight watchers. (Who had time to figure out all those points?) I went back to my old eating habits and once again, I had failed another diet.
At Thanksgiving my super health obsessed family, who exercised every day, (come on people we're supposed to be on vacation) decided we should do a 3 week challenge. We were to eat low carb for the 3 weeks before Christmas. I was in, because I knew this was something I could do, and it didn't involve exercise. Yes!
I followed it for 3 weeks and could really see a difference. I actually thought about what I ate and enjoyed what I was eating. Did I miss carbs? Of course. The first 2 days were horrible. Like eat every veggie known to man so you don't eat that piece of bread that is staring at you... horrible. But the longer i did it, the easier it got. We took 2 weeks off for Christmas and started again on Jan 6.
So far I've done pretty well for the first week and decided that I wanted to start this blog.
In this blog, I will share recipes that I have tried and enjoyed and talk about my successes and failures. So, I hope you will join me on this journey and help me as I live this low carb life.
Why? You may ask. Well frankly, I think it will help me stay on track and make this a permanent lifestyle change instead of a 3 week challenge (more about that later).
This summer my doctor told me I was a good candidate for weight loss surgery (words every girl loves to hear). It put a fire under me for about 2 weeks. I started weight watchers and vowed to exercise. I, of course, didn't exercise. (I HATE to exercise). And I stopped weight watchers. (Who had time to figure out all those points?) I went back to my old eating habits and once again, I had failed another diet.
At Thanksgiving my super health obsessed family, who exercised every day, (come on people we're supposed to be on vacation) decided we should do a 3 week challenge. We were to eat low carb for the 3 weeks before Christmas. I was in, because I knew this was something I could do, and it didn't involve exercise. Yes!
I followed it for 3 weeks and could really see a difference. I actually thought about what I ate and enjoyed what I was eating. Did I miss carbs? Of course. The first 2 days were horrible. Like eat every veggie known to man so you don't eat that piece of bread that is staring at you... horrible. But the longer i did it, the easier it got. We took 2 weeks off for Christmas and started again on Jan 6.
So far I've done pretty well for the first week and decided that I wanted to start this blog.
In this blog, I will share recipes that I have tried and enjoyed and talk about my successes and failures. So, I hope you will join me on this journey and help me as I live this low carb life.
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