Hot artichoke spinach dip

Everyone always asks for this recipe!

Hot artichoke spinach dip

2 cans plain artichoke hearts drained and chopped
2 packs frozen spinach thawed and squeezed dry
1 cup mayo
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup parmesan grated
1 cup grated cheese jarlsberg or pepper jack are good choices

Mix everything saving half cup grated cheese for the top. Put into a greased casserole dish bake on 350 25-30 minutes. Great with sliced jicama, celery sticks, cucumbers slices, mixed pepper chunks, and daikon radish slices.

Lemon chcken tenderloins

I wanted a taste of chinese takeout so I made one of my favorites.

Lemon chicken

2 lbs Chicken tenders
1 egg beaten
3-4 tablespoons butter
1 clove crushed garlic
tablespoon of minced onion
1 lemon sliced
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
soy sauce to taste
1/4 to 1/2 cup water
tablespoon truvia
couple pinches xanthan gum

Mix beaten egg with chicken tenders saute in butter till just cooked, remove from pan. Add onion and garlic and saute for a minute, add lemon slices, lemon juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, water, and truvia cooking for just a minute add couple pinches of xanthan gum, then add back chicken tenders and serve. I had them with roasted brussel sprouts. It would be good with a bit of sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds too.

New improved low carb fudge

I got some different peanut butter so I decided to make some more low carb fudge. I changed the recipe I used before here a bit to get a more pleasing consistency.

Low carb fudge half recipe

4 ozs unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup powdered erythritol (I used a coffee mill)
12 drops ezsweets
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons softened cream cheese
2 tablespoons softened butter
pinch salt
1/2 cup toasted walnuts

Melt chocolate in the microwave oven, stir everything in, nuts last, put in a small loaf pan covered with plastic wrap, chill and cut.

Beef stroganoff for one

I wanted something a little different so I made this for a quick lunch. I licked the plate it was so good!

Beef stroganoff

6 oz of thin sliced beef (I used flap meat)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
couple slices of sweet onion
1 clove garlic crushed
1 cup beef broth ( I used half a large bullion cup and a cup of water)
2 tablespoons of sour cream

I sauteed the beef in butter then removed it from the pan, then sauteed the onion and garlic for a minute, adding the broth and sauteed beef simmering for a few minutes, then adding the sour cream, heating through.

Merry Christmas!!!

Here we are putting out reindeer chow so the reindeer will be sure to find our house on Christmas Eve!

Here is our tree with Daisy dog.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!

MIM (Muffin in a Minute)

I don't know who is the originator of this recipe but I can't thank them enough, theses are such a good substitute for toast.

Muffin in a Minute

2 scoops 1/4 cup of ground flax seeds (I prefer the light colored flax)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 drops ezsweets
1 egg
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Mix in a bowl (I made it in a square plastic food storage container to resemble a piece of toast) microwave on high one minute. Spread with almond butter.

Enjoy!

Bacardi rum cake (low carb)

I've been wanting to try this cake in low carb form, it turned out very good.

I made this coconut flour yellow cake recipe here in a spring form pan with a jelly jar filled with raw rice for weight in the middle because I didn't have a bundt cake pan. It worked great!

I substituted 1/2 cup powdered erythritol and 12 drops of ezsweetz and 1/4 cup of poly d for the sugar, rum for half of the coconut milk and added some toasted pecans to the top . I baked it for 30 minutes in a 350 oven. I made this rum syrup to pour over it while it was hot.

Rum syrup

1/2 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup vanilla torani syrup
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup rum


Heat in a sauce pan, pour over warm cake poking holes with a skewer, the longer it sits the better. Here it is with the sauce just poured over the top. It will soak in just keep spooning it on top.

Yummy!

Brussel sprouts with jalapenos and garlic

My hubby asked me to make brussel sprouts with jalapenos and garlic, I must say I had never thought about making them this way but I have to say they were good!

Brussel sprouts with jalapenos and garlic

2 lbs brussel sprouts (I had tiny ones so I left them whole you could cut in half if they're big)
3 tablespoons butter
2 jalapenos sliced
2 cloves garlic crushed
salt to taste

Wrap everything in heavy duty foil and bake in the oven at 400 for 30-45 minutes, open and serve.

Keto balls (cream cheese balls)

Yummy!!! I found this recipe here.

Keto balls

8 oz cream cheese softened
1 stick 1/2 cup butter softened
12 drops ezsweetz
1 tablespoon torani vanilla syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

for rolling balls in
chopped nuts (I used macadamias and pistachios)
chopped chocolate (half a chocoperfection bar)


Mix everything together, stick in freezer till easy to roll in balls with your hands, roll in nuts or whatever you want, then freeze. I made them in teaspoon size balls because they are so rich that's all you need.

Zucchini lasagna

I used zucchini for the lasagna noodles in this fabulous lasagna. I sliced a giant zucchini from our garden the long way then roasted it in the oven till softened and brown. If all you can get is small that's great. It's tasty with eggplant too.

Then layering with mozzarella, ricotta, marinara sauce, hot italian sausage, and ground beef.

 I used this marinara sauce, it took me a while to find one without sugar this is the first time I have used this one, it was very good.

Here it is before going in the oven.

Here it is just finished. Thank goodness I put it on a sheet pan because it did bubble over.

We had lots of leftovers and froze some too.

Low carb fudge

I found this recipe here This is so very, very good! I made a half a recipe but added 1 more oz of melted chocolate because it wasn't holding together, maybe because I used fresh made peanut butter which was drier without much oil, I think if I used a bit more oily peanut butter it would have worked fine, next time I'll use better peanut butter. It would be good with some toasted nuts added, like walnuts. You can't even tell it's made with peanut butter, it tastes like real fudge. My son who is very picky about sweeteners has been sneaking pieces and also told me he thinks it's very good. Make sure the erythritol is powdered well so it won't be gritty.

Low carb fudge

4 oz unsweetened chocolate squares (I used 5 oz)
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup erythritol powdered
12 drops ezsweetz
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch salt

Melt chocolate in microwave then stir everything together press in pan, cool, and cut in squares.

Steak and avocado

A quick lunch, I was starving and sauteed this up quickly for lunch. I purchased a couple pounds of flap meat from the mexican store heated a saute pan added some butter and sauteed this steak sprinkled with pappy's 50% less salt seasoning for a couple minutes on each side then topped with a pat of butter, a shake of worcestershire and sliced avocado, inverting a plate over it for a few minutes to let it rest, then devouring with a little tapatio.

Fried walnuts

Easy to make but a bit time consuming, basically keeping an eye on them while they're on the stove. I made these when I was in the kitchen preparing other things. I took two cups of walnuts, rinsed with cool water then into a sauce pan covered with water and simmer for 2 hours, drain and rinse, put into a bowl adding two tablespoons of sugar free honey, a couple tablespoons of isomalt, 1/2 teaspoon of molasses, and a pinch of sea salt, stir and let soak in for a few minutes meanwhile heat some peanut oil in a saucepan to 350, I used a probe thermometer, add walnuts and fry till nicely browned maybe 5-7 minutes be careful not to burn them, the trick is to evaporate the water and brown just enough. Crispy and burnt sugar tasting kind of like kettle corn.

I had a hard time getting a good picture maybe because they're so dark finally I held them in front of the rain stained window.

Buttery deviled eggs

Buttery deviled eggs

1 dozen large eggs, perfectly hard boiled
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 to 3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon grated sweet onion
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
tabasco or ground red pepper to taste
salt and pepper or white pepper to taste
paprika to sprinkle on the top


Put eggs in a soup pot and cover with cold water a couple of inches above eggs. Heat to boiling and then turn off and let sit for 11 minutes drain water and cover again with cold water to cool eggs, then peel and slice in half. Push the yolks through a fine strainer with a spoon for extra silkiness and add the rest of the ingredients, fill whites with mixture, I eat a few right away but it's good to chill through. You can make so many combinations, great with minced pickles, olives, or minced tarragon if you want green eggs add some mashed avocado.

Blender meatloaf with turnips and cauliflower

I call this blender meatloaf because when my children were small they would complain "Eww, Mom there's onion in here, yuck!" So I went about trying to hide the onion so my children would eat it. Mmm, so I thought what if I blended it in the blender? it worked perfectly! Ever though my children are grown I still make it this way because everyone loves it, and it's so easy!

Blender meatloaf

2 pounds ground beef
few slices bacon
2 turnips
half a cauliflower
couple tablespoons sugar free ketchup
2 eggs
1/4 cup cream
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup chia seeds
half a small onion
about a tablespoon of red and bell pepper
1 jalapeno seeds and all
1 clove garlic
couple tablespoons parmesan
salt and pepper to taste
couple pinches of xanthan gum


Put everything after ketchup in a blender and blend till smoooth, add to ground beef and mix well, shape into loaf in a roasting dish covered with nonstick foil, spread ketchup and top with bacon strips, add sliced veggies around it. Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes. pour off grease, there will be a lot if it's fatty hamburger. Slice, serve veggies on the side. I don't mind the fat but the family doesn't like it.

Here it is just put in the oven.

Here it is done. See all the fat.

Egg drop soup

I was feeling under the weather for a couple of days, this soup calmed my tummy and made me feel better.

Egg drop soup

4 cups chicken broth
2 eggs beaten
2 green onions slivered
small ginger coin
clove of garlic crushed
teaspoon of sesame oil
couple drops of soy sauce
white pepper to taste
couple pinches of xanthan gum

In a couple drops of sesame oil saute crushed garlic and ginger coin for a few seconds, add broth and heat to boiling, swirl gently the broth and add beaten egg slowly in a thin stream to make egg ribbons add  soy, pepper, sesame oil, green onions and xanthan gum. remove from heat and serve.

Be sure to fish out the ginger coin.

Our Thanksgiving

Our first fried turkey! Why did we wait so long? If you haven't done it, you have too, so, so yummy.

Here the men are frying it up, they're so proud of their rig. They actually fried a few of them up.

Here are the children's turkey cookies. Not low carb but so cute!!!

Here is the low carb sugar free chayote "like apple" pie made in a paper bag.

Here is a slice with sugar free candied pecans and whipped cream

Here is the low carb sugar free pumpkin bake with whipped cream and sugar free candied pecans.

Yummy!!! I'll add the recipes later. I got to go for now.

Cream of turkey soup

I'm behind on my blog recipes!!! Aw well life happens!!! I'm still cooking great food but the holidays are upon us so not much time since I'm one of Santa's helpers.

If your turkey-ed out you can freeze the carcass till later, it's important to use it very fresh or stored in the freezer. I left out celery choosing leeks instead I really did enjoy this soup! It's nice and thick and rich.

Cream of turkey soup

1 turkey carcass
6 cups water
1 1/2-2 cups cream
2 cups of turkey meat
2 carrots (I don't eat them but for the family)
1 or 2 leeks sliced saving trimmings for the stock
handful of flat leaf parsley
2 yellow squash made into noodles with a julienne peeler
2 zucchini squash made into noodles with a julienne peeler
1 half of cauliflower cut up
2 turnips diced
handful of green beans trimmed and sliced
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Take the carcass of the turkey and cover it with six cups of water in a stockpot with 3 large bouillon cubes, 2 bay leaves, one sliced carrot, handful of parsley, and leek trimmings simmer for 3 or 4 hours or longer, the longer the better. Strain out the solids and put the stock back in the pot. Add half the cauliflower and the cores of the noodled squash to the stock and simmer till very soft, puree with a stick blender, then add the rest of the veggies and simmer till cooked add squash noodles and turkey the last 5 minutes, stir in cream and parmesan at the end.

Eggplant fries

Pretty simple, slice eggplant in fry shapes coat with beaten egg seasoned with what ever (I used pappy's 50% less salt seasoning) lay on a baking sheet lined with parchment not touching, one eggplant used two sheets.

Bake in a hot 450 oven till browned and crisp. I served with mayo and sf ketchup.

Roast chicken soup

This is so simple!

In a pot put all the remnants of the chickens after removing all the meat, six cups of water, 2 carrots,  two celery ribs, 2 small onions skins and all sliced in half, a few cloves of garlic, a couple of bay leaves, and 3 large chicken bullion cubes gently simmer for 4 or 5 hours, the longer the better. Strain the broth through cheese cloth in a strainer and refrigerate till the next day. Remove some of the fat that has firmed up on the top. Add veggies you want I added pea pods, zucchini, red pepper, a cubed turnip, and yellow squash I cut with a julienne cutter to look like noodles and cubed chicken, cook for about 20 minutes and enjoy hot.

Quick chicken salad

When we got back from errands I was starving so I made up this quick chicken salad lunch. I took a leftover roast chicken breast, sliced it in chunks, added a couple tablespoons of chopped celery, chopped green and red peppers, half a chopped jalapeno, a bit of sweet red onion, mayo and dijon to taste, a couple drops of stevia, and a lot of fresh cracked black pepper mixed it up, and served it on cucumber slices.

Roast chickens

Ah, roast chicken, probably my favorite meal. So simple, elegant, and delicious. I'm roasting two of them today, then I'm making roasted chicken soup for my youngest who's not feeling well. I rubbed melted butter on them and sprinkle on some pappy's 50% less salt seasoning, I lay them breast side down, side by side in a turkey roaster covered with foil.

Here they are done. I prefer to roast them breast side down because they stay nice and moist that way.

I made two so I would have extra chicken for the week. Roast chicken make an extra flavorful broth. Recipe to come soon.

Beef jerky

I wanted to make beef jerky for a couple of weeks but have always forgotten to get the meat at the market, well today I remembered at the last minute, I ran back to get a london broil when I was already in line, yes I did make it back before they even started my order, whew!!!

Beef jerky

1 london broil (I'm not sure the size as the trash got thrown out before I checked the package)
1/4 cup of soy sauce
1 teaspoon pappys 50% less salt seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlc powder
1 tablespoon truvia
1/2 teaspoon of chili flakes

Remove all the visible fat then partially freeze the london broil, cut in thin bias cut slices. I pounded the slices a bit with the end of the soy sauce bottle to to make it a little easier to chew. Mix the rest of the ingredients for the marinade and pour on the meat slices layering in a bowl, I prefer not to make a very wet marinade just enough to coat the meat not dripping wet, so I avoid having to pat it dry also I don't want to take away the meat flavor in the marinade. Marinate for a couple of hours or longer. Hang on skewers and rest on the ovens top rack like in the first picture. I let dry for 8 hours with 2 fans on sitting on the oven door, I cycled the oven off and on up to 120 degrees until I went to bed then left the fans on till the morning. You want it dried but not brittle or cooked.

A wonderful meat explosion!!!

Stuffed jalapenos

I made these to have with our lunch. So easy and so good!

Stuffed jalapenos

12 or more large jalapenos
1 cup colby jack shredded
1 cup cheese curds cut up (I got mine from our local dairy, some kind of fresh cheese like farmer cheese or queso fresco will do)
3 tablespoons of softened butter
1 cut up jalapeno (I used seeds and all)
2 beaten eggs
1/2 cup hazelnut meal mixed with 1/2 cup grated parmesan

I cut the jalapeno peppers in half,  scraped out the seeds and veins, it's easy with a small spoon, set on a parchment lined sheet pan. Then I made the filling, mixing the shredded colby jack and cheese curds, 3 tablespoons of butter and one diced jalapeno and stuff it in the jalapeno halves pressing it in real good. Then carefully dip in beaten egg then in the mixture of hazelnut meal and parmesan laying it back on the parchment bake in a hot 450 oven for 15-20 minutes, I ran mine under the broiler for a couple extra minutes for them to be toasty brown.

I served them with carne asada, of course homemade salsa, and sour cream.

Cinnamon rolls

I love, love, love cinnamon rolls!!! Who doesn't? I took half of this biscuit dough/batter here and patted it out in a rectangle on parchment paper with a bit of extra almond flour, I brushed it with butter and sprinkled cinnamon mixed with truvia, rolled and sliced it up, put it cut side on a sheet pan covered with nonstick foil, baking for 10-15 minutes in a hot 400 oven

I added some cream cheese frosting I made by softening some cream cheese, adding a couple tablespoons of torani vanilla syrup. Great with coffee!!!

Turnip fries

I realized I've never made turnip fries, I've made fries out of zucchini and eggplant too, but never turnip. I made some for lunch today, I wasn't sure how they would turn out, but they're really good! I'm definitely making these more often. No real recipe I just cut up 3 turnips in fry shapes, tossed them with a couple tablespoons of olive oil and some herbamare seasoning.

I put them on non stick foil on a sheet pan and baked them in a hot 450 oven till browned and done, I like them well browned. I served them with some sugar free ketchup. Next time I'll add lots of fresh cracked black pepper.

Sauteed chayote

I have been working with chayote trying to make an apple like filling for an "apple" pie. These sauteed apples turned out very nice. I'm still working on getting a whole pie together.

Sauteed chayote

2 young chayotes sliced thin (I left the skin on and seed in if they're mature you might have to skin and remove the seed)
2-3 tablespoons butter
1 cinnamon stick
2 tablespoons truvia
1 teaspoon molasses
1 tablespoon isomalt
2 tablespoons polydextrose
few drops butterscotch oil

I sauteed on medium low the chayotes and broken up cinnamon stick in the butter until very soft then added the rest of the ingredients for a few more minutes adding a few tablespoons of water if necessary. I picked out the cinnamon stick. If you want to make a whole pie It might take 5 or 6 chayotes. I haven't done that yet.

I was surprised how much it tastes like apple filling.

Pumpkin mousse ice cream

Oh my, I barely got a picture of this ice cream, it's so good! I reworked my vanilla ice cream recipe a bit, this is a completely original recipe. I put it on top of my last pumpkin to turn orange in my garden, I don't know why it's so late.

Pumpkin mousse ice cream

2 cups cream
1 cup pumpkin
3 pasteurized eggs separated directions here
2 tablespoons xylitol
2 tablespoons truvia
few drops stevia
few drops liquid sucralose (if needed)
1 teaspoon of molasses
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
couple shakes of mace
few drops butterscotch oil
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon extract
2 tablespoons chopped roasted pecans

Separate egg whites and yolks in separate bowls beat whites to almost stiff peaks, then beat yolks with sugar substitutes and molasses till light and tripled in volume add spices and extracts, then pumpkin and cream, add egg whites folding in carefully. Chill well, then freeze in an ice cream freezer according to directions, add pecans at the end. You will lick the bowl, no lie!

Cabbage soup and sweet and sour coleslaw

I had a head of cabbage in the fridge for a couple of days thinking of what I should do with it. I got some inspiration at the farmers market in some beautiful leeks I found, I made cabbage soup with half of it and made sweet and sour coleslaw with the other half.

Cabbage soup

1/2 head of cabbage
2 leaks white and green parts cleaned well and sliced
10 cloves of garlic crushed
1 turnip diced
half head of cauliflower diced
handful of cut green beans
2 carrots sliced (optional higher carb but for daughter)
3-4 tablespoons butter
5 cups of water
3 large bouillon cubes
black pepper to taste

Saute leeks, turnip, cauliflower, green beans, carrots and garlic in butter till slightly softened, not brown, then add cabbage and saute a bit more. Add water and bouillon cubes, simmer for 20 minutes. That's it! Now on to the coleslaw.

Sweet and sour coleslaw

Half a head of cabbage shredded
half a bell pepper diced
half a red pepper diced
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons of mayo
2 tablespoons truvia
2 tablespoons light olive oil
1 teaspoon of dry mustard
1-2 teaspoons of celery seeds

Mix and chill.