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Happy Thanksgiving! Gravy Anyone?

Posted on November 25, 2015 by thesweetlifesugarfree

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are with those that you love this year. It is one of my favorite holidays for so many reasons: family, friends, cooking, eating, games, and time to thank God for all of our precious and often overlooked gifts in life! We are all so blessed in countless ways!

How do we do this time of year? It is a production! Lots of food, lots of prep, and LOTS of modification on my part. The menu is planned, I know what I am taking (both by request, and by Keto necessity). I just panicked though, when I realized I didn’t have a plan for the gravy! What to do? I have been researching, and I have two ideas for you folks!

If you are doing the turkey, this is the preferred method:

Use your pan drippings! Do NOT use flour. Instead use Xanthan Gum. Just add a little at a time until it had reached the thickness of a roux. Whisk quickly. This is the one I use:

This will act as your thickener and then you can add broth, wine, butter, you choose slowly, all while whisking. Add a few herbs, whisk, and you should have a traditional gravy.

I, however, am not doing the turkey and will prepare the gravy at home because we have all heard the saying, “Too many cooks in the kitchen”. There is so much going on already, and it’s not my kitchen, so I am modifying! Now, I haven’t tried this, so if you are just looking at this after Turkey Day, this would be a go-to for the leftovers, and I will definitely let you know if it doesn’t work.

Sauté an onion and a few cloves of garlic in LOTS of butter – a whole block of Kerry Gold will do. Keep sautéing until the onions are very limp.
Next, add your herbs: I like fresh rosemary, thyme, parsley, and a bay leaf. Salt and pepper to taste.
Now add stock, preferable homemade chicken or bone broth. You can add a bit of white wine too. Simmer over medium low heat until mixture is reduced.
Transfer to a food processor, and process until you have a smooth gravy texture.
If it still needs thickening, add a touch of Xanthan Gum and you should have a delicious flavorful gravy!

I’m keeping my fingers crossed because I really like gravy on my turkey!

So what else am I making? That has been the question of the week.

Everything I am taking is listed on this blog except for the veggie tray!

I am taking:

Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes with garlic and cream cheese

Bacon Brussel Sprouts

A vegetable tray with cilantro dip, ranch dip and spinach dip

Pumpkin Muffins that I have modified into cupcakes by adding cream cheese frosting to the top.

Pumpkin Pie with Whipping Cream

Kerry Gold and Pink Himalayan salt

We will enjoy the turkey, salad, squash and other veggies that other family members are preparing as well. Needless to say, we will have full bellies, full hearts, and count our many blessings!

God bless each of you, and have a safe, happy and very healthy Thanksgiving!

Posted in Dinner, Holiday Dish, Lunch, recipe, Sauces and Dressing, Side Dish, special Occasion, tips tagged with butter, drippings, gravy, Holiday, thanksgiving, Turkey

Feeling Good and Grateful

Posted on November 24, 2015 by thesweetlifesugarfree

This week is Thanksgiving! Yay! Another year has (almost) flown by and I have to say this is one of my favorite holidays.

Image result for give thanks

I realize that may come off a little crazy given how strict the Ketogenic Diet can sound especially when you list off the traditional Thanksgiving dishes. But the Ketogenic way of living has given me so much more than any slice of pie ever has.

Really, I try not focus on enjoying what don’t eat and instead really enjoy every bite I put in my mouth. I no longer feel that I have to have a little of every single dish that entered the house. Thanks but no thanks on the Jellomold.

I mean, it’s pretty but…. 🙂

This year we are celebrating at my parent’s house. So, what am I going to eat?

I will likely bring a few tasty low carb options-artichoke dip, cheese crisps, full fat ranch dip, guacamole, and accompanying veggies for dipping.

I know my mom makes the best deviled eggs and marinated olives both of which are 1,000% keto friendly.

Turkey-dark meat please 🙂 I’ll pack some Kerrygold to replace the gravy if its not low carb

Image result for turkey drumstick thanksgiving

my daughter calls these meat popsicles

All the veggies and salads (less anything candied or marshmallow topped.)

Maybe I will bring a sugar free cheesecake or whipped cream…

Image result for whipped cream

I’m considering using the pizza recipe to make low carb Rosemary bread sticks-Totally fooled my dad with this on my mom’s birthday. He had no idea I was the one who made the “bread.” I love those “Gotcha! It’s low carb!” moments.

I’m actually getting fairly full thinking about all this food.

Honesty, the real plan is to enjoy the holiday, spend time with the people I love, eat, give thanks, and appreciate what life has to offer. My family actually does a super cheesy tradition where we go around the table and each person has to say what they are thankful for. It’s always interesting what people say, in the past it’s gotten a little silly,a little rowdy, and of course teary.

I can almost guarantee my four year old will be thankful for Elsa, unicorns, her kitties, and her dogs. But I can’t wait to actually hear what she has to say, fingers crossed I make the cut.

The reality is I am actually quite thankful for the Ketogenic Diet, what it has done for me, for my health, and that of my families. I am also supremely thankful for everyone that has supported me through it.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone. We all have a lot to be thankful for.

Image result for be thankful

Posted in Appetizer, Dip, Holiday Dish, Kids, Snacks, special Occasion, tips, Vegetable tagged with family, Holiday

A Fast and Delicious Weeknight Favorite!

Posted on November 12, 2015 by thesweetlifesugarfree

‘Tis the season for crazy weeknights! We are all in the thick of school and sports, but add the holidays to the mix, and you are about ready to pull out your hair. Let’s just say, dinner sometimes becomes a hassle, more than a featured event this time of year!

Before I give you the recipe, I need to preface it with the fact that I used to detest salmon. I LOVE fish, but never ever wanted salmon if I saw it on the menu. I don’t know if I had it poorly prepared in the past or if my tastes have changed, but it is now a staple around here. Not only is it perfectly amazing in healthy fats, but it is SO tasty and E-A-S-Y!!! Many are afraid to cook fish at home, but this one is a no brainer. Up until last night, we were a split family on the salmon. Three of us can’t get enough, but the daddy and one middle child (who shall remain nameless) would eat it, but didn’t love it. Things have changed due to one simple addition: Herb Butter! The best news; you can make it ahead, and you can have dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes! I kid you not!!!

Herbed Butter Salmon

Prepare your butter ahead of time and wrap it up for later.

1 cup butter (I used one block of Kerry Gold – yes, it makes a difference)

1 lemon zested (just the zest) you can save the lemon juice for later.

1 TBSP dried dill (or 3 TBSP fresh)

5 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp ground pepper

1/4 tsp pink Himalayan salt

Bring your butter to room temperature. Zest your lemon and mince your garlic. Combine all of your ingredients.

Stir and mash everything together.

Scrape onto a piece of waxed paper or parchment paper.

Form it back into a block on parchment, seal in a bag, and keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Now for the Salmon:

I used a wild caught whole filet. There are many many kinds from farm raised to the cold waters of Alaska. I always ask for the fattiest version of salmon at the seafood counter. Just like everything else, the food industry is actually trying to make salmon “low fat” because of our fat phobic society. I figure the fatty one is the most natural since salmon IS a fatty fish!

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

On a cookie sheet sprayed with coconut oil, lay out your filet skin side down.

Sprinkle your salmon with your favorite seasoning. There are several that I love, but this was a favorite last night:

You know how I love my bulk spices! They are such a bargain, and so many from which to choose! This one is the Colorado Spice from Central Market, but take a stab at something new! This is the fun part of grocery shopping!

Once you have your fish seasoned, place in a preheated 425 degree oven. Watch it carefully! Depending on the size, cook for 10 to 15 minutes until the fish flakes. I did this one for 12 minutes. It is always best to ere on the less done side for fish.

I sautéed a box of fresh spinach in butter to go under the salmon while the fish was in the oven, and in under 20 minutes, dinner was served. Top with your fun new herb butter, and it is just perfect!

Enjoy!!!

Posted in Dinner, Kids, Main Course, recipe, Sauces and Dressing, tips, Uncategorized tagged with butter, dinner, easy, Fish, Herbs, Main Course, Quick, salmon, weeknight

Atkins Vs Keto

Posted on November 10, 2015 by thesweetlifesugarfree

The reason we started consulting with individuals, families, and groups is because we absolutely love the positive changes we have been able to make in our lives and those around us. Really, we just had to share.
Image result for any questions

One of the most common questions we get is, “What is the difference between this (Keto) and Atkins?

Many aspects are similar between Keto and the Phase 1 and 2 of Atkins.

I actually really like the book, The New Atkins for a New You, by Colette Heimowitz. This book was my reference for this post.

Dr. Robert Atkins gained a significant amount of weight after starting his medical practice, and through research, created a diet that was based on the removal of sugar and starch from meals. Atkins believed that starchy carbohydrates were the main culprit of weight gain.

Dr Atkins

Atkins has four phases:

Phase 1 Induction: Dropping the carbs, increasing the healthy fats, and watching the calendar. Keep carb count between 18 and 22–Basically totally Keto!

Phase 2 Balancing: Add carbs back into your diet in 5 gram increments until weight loss levels slow. For some people, this can mean as high as 70 to 80 grams of carbs per day. (Kinda Keto depending on where you fall)

Phase 3 Pre-Maintenance: Add more carbs back into the diet in 5 to 10 gram increments until you are in your weight happy place.

Phase 4 Life time Maintenance: Transition to a way of eating that you can do forever. Adjust carbs as needed, hormonal changes, age, etc.

Dr. Atkins, in my humble opinion, was brilliant and way ahead of his time. He also did not die of a heart attack or stroke, he died from a Traumatic Brain Injury. He died after slipping on ice at the age of 72.

I also believe he is likely doing summersaults in his grave with all these Atkins boxes, bars, and packaged meals (oh my!) These were not his intention at all! Let’s stay away from pre-packaged please!

The Ketogenic Diet, on the other hand, came to be much earlier, around the 1920’s and was established more for therapeutic reasons, initially for Pediatric Epilepsy. The Ketogenic diet being prescribed to seizure prone children has since declined with the rise of anti-convulsion drugs that have been developed.

The Ketogenic Diet is wonderfully effective for weight loss, but has so many more benefits.

I personally started this diet once I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Cindy started after struggling with PCOS and being diagnosed as pre-diabetic. The therapeutic benefits of the Ketogenic Diet can help most people, if they chose to do it for a short amount of time or even decide to become “lifers” like we have.

On Keto, you limit your sugar and carb intake to roughly 20 grams or try to keep it at 5% of your food. 70% of what you eat should be fat, and the remaining 25% protein.

The way I have approached Keto was to consume fat and above the ground veggies. I do not worry too much about the actual macro nutrient counts (grams.)

Keto and the beginning phases of Atkins have the same theme. However, Adkins on face value, does not stress the importance of adding high quality fat and keeping people feeling satisfied.

Fats that fight fat

Cindy and I both also feel very strongly about the quality of our food. While neither of us are perfect, we try to consume and serve our families as little processed food as possible.

The benefits of our new way of life have truly been astounding. I believe we have added years to our lives, become so much more efficient, and all around feel a ton better. Having clearer skin and weight loss were just an amazing bonus.

If you would like to learn more about our way of living, the therapeutic benefits of Ketosis, or just how to quit the sugar addiction please contact us.

Health Nuts

Posted in Health, Research, tips, Treat, Treatment tagged with Ketogenic, ketosis

‘Stock’ Pile Your Health Arsenal!

Posted on November 3, 2015 by thesweetlifesugarfree

I have started hearing some sounds of fall, football, leaves crunching,squirrels scurrying all across my roof, way too early Christmas commercials, and those raspy sniffly coworkers.

That’s right.

It’s that time of year!

Dealing with those under-the-weather-friends is similar to most everything else; meaning that the best offense, is a great defense.

Sorry, I had to throw in some football.

One of the absolute best ways to take care of yourself this time of year is to regularly drink grass-fed bone broth. The vitamins, minerals, and overall good health feeling of this wonder drink can really make a difference in your immune system function.

I usually have a solid stock pile of my broth as well bones in my freezer. I have purchased ‘just’ bones before from a grass-fed farmer as well as buffalo bones from Whole Foods. Yes I am that serious about my broth. But more recently, when Cindy and I had our cow butchered, we had them box the bones for us as well. These bones are AMAZING!

Right now, we have enough bones to last us a very long time. Annnddd provide us with ample to share with friends and family that might need help getting over one thing or another. I love sharing this stuff. Plus, here in south Texas, we are predicted to have a nice wet fall this year, so really you can’t have too much in your keeping healthy arsenal!

Making broth/stock is SUPER simple, and not at all, labor intensive. The hardest part is finding storage space once you realize how great this stuff makes you feel.

Here is my super simple Bone Broth recipe:

Bone Broth

Ingredients:

3 to 5 pounds grass-fed beef bones (soup bones) and/or knuckle bones
½ cup raw apple cider vinegar (ACV)
filtered water
3 celery stalks,
3 carrots, halved
3 onions, quartered
Sachet of herbs (parsley, peppercorns, thyme, rosemary, Bay leaf, etc)-you can also omit here and just add to your mug when you drink.

Method:

Roast Bones at 400 for 30 minutes to 1 hour until fragrant
In a large stock or crock pot, place roasted bones, and pour in cool filtered water to cover. Add your apple cider vinegar. Do not heat yet.
Allow mixture to rest for 30 minutes to an hour. This will allow the vinegar to pull the nutrients from bones.
Bring the pot to a boil, and add more water if needed
Reduce to a low simmer, cover, and cook for 24-72 hours – just leave it going!
With about four hours remaining, add the vegetables
During the last 30 minutes of cooking, toss in the herb sachet-or omit and add as you drink.
Remove bones, veggie, and herb sachet (knock out any remaining marrow back into broth)
Pour broth through a strainer or cheese cloth into a glass container

Drink with generous amounts of quality Himalayan or Celtic salt, or use in any recipe calling for broth, stock, or added water.

The broth can be consumed immediately and stored in the fridge up to 5 to 7 days. You can also store in the freezer up to 6 months. We like to freeze into ice cubes so we can pop them in a mug to reheat when needed.

When reheating, bring broth back up to boiling for one minute.

Enjoy!

Image result for keep healthy

Posted in Beverage, tips, Treat, Treatment, Vegetable tagged with broth, healthy, recipe, sick, vitamins

What to Do About Those Little Ghosts and Goblins?

Posted on October 29, 2015 by thesweetlifesugarfree

Happy almost Halloween! I have to admit, this is not my favorite occasion. For obvious reasons, the sugar aspect causes issues in our family, but the doorbell that makes the dog go crazy, kids out in the dark, and then the after effect for the next two days isn’t so much fun either. I LOVE fall, but I am always happy when the 31st of October has come and gone, and there is an official start to the holiday season that awaits around the corner.

The holidays are a whole other ball game, but let’s get through Halloween first. Erin posted earlier in the week about how she handles Halloween for her daughter. We do things slightly differently, mainly because we have older children. The age/s of the child/ren in your household can make a big difference. My children are 10, 8 and 5 if that helps at all. They range from being all about Halloween and the candy, to really just wanting to be with their friends.

We are extremely fortunate to be invited to the same party with the same people every year. This helps me because I don’t have to have my internal struggle about handing out candy at my house. I have a voice in me that screams, “How can you hand out candy when you preach about sugar?” Luckily, I get to turn that recording OFF! The kids (and adults) are fortunate because we are all with friends and the focus turns to playing and visiting instead of tracking down the best candy in the neighborhood. Don’t get me wrong, I let the kids trick-or-treat, but that is not our sole focus of the evening. This helps a TON!

I do have a few ideas for your weekend:

Watch the forbidden food syndrome. Unless sugar is going to have severe health consequences on your child (sort term), let them partake in trick-or-treating. These years fly by, and if they enjoy it, it is one night out of 365.
Give them a time period that candy will be allowed in the house. I tell my kids (you are not going to believe this one), “Eat what you want on Halloween, pick out a few for tomorrow, and on the third day it will magically disappear.”
Find a place to donate the candy. Yes, I know it is bad for everyone, but there ARE people that deserve a treat every once in while like our troops overseas. There are places around that will take donations (Schools, banks, etc.). They collect unwanted Halloween candy and ship it to the troops.
My friend, Mona, recently told me about the Switch Witch. You can give your kids a choice (or not) to leave their pumpkin full of candy on the front porch on Halloween night, and the Switch Witch will take the candy and exchange it for (you fill in the blank – some toy they want, baseball or football cards, dark chocolate, an iTunes gift card just to give examples). Start planning now if you want to use this idea.
Divy out a certain number of pieces for each day – and specify the number of days. Then stick to it!
Use the candy for teaching any number of things. For younger children, it is great for sorting, patterns, and counting. It is always fascinating to people how much sugar is in those little pieces of candy. This is a great time for the older children to understand conversions. Read the labels. Remember, for every 4 grams of sugar or carbs, that equals 1 teaspoon of sugar. This is a great multiplication and division activity for the older ones. You can even make up word problems about the candy. Tina, that one was for you!

No matter what you decide to do with your candy, you, just like I, will get through this day. It is one of my most dreaded, but we always power through. Your kids will be on a sugar high, but then we will be there to catch them on the way down to lift them back up with healthy foods. The best thing you can do is to have a plan in place. Figure out how and when you are going to dispose of that white powdery substance disguised as candy and follow through. Then life returns to normal.

Have a very safe and memory filled Halloween!

God Bless!

Posted in articles, Holiday Dish, Kids, Snacks, special Occasion, Sugar, tips, Treat tagged with Candy, Halloween, Holiday, sugar, tips

A Trick for Trick or Treating

Posted on October 27, 2015 by thesweetlifesugarfree

I have been talking a bunch about how October is Breast Cancer awareness month, and I realize I need to address the elephant of the month. H A L L O W E E N.

So what on earth does a person who cuts out all added and almost all natural sugar do on the holiday known for candy begging?

I pony it up and go with it. The reality is, my daughter is going to have enough stories for her future therapist, and I don’t really want to add, “And my mother never let me Trick or Treat.”

My Favorite Doctor Halloween 2013

All kidding aside, Halloween is for kids. It’s super fun to dress up and knock on your neighbors’ door, shout Trick or Treat (and hopefully thank you!), and at the end of the evening gorge on your goodies.

Here’s where I change things up a bit though; my plan is to give my now 4 year old her choice of three treats the night of Halloween. The rest is going to magically disappear-she is still young enough that I can hopefully get away with this. We often give to little girls that don’t have anything, (Goodwill) and she is good with that. Hopefully this will go somewhat similar.

I am also going to purchase some dark chocolate, so if she would rather have that as a trade, or perhaps a homemade sugar-free mini cheesecakes with whipped cream. So be it.

Pretty wrapper is key

While it may be hard to believe that she would pass up a fun size Snickers or little M&M baggie, she does not get candy often, and actually really likes the dark chocolate due to that being the rare treat in the fridge that mommy shares. The less you have, the less you want. Starting super young doesn’t hurt either!

As for me, as crazy as it may sound, I have ZERO desire for such junk at this point. I even remember thinking back when I was the one doing the Trick or Treating how some of the stuff was just plain not good. That junk would likely still be eaten just after all the good candy was gone. Really? Does anyone like WarHeads or banana flavored Now and Laters? Likely not.

Who actually likes black licorice?

If I’m going to eat something that is not keto-friendly, you can bet I have decided that it is going to be worth it. And the second after I put a small bite in my mouth, I will decide again if it’s truly is worth it. Honestly, I have decided on more than one occasion that the one tiny bite was plenty. For me, there will be nothing in that orange plastic pumpkin that will be worth it.

Posted in special Occasion, Sugar, tips tagged with Candy

My Diagnosis Story (Cliff’s Notes Version)

Posted on September 29, 2015 by thesweetlifesugarfree

While it may not quite be October, it’s close.

October is for pumpkins, the leaves start to change, and it begins to cool off down here in south Texas. It’s also Breast Cancer awareness month.

Daughter’s Halloween Costume 2013

Today I thought I would begin start the pink month a little early and share the cliffs notes version of my my diagnosis story.

The reason I changed the way I eat (and even look at food) was because in September 2013 I was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. At the time, I was 31, mom to a 1 year old, and healthy (so I thought.) My numbers were always in the good to optimal range despite my lack of working out and watching what I ate. I didn’t really think too much about my health in general. I didn’t even have a general practitioner.

My daughter was about 18 months old when I visited my OB. We were trying to have #2, and for some reason or another, my plan wasn’t playing out like I wanted. After the normal inspection, she gave me the green light and told me it may just take longer this go round. Then I told her about the lump in my left breast. “Nothing” she told me, likely cystic and something a woman my age should not worry about.

That was that, and on my way I went.

A few months go by, and this lump, which my doctor brushed off as “no big deal” was now something I could feel as it pressed into my arm when I laid down.

I decided to go back. There was something inside that told me I needed to. The last thing I wanted to hear was that I was over reacting, but I really knew something had to be going on inside.

I went back and saw the nurse practitioner. She agreed that I was not crazy and actually pointed out a second lump. She said that likely they were nothing but that she would send me for imaging to be sure.

The following week I went into imaging. My no big deal ultrasound changed from a chat session into something else as the technician started getting quieter and quieter. I remember her leaving the room and scrambling to get my doctor on the phone to order a mammogram.

All the jokes about the mammograms are justified. That was an experience I will never forget. I’ll leave it at that.

I then waited to speak to the radiologist. She was in a darkened room with a wall of screens. Those screens were the images I had just taken and to her they were “Very Concerning.”

If there was ever an “I told you so,” moment I didn’t want to have it was now.

In the following weeks more imaging, biopsies, blood draws, and tests. None of the results came back the way we wanted at the time. It was definitely cancer, and it had spread. Significantly.

Not your typical cancer patient

The moral of the story and why I share it, is because, likely I would not be here had I not followed my gut. I am not the “typical cancer patient”, and I am frequently reminded of that in waiting and treatment rooms. But I knew something was wrong well before I was diagnosed. I had to be the squeaky wheel to get something I knew I needed.

When it comes to your health, YOU have to take care of it. Not only before and after your doctor’s appointment but also during. SPEAK UP, if you have questions, ask them if you are not satisfied, do something about it. Be that patient that errs on the side of annoying.

I have learned so much about healthcare, doctors, insurance, and time. While there are no blanket statements for any of these things, what I can say is that taking care of yourself is your responsibility and hopefully a priority. No one can do it better than you.

Posted in Cancer, Health, tips, Treatment tagged with cancer, health, treatment

What’s For Dinner?

Posted on September 24, 2015 by thesweetlifesugarfree

It is hard to believe that we already have a month of school under our belts! Time certainly does fly! Not only do the months fly, but the hours in the day seem to get shorter and shorter as well. The best advice I can give you for dinners is to PLAN AHEAD!

You need to know your busy days – these are my leftover days!

Know the days that you will have an extra hour or two – these are my cooking days!

Lastly, know the days when you have a little extra time to throw something in the oven – these are the days when I usually use something pre-prepared. Yes! I said it! I DO use prepared foods every so often, as long as I know how they are prepared and what is in the package. Other prepared foods are foods that I have made and previously frozen. If I make a chili, stew, lasagna, etc., I always double the recipe and freeze one to pull out on a busy day. It doesn’t take much more effort, but it saves you loads of time in the future for a home cooked meal!

Planning ahead makes all the difference in the world. As long as I know what proteins, veggies, and other sides I have in the fridge, (and always have 3 or 4 days worth of all the above) – I know my family will survive, and even better, be full and satisfied.

For instance, I know that Wednesdays are my worst day. Not only am I in the car for 2 hours in the morning shuttling the kiddos to school, but I am also in the car for 2 hours in the afternoon getting three kids to four different activities. I couldn’t believe it when I timed it! I am actually in the car longer driving around the neighborhood getting kids to gymnastics, soccer, and more soccer than I am taking my children to another town for school. I wouldn’t give it up for the world, but it does take serious planning. Really, though, there is not another better day in the week to have a leftover day! It’s the midpoint of the week, and time to clean out from all that weekend cooking!

Tuesdays are my best day! It is our only day this sports season that we do not have a scheduled regular activity. This is my shopping day and big cooking day.

Mondays I am usually prepared from the weekend before when I hope to have time to prep some things for the week.

Thursdays are always busy so this is usually a pre-prepared day.

Fridays are more relaxed. We either eat out or I cook something easy.

Saturdays are usually cooking days as are Sundays, but this is a good left-over day to clean out the fridge for the week ahead. I generally spend a lot of time preparing for the week ahead on Sundays. This is when I bake for breakfasts, make Keto desserts, my sauces, and my seasonings. It always feels great to start the week prepared.

Here are a few really simple dinner ideas to throw together on those super tough week nights:

The kids favorite:

Taco night – We always have ground meat, and this is super easy with lettuce as your tortilla! We make a taco bar and the kids LOVE it!

This next is a prepared dish: Stuffed Pork Tender (Cream cheese and jalapeño) with a side of zucchini topped with parmesan and bacon brussels.

This one is super fast…Steamed broccolini with butter, alongside broiled salmon and stuffed mushrooms.

Beef pinwheels with a side of asparagus:

Top with queso and you get a thumbs up:

ABC burgers with a side of squash casserole:

Stuffed bell peppers with stuffed mushrooms! Apparently, I was in the mood to stuff!

Keto spaghetti with zucchini and grilled sausage:

Grilled skewers with a veggie…we did grilled asparagus.

I hope that this gives you some easy, quick dinner ideas for your family. These are some of our favorites along with a host of others! Happy cooking!

Posted in articles, Dinner, Groceries, Kids, Main Course, Side Dish, Sugar Substitute, tips tagged with dinner, dinner idea, Main Dish, Sides, tips

You are NOT a Garbage Disposal

Posted on September 22, 2015 by thesweetlifesugarfree

I saw this image and literally almost spit out my BPC(Bullet Proof Coffee)!!

It’s fairly astounding that people out there believe that the inside of our bodies is the same as the that of a household drain!

The only thing that I can solidly (HA!) agree with on this post is to not pour your grease down the sink.

I have recently seen the SAWS Grease Monster Truck in my neighborhood lately, so remember, if you have to dispose of your grease, please do it the right way!

Image result for saws grease monster

Posted in articles, tips tagged with bacon, Bacon Grease, grease

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