Tag Archive for Holiday

What to do with all those EGGS?

easter-wallpaper-1

We love Easter in our home!

We love the reason behind it, and the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. We love the excitement of the Easter egg hunt, the wonderment, the family, the traditions, and yes, the FOOD.

What oh what to do with all those eggs you dyed?  We used to hunt those dyed eggs as kids until the dog got sick on them :-).

Our children just hunt the plastic kind, but I still love the tradition of dying the boiled eggs on Good Friday!  They love it too!  But what do you do with all of them?  This is where I can help!  They are just sitting in your fridge, right?  Well, don’t let them go bad.  I have ideas for you!  And, yes, they are still good to eat!

basket-of-easter-eggs-A

Take those beautiful pastel eggs and use them – ketofy them!

There are numerous uses for boiled eggs such as adding them to salads, (especially tuna salad and cobb salad), deviled eggs (an Easter favorite), add them to sautéed spinach or asparagus with hollandaise, or even just eat them for breakfast or a snack with a little salt and pepper.

My favorite Easter memory is creamed eggs though!  Creamed eggs just scream Easter morning breakfast for me, and this is how my mom used our dyed eggs on Easter morning.  She literally just used a Béchamel sauce and added the chopped boiled eggs.  Of course she served it over well-buttered toast, and it was delicious, but when you are eating against the grain you need to modify.  What do you do when you can’t use flour in your Béchamel?  Did you know that if you simmer cream long enough, it will naturally thicken?  This trick I did not know until I went Keto!

This is what I did:

Peel and cut up your boiled eggs and set aside.

images

Allow about 45 minutes for your cream to thicken.

Using 4 cups of heavy whipping cream, (add a Bay Leaf if you like), and bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.  Keep an eye on it because it will make a mess if it boils over, and it does have a tendency to do this.  Keep the cream at a low boil for about 45 minutes stirring frequently over medium heat.  When it reaches the consistency of a cream sauce, turn it off.  It can take a little longer, but not more than an hour.  (Yes, I would say this is a weekend treat unless you get up really early.)

starburst-sauce-and-dilly-bars-068-1

Now, you can add salt (1 tsp Pink Himalayan) and pepper (1/2 – 3/4 tsp freshly ground) and keep it as it is or add some more flavor.

Now, plain is delicious, but I took it a step further:

I added a couple of Tbsp of fresh chopped parsley and 1/2 cup of fresh parmesan.  Stir until melted.  Lastly, add your eggs and gently mix them in.  You can also add a few TBSP of butter for extra decadence.

My family loved it, but couldn’t figure it out the new taste with the cheese until I told them what I added.  It was deliciously creamy and decadent.  You don’t even need bread!  Spoon it into a bowl and enjoy your new tasty, gluten free treat!

Unknown

 

 

 

Baby, It’s Cold Out There!

It’s starting to FEEL (and look) a lot like Christmas!  My favorite season of the year!

We had such a hot fall in San Antonio, I was beginning to think it would never get cooler around here, but ‘lo and behold, we finally had a great cold front!  Finally!

The first cold morning around here, the kids were begging for HOT CHOCOLATE!!!

Can hot chocolate be Keto?

Absolutely!

Look at these smiling faces!

IMG_5386IMG_5382 (1)

There is nothing better on a cold morning than curling up in your cozy chair with a steaming hot cup of cocoa!  The kids were cozy, happy, and warm!

So how to?

Keto Hot Chocolate

IMG_5374

Do you see that half-gallon of cream????  Oh, yes it is!  Sam’s Club!

You can use more cream and less milk for more keto cocoa and thin with some more water, however, for the kiddos, I don’t mind them having whole milk.

Ingredients:

1 cup water

1/2 cup 100% cocoa

1/4 tsp himalayan salt

3/4 cup Swerve granular

2 cups milk

2 cups heavy whipping cream

peppermint flavored Stevia to taste – I used 2 droppers full

The kids especially liked the peppermint flavor added, but you could use any flavor Stevia drops.

71YvxSgqO9L._SY355_

In a heavy large saucepan, combine all your ingredients and whisk well.  Keep watch as you heat over medium heat.  At the end, when everything is combined, it can boil up quickly and make a huge mess, so keep and eye on your sweet treat.  When everything is combined and comes to a light boil, pour in mugs and top with sugar-free whipping cream!  Yum yum delicious!

IMG_5375IMG_5377

IMG_5378 IMG_5379

 

Happy Thanksgiving! Gravy Anyone?

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!

thanksgiving-dinner

 

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!

YK_072611_FNM_Turkey_032.tif

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:
4398034471_ca968b9c6b_b

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.

  1. 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.
  2. Next, add your herbs: I like fresh rosemary, thyme, parsley, and a bay leaf.  Salt and pepper to taste.
  3. 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.
  4. Transfer to a food processor, and process until you have a smooth gravy texture.
  5. If it still needs thickening, add a touch of Xanthan Gum and you should have a delicious flavorful gravy!

a713bda8-6dba-4997-9a87-a12b0778a5fd

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!

 

Feeling Good and Grateful

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

 

 

What to Do About Those Little Ghosts and Goblins?

happy-halloween-clipart_3-1

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.

IMG_0216 (1)

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!

IMG_0208

I do have  a few ideas for your weekend:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.”
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Divy out a certain number of pieces for each day – and specify the number of days.  Then stick to it!
  6. 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!

set_halloween_candy_640

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!

The Finishing Touch

A great Bar-B-Que Brisket or Ribs is perfectly Keto, and one of our very favorite weekend or holiday treats.  The question becomes, how do you finish those beauties off?  That wonderful tangy sauce out of a bottle is gone for more reasons than one, but the main problem is all those added sugars in the bottle.  Oh, and don’t forget the hidden sugars.

images

I am putting it lightly when I say, my hubby is a sauce fanatic!  He concocts all types of sauces, and combines things I would never think of placing in the same bowl.  Some are good, and some not so much.

He left it to me to find a good recipe for a Bar-B-Que sauce though.  The best one, meaning lowest in carbs, out of a bottle, we could find was Stubbs Original with 5 Carbs and 4 grams of sugar.  The serving size is 2 Tbsp.  Let’s be honest – who just eats 2 tablespoons of Bar-B Que sauce?  Here are some of the ingredients:o-STUBBS-BBQ-facebook

Sugar, Molasses, Tapioca Dextrin, Brown Sugar, Corn Starch, and Corn Syrup!  And this was the best we could find!!!!  Let’s see…sugar, sugar, carb/sugar, sugar, carb/sugar, and oh, sugar!

There is a reason we always say to read labels, and we don’t just mean nutrition labels.  You HAVE to read those ingredients too.  It sends my blood sugar soaring just reading them!

So this is the REAL food ingredient list for my new Bar-B-Que sauce:

IMG_2834

3/4 cup White Vinegar

2 Cans (30 oz) of Organic Tomato Sauce

5 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

3 Tbsp Yellow Mustard

1 Tbsp Tabasco or other hot sauce (I used 2 Tbsp and it was SPICY so do to taste)

1 Tbsp Pink Himalayan salt

1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper

2 Tbsp Liquid Smoke (The one pictured is made in the great state of TEXAS)

1/2 Large Lemon (4 tsp squeezed)

1/2 tsp Trader Joe’s Pure Stevia

Directions:

Combine your tomato sauce and vinegar.  Bring to a simmer.

IMG_2835

Add your Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, and Liquid Smoke.  Combine.  Add all remaining ingredients except the yellow mustard.

IMG_2837

 

You need to temper your mustard like you would an egg.  Place your mustard in a heat safe bowl.  Add a few spoonfuls of your hot tomato mixture and stir well.

IMG_2841IMG_2847

Once mixed, add back to your sauce.

IMG_2854

Whisk until you have a smooth sauce.  Use immediately or store in a mason jar.  This will keep for a few weeks in the refrigerator.

IMG_2863

IMG_2858

 

Enjoy with that yummy broccoli slaw!

 

Dress It Up!

We are thinking ahead to fireworks and celebration!  It is hard to believe that July 4th is right around the corner.  The other day I posted the “Refreshing Cukes” recipe which would be a great side dish for any Fourth of July celebration.  By the way, they just got better in the fridge for a few days!  The cucumbers were definitely a hit in our house!

Today, I have another side that is easy because all you need to do is prepare the dressing ahead, pour it in a mason jar, throw it in the ice chest, and you have a great nutritious side wherever your travels may take you!  Even better, you can use this tangy dressing as a dip or on any salad with what you have left over.

IMG_2823

Keto Broccoli Slaw Recipe

2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Cup Mayonnaise (I used Hellman’s, but homemade is better)

3 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

1 Heaping Tbsp Dijon Mustarrd

1/8 tsp Trader Joe’s Pure Stevia

1 1/2 tsp Celery Seeds

1 tsp Himalayan Salt

1/2 tsp Black Pepper

2 Bags of Trader Joe’s Organic Broccoli Slaw (I just use one at a time.)

Directions:

Start by combining your Olive Oil and Mayonnaise.  Then add your Apple Cider Vinegar and Mustard.

IMG_2824

Stir well.

IMG_2825

 

Add your Stevia: This is the best one I’ve found so far:

$_35

Then add the rest of your ingredients except for the slaw.

IMG_2826

Whisk well, and pour into a mason jar once it is completely combined.

IMG_2830

Now it is ready for packing or serving.  Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.  Also, shake well before each use to distribute the celery seeds.

When you are ready, empty the packet of broccoli slaw into a large bowl.  It will make more than you think, so pick a large enough bowl.  Pour about a half cup of dressing over your slaw and mix well.  You can always add more if you like.

IMG_2857

This is excellent served with Bar-B-Que, or served on its own.  Enjoy!IMG_2862