Low Carb Tomato Soup

My daughter asked for tomato soup so I Googled "low carb homemade tomato soup" and several came up. The problem was that they all started with whole tomatoes which I didn't have time for. I threw this together as I went and thought it was really, really good.

In a medium saucepan add:

✅ 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce (lowest carb you can find. I use Hunts with 4g total/2g net carbs)
✅ 1 can (15 oz) unsalted chicken broth
✅ 2 tsp dried basil
✅ ¼ tsp onion powder
✅ ¼ tsp of salt, or to taste
✅ pepper to taste

Simmer on stove stirring occasionally until it thickens - about 10 minutes. Turn off heat and add:
✅ 1 Tbsp heavy cream

Mine made about 20 oz when done. I'm cautious with cooked tomatoes for Samuel, so we had small 4 oz servings ~ just enough to dip our grilled turkey & cheese sandwiches in. So that made our servings about 3 net carbs each. 😋

Spicy Buffalo Soft Boiled Eggs

These are an easy and delicious 0 carb side.  Boil eggs using your preferred method... either about 8-10 minutes in simmering water or 1 1/2 - 2 minutes in an Instant Pot (I use the IP).  Cool and cut lengthwise. The yolk should be very soft and slightly runny. 

Top with a spicy buffalo sauce/mayo. Then top with crunchy Maldon salt flakes (or Kosher salt if that is what you have). If your kids done like spicy, use a different type of mayo/sauce.

The creamy egg, spicy sauce, and crunchy salt is fantastic together! 

Breaded Pickles

Grind plain pork rinds in a food processor with your spices of choice (no salt though) until fine.

Dry baby dill pickles well.  Coat in egg, then roll in the pork rind breading.

Place breaded pickles on a wire rack over an aluminum foil covered baking sheet.

Bake at 400° for about 15 minutes.  Serve with dip of your choice.

Sloppy Joes & Cold Sides

I made a big batch of cole slaw and carrot "apple" salad today to last several days.  Threw together some Sloppy Joes on Smartbuns and dinner was done.

About 8 nets carbs.

Use the search feature on the right side of the blog to find all of these recipes.

Carrot "Apple" Salad

Years ago I used to make a simple, crunchy carrot & raisin salad. I've not considered it in years though because of the raisins. This new low carb version just popped in my head and it was really delicious. Both kids scarfed it down. And since it uses shredded carrots the portion looks a bit bigger than it really is.

1 10-oz bag shredded carrots
1/2 cup sugar-free mayo
2-3 tsp 0 carb sweetener
5 oz (1 cup) finely chopped fried "apples" (zucchini)
sprinkle of cinnamon.

Mix everything well and chill for at least an hour.  (I usually double the recipe!)

Search the blog for "apples" and you'll find the "apples" recipe.

This makes for a fast, refreshing, crunchy side dish.

Fried "Apples"

This is a favorite dish for us - it is ALWAYS in my fridge. We eat it pretty much every single day.  No joke!

A few things I've learned and serving suggestions....

🔸The recipe states 1 zucchini, but since they vary in size a lot, I got different results. I do 3 cups cubed up to match the recipes other ingredient amounts.
🔸You need to peel and take most the seeds out so it doesn't get gummy and mushy.
🔸I add a little bit of sugar-free vanilla syrup (Torani or Jordan's) for extra flavor.
🔸Sautee time is usually about 20 minutes for me - the sauce starts thickening and coating around the 10 minute mark.
🔸I also usually add 1 tsp of apple oil for extra apple-goodness after turning the heat off, but it's good even without.
🔸Jicama is also good. If you like firm, crispy apples you might like jicama better.

It's delicious as a side of its own. Or serve with Walden Farms pancake or maple walnut syrup and a splash of heavy cream. Or in plain yogurt. Yum!!!

I triple, even quadruple, the recipe and put in to-go cups for the kids lunches.


http://mariamindbodyhealth.com/fried-apples/

Fried Halloumi Cheese Sticks

Halloumi cheese is pretty cool. It's semi-soft like mozzarella, but made from sheep's milk and it has a high melting point which makes it great for frying into cheese sticks. If you can't find Halloumi, look for Bread Cheese - it's made from cows milk but nearly identical and often available in different flavors

Just cut it into sticks, drop in hot oil (I use lard) and fry a couple of minutes per side. The outside gets crispy while the inside stays a little gooey. Great as a side or snack! I make a spicy ranch for dipping or heat up some LC marinara sauce.

Available at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods or other places that carry artisan cheeses.

Pepperoni & Cheddar Stuffed Peppers

Split a sweet pepper in half, put 1 or 2 pepperoni inside and top with cheddar. 

Grill or bake in toaster oven for about 5 minutes.

Grilled Zucchini Caprese Roll-up's

These were really good! I used jalapeño cheese snack sticks and just cut it into little bits. I also added salt, pepper and herbs to the zucchini before rolling it up (I like veggies REALLY well seasoned). I didn't make a dipping sauce and didn't think it needed it... zucchini stays really moist when grilled.

Recipe and a video!...

http://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/2015/06/grilled-zucchini-caprese-roll-ups.html

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Fried Cheese Ravioli

I've been meaning to post these for a while. They are SO good. I have to be in the right mood to make them because they can be a tad time consuming. And if I use prosciutto, well, expletives tend to want to come out of my mouth if I'm short on time. I've also used thin ham which tastes great and is much easier to work with, but it's not sticky like prosciutto so you have to hold your ravioli packages together with toothpicks. Definitely give them a try though!

Low Carb Gravy

Okay, this obviously isn't a meal itself, but it can be important to know how to make low carb, especially around holidays. Most gravies use flour or cornstarch to thicken it which is a lot of sugar. Here's how to make super low carb gravy.

Pour 2 cartons of LC beef/pork/chicken stock in a saucepan pan and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. I add a little half and half or heavy cream... 1/4 - 1/2 a cup. To thicken, sprinkle 1/2 tsp of xanthan gum right on the gravy and whisk like crazy!! Once incorporated, add another 1/2 tsp of xanthan gum and keep whisking like crazy. It usually takes 2 1/2 tsp. Error on the thin side. .. it will thicken up quite a bit as it cools and can turn gummy if you add too much. It is called xantham GUM after all. The gravy reheats well too.

Carbs should be minimal, if any. Only what was in your stock or half & half or cream.

Hot Buttered Sweet "Rice"

Growing up my Mom would serve leftover rice heated with sugar, cinnamon, milk and butter. It was like a hot breakfast cereal to us. And it was delicious! I haven't thought of this in years since going LC, but the other day I was grocery shopping with my T1 sister and was showing her plain riced cauliflower. She asked if it would work to make Mom's rice cereal. "Huh! I don't know!" was my reply.

Well now I do. Yes, it does! This could probably even be a super fast dessert!

1/2 cup cauliflower rice (unsalted, steamed until soft, about 6-7 minutes)
1/4 - 1/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 - 2 Tbsp heavy cream
1-2 tsp 0 carb sweetener (or to taste)
1-2 tsp SF vanilla syrup (Torani or Jordan's)
1 tsp of butter
Dash of cinnamon
Heat for about 45 seconds.

2 net carbs just from the cauli rice.

Cole Slaw

You know it's warming up outside when I start making cole slaw. This is hands down my favorite recipe.  We love this with BBQ and it's great (in fact, best) to make a day ahead if you're traveling to a summer party.

Two notes: 

1) this recipe as written makes a very saucy, wet cole slaw. If that's how you like yours make it as-is. I don't like mine quite so wet and I double almost all recipes, so I increase the mayo to 1 cup, but leave all the other ingredient amounts the same. Then I double the amount of slaw to 2 bags. Just play with it to see what you like.

2) the recipe uses Swerve, but I use birch xylitol or pure erythritol. Use whatever 0 carb sweetener works best for you.

Using my recipe and ingredients a 2.5 oz (70g) serving is 1.75 net carbs.

http://www.cutthewheat.com/2013/08/creamy-coleslaw-marzetti-knock-off-low.html

Cauliflower Tots

Okay, you're not gonna fool anyone into thinking these are potato tater tots. Mine are sorta big and more like cauliflower balls, but, whatever. If you go into this not expecting potatoes these are really good!! We dipped them in ketchup just like tater tots. The kids loved them! 

Cheesy Bacon Brussel Sprout Bake

This is SO good!! I serve small portions because it's quite rich. 3 net carbs per serving.

Zoodles! Aka... zucchini noodles

We love zoodles! They're super versatile - they can be a simple side with Italian dressing, sub as spaghetti noodles, or work like lo mein noodles. A Veggetti Pro makes it super easy to spiralize or make ribbons.

Roasted Radishes

Radishes can be roasted just like baby new potatoes and even taste a little similar. They lose almost all of their bitterness and get a little sweet.

Cut in half; I season with olive oil, Italian seasoning, pepper and a good amount of kosher salt. Roast at 450 for 25-30 minutes.

I don't use grapeseed oil often, but after they're done roasting I drizzle a little flavored grapeseed oil on the top and mix.

Salami & Cream Cheese Roll-ups

Roll out 8 oz cream cheese between plastic wrap, then remove top layer of plastic wrap. Top with salami, overlapping edges. Top with plastic wrap again and press salami into cheese. Flip over so cheese is on top, peel off plastic wrap. Season cream cheese - I use Old Bay, dill, curry, pepper, mustard powder, etc. Top with veggies of your choice... here I just did spinach, but dill relish, olives, peppers are all good; just be sure to drain well. Roll up into a tight log using the bottom plastic wrap to help. Tightly wrap in plastic wrap and chill a few hours or overnight. Cut into pinwheels.

Minimal carbs depending on your ingredients.

LC Cooking Tip - Batch Cooking

If you have 1 or 2 less busy days each week, try to get as much cooking done as you can for the whole week! This is Saturday and Sunday for me. We start with breakfast and make extra waffles or pancakes so we can reheat later. Then we break to go to the library. We get home at noon, make/eat lunch and cooking continues all the way until dinner. 

This picture is everything I made this Saturday which included lunch and dinner, but also TONS of leftovers to get us through the week ahead.

Waffles
Spinach & Cream Cheese Salami Roll
Smoked Sausage
2 loaves of Swedish bread
Homemade Mayo
Tuna Salad
Stuffed Peppers
Mock Imo's Pizza