Cheese Crackers

One of the biggest things I miss was my crunch chips or crackers. So, Cheese Crackers to the rescue. This is amazingly simple but so yummy. Just be careful - you might eat several ounces of cheese without realizing it. To me they taste a lot like a cheese-it cracker, but are great for scooping up dips and sauces.

Ingredients:

1 thin slice of cheddar cheese (Deli sliced cheese works best)

Directions:

1. Put slice of cheese on a piece of parchment paper and microwave for 75 seconds or until the cheese has solidified.
2. Remove from parchment paper and let cool for a minute or two.
3. Enjoy!

It's also fun to play with seasoning. I've tried parmesan cheese sprinkled on top, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper, garlic, and many other ideas. You can also try other cheeses for a different flavor. Pepper jack cheese works great as does mozzarella.

Oopsie Rolls

Back in 1972 Dr. Atkins put out a book called "Diet Revolution" and there was a recipe for Revolution rolls. These morphed over time into something called "Oopsie Rolls" when someone substituted cream cheese for the originally called for cottage cheese. I've recently learned that these are called "Cloud Bread".   There are many different ways to make them, but below is the recipe we use. It isn't bread but it does work better than lettuce leafs to hold burgers, fried eggs, BLTs, and anything else that needs a bit of a handle. Below are images of a BLT sandwich made with them.

Ingredients:

3 large eggs
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1/8 tsp cream of tartar

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven to 300 Degrees.
2. Separate egg yolks from whites.
3. Whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar until very stiff peaks form.
4. Add the mayonnaise to the egg yolks and beat until light yellow.
5. Fold in the yolks to the whites about 1/3 at a time, being careful not to break down the whites.
6. Spray a cookie sheet or baking pan (we like mini-cake pans) with on-stick spray and spoon the mixture on the sheet or pan. It should make 6 mounds.
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until they are a bit firm, but not crumbly.
8. Remove from oven and let cool then move to a cookie sheet to let cool completely.

There are a LOT of options and other recipes for these online. This is the version we use, but there is really no limit to how you can tweak them.

Substitutions - You can substitute 3 oz cream cheese, 3 tbsp sour cream, or even things like cottage cheese or thick yogurt for the mayonnaise. It gives it a bit of different texture and flavor. Experiment to see which ones you like.

Additional Ingredients - Many people add a pinch of salt for some savory flavors. Other people add in things like dry mustard or dill to enhance the flavor. Some people like to have them sweet so add things like Splenda or cinnamon for more of a sweet roll.

Storage - These should be eaten within the same day or stored in the fridge or freezer. If in the fridge, put into an unsealed ziplock bag. If putting in the freezer, seal the bag.  Let the rolls get to room temperature before eating.

The original Oopsie recipe that I found many years ago was from Cleochatra and her blog - www.yourlighterside.com

Balsamic-Garlic Crusted Pork Tenderloin

Here's a very simple way to make pork tenderloin that is just melt-in-your-mouth good. We've had it many times and the whole family loves it.

Ingredients:

5 garlic cloves, finely minced or crushed
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 1/2 tsp coarse salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
2 pork tenderloins (about 1 1/4 pounds each)

Directions:

1. Stir together garlic, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
2. Coat the tenderloin with the rub.
3. Let marinate for anywhere from 30 minutes up to 6 hours.
4. Sear the tenderloin on all 4 sides.
5. Grill until the internal temperature is about 160, rotating every 10 minutes.
6. Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.

This has become a family favorite and is great when served with sour cream.  The recipe was from the Kitchen Confidante website.

When grilling the tenderloin, I seared it on high heat on the grill, then moved the tenderloin pieces to the top rack in the back of the grill.  Then I left only the front burner on to cook it indirectly.  It took longer, but was extremely tender and juicy.

Back at it

Well, it's been a while since I have posted, but I'm going to attempt to get back into it.  Maybe only one or two recipes a week, but at least something.  I hope I can stay consistent with it. I know the more consistent I am with cooking, the more consistent I am with other things with my life, including eating on plan.

Pumpkin Sausage Soup

Ok, I know. It sounds weird. But, the flavors really go well together.  It is a great winter dish. Too bad we made it for the first time in the spring. This would be one I can see us making at least once a month.

Ingredients:
3 carrots, finely diced
4 stalks celery, finely diced
1 onion, diced
7 cups chicken broth
2 cans of pure pumpkin (15 oz each)
2 pounds pork sausage
2 tsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot and add the carrots, celery, and onion.
2. Add the ground pork and seasonings.
3. Sautee until the pork is cooked and veggies are a bit tender.
4. Add in the chicken broth and pumpkin and simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Check seasoning and tweak as needed.
6. Simmer until needed or for another 20 minutes.

We put some sour cream in our soup and that really added a nice, creamy touch.  It was a great balance between a bit of spice and some smooth cream.  A few tweaks I am thinking about for next time is adding a splash of heavy cream while cooking and adding in some avocado as a garnish.

This recipe was found online and passed through multiple iterations and people before I got it. I don't know who the originator is. I found it on the Active Low-Carber Forum.

Smothered Chicken

This is a very good meal that does take a bit of effort to put together, but is really worth it. It's a bit heavy on the dairy, but oh-so-good. There are 3 parts to the recipe, so I'll try my best to get everything in the right order. Make sure to read through the entire recipe and portion out everything before starting.

Ingredients:

Chicken:
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
10 slices mozzarella cheese
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp seasoned salt
1 tsp pepper

Creamed Spinach:
1 large bag spinach leaves
4 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp onion, minced
2 tbsp olive oil

Sauteed Mushrooms:
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup white wine
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat Oven to 350
2. Mix the garlic powder, seasoned salt, and pepper together and coat the chicken.
3. Bake the chicken for 16 minutes

4. While the chicken is baking, heat the 2 tbsp of oil for the creamed spinach in a large pan over medium-high heat.
5. When the oil is hot, add the onions and saute for 2-3 minutes
6. When the onions are sauteed, add the spinach and garlic and cook until cooked through. The spinach will reduce to a small amount.
7. When cooked through, add the cream cheese and shredded Parmesan cheese and stir until melted.
8. Set aside the the creamed spinach.

9. In a fresh skillet, melt the butter and oil.
10. Add the mushrooms and cook until browned all over.
11. Add the white wine to deglaze the pan.
12. Add in the garlic, salt, and pepper.
13. Cook until most of the wine is cooked off.

14. At this time, the chicken should be done baking.
15. Remove the chicken from the oven and turn over in the pan.
16. Add the creamed spinach to the top of the chicken breasts.
17. Add the sauteed mushrooms on top of the creamed spinach.
18. Place 2 pieces of the mozzarella cheese on top of each breast.
19. Cook another 12-14 minutes or until the cheese is browned and the chicken is done.

That's it.  A lot of steps, but it was very yummy. We ended up using the broiler to get the cheese a bit browner at the end, but you may not need to.

This recipe was from a blog called: baconbuttercheesegarlic

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

Here's a wonderful cauliflower casserole that will meet your baked potato desires. It is delicious.

Ingredients:
2 lb cauliflower florets
8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided 6 oz and 2 oz
8 oz shredded Monterrey jack cheese, divided 6 oz and 2 oz
8 oz cream cheese, softened
4 tbsp heavy cream
1 cup green onions, chopped
2 clove garlic, grated
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Steam cauliflower until tender.
2. Soften cream cheese and mix with the heavy cream.
3. Mix 6 oz of cheddar and 6 oz of jack cheese into the softened cream cheese.
4. Stir in onions, garlic, salt, and pepper.
5. Drain cauliflower, smash with potato masher, and then add in the cheese mixture and mix all together.
6. Pour into 2-3 qt dish and sprinkle on the last of the cheddar and jack cheese.
7. Cover with foil and bake 25 minute at 350.
8. Remove foil and bake until cheese is bubbly and brown on top.

This is best served like loaded mashed potatoes and topped with potato toppings like bacon, sour cream, butter, etc.  It is a wonderful side dish for just about any meal.

When we made ours, we put the bacon in the cheese mixture, but it made it kind of soggy, so we recommend adding to the top like bacon bits on mashed potatoes.

This recipe is based on one from Louanne's Kitchen.