QED* Low Carb Zucchini Side Dish

* QED = Quick, Easy, Delicious

I was buying a package of zucchinis at Aldi today, and met an old woman who was doing the same. She mentioned she was buying them for her husband, who was ill, and that one of these small-to-medium zucchinis was a serving for him. On the spur of the moment, I asked her how she cooked them. She told me she grated them and cooked them for about five minutes, then sprinkled them with Parmesan cheese. I told her I was going to try that tonight, and I did. Wow! My husband and I loved it. So here, before I forget, I share this discovery with you. This is what I did:

2 small to medium zucchinis, shredded coarsely
2 T. Butter
Paula Deen's House Seasoning to taste
Parmesan cheese, about 1 T.

We grated the zucchini quickly with our Salad Shooter. **
Heat the butter in a skillet on medium-high. Add the shredded zucchini and stir as it cooks. Season with Paula. Some liquid accumulated in the skillet, so I waited until it evaporated before calling it done. Sprinkle on the Parmesan cheese, stir and serve.

I wish I had gotten that nice lady's name.

**Regarding the Salad Shooter: Grating cheeses and other things was slow and sometimes arduous. I finally found the answer, and it was the Salad Shooter I saw on TV years ago and ignored. It's made my cooking life so much pleasanter. I wish I bought one years ago. The model below is the one I have. My only objection is that it is a bit on the noisy side, so don't hold it next to your ears! It makes short work of whatever needs to be sliced or grated, and is easier to clean, generally, than the food processor would be.

Low Carb High Fat Food Pyramid You Can Print

Print this and stick it on your refrigerator as a nifty reminder and motivator.

http://www.edify.net.au/food_pyramid.php

Easy Peel Hard Boiled Eggs in an Electric Pressure Cooker

If easy peel hard cooked eggs were the only thing a pressure cooker did, I would still own one. I have struggled with those darn egg shells for too many years, trying all of the hints without success. The pressure cooker technique was a true epiphany for me. And you don't even have to use older eggs!

Here is a site that explains it fully:

http://www.indiacurry.com/faqhints/pressurecookerhardeggs.htm

I learned something there that I haven't seen elsewhere in my research, so I am impressed.

I have settled on 1 cup water in the bottom, eggs on a rack above.  6-7 minutes on low pressure. Natural release. Ice water bath. Peel now or later.

Low Carb Cream Cheese Fudge

Low Carb Cream Cheese Fudge

Watch out, this is wicked good! I suggest trying it with nuts or such folded in. 

Ingredients:

1 Stick Butter ( I use salted )

2 oz. Bakers Unsweetened Chocolate

1 Tablespoon Vanilla

1 8 oz. package Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 Cup Stevia  or any sweetener or your choice to taste

Instructions:

Place butter and chocolate in a small pan and melt over low heat.

When chocolate and butter is just melted add vanilla and sweetener and blend together.

Place cream cheese in a medium bowl and pour chocolate mixture over it.

With a hand mixer mix about 2 minutes.

Pour into a greased  pan. I use a 6 x 8 pan and I freeze it and cut into squares.

 Note : I keep fudge  stored in the freezer . Out of sight, out of mind. 

This makes a great frosting for mim’s or low carb  cookies, etc.

makes 24 pieces at  0.3 carbs per piece

http://mariasmixingbowl.com/low-carb-cream-cheese-fudge/

Low Carb Taco Bake

This is my variation of a recipe found at Just a Pinch. It was a hit with my husband. And my cat, Marissa!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix crust:
4 oz cream cheese, softened (nuke it briefly)
3 eggs, added one at a time and beaten in until pretty smooth
1/3 c. heavy cream
1/2 t. low carb taco seasoning  - I used Linda's recipe at genaw.com. I doubt this can be tasted. Maybe add more?
2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded (I used extra sharp here for more flavor)

Spray a 9 x 13" pan with nonstick spray. Spread above mixture into it and bake @ 375 degrees for about 25 minutes. Remove and let it sit for about 5 min before adding the topping below, which you will cook while this is baking. The crust will come out beautifully golden brown.

Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.

Topping:
1 lb. ground beef
2 medium zucchinis, diced
1 T. low carb taco seasoning or more to taste
1- 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1- 4 oz. can chopped green chilis
about 2 t. beef base or bouillon powder - it adds a depth of flavor my grass fed beef lacked

2 c. shredded cheddar (I used sharp here)

Brown the ground beef. Use some olive oil if it's very lean. Drain fat if necessary. Add zucchini, tomatoes, green chilis and seasonings. Stir and cook, tasting and adjusting seasonings as desired.

Spread meat mixture over slightly cooled crust. Cover with shredded cheddar. Return to the oven (now at 350 degrees) and bake for about 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. it will serve more neatly if you let it cool a bit so you can cut it into squares.

Top with the taco type toppings of your choice. This is pretty rich by itself, so it will benefit from some shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, etc. to lighten it up a bit. And maybe some salsa. This is one place where I think I would skip the sour cream.

Easy Low Carb Chili Dog One Pot Meal

This is a welcome change of pace, a nice choice on a cool day, and just a fun meal all around. My husband ate seconds last night! I like this because I get my chili dog without the bun.

Make this as mild or as spicy as you like. I go for mild.

1 lb. lean ground beef (My doctor recommends grass fed.)
1-2 T. olive oil
1 small to medium onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 ribs of celery, chopped
1 small to medium zucchini, chopped
minced garlic to taste
1- 14 oz. can diced tomatoes
1- 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1/2 t. chili powder or more
1/2 t. cumin powder or more
1 T. sugar equivalent low carb sweetener of your choice (I used 3 drops Ez Sweetz)
salt and pepper to taste
6-ish Hebrew National hot dogs, or Johnsonville Beddar With Cheddar sausage links, or other low carb choice

Brown the ground beef with olive oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven, breaking it up as it cooks. Add chopped onion, pepper, and celery and continue to saute. Add minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper to taste. Start small, taste, add as needed. Stir in canned tomato products. Simmer until vegetables are soft. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Slice hot dogs or sausage links into bite sized pieces, about 1/2" in size, small enough to be bite sized, but large enough not to lose all of their flavor to the chili.  You want a good proportion of the hot dog pieces to the chili, so be generous. We agreed we would have liked one or two more links in ours last night.

Heat together and serve. We ate ours as is, but you could add cheddar cheese, top with sour cream, etc.

I hope you enjoy this as much as we do.

Source for Low Carb Coconut Flour Recipes

This is of interest to me, since my doctor wants me to avoid wheat and gluten, hoping it will help with my joint pain. I just found this site, so I can't vouch for the recipes. If you try them, please comment and let us know what worked for you, and what didn't. Thanks in advance!

http://snip.ly/m2bZ#http://margeburkell.com/coconut-flour-recipes/