Keto Pancakes and Sausage

When you have a food restriction, sometimes your memories and emotions that you associate with certain foods revolving around seasons or days get pushed away and can add a little bit of disappointment to life. Breakfast for dinner was one of those things for me. These pancakes are light and fluffy and super yummy with a blend of cinnamon and stevia blend BUT then I just happened to be looking at the Pyure brand on Amazon and saw that they had a Maple Syrup! Life has been just a little bit brighter ever since. We just had these this past Saturday and I told my husband that I felt like we had gotten take out for breakfast, it was so yummy! 

Preheat your griddle or pans. We use cast iron pans. 

Ingredients for Sausage:

1 pound of ground turkey

1 tsp of salt

1/2 tsp of pepper

1/2 tsp of garlic

1/2 tsp of oregano

1 tsp fennel seed

1/8 tsp of red pepper flakes

2 TBSP of stevia blend

Form into small patties and pan fry until cooked through. Keep warm until pancakes are ready. These also reheat wonderfully, for leftovers, in a pan with a bit of oil. This same recipe can be used for any recipe in which you need a sweet Italian sausage. 

Ingredients for pancakes:

2 cups of almond flour

4 eggs

1/2 cup of unsweetened nut milk- we like to use vanilla almond milk

2 TBSP of oil

1/2 tsp of baking soda

1/2 tsp of baking powder

2 TBSP cup of stevia blend

Place all ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth. This is highly important. Pour into pans as usual. Allow bubbles to form before flipping. 

Keto cake

Having food sensitivities and restrictions is hard and can suck the joy out of life. Sometimes you just need to bake some muffins or it's your birthday and you just want to feel  normal and have a birthday cake. If this is how you find yourself feeling then this is your answer! It is so easy to work with and mold into what you are needing. It's a base cake that you can then add ingredients to to take it in whatever direction you desire! 

Ingredients for the base: 

4 eggs

1/2 cup of oil

1/3 cup stevia blend

1 1/2 cups of almond or cashew flour

1/2 tsp of salt

1/2 tsp of baking soda

1 tsp of baking powder

1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk- or dairy milk

* I have added 1 cup of grated zucchini and also 1/2 of an avocado at different times to add more nutrition and moisture but it's optional. 

*You can also add 1 tsp of vanilla extract but my body does not like the alcohol in that so I do not use it, 

For the buttercream:

1/2 cup of softened butter- dairy or non dairy works

2-4 TBSP of powdered stevia blend- taste to adjust sweetness to your liking

Dash of cinnamon if using the icing for a spice cake. 

Refrigerate cake if using the non dairy to harden it up. 

Add 2 TBSP of cocoa for a chocolate cake. Sugar free chocolate chips in it and on it for a brownie like texture.

Add 1 tsp of cinnamon, 1/2 tsp of ginger, 1/8 tsp of cloves and 1 dash of black pepper for a spice cake. If able to eat carrots, add grated carrots for a carrot cake. 

Add the zest and juice of 1 lemon to make a lemon cake.

Add chopped nuts, unsweetened coconut flakes, flax and chia for a breakfast muffin.

With a whipping attachment, whip the first three ingredients for a minute or two. This will add a thickness and fluffiness to the cake. Then add the rest of the ingredients and mix with the same attachment. You can make this into a 9 x13 cake, muffins, one thick loaf for a sweet bread style or two thin loaves for layering or just a simple round cake. Double the batch for a round, layer cake. Bake at 350 degrees. I bake for 5-7 minutes and then sprinkle with a bit more of the stevia blend to give the tops a yummy, sweet crust.  Timing will vary for the different variety of pans. 18-20 minutes for muffins. 30-35 minutes for the full loaf. 12-15 for the thin loaves. 25 minutes for cakes.  Muffins and cakes are done when they are no longer wet on top. They will be firm. 

Keto Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

When I discovered this trick, I think it changed up the cookie game in our home forever! I had had skillet cookies out at restaurants, back in my sugar eating days, but had never made one myself and honestly this idea came out of simply not being in the mood to scoop a bunch of cookies that day! I know you will love these because even my teenage son, who does not have food restrictions, "mmmms" over this one. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients

1 stick of softened butter or 1/2 cup of vegan butter

1/4 cup of Pyure stevia blend

1 egg

1 3/4 cups of cashew flour

1/2 cup of collagen- adds a chewiness

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt 

1/2 a bag of stevia sweetened chocolate chips

Simply mix all of the ingredients in a bowl with a spoon and spread into a medium sized buttered cast iron skillet. Bake at 350 degrees for 23-25 minutes. Until it's a bit browned and set in the center. You can eat warm but they stay pretty gooey until cooled. 

This cookie base would work with many other add ins. 

Add walnuts or pecans to the chocolate chips. 

*If you're not strictly keto then add some marshmallows for a s'mores version! 

Or you could skip the chocolate chips and add some whole oats and raisins, some orange zest and dried cranberries, lemon zest and dried blueberries. YUM! 

I have included the brands that I use for these. This Pyure brand tastes the best, in my opinion, and is organic and non gmo. I find the sweetener and the chocolate chips at Walmart. The collagen comes from Amazon. For me, collagen has been a great addition into my smoothies to give my body extra support. You can see the benefits in your hair, skin and nails! 

T

Sweet and Spicy Ginger Beef and Broccoli

This has quickly become one of my weekly go to meals because it tastes like such a treat! It really does satisfy and taste like it came out of one of those cute, white cardboard foldup boxes. Don't have or like steak? This works perfectly with chicken as well or with just the veggies but with slivered almonds added for some protein and fat for a vegan option. 

Ingredients:

1 big round sirloin steak or 3 chicken breast, sliced very thin and small

1/2 of an onion, diced small

2 colored peppers, diced small

1 head of broccoli, diced small

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 tsp minced garlic or powder

1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes unless you love spice, then do 1/2 tsp

1 TBPS of ground ginger 

2 TBSP sesame oil
3 TBSP of Pyure stevia blend

sesame seeds 

Sauté the onion in oil for a few minutes and then add the meat, season with salt, pepper, garlic. Sauté for another few minutes. Add the veggies, season again with salt, pepper and garlic and stir. Seasoning each layer of any meal you are making makes a big difference in flavor. Make a small well in the center, add a drizzle of oil and then add the red pepper flakes and ginger to sauté there for just a few seconds, this will bloom the spices to bring out all of their flavor. Stir. Add the sesame oil and stir to combine and finish cooking the meat through. Taste to make sure it's to your liking of sweetness, zing and flavor. Because of varying ingredients, I usually always have to add a bit more salt, sweetener and sesame oil. 

Finish with a sprinkling of sesame seeds and even slivered almonds if desired. Enjoy! 

Here it is pictured with chicken instead of steak

This is the sweetener that I use available at Walmart or Amazon. It's organic and non gmo. I have found it to have the best flavor for replacing sugar. 

Gluten Free Meatloaf with Keto Ketchup

Meatloaf. That word makes me think of my grandma, who made the best meatloaf. And in turn, of course, it's how my mama made it for us while growing up. You know, the one with Saltine crackers and bread crumbs and Heinz ketchup smeared all over the top. Those ingredients are not an option for me these days but I still had that hankering for my grandma's meatloaf so I took on the challenge to be creative and make a gluten free version that would taste just as yummy. Becuase sometimes you just need to make a meal that makes you feel at "Home" and this meal did that for sure! It had been a long time since I had made meatloaf because for me, meatloaf isn't quite as good without ketchup and after walking through this health journey, that left me unable to eat sugar, ketchup just wasn't even a thought. Then it dawned on me that I could probably make it pretty easily.  This ketchup recipe is derived from one on the Wholesome Yum website with my tweaks made to suit my tastes and the ingredients that I had. 

And by the way, this also makes an AWESOME barbeque sauce for this delightful time of year which is grilling season! 

Make ketchup and set aside

For the Ketchup:

1 6 oz can of tomato paste

1 cup of water

3 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar

1/3 cup of Pyure stevia blend

1 tsp salt

1 heaping tsp of onion powder

1 heaping tsp of garlic powder

1 heaping tsp of smoked paprika

1/4 tsp of mustard powder

1/8 tsp of ground cloves

Wisk all ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Make sure to cover because it splatters all over. Reduce heat to simmer and simmer for 35 minutes. This is important because if you don't simmer for long enough, it will still have that earthy tomato paste flavor. Use it right away on top of this meatloaf or grilled chicken or cool and store in refrigerator for all of your ketchup or bbq needs. 

For the Meatloaf:

1 pound of ground beef

1 egg

1/3 cup of cashew flour-could use almond flour as well but the texture of cashew is softer

1/2 of a colored pepper, finely diced

1/2 of an onion, finely diced

1 tsp of salt

1 tsp of pepper

1 tsp of garlic powder

Mix well and form a loaf shape on you baking sheet (I used a piece of parchment for easy cleanup) and cover the top with the ketchup. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minuts or until browned and cooked through. Enjoy! 

This is the sweetener that I use available at Walmart or Amazon. It's organic and non gmo. I have found it to have the best flavor for replacing sugar. 

Peanut Butter Cookies

Oh my... how things have changed since I had last posted! A very long health journey, one of which is still a story still being written, but one detail in  that story is that it has left me with food sensitivities. Because of that I have had to become creative if I wanted to ever eat anything other than a "protein" and vegetable at any meal or ever think of having a dessert. These cookies were born out of that latter desire. I hope that if you have dietary needs, that you will try these and they will bring a bit of joy and variety to your "feels like I eat the same thing everyday" menu. And they're quick and simple!

These are Gluten Free. Dairy Free. Sugar Free. 

KETO and THM approved

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of unsweetened natural peanut butter

1 egg

1/4 cup of ground flax, collagen, almond flour or cashew flour. Any work just fine

1/4 cup Pyure stevia blend

1/4 tsp baking soda

dash of salt

Simply mix all of the ingredients into a bowl. I use a small ice cream scoop and scoop them onto my cookie sheet. Then I press each one with three of my fingers to give them that peanut butter cookie look. 

Sprinkle them with a bit more of the stevia blend and bake for 10 minutes. They shouldn't feel very firm just set. Allow to cool... or not. ENJOY! 

Don't be afraid to add some sugar free chocolate chips! 

This is the sweetener yhat I use. Available on Amazon or at Walmart. It's organic and non gmo. I have found it to have the best flavor for replacing sugar. 

This is the collagen that I use. 

Corn and Black Bean Pico De Gallo

 Spring has come. The weather is warm and my porch is bursting color and best of all fragrance! Basil and cilantro! Inspiration with every sniff! 

Ingredients:

5-6 fresh tomatoes

1 jalepeno

1/2 of a vidalia onion

1/2 of a green bell pepper

1/2 a can of black beans

1/3 cup of corn

1/3 cup of cilantro 

salt, pepper, garlic powder

Finely dice all of the ingredients and stir together. It's that easy!

Saute some sliced onion and bell peppers. Saute with salt, pepper, garlic and cumin. Top with some guacamole, cheese and this pico! Dinner is done...

Spinach, Tomato and Feta Pizza

 

 

I think that Pizza may be the universal symbol for happiness! Or maybe that's just in my world but in my opinion you can not go wrong with having a pizza night. It lifts mommy's moods and makes kiddos happy. It may be the ultimate cuisine. I love pizza! I recently resorted to this white pizza after running out of mozzarella but having Feta cheese on hand. It was the perfect combination, of course and it is now one my current favorite way to eat pizza. Plus it's just so pretty and colorful! 

Ingredients for the crust- prepare one hour before dinnertime

1 1/2 cups of warm water

1 TBSP yeast

1 tsp sugar or honey

3-3 1/2 cups of white whole wheat flour

1/4 cup of olive oil

2 tsp salt

With a fork, I stir together my water, yeast, sugar and 2 cups of flour. Once combined I add the other cup of flour, olive oil and salt and knead, right in the bowl, until it comes together. Once that happens, I use my mixer with the dough hook to knead the dough for about 5 minutes. You can just use your hands if you don't have a mixer. If the dough is too sticky for your mixer or your hands, add another half cup of flour. Cover and let raise for 1 hour. I have rushed this before and it doesn't seem to make much difference, if you're short on time. 

 *This dough recipe makes 2 crust recipes. I made a regular cheese pizza and this spinach pizza. If you want to make 2 spinach pizzas, simply double the spinach amount below* 

 

Preheat oven to 450 degrees and press out pizza dough

Ingredients for the pizza topping:

olive oil

salt, pepper,oregano and garlic powder 

2 cups of fresh spinach

feta cheese

diced red onion

diced tomatoes

Parmesan cheese- I actually grated fresh and used the "shaker cheese" both 

In a saute pan with olive oil, season the spinach with salt, pepper and garlic powder and saute until it just starts to wilt. Remove from heat and scoop onto a plate to stop it from continuing to wilt. 

 

Top the entire crust with olive oil. Season with salt, garlic powder and oregano. Add the rest of the toppings and bake at 425 degrees until feta is browned.  

 

Honey and Cinnamon Sauteed Carrots

 

I came across a bag of local organic carrots at out health food store and along with slicing them up to go alongside my kids' lunches, I was wanting to use them in a new side dish also. When I was thinking through my evening meal of meatloaf and oven roasted potatoes, I had the inspiration of a simple and sweet carrot sauté. They turned out great and really could have been doubled as dessert!

 

Ingredients:

6-8 carrots- peeled and sliced into matchstick size

olive oil

salt and pepper

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup honey

 

Saute the carrots in the olive oil. Season them with salt and pepper. Saute for 5 minutes to soften and add the honey. Saute for another 5 minutes or until carrots are soft.

 

With the sweetness of the honey these are sure to be loved by the whole family

 



Applesauce Bread French Toast with Chopped Pecans

 This breakfast dish was made one Sunday morning on a whim and out of the desire to use up the rest of a yummy dessert bread but I quickly saw that it's potential to be a standout on a special occasion. The pecans can be even more dressed up by stirring them in a skillet with a few tablespoons of pure maple syrup until they become a delicious brittle.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

 

Ingredients for the bread: 

2 cups of applesauce

3 eggs

1 cup of sugar

1 tsp of vanilla

3 cups of flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 TBSP of cinnamon

2 apples diced up very small

Mix to combing the wet ingredients and then the dry. Fold in the apples and separate into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake at 325 for 1 hour. 

Ingredients for the french toast:

 5 eggs

1/2 cup of milk

1/3 cup of sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Whisk together and make french toast as usual. Top with warm pure maple syrup and chopped pecans. A side of bacon never hurt either! 

Tex-Mex "Hamburger Helper"

Over the last couple of days I have had the opportunity to give some other mamas a bit of advice on switching out some of their current ingredients for meals and snacks for more of an all natural form. It's been very cool for since this is something that I grow more passionate about as time passes. When I needed to use up the rest of our taco meat, my mind went to these mamas who mentioned box foods in their pantry and that maybe a homemade version would be a welcomed meal on their family's table as they switch out and make changes. Pretty cool! Pretty fun! 

Ingredients:

olive oil

1/2 onion- finely diced

1 bell pepper - diced
2 cloves of garlic- minced finely or grated on a zester

1 pound of ground beef- or ground turkey or even diced chicken breast.

1 tsp salt 

1 tsp pepper

1 TBSP cumin

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp paprika
1 tsp of red pepper flakes -  optional

1 box of whole wheat pasta of your choice
1 1/2 cup of salsa

1/2 can of roasted tomatoes with chipotle peppers- optional if you can find them

sharp cheddar cheese
chopped cilantro
guacamole 

Boil pasta, in salted water, for 5 minutes and turn off the heat. Saute the onion for a few minutes and add in the bell pepper and garlic. Add in the ground beef and season everything with the seasonings listed and cook thoroughly. Remove the pasta from the water with a slotted spoon, reserving the water for later use. Stir to combine the pasta and flavors. Taste for flavoring and add more of the seasonings if needed. Top with your favorite Mexican toppings and enjoy! 

Whole Wheat Pumpkin, Carrot and Cranberry Muffins

 

Another option for a healthy morning muffin. And this one has two vegetables hidden inside! 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients:

2/3 of a cup of warmed coconut oil

1/3 of a cup of plain applesauce

1 cup of sugar- These aren't "dessert" muffins. Add another 1/2 cup if desired.

3 eggs

1 tsp of vanilla

1/4 cup of plain yogurt

1 cup of pumpkin

2 1/2 cups of white whole wheat flour

1/2 cup of ground flax seeds

2 tsp of cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 cups of shredded carrots

1 cup of dried cranberries

Oat Bran

Combine the wet ingredients until smooth. Add in the dry ingredients to combine. Last, add in carrots. Once all combined, fold in the cranberries. I use a large ice cream scoop and fill my muffin papers. Sprinkle tops with oat bran and bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes or until firm to the touch. 

*There are some ingredients listed that I always have on hand. 

If you do not have them, then I have some tips for you.*

*You can use just 1 cup of light olive oil instead of the coconut and applesauce mixture

*You can add a few TBSP of milk or half and half if you don't have yogurt                         

 *You can use all whole wheat flour                                                                                                
 *The oat bran on top is mainly just for prettiness                                                                      

Quick "Throw Together Because of a Craving" Brownies

 

I realized, after giving this recipe to a few friends recently, that I do not have these on my blog! Which is crazy since I have them tweaked perfectly and burned into my mind! These are the best "just get them into the oven" brownies. When we go and visit my roomie from college for a long weekend, these are what we bake after the combined 6 children are finally in bed and quiet and it's time to catch up. Love them and her!

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

 

Ingredients:

1/2 stick of butter

6 TBSP of cocoa

2 eggs

1 cup of sugar

2 TBSP of brewed coffee- or 1 tsp of vanilla

1 tsp salt

1/3 cup of flour

1/2  cup of chocolate chips

 

In a saucepan, melt the butter on a low heat. Remove from heat and whisk in the cocoa. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together until well combined and creamy. Whisk in the the cocoa and butter mixture and coffee. Stir in the flour, salt and chocolate chips. Transfer to a greased 8x8 pan and bake for 25-28 minutes or until brownies are just set in the center. A toothpick will not come out clean. You don't want to over bake them at all. Allow to cool a bit and finish setting up then enjoy! With ice cream. And chocolate syrup. And fresh whipped cream. And chopped pecans..... okay you get the point!

 



A miraculous event....