For those of you who are not familiar with the Egg Cream, it is a drink that contains neither egg or cream. It is usually made up of sugary chocolate or vanilla syrup, seltzer water, and milk.
In this version, you get the same taste as the original without any sugar. The S/C Value is an amazing 0/0!
Sugar-Free Vanilla Egg Cream
Serves 1
Sweet Leaf Vanilla Creme Liquid Stevia
Unflavored seltzer water or club soda
1 Tbsp. heavy cream
In a tall glass (no ice), add heavy cream. Add about 8-10 drops of the vanilla stevia. Stir.
While stiring the cream mixture quickly, slowly add the seltzer to the top of the glass. The drink should become foamy on top.
Serve and enjoy!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
New to Me: Vanilla Liquid Stevia
Tonight I tried a truly amazing product. I am confident that I will be able to get my family and husband off sugar-filled drinks for good!
The amazing product is called Sweet Leaf Liquid Stevia.
It comes in several flavors, including vanilla (the one I tried), berry, english toffee, chocolate, root beer and orange.
The bottle says it can be added to water, seltzer, yogurt, smoothies, and more.
It has a fantastic taste. The bottle costs about $14, but you only need a few drops to get a great taste, costing only pennies per serving.
The amazing product is called Sweet Leaf Liquid Stevia.
The bottle says it can be added to water, seltzer, yogurt, smoothies, and more.
It has a fantastic taste. The bottle costs about $14, but you only need a few drops to get a great taste, costing only pennies per serving.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Pasta with Butternut Squash, Spinach, and Pancetta
I made this pasta recipe for dinner last night.
The S/C Value per serving is 4/2. The dish has 32 grams of carbs per serving and 5 grams of fiber!
Pasta with Butternut Squash, Spinach, and Pancetta
Serves 4
4 Tbsp. UNSALTED butter (salted will make the dish too salty)
4 ounces of pancetta, sliced very thin
3 cups butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 Tbsp. fresh thyme, stems removed
1/2 cup of dry white wine
1 cup chicken broth
2 cups of hot cooked whole wheat pasta (reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water when draining the pasta)
salt and pepper, to taste
4 cups of spinach
Melt 1 Tbsp of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook pancetta until crisp. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels.
In the same skillet, add squash and remaining butter. Cook until lightly brown (about 4 minutes). Add thyme and cook for about 30 seconds. Stir in wine and cook for about 3 minutes or until reduced by half. Add broth and cook until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes.
Once thickened, add squash mixture to the warm pasta. Stir in spinach until the leaves are wilted, adding the reserved pasta water as necessary. Add pancetta and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
The S/C Value per serving is 4/2. The dish has 32 grams of carbs per serving and 5 grams of fiber!
Pasta with Butternut Squash, Spinach, and Pancetta
Serves 4
4 Tbsp. UNSALTED butter (salted will make the dish too salty)
4 ounces of pancetta, sliced very thin
3 cups butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 Tbsp. fresh thyme, stems removed
1/2 cup of dry white wine
1 cup chicken broth
2 cups of hot cooked whole wheat pasta (reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water when draining the pasta)
salt and pepper, to taste
4 cups of spinach
Melt 1 Tbsp of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook pancetta until crisp. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels.
In the same skillet, add squash and remaining butter. Cook until lightly brown (about 4 minutes). Add thyme and cook for about 30 seconds. Stir in wine and cook for about 3 minutes or until reduced by half. Add broth and cook until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes.
Once thickened, add squash mixture to the warm pasta. Stir in spinach until the leaves are wilted, adding the reserved pasta water as necessary. Add pancetta and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
New to Me: Sugar Free Donut Holes!!!
At Whole Food's last night with my BFC friend Ruth, we discovered Nutrilicious Brand Sugar Free Glazed Donuts. Yum!!
For an SC Value of 0/1, you can eat three of these delicious donuts holes. Each hole has 6 carbs and 0 grams of sugar. They are sweetened with maltitol.
I heated mine up for a 20 seconds in the microwave, and even my husband was impressed that they were sugar free.
I am eating mine with some coffee and 1 carb serving of Uncle Sam's cereal so I am sure to get my fiber!
For an SC Value of 0/1, you can eat three of these delicious donuts holes. Each hole has 6 carbs and 0 grams of sugar. They are sweetened with maltitol.
I heated mine up for a 20 seconds in the microwave, and even my husband was impressed that they were sugar free.
I am eating mine with some coffee and 1 carb serving of Uncle Sam's cereal so I am sure to get my fiber!
Friday, December 4, 2009
New to Me: Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride Tea
I have been a big fan of Celestial Seasoning's Teas since I visited their factory in Boulder, Colorado. It is a really cool place, and they have a great business going on there.
Every Christmas, Celestial Seasoning's comes out with a holiday line of teas.
At Whole Foods, I found the Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride flavored tea and decided to give it a try. I love sugar cookies and would try pretty much anything that claims to taste like them.
The tea is very good! It has a delicious natural sugar cookie flavor and tastes even better with a little stevia and some cream. A cup prepared with stevia and a splash of cream has an S/C Value of 0/0.
I am going to experiment with the tea and try heating up some So Delicious coconut milk and brewing the tea in the coconut milk to see if I can make something similar to a Sugar Cookie Tea Latte.
Celestial Seasoning's also has some other holiday flavored teas. All are listed on their website.
If you are ever in the Denver area, I really recommend taking the factory tour!
Every Christmas, Celestial Seasoning's comes out with a holiday line of teas.
At Whole Foods, I found the Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride flavored tea and decided to give it a try. I love sugar cookies and would try pretty much anything that claims to taste like them.
The tea is very good! It has a delicious natural sugar cookie flavor and tastes even better with a little stevia and some cream. A cup prepared with stevia and a splash of cream has an S/C Value of 0/0.
I am going to experiment with the tea and try heating up some So Delicious coconut milk and brewing the tea in the coconut milk to see if I can make something similar to a Sugar Cookie Tea Latte.
Celestial Seasoning's also has some other holiday flavored teas. All are listed on their website.
If you are ever in the Denver area, I really recommend taking the factory tour!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Quick Raspberry Chocolate "Tiramisu"
I was craving something sweet and wanted to come up with a really low sugar, low carb dessert that would not cost me one of my carb servings for the day.
I became a big fan of mascarpone cheese since the first time I had tiramisu. This is inspired by a real tiramisu, minus the ladyfingers and coffee. This recipe is for one serving, but could easily be doubled if you need a dessert for two or more.
The dessert has an S/C Value of 1/0 (only 3 grams of carbs) with 1 gram of fiber. The creamy marscapone cheese and raspberries were enough sweet yumminess to make a satisfying dessert.
2 Tbsp. mascarpone cheese (this is similar to cream cheese and can be found in the gourmet cheese section of many grocery stores. I actually got this at Meier today.)
1/8 tsp. vanilla extract
1 pinch of stevia (I use NuNaturals brand)
1 Tbsp. heavy cream
10 fresh raspberries
sprinkle of cocoa powder
Combine the cheese, vanilla, cream, and stevia and stir quickly until combined. Scoop onto a dessert plate or bowl, and position raspberries around the cream, as desired. Sprinkle with cocoa powder. Enjoy!
I became a big fan of mascarpone cheese since the first time I had tiramisu. This is inspired by a real tiramisu, minus the ladyfingers and coffee. This recipe is for one serving, but could easily be doubled if you need a dessert for two or more.
The dessert has an S/C Value of 1/0 (only 3 grams of carbs) with 1 gram of fiber. The creamy marscapone cheese and raspberries were enough sweet yumminess to make a satisfying dessert.
Raspberry-Chocolate Tiramisu
Serves 12 Tbsp. mascarpone cheese (this is similar to cream cheese and can be found in the gourmet cheese section of many grocery stores. I actually got this at Meier today.)
1/8 tsp. vanilla extract
1 pinch of stevia (I use NuNaturals brand)
1 Tbsp. heavy cream
10 fresh raspberries
sprinkle of cocoa powder
Combine the cheese, vanilla, cream, and stevia and stir quickly until combined. Scoop onto a dessert plate or bowl, and position raspberries around the cream, as desired. Sprinkle with cocoa powder. Enjoy!
Spicy Lemon Chicken Pasta
I modified this recipe from a Martha Stewart recipe, and it turned out fantastic. I can tell that this will be one of my new favorite meals. I used a rotisserie chicken to make it even easier.
The S/C Value for 1/4 the recipe below is 3/2, and each serving has 6 grams of fiber.
Spicy Lemon Chicken Pasta
6 ounces of healthy pasta (I used Dreamfield Healthy Carb Spaghetti)
3 tablespoons olive oil
zest and juice of 2 lemons
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and thinly sliced (You may also use 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes if you do not have fresh peppers)
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large sauté pan over medium-low heat. Add the lemon zest, garlic, and jalapeños and cook until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the pasta, lemon juice, peas, salt, pepper, and remaining oil and cook until heated through, 3 to 4 minutes, adding the chicken at the end. Add the Parmesan and toss well. Serve.
Working Out- Lean, Long and Strong
So recently I started working out again. Jorge says that working out is not necessary to losing weight, but I feel better when I am doing it.
I have to recommend a book that I used last year before my wedding. I dropped the 15 lbs that I recently put back on by doing this workout and eating what I thought was more healthy. Now I know the reason I could never get rid of the belly bulge was because of the sugar intake. I would start out the morning with a fat free yogurt, fresh fruit, and some brown sugar. There was more sugar in that meal than I have all day now!
The book is called Lean, Long, and Strong by Wini Linguvic. This woman is amazing, and really knows about fitness for women. The strength training exercises can be done in 12 minutes once you get the hang of them, and they incorporate the moves with stretches that really create long, lean muscles. You do 4 short workouts a week and they can be done at home with stability ball and light weights. She also recommends doing 2-3 20 minute cardio sessions a week and explains how to get the most out of short cardio workouts.
It really changed my body at the time. I wish I would have kept up with it instead of going crazy and not working out after the wedding. If I did, it would have gave me less work to do with Jorge! I have been doing different exercise videos on demand because I like seeing the workout on a video, but since I got such quick and wonderful results from this book, I am going back to it. The exercises are not terribly difficult, and the stretches really keep you from getting sore. They are effective and make your body feel great.
Wish me luck!
I have to recommend a book that I used last year before my wedding. I dropped the 15 lbs that I recently put back on by doing this workout and eating what I thought was more healthy. Now I know the reason I could never get rid of the belly bulge was because of the sugar intake. I would start out the morning with a fat free yogurt, fresh fruit, and some brown sugar. There was more sugar in that meal than I have all day now!
The book is called Lean, Long, and Strong by Wini Linguvic. This woman is amazing, and really knows about fitness for women. The strength training exercises can be done in 12 minutes once you get the hang of them, and they incorporate the moves with stretches that really create long, lean muscles. You do 4 short workouts a week and they can be done at home with stability ball and light weights. She also recommends doing 2-3 20 minute cardio sessions a week and explains how to get the most out of short cardio workouts.
It really changed my body at the time. I wish I would have kept up with it instead of going crazy and not working out after the wedding. If I did, it would have gave me less work to do with Jorge! I have been doing different exercise videos on demand because I like seeing the workout on a video, but since I got such quick and wonderful results from this book, I am going back to it. The exercises are not terribly difficult, and the stretches really keep you from getting sore. They are effective and make your body feel great.
Wish me luck!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
A Great Video About the Dangers of Sugar
I really recommend watching this video. It is 1.5 hours long, but it really is worth watching. You could even listen to it while working or doing something else.
It is absolutely scary how bad sugar is for you and how the traditional ideas of health and eating are so wrong.
It is really important to watch this and get the correct information.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM
It is absolutely scary how bad sugar is for you and how the traditional ideas of health and eating are so wrong.
It is really important to watch this and get the correct information.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM
Sweet and Tangy Chili Meatloaf
Here is a healthy, tangy meatloaf recipe that I have modified slightly to make it a belly fat cure friendly protein that even has some added fiber.
I started making this a few years ago. I previously used 1/4 c. of regular white flour breadcrumbs and 1/4 c. of rolled oats in order to limit the empty carbs and add some fiber.
However, today I was able to find wonderful whole wheat bread crumbs. I decided to use 1/2 a cup of these instead.
If you cannot find whole wheat bread crumbs, I recommend it the way I used to make it. By using half bread crumbs and half oatmeal, you get the flavor of the bread crumbs and the fiber in the oatmeal.
The S/C Value for 1/4 of the recipe below is 1/1.
1 c. tomato sauce (canned with no added sugar- I used Muir Glen Organic)
1 Tbsp. xylitol
2 tsp. yellow mustard
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. onion flakes
1 Tbsp. parsley flakes
1/2 tsp. salt
1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 c. whole grain italian bread crumbs (I used Gia Russa brand. This adds 8 grams of fiber)
1 egg
1 pinch of stevia
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Coat a 9 x 5 bread loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a bowl, combine 1/3 c. tomato sauce, 1 Tbsp. xylitol, mustard, 1 tsp. chili powder, onion flakes, parsley, and salt. Stir. Add beef, bread crumbs, and egg and combine until mixed. Shape into a loaf and pat into the pan.
Combine remaining tomato sauce, chili powder, and a pinch of stevia. Taste and adjust stevia until the sauce is slightly sweet. Pour tomato mixture over the meatloaf.
Bake for 55-60 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and serve.
I started making this a few years ago. I previously used 1/4 c. of regular white flour breadcrumbs and 1/4 c. of rolled oats in order to limit the empty carbs and add some fiber.
However, today I was able to find wonderful whole wheat bread crumbs. I decided to use 1/2 a cup of these instead.
If you cannot find whole wheat bread crumbs, I recommend it the way I used to make it. By using half bread crumbs and half oatmeal, you get the flavor of the bread crumbs and the fiber in the oatmeal.
The S/C Value for 1/4 of the recipe below is 1/1.
Chili Meatloaf
Serves 4-61 c. tomato sauce (canned with no added sugar- I used Muir Glen Organic)
1 Tbsp. xylitol
2 tsp. yellow mustard
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. onion flakes
1 Tbsp. parsley flakes
1/2 tsp. salt
1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 c. whole grain italian bread crumbs (I used Gia Russa brand. This adds 8 grams of fiber)
1 egg
1 pinch of stevia
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Coat a 9 x 5 bread loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a bowl, combine 1/3 c. tomato sauce, 1 Tbsp. xylitol, mustard, 1 tsp. chili powder, onion flakes, parsley, and salt. Stir. Add beef, bread crumbs, and egg and combine until mixed. Shape into a loaf and pat into the pan.
Combine remaining tomato sauce, chili powder, and a pinch of stevia. Taste and adjust stevia until the sauce is slightly sweet. Pour tomato mixture over the meatloaf.
Bake for 55-60 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and serve.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
New to Me: WheatSticks
I found these delicious snacks at Cost Plus World Market. I have had the original CheeseSticks snacks made by John WM Macy, but these are a new version with whole grains and fiber!!
They are a crunchy cheesy cracker with 2 grams of fiber and only 14 grams of carbs in 3 sticks!
The S/C Value for 3 sticks is 1/1.
They are a crunchy cheesy cracker with 2 grams of fiber and only 14 grams of carbs in 3 sticks!
The S/C Value for 3 sticks is 1/1.
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