OK, for all you men and women out there just looking for what to do with your low carbing loved one, just read this post. You're bound to find something that suits your love.
Low Carb Dinner Out:
You can go just about anywhere and get a low carb meal as long as you stick to meat and fish, sans bread. A salad bar is wonderful, try the full fat ranch dressing, or a Caesar Salad without the croutons is also great. You can also choose to cater one of the restaurants that have specific low carb menus like TGI Fridays or Ruby Tuesdays -- they have low carb whipped cauliflower, etc. Wine is just fine! Or order a Michelob Ultra or other low carb beer if that is your preference. You can also have hard liquor with your favorite diet drink. Stay away from the sweet liqueurs.
But, this part is crucial, you must, must bring some low carb chocolate or some other sweet wrapped up as a present to give to him or her at the end of the meal. The temptation to splurge is just too great, and as we all know, few places with the exception of TGI Fridays have a wonderful low carb dessert on the menu. This way, it is a slight splurge, but not a blow out.
Low Carb Dinner In:
Start out with a Caesar Salad made with Cardini's Caesar Salad Dressing and shredded Parmesan cheese found in the cheese case (not on the shelf!)
If she likes seafood, have scallops wrapped in bacon as an appetizer, followed by low-carb pasta with white clam sauce (It tastes sinful!) or crab cakes! (Just make them cakes instead of balls.)
If she likes steak, I would order from Omaha Steaks to get some good ones (I prefer their top sirloins), or go to your local meat market and have them help you out. I always marinate mine in Durkee Grill Creations Marinade Mix. Here is one recipe for Grilled Flank Steak with Cumin Aioli .
Or try some other recipes in the recipe index.
Now for a low carb dessert, low carb chocolate strawberries! I would buy some Carb Safe 3.54 oz. Dark Chocolate bars, heat them on the stove (slowly and not too much), and take some nice luscious red strawberries and make my own chocolate-covered strawberries for a great presentation! These are available at Trader Joes. If you can't get to a Trader Joe's, get the Pure De Lite Dark Chocolate bars and try the same thing. Or a bowl of raspberries topped with whipped cream (see the Low Carb Gift Basket below for more on this) would be a luxurious treat. And, if you are a baker, low carb brownies! To be really sinful, you could top the brownie off with a pinch of low carb ice cream and caramel sauce.
Low Carb Gift Baskets:
For your love, try a few Russell Stover Low Carb candies (available from BJs, grocery stores, and drugstores) mixed with Carb Safe Chocolate from Trader Joes. The Russell Stover Low Carb chocolates have a nice red package, and the Carb Safe Chocolates have a nice black package. Mix them up in a small red or black basket with a red or black ribbon for a distinctive but appropriate look. (Some Pure DeLite bars also have a red package.) However, if they are sensitive to sugar alcohols, and most people are, dump the pretty look and stick to chocolates made with inulin, oligofructose, and erythritol like these CHOCOperfection or ZCarb bars.
If you would like an even bigger basket, I would add the following:
Some low carb jam (I really prefer the Keto over the Steels.)
Some low carb syrup (The Kahlua is the best. Some of the newer types, like egg nog, seemed to have been rushed into production and don't taste the best.)
Some sweet nuts (These are so good!)
The best low carb cookbook! (The Low Carb Gourmet cookbook by Karen Barnaby)
I would cap this all off with a deluxe whipped cream dispenser that allows you to have low carb whipped cream anytime! My husband got me this for my birthday last year and I love it. You can get these at Kitchen, etc. stores or on Amazon. The dispenser can be kept in the refrigerator and you can use it for two weeks. They need CO2 chargers, which can also be purchased at a kitchen store. or at Amazon. (My husband mistakenly thought that they came with the chargers and didn't purchase any so we couldn't use it the same day.) I have only used the deluxe model so I don't know how the other models work, but there is a price range. For my model, I need two CO2 chargers for each batch.
Whipped Cream Charger Pack ($5.99 for 10)
iSi Cream Whipper Chargers, N20-24 Pack (24 pack)
iSi Dessert Whip-Pint, White ($40.95)
iSi Gourmet Whip-Pint, Brushed Stainless Steel ($81.99) (This is the one I have. Also good for hot sauces.)
Valentine's Day for Kids
I am going to buy my kids a small toy, a book and give them a few small low carb chocolate bars or low carb cookies. For insertion into their friends' Valentine cards, I will give them a tattoo, a sticky toy or some small gift instead of chocolate. For parents who haven't discovered bulk toy shippers on the Internet, let me give you these links:
- Rhode Island Novelty (Great shipping time to the Northeast! A minimum $50 order, but you can buy stuff for all the holidays.)
- Oriental Trading Company, Inc.
(They will pack small orders, but I find them more expensive than the other bulk shippers)
- S&S Worldwide Novelties
Let me know some of your ideas!
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