Low Carb Freedom

Low Carb Pizza Recipe

There are two key steps in making low carb pizza, first you must saute your vegetables in butter before you put them on the pizza. This helps get the water out of them which you need to do because the low carb pizza crust is so thin. You should ideally get low carb pitas for the crust (5g of net carbs and 60 calories.) The low carb pita is much thinner than a normal pita, but you will be able to pick up a piece of pizza in your hand. If you can't find low carb pitas, then you can use low carb tortillas, but you won't be able to pick up the pizza -- a knife and fork will have to do.

First saute onions, mushrooms, peppers, or any other vegetable you choose for the pizza.

Use salsa for pizza sauce. (Salsa is usually inherently low carb, but check the label!)

Slice up beefstick or pepperoni or saute hamburger, turkey, or any other meat with the veggies.

Use pre-packaged cheese or shred your own.

Put low carb pizza pita or tortilla on a dry cookie sheet.

Add salsa, meat, veggies & cheese.

Bake at 350 until the cheese is melted.

Enjoy!

Let me know how you like this!

Low Carb Valentine's Day

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.

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 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, but I still have to try the new Carb Options marinade. Here is one recipe for Beef Wellington. (It uses a little phylo dough, which should be OK since it is so thin.)

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.

Low Carb Gift Baskets:

For your love, try some Russell Stover Low Carb candies (available from BJs) 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.)

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!)

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 Kitchen, etc. 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 ($5.95 for 10)

iSi Cream Whipper Chargers, N20-24 Pack (24 pack)

iSi Dessert Whip-Pint, White ($39.95)

iSi Gourmet Whip-Pint, Brushed Stainless Steel ($89.95) (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 (They will pack small orders, but I find them more expensive than the other bulk shippers)

Balloon and Novelty (In Texas)

Let me know some of your ideas!

Low Carb Pasta with White Clam Sauce

Grab your favorite low carb pasta and have it ready.

I buy my sea clams at Costco. The secret to a great clam chowder recipe or a great clam sauce recipe is to use canned clams versus "fresh" or "frozen" clams. I live on the coast, home of New England clam chowder, and this is the truth! Honest! I called the SeaWatch company, the maker of Costco's canned clams, and they gave me permission to post the recipe. (Thanks!)

1 Can 51 oz. of SeaWatch Chopped Sea Clams, drained, with the juice reserved
2/3 lb. of Butter
3/4 Cup Olive Oil
1 1/4 Tsp. Fresh Ground Pepper
2 1/2 Tsp. Oregano
5 Tbsp. Basil
7 1/2 Garlic Cloves, Crushed
2 1/2 Cup Clam Juice
Salt
2 1/2 lb. Pasta
1 1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese, Grated
7 1/4 Tbsp. Parsley, Minced

In a skillet, melt butter and add olive oil, pepper, oregano, basil, garlic clams, and clam juice. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add salt to taste. Cool pasta, drain well and place in pre-heated bowl. Add the clam sauce and toss with the cheese and parsley. Serve immediately.

This makes a lot! I usually eat it for two days as a family and give my mom and dad some. (They eat it with regular pasta.) I refrigerate the sauce separate from the pasta and combine them when I reheat. I also use the jarred garlic if I am in a hurry!

This is the best clam sauce I have had!

Low Carb Scallops Wrapped in Bacon

Scallops wrapped in bacon are very easy to make and can be inexpensive.

1 lb. of small bay scallops
1 package of 60 pieces of precooked bacon from Costco. (I suppose you could try this with other pre-cooked bacon, but it has to be soft enough to wrap around the small scallop without breaking!)
Wooden toothpicks

I must have made over 200 scallops wrapped with bacon for less than $20 -- and they were good! The bacon was actually done! Feel free to wrap them the night before and refrigerated them in a tupperware container.

Take one scallop and wrap bacon around it and secure with a toothpick. Feel free to tear the bacon and use one strip to wrap two or three scallops!

Cook about five minutes at 350 degrees. You can also cook them in the toaster oven for a quick appetizer!

Low Carb Chicken Marsala Recipe...

This looks good! I love chicken marsala!

How To Set Up a Low Carb Menu in Your Sandwich Shop

Feel free to print this out and pass it on to your favorite low carb sandwich shop! If they knew how EASY it was to add low carb products and create a low carb menu, we would all have LOTS more places to eat!

1. If you already sell sandwiches, just buy some La Tortilla Wraps or Low Carb Pitas. You can even freeze these if not ready for use. Make your existing sandwiches with mayo, meat, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, etc. Don't use sugar!

2. Make a batch of some no sugar coleslaw. (Use it in the sandwiches!)

3. Make sure you have diet drinks sweetened with Splenda available.

The above is the minimum investment to put up a low carb sandwich menu. How much out of pocket expense would this cost you to try it out?

If that is successful, you can add the following for additional sales:

4. Have some low carb cookies on hand. (I have to post the cookie battle.)

5. Have some Hain's Carbfit Twirls on hand. (The winner of the low carb snack battle.)

6. Have some low carb chocolate on hand. (So many good ones!)

7. Have some no sugar DaVinci syrups on hand to flavor coffee, etc.

8. Have some low carb ice cream on hand. (Breyer's CarbSmart.)

9. Buy some low carb pasta and do low carb versions of your pasta salads, etc.

If they want the links to work, tell them to go to http://www.lowcarbfreedom.com/how_to/index.html and tell them to scroll down.

Let me know of more tips to add!

Low Carb Superbowl Party Menu

I am having a low carb pre-superbowl party at my house to discuss our church's sound system requirements (anyone have any comments on small church sound systems, please write!) Of course, my guests don't know that it is low carb! (grin) Although one guest knows me and will be looking for the pork rinds somewhere....

This is what I am planning to serve. There is lots of finger food because I love hors d'ouevre parties! I have included links to recipes where appropriate.

Food that can be purchased:

Low Carb Tortilla Chips
Fresh Marinated Mozarella Balls (I love the huge 3 lb. Formaggio tub at Costco for about $11.)
Assorted Cheeses
Assorted Nuts
Assorted Low Carb Candies
Low Carb Crackers (Cheeters & CarboSave are two examples)

Dips that can be made ahead:

Low Carb 7-Layer Mexican Dip, can be made the night before and lettuce, tomatoes added the day of the event.

Regular Low Carb Mexican Dip, can be made the night before and cooked right before serving.

Low Carb Crabmeat Dip, can be made the night before and cooked right before serving.

Finger Food that can be made ahead:

Low Carb Swedish Meatballs can be cooked up to 2 days ahead and then just heated up in the chicken broth the day of the event.

Low Carb Spicy Peel Shrimp can be cooked the day before and served cold.

Low Carb Crabmeat Balls can be cooked the day ahead and heated up right before serving.

Main dishes that can be made ahead.

Low Carb Cucumber Salad can be made the night before. (Update: I was running late so I just cut up the cucumbers, put them in Ken's Italian Dressing (inherently low carb) and served that.

Low Carb Cabbage Lasagna can be made two days ahead and heated the day of the event.

(Update: I updated the recipe so it wouldn't be as watery. It was wonderful! Everyone raved!)

Main dishes to prepare that day.

Low Carb Pork Roast Takes two seconds to prepare. Cooking time is more than an hour to reach temperature, depending on how big the roast is. (I usually cook a huge one!)

(Everyone said that this was the best pork they had ever eaten.)

I am also thinking about serving scallops wrapped in bacon. (Update: I served this and I used the Costco precooked bacon wrapped around small scallops and secured with a toothpick. Only cooked about five minutes at 350 degrees. I wrapped them the night before and refrigerated them. This was a major hit! And with the bacon at ony $6.99 and the scallops on sale, it was cheap for about 200 scallops! (These were very small scallops!))

Let me know your comments!

(Remember to click on a specific store in the left-hand column to see specific low carb items that they sell. Also click on the Grocery Circular Low Carb Grocery List in the left-hand column to see a comparison of sale prices.)

Low Carb Spicy Steamed Shrimp

1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup water
Two heaping tablespoons of Old Bay Seasoning (or more if you like it more spicy)
Salt
1 lb. shrimp

In pan, boil first four ingredients. Add shrimp, stir. Cover. Steam about 5 minutes until tender. Remove shells and vein on back of shrimp or serve it as peel and eat.

Low Carb Cucumber Salad

1/4 cup no sugar rice vinegar
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp one to one Splenda in a box or bag or your favorite low carb sweetener (if it is in a packet, only use one packet)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large cucumber
1/4 cup thinkly sliced onion (red or white -- can be omitted)

Combine first four ingredients in a medium bowl. Peel cucumber, or score it if you prefer. Cut into thin slices. Add onion and toss in medium bowl with mixture. Cover and refrigerate for a half hour.

As always, feel free to double and triple this recipe for parties!

Low Carb Crab Meat Dip

2 Tablespoons milk (omit this if you use a food processor)
1 8 oz. package of full fat cream cheese (softened slightly if you don't use a food processor)
2 teaspoons chopped onions (can be omitted)
1 heaping teaspoon horseradish
Dash salt and pepper (can be omitted)

1 6 oz. can crab meat, drained (the cheap brand is preferable. I find it has less shells.)

A handful of grated cheddar or monteray jack cheese

Mix first 5 ingredients either by hand or with food processor. (You do not want the sauce to be runny.)

Fold in the crab meat

Place mixture in a small casserole dish and sprinkle top with cheese. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake crab meat 15 - 20 minutes, until bubbling and top is slightly brown. Serve hot with low carb crackers, I have found that Cheeters and CarboSave are good.

Low Carb Seven-Layer Mexican Dip

This one is very easy, especially if you can get the pre-made guacomole.

Layer 1: Take one can of refried beans (please look at the label and purchase those with the lowest carbs, highest fiber, and lowest sugar -- I use Old El Paso Traditional Refried Beans.) Cover the bottom of a pie plate or other casserole dish. with the refried beans.

Layer 2: Take premade low sugar guacomole. (Look at the labels.) I buy Avo Classic Guacomole in 4 packs at Costco. I then freeze whatever I don't use immediately so I can always make this dip. Trader Joe's used to have something similar. Cover the refried beans with guacomole for the next layer.

Layer 3: Take low sugar salsa and spread it on as the next layer. I like a very spicy salsa for this layer. (Salsa is usually low carb -- but again, read the labels!)

Layer 4: Take full fat sour cream and carefully spread it on the next layer.

Layer 5: Take shredded cheese and cover the sour cream.

Layer 6: Take shredded lettuce and cover the shredded cheese.

Layer 7: Take diced fresh tomatoes and cover the lettuce.

Layer 8 (optional): Take some onions and sprinkle on top.

Serve with Trader Joe's Low Carb Tortilla Chips or some other brand.

I take this in a pie safe to parties, etc. I like to eat it plain without the chips too!

Low Carb Swedish Meatballs

These can be kept on the stove for hours or served in a chafing dish. I usually double, triple or quadruple the recipe.

1 lb. ground beef
1 slice of low carb bread soaked in Carb Countdown or heavy cream and then squeezed.
1/2 c. chopped onion
6 sweet or spicy Italian sausages, remove the skin
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 Tablespoons chopped parsley (I have made this with less or even omitted it if I didn't have it.)
Preheat oven to 350

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Make small balls and roll lightly in Atkins baking flour (or pork rinds that have been blended in a Cuisinart or blender if you don't have the flour, but this changes the flavor a lot.) Roll into balls or use a cookie batter scooper to make the balls the same size. Bake meatballs until brown on the outside about 12 to 15 minutes. (This varies with ovens so you can take one out and cut it in half to see if it is done.) Take a large pot and put 1 cup chicken broth or 1 can of chicken broth (you can use the broth cubes with water) and add a teaspoon or so of Thick'n Thin Not Starch, if you have it. If you don't have the Not Starch, you can just use a smidgeon of flour to try to thicken it a bit, but not a lot! Put meatballs in pot with chicken stock, simmer 10 minutes and then serve.

Low Carb Crab Balls

These are great! Serve with extra Old Bay Seasoning on the side for those who want more flavor.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter.
Add 2 tablespoons butter, cook about 2 minutes until they get clear, not burned. (Make sure the heat isn't up too high.)
Remove from stove.

Combine the butter and onion with the following ingredients:

1 large beaten egg (2 if small)
1/2 cup cream or Full Fat Carb Countdown, if you want to watch calories.
1/2 cup low carb bread made into soft bread crumbs. (You may need more if it is too wet.)
One large can 16 oz. of crab meat (or you could use fresh). (The best place to purchase this is at Costco or Trader Joe's. I prefer the Costco Phillip's brand to Trader Joe's.)
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 to 2 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning (or substitute 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon paprika if you don't have this spice, but I recommend it!)
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Make into small balls (I use a cookie scoop to make even balls)
Lightly roll the balls in Low-carb Atkins Baking mix or something similar (it could even be ground up pork rinds)
Chill the balls in the refrigerator for a couple of hours
Melt butter or olive oil in a frying pan
Brown the balls on all sides
Put them in the oven for ten minutes at 350 or until they are done (this will depend on the size of the balls)

These could be made earlier in the day or the day before and then heated for an event.

Let me know how you like them!

Low Carb Mexican Dip

This is a very easy dip that you can make at home for the super bowl or bring to various events along with low carb tortilla chips (I prefer the Trader Joe's variety for this dip) so you can have something great to eat! Once you get to the event, you can use a microwave or an oven to heat it up.

Take one brownie pan (I use the large size because this dip is always finished!) If you have to use a microwave, make sure the pan is pyrex and not metal.

Take full-fat regular cream cheese either in a tub or a bar (low-fat cream cheese has more sugar in it) and spread it across the bottom of the pan until it is about 1/4 inch thick. I don't use the whipped version of the cream cheese.

Take your favorite brand of low sugar salsa. (Salsa is usually inherently low carb, but please read the labels!) Spread the salsa on top of the cream cheese.

Take some shredded cheese and sprinkle that on top of the salsa. (To make it real easy, buy the pre-shredded cheese. I like buying the double pack from BJ's since it is usually cheaper, comes in two packages to keep fresh, and I always have some in my refrigerator. See the BJ's shopping list in the left-hand column of my site for more.)

Put it in the oven at 350 for about ten minutes or until the cheese is melted. (Or put it in your microwave. )

Serve!

If you try it, let me know how you liked it!

Low Carb Mexican Recipes...

Remember, you can always make low carb Mexican foods if you use La Tortilla Factory tortillas or another low carb tortilla, but here are some recipes from another source. If you try them, please come back and comment!

I also have some low carb mexican dips in my recipe section on the left hand column of the page.

Low Carb Cabbage Lasagna

Low Carb Cabbage Lasagna (Updated)

1 lb. lean ground beef
3 cups (28 oz. jar or more of spagetti sauce) I use Emerils Roasted Red Pepper sauce. This does have some carbs in it, but less than others. There are some marinara sauces that have only 2 grams, but my kids prefer the Emerils.
32 oz. bucket of ricotta cheese
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon dried basil and 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano or 1 teaspoon Italian spice
one large cabbage
4 cups (16 oz. mozzarella cheese)
1/4 to 1/2 cup grated parmesan

Put cabbage in freezer for 24 hours so it softens the leaves so you don't have to parboil it. Take out cabbage so it can partially thaw and get more soft while you prepare the other ingredients for the lasagna. (I parboiled this for the first time at my SuperBowl party. It wasn't watery at all! To parboil, boil a large pot of water, cut off the bottom of the cabbage so you can have individual leaves or it is easy to pull individual leaves off the cabbage itself. Plunge in boiling water (watch your hands) and then let the leaves sit for a minute and pull out or continue to roll the cabbage and pull off the topmost leaves as they have sat in the boiling water for a minute. Continually roll the cabbage until you have enough cabbage leaves.)

Heat oven to 350.
In a large skillet, cook meat until browned; remove from heat. Drain.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, egg, basil and oregano.
In a 13 x 9 x 2 baking dish, cover the bottom with your spagetti sauce.
Peel off cabbage leaves and cover the bottom of the pan. It doesn't matter if the cabbage tears. Just overlap the leaves slightly and make a puzzle.
Spread about half of the ricotta mixture evenly over the cabbage.
Spread half the hamburger over the ricotta.
On this layer, don't top off the hamburger with the spagetti sauce, but do top off the hamburger with 1/3 mozzarella and 1/3 parmesan.
Make another layer of cabbage. Repeat with the ricotta, hamburger, this layer do add the spaghetti sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan.
Top with a layer of cabbage. Put on remaining spagetti sauce and cheese.
For the first 45 minutes, don't cover with tin foil, then put on tin foil (if you have convection bake, use this to help dry it out.) Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes total if you froze the cabbage or 1 hour total if you parboiled the cabbage -- either way, bake until cabbage is soft. (And watch yours because if the lasagna is thicker then this could effect the cooking time.) I cooked mine one day before for one hour and then for 35 minutes the day of the event when I parboiled. When I put the cabbage in the freezer, I cooked it for 1 1/2 hours and then one hour the day of the event. Either way, I think this is what may have made it taste extra good!

Leave your comments on what you think!

Low Carb Whipped Cauliflower Recipe

Whipped Cauliflower Recipe (great low carb substitute for mashed potatoes.)

4 ounces heavy cream or Carb Countdown (2 percent if you want to cut some calories)
3 Tablespoons butter
Dash salt and pepper
2 or 3 strips bacon (nitrate free, if possible per Atkins, mine never are. I buy Hormel pre-cooked bacon at Costco.)
4 cups cooked cauliflower (I steam the largest head I can find in one inch of water for 20 minutes. I cut off the bottom leaves but use the rest of it. I steam it stem side down and score the bottom of the stem. Or, if you are using frozen cauliflower (nice to have some on hand for a quick sidedish when needed) just steam it the same way, but it takes less time because it isn't one whole head but lots of florets.
2 tablespoons sour cream
6 ounces gruyere or Monteray Jack cheese, shredded (I use whatever cheese I have on hand)

Mash the cauliflower. Then place it in a mixing bowl with the cream, butter, sour cream, salt and pepper to taste. With an electric hand mixer, puree all ingredients until there is a thick consistency or use the "pulse" option in a Cusinart. Cook the bacon until crisp. Break the bacon into small pieces and mix through the pureed mixture. Spread into a casserole dish, and top with the cheese. Place in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and browned slightly.

I'd love to know how you like it!

Delicious Low Carb Pork Roast Recipe

We are going to a church pot-luck dinner this evening and we are bringing low-carb food. Everyone loves our pork roast and Caesar salad, even if they aren't on a low-carb diet.

Take a boneless center cut pork roast, roll it in mustard (no sugar), Cuisinart or blend some pork rinds into bread-crumb-size chunks, roll the pork roast in the pork rinds. Bake it in the oven at 350 until it gets to an internal temperature of 160.

Serve with gravy made with ThickenThin/not Starch or use another type. (My favorite gravy is Knorr's Classic Peppercorn. I wish they made a low-carb version! Because it is the same as ketchup, 4 grams of carbs per serving.)

Purchase Cardini's Caesar Salad Dressing, wash and drain some Romaine lettuce leaves, put on some shredded Parmesan cheese, mix all together. Leave the croutons at the store.

Food Network Low Carb Revolution Review

I watched this special, which was inspiring. They highlighted a chef, George Stella, and his family. Each lost a huge amount of weight. He lost 250 lbs., his wife lost 75 lbs., and each of his two kids became whole new (or half new) people. Now that I have been on the diet awhile, these stories have less impact on me. But if you are just beginning, the impact can be staggering. (I guess that is why so many ads depict before and after shots.)

Of course, the show had the requisite doctor/nutritionist saying that this diet will kill you. (I'm sure they do that for the "sue" factor. But judge, we showed both sides. We told them that a low carb diet could kill them!) They also showed two studies , one by the New England Journal of Medicine that said that Atkins was safe in the short term (the length of the study) and one from Harvard that said you could eat 300 calories more a day and lose more weight than a low-fat diet.

It also showed that there are variations of the low-carb diet by highlighting the South Beach diet and one other.

George Stella demonstrated one recipe for a tequila chicken dish that I am going to make tomorrow night. (I'll let you know how it turns out.) He also demonstrated a low carb spaghetti squash recipe, but I don't really like spaghetti squash. (If anyone tries it, please let me know.)

Update: I made the low carb tequila chicken. It was wonderful! Easy! My husband also ate the leftover chicken in a wrap for lunch the next day. I think it would be very easy to change the major spice and change the resulting flavor. (I would like to try it with Old Bay Seasoning rather than cumin. Maybe try it with curry, etc.)

I served it with a seven-layer dip, including refried beans, guacomole, salsa, sour cream, cheese, lettuce, and tomato. I ate a few of the Trader Joe's low-carb tortilla chips with it.

Low Carb Hamburger Helper

One of the problems with doing low carb is that you have to find a lot of new recipes fast. As I wrote in my Resolutions column, it is very easy to slip back into your old structures.

But sometimes the old structures are there for a reason. You need something quick. Something you can just pull out of the cupboard and the freezer and heat up to feed a family of four. Sometimes you need... a Hamburger Helper!

If your family ever ate Hamburger Helper, here is my quick low carb version.

Take 1 lb. or 1 1/2 lbs. hamburger and brown in a pan (onion is optional.) I always like to keep a pound or two in the freezer for an emergency.

When hamburger is brown, take Bertolli Alfredo Sauce (available at most grocery stores and sometimes at Costco) and put it over the hamburger in the fry pan. Take Carb Countdown (to watch calories somewhat) or heavy cream, fill the jar half full, swirl it around to get out all of the sauce, and then pour it over the hamburger.

Put the water on to boil (or you can do this while the hamburger is browning if you have an electric cooktop and it takes longer.) Put in a a box of Bella Vita Penne Rigati. Boil the Penne Rigati for ten minutes, drain, and dump in the hamburger Alfredo sauce pan.

Serve with Caesar salad made with Cardini's Caesar Salad Dressing, available at most grocery stores, with some shredded parmesan.

This is a meal that both my kids will eat along with us! (And there isn't much that my son will eat that isn't filled with carbs.)

(Note: this probably has too many carbs for induction. You could try it without the noodles and/or with meatballs instead of hamburger for induction.)

How to Low Carb the Munchies

In my town, there is a great sandwich place called Munchies. They make the best sandwiches. They have this one sandwich called a New Jersey Style Sloppy Joe. This sandwich is a triple decker with roast beef, turkey, imported ham, swiss cheese, cole slaw, russian dressing, and mayonaise.

When I was pregnant, I absolutely craved these sandwiches. Well, I have been on Atkins for over a year, and I just figured out I could make my own low-carb version of this great sandwich.

First make your own cole slaw. (This is critical! If you buy it already made it will be loaded with sugar!)

Buy a premade/sliced pack of cabbag/cole slaw at the grocery store if you don't want to slice it yourself.

For 16 oz. of vegetable, take 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1/2 cup mayonaise, 2 tablespoons Carb Countdown or heavy cream, 1 tablespoon cider vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon Splenda, and a teaspoon of celery seed. Mix and refrigerate. (Update: I used 1/4 cup No Carb Gourmet Thousand Island Dressing and 1/4 cup mayonaise to make a sweeter version of this recipe. Tasted great! Try it with lots of low carb salad dressings to try one you like!)

Take a La Tortilla Wrap and heat it up for 10 seconds in the microwave. Then I took horseradish mayo instead of Russian dressing, but if you have low carb Russian dressing, use that instead and put it on the heated wrap. (Regular Russian dressing is loaded with sugar!) Add the meat, cheese and some lettuce if you want; top with the coleslaw; roll it up and eat it!

Try it and let me know how you like it!

I think I'll give a copy of this post to Munchies so they can create a low carb version of their sandwich!