Raspberry Lemon Coffee Cake

 Ingredients:
3 cups Almond Meal
1-1/4 cup swerve, Just Like Sugar OR your choice sweetener
3 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1-1/2 tsp cinnamon
5 TBS butter, chilled and cut into pieces
1/2 cup sour cream
6 oz cream cheese
1/8 cup Jay Robb vanilla protein powder (optional)
1 fresh lemon, juice
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 TBS coconut oil, melted
Salt
1 cup frozen (not thawed) raspberries



Pre-heat oven 350/ Servings 8
This is a layered cake so use 3 different mixing bowls for Streusel topping, cream cheese layer, and cake layer.

Streusel Topping: 
~ Mix 1 cup almond meal, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup sweetener, pinch of salt, protein powder, and 5 TBS of butter (if you don't use protein powder then only use 4 TBS of butter). Mix to create a crumble. Use pastry blender, knife, or fork... whatever works for you. Don't worry if its not perfect, just crumble with hands over the top when needed.

Cream Cheese Layer:
~ Mix cream cheese, 1 egg, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup sweetener.

Cake Layer:
~ Mix 2 cups almond meal, baking powder, baking soda, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 cup sweetener.
~ Add sour cream, oil, vanilla extract, 2 eggs, and mix well

The Layers:
~ Grease 9x9 baking dish and layer... cake mix first, then cream cheese, then sprinkle raspberries, and finish with streusel on top.
~ Bake for 40-45 minutes
~ Let cool and set before slicing.

Pesto Chicken Sandwich

Here's a great sandwich recipe to go along with the Gluten Free/Low Carb bread recipe!! It's fantastic!!!

Gluten Free/Low Carb Bread Recipe click here
1 TBS mayonnaise
1 tsp pesto
1 chicken breast (I shredded into large chunks)
Mozzarella, grated
1/2 cup fresh spinach
onion, couple slices
1 tomato


** This is a great sandwich to use up your leftovers... I cooked chicken the night before and just shredded the leftovers and put on this delicious sandwich!! 



~ Mix mayo and pesto together and spread on bread
~ Stuff bread with chicken, mazzarella, spinach, onion and tomato
~ Heat pan over medium. Add cooking spray and carefully lay sandwith in pan.
~ Lower heat and cook on both sides until toasted and cheese is melted. (helps to cover with lid while cooking to melt cheese)

Use Panini maker if you have one!

Brussel Sprouts & Bacon

All I have to say is, my husband will not eat brussel sprouts unless I cook them like this!!

 GOOD STUFF!!

Ingredients:
5 slices of bacon, cut
1/2 tsp minced garlic
16oz brussel sprouts 
salt & pepper



Directions:
~ Over medium-high heat, add bacon to skillet and cook until some of the fat is released.
~ Add garlic, salt/pepper, and brussel sprouts. Cook for 2 minutes
~ Turn heat to low and cover. Cook for 15-20 minutes, until tender and browning (stir once or twice)
~ If you want brussel sprouts and bacon a little browner... turn up heat to high and saute for a minute or two

Bread/Rolls... Gluten Free & Low Carb

Gluten Free + Low Carb + Healthy  BREAD... IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE?!....... Yes!!! 

So I've had a lot of people asking for a bread recipe... I've tried a few different ones but coming up with a gluten free and low carb bread that actually taste great, is a little out of my league as of now. I'll get there but until then, I found this amazing recipe from Maria's Delicious and Nutritious Journal... She makes an unbelievable, GUILT FREE bread!!! The flavor is incredible! I don't eat bread so to make this and actually be able to eat bread and butter without feeling guilty, it was a feeling like non other!!! Oooooh bread-n-butter how I've missed you!!! I will be making these a lot!!!!!

Ingredients:
1-1/4 cup blanched almond flour
5 TBS psyllium husk powder (no other substitution will work) - I use Now brand
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp celtic sea salt
3 egg whites
1 cup BOILING chicken broth


**Psyllium Husk is a POWERFUL FIBER with lots of health benefits and can be used in place of white flour in many baking goods!! (51 grams fiber per 1 cup)... For more on Psyllium Husk click here


Preheat Oven 350 /Servings 4
~ In a medium size bowl, combine almond flour, psyllium powder, baking powder, and salt.
~ Add in the egg whites and combine until a thick dough.
~ Boil chicken broth
~ Add Boiling broth into the bowl and mix until well combined
~ Divide the dough into 4 balls or shape it into 2 - 1 inch loafs (will rise 2-3x bigger). place on greased baking sheet and bake for 50-55 minutes. (for loafs cook 50-60min)...
(Poke with toothpick to make sure it's cooked fully... if toothpick comes out clean then its done!)
~ Done... Let them COMPLETELY cool and set before cutting into
  
*Tip: Spray your hands with non-stick spray before handling dough... makes a big difference and not so sticky.

Dijon Chicken & Mushrooms

Fantastic!!!!! This recipe I actually saw on pinterest and just had to try it... I did change a few things though. I took out the pasta to make it gluten free and low carb, added more mushrooms, added more slivered almonds, and made it with sauteed garlic green beans. Soooooo tasty... my husband was raving about this dish all night!!!  

Ingredients: 
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
4 cloves minced garlic
4 oz white wine
3 TBS dijon mustard
2 cups heavy cream
2 cup white mushrooms
1-1/2 cup slivered almond, toasted
salt & pepper


Servings 4
~ Heat coconut oil in large frying pan over medium heat. Add chicken, garlic, salt and pepper. Fry chicken until completely cooked
~ Remove chicken from pan when finished. Set aside and keep warm
~ In same pan, add wine and let simmer until it reduces by half  (about 1-2 minutes)
~ Add Whipping cream, dijon mustard, salt & pepper. Simmer until sauce thickens (3-5 minutes)
~ Add mushrooms and then return chicken to pan. simmer for additional 2 minutes.
~ Serve on individual plates and sprinkle with Almonds

** this dish is even fantastic the next day for lunch... after all the flavors have been marinading over night! Yum!!!!

Inspired by Rock Recipes

Taco Stuffed Peppers

I've been really cleaning up my diet lately from corn and most grains... this was a fantastic alternative to taco shells!! So tasty and even the hubby loved them!!

4 red or green peppers

1 lb ground beef OR ground turkey

taco seasoning (GF)

grated cheese

Toppings:

grated cheese

tomatoes, chopped

onion, chopped

black olives, sliced

sour cream

salsa

**Tip - The reason I say "GRATED" cheese vs the packaged shredded cheese is because packaged shredded cheese has added man-made ingredients so that the cheese doesn't stick together. Notice that when you grate cheese it sticks together... yep, its suppose to. So here's one step closer to a clean kitchen... start grating your cheese instead of buying packaged shredded cheese!!

Preheat oven 450 / servings 4

~ Slice (lengthwise) and clean peppers (remove stem)

~ In a large coated (spray or coconut oil) frying pan, cook meat over medium-high heat until no longer pink

~ Add taco seasoning to meat and let cook for another minute or two

~ Spoon meat mixture evenly into the 8 halves (peppers). sprinkle some grated cheese on top and place on coated baking sheet

~ Bake uncovered for 10-12 minutes... until peppers are tender. Remove from oven

~ Top with desired toppings and serve

** Also good with black beans and corn added to the meat mixture right before you add the taco seasoning. I did not add these only because of my diet... limiting my corn and carb intake! But very delicious to add!

Egg Drop Soup... Protein Protein Protein

Love this soup cause its so flavorful, filling, healthy, low carb, and loaded with protein!! Love eating this after a good workout!! I'm usually NOT a fan of tofu but in this dish I make an exception, cause its delicious!!! I use to eat Egg Drop Soup as a little girl in my favorite Chinese restaurant and it was my absolute favorite... This one has a very very similar taste and much healthier! Brings back memories!! 
 

Ingredients:
4 cups chicken broth
1/4 tsp dried ginger
2 TBS chives, sliced
4oz bamboo shoots, chopped
3oz white mushrooms. chopped
6oz tofu (firm), chopped (OR shredded chicken)
1 cup fresh baby spinach
3 eggs
1/4 cup tamari


** Tip - I've noticed a lot of chicken broths have sugar (usually cane sugar) in them... make sure to READ LABELS and pick one without added sugar!


~Heat in a medium sauce pan chicken broth, chives, and ginger to a boil
~ Add bamboo shoots, mushrooms and tofu. Cook over medium heat for 5 min
~ Whisk eggs and  with a fork fold eggs into boiling broth
~ Add spinach and tamari. cook 2 minutes. Finished!!