P2 Chili Madness

Okay, I admit it...I LOVE P2 chili.  I eat it most days and not just because it tastes so yummy, but because it's so freakin' easy to make!!  When I am forward thinking enough I will make it multiple batches and freeze them, which just adds to the convenience factor. 

Ingredients:
100 grams lean ground beef (I used at least 7%)
1/2 can diced petite tomatoes (counts as one vegetable serving on P2)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dark chocolate cocoa powder
3/4 tsp chili powder
dash of cayenne powder (optional and amount depending on how spicy you like it)

Directions:
Brown meat and drain well.  Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and let simmer on low for 5-10 minutes (depends on what consistency you like).

Tip:  I recently added a cup of beef broth and it made more of a hearty soup and I loved it!!!  It's a little less "POP", but was super yummy. 

Pumpkin Time!!

I made these for the first time Friday evening and they are super yummy!!  I haven't done the icing yet, but warmed up with butter is perfect!!

The recipe is here.

Did you say Cauliflower Pizza?

I know it sounds strange, but this is RIDICULOUSLY yummy pizza.  The key is to get the base as thin as possible!  I would eat this every day if I could!

1 cup cooked, shredded cauliflower (I often use frozen, but you can steam fresh)
1 egg
1 cup mozzarella cheese
2+ tsp Italian seasoning
pizza, bruschetta or alfredo sauce
Any topping you like (make sure any meat is cooked
Mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray.  In a medium bowl, combine cauliflower, Italian seasoning, egg and mozzarella. Press evenly on the pan (make it thin, or it won't taste like a pizza!). Bake at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes (15-20 minutes if you double the recipe).  Remove the pan from the oven. To the crust, add sauce, then toppings and cheese. 

Finally, place under a broiler until cheese is melted.  Watch it carefully so it doesn't burn!

Healthy Pizza Tutorial

Maria Emmerich gives a tutorial here on how to make a healthy pizza.  This is NOT P3 friendly because of the lavash, but it would be a keep for P4. 

I have several recipes for P3 friendly pizza that I will be posting soon.  Can't have too much pizza can you?  =P

Artichoke and Spinach Tart

This recipe is absolutely amazing and will be in Maria's new cookbook.  I couldn't find the link on her blog, so I am including the recipe here. 

Did I mention it's AMAZING!  I just pulled my second one out of the oven!!

1 1/2 cups almond flour
1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp Celtic sea salt
1 clove garlic (optional)
1 egg

Filing:

1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped organic spinach, thawed and drained
1 ½ cups artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/8 tsp Celtic sea salt
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
8 oz macarpone or cream cheese softened
2 eggs

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. For the tart shell, combine the flour, cheese, salt and garlic and mix well.

Add the egg and mix until the dough is well combined and stiff. Press pie crust into pie dish or tart pan. Bake the crust for 12-15 minutes, or until it starts to lightly brown.

Meanwhile, combine spinach, artichokes, salt, garlic, Parmesan Cheese, mascarpone and eggs. Pour mixture into prebaked tart shell. Sprinkle with extra Parmesan. Cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Makes 12 servings.

Crackin' Up!!!

I love crackers.  I love crackers because you can put cheese on them and I love cheese even more than crackers!  =P  This recipe comes from Maria and is definitely a staple for me.  I have made it my mission to find different cheese not only to go on the cracker, but in it.  I recently made them with Havardi Dill cheese from Trader Joes!  YUM! 

What makes this recipe so great, besides that it taste phenomenal, is how easy it is! 

Here you go

Before baking

Ta Da!

Artichoke and Spinach Casserole

This is absolutely one of my all time favorite recipes for dinner.  I have made it so many times, that I don't even need to read the recipe.  It has gotten the friend's seal of approval and I am almost always asked to bring it to potlucks and dinners. 

2 (10 oz) packages of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 ½ cups artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
½ cup heavy cream
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
¾ cup Parmesan Cheese
1 package cream cheese softened
1 cup heavy cream
Fresh garlic, onion powder and garlic powder to taste

Combine spinach, artichokes, cream, salt, garlic, seasoning, pepper and Parmesan Cheese. Separately, mix at medium speed cream cheese until fluffy. On low speed, add 1 cup cream, blending well. Spoon spinach mixture into shallow 6 cup casserole or the like baking dish. Pour cream cheese mixture evenly over spinach mixture. Sprinkle with more Parmesan. Cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have always loved sweets!  When I started living a low carb lifestyle almost two years ago I was a bit down about having to give them up for the most part.  OHHH, how naive I was.  There are so many innovations and resources now for the low carb way of eating!!

The first recipe I want to share is the Healthified Chocolate Chip cookies.  This recipe is from Maria Emmerich and you can find the actual post here.

These cookies ROCK!  I make them all the time and stick them in the freezer just because I like them like that. 



The best of the best

My all time favorite low carb food blogger, or regular blogger is Maria Emmerich.  I have had the pleasure of actually talking to her on the phone and she is extremely passionate about helping people become healthy.  Not only that, but her recipes are rockin'!!!!  I have all her cookbook, including her "kids" cookbook and I don't even have children.  =P

She has a new cookbook coming out in about a month or two that is savory foods.  I can not wait to get it!  There are many fantastic low carb bloggers out there, but in my opinion Maria is the best.  One of the tags/labels for the recipes I share will list her as the creator.

I encourage all of you to check out her blog, her facebook and keep a watch out for her cookbooks!

Where to begin

This is just going to be a simple blog sharing low carb recipes I have tried or want to try and I will tag them so they are easy to fine.  I will also be sharing videos regarding low carb eating and the lifestyle.  I hope sharing theses will help anyone living a low carb lifestyle.