Low Carb Banana Muffins

These are for pre-maintenance on the Atkins phases as they have banana's.  I made these into mini muffins as I could have one with my eggs in the morning and not be to many carbs.

Low Carb Banana Muffins

3 cup almond flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
3 lg eggs
3 small very ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup xylitol
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl, set aside.  In another bowl, mix the eggs, bananas, xylitol, butter, and vanilla.  Add the dry ingredients until combined.  I used a tablespoon and poured batter in small muffin tin lined with small muffin/truffle liners.  Bake 20 minutes until golden on top.  Cool about 5 minutes and remove.  Then repeat until all batter is used.  Made 36 mini muffins or 12 muffins.

Mini Muffins: Calories 79.8, Fat 5.9g, Carbs 3.8g, Fiber 1.1g, Protein 2.4g, Net Carbs 2.7g
Muffin: Calores 239.5, Fat 11.4g, Carbs 11.4, Fiber 3.3g, Protein 7.2g, Net Carbs 8.1g

Low Carb Pumpkin Muffins

I decided that today would be a good day for baking.  It is cold and cloudy here in MN.  I had some pumpkin to use up so I made up these.  I used a combination of almond flour and golden flax meal.  They are a very hearty and tasty muffin.  Great to use for breakfast or a snack.

Low Carb Pumpkin Muffins

2 1/2 cup almond flour
1/2 cup golden flax meal
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp sea salt
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
2 lg egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/3 cup xylitol
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Preheat of to 350 degrees F.  In a bowl, mix together the almond flour, flax meal, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice.  Set aside.  In a separate bowl, mix together the butter, pumpkin, and xylitol.  Then add the eggs one at a time.  Add vanilla and cream.  Mix until well combined.  Slowly add in the dry mixture until it is fully incorporated.  Mixture will be thick and textured.
Use cupcake liners or spray a muffin tin with non stick spray.  Evenly spoon the batter in each cup.  Bake about 15-20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.

Makes 12 muffins
Each muffin: Calories 225.6, Fat 18.7g, Carb 7.8g, Fiber 4.1g, Protein 6.8g, Net Carbs 3.7g
Atkins Phase 2 and up.

Cabbage and Meatball Soup

This recipe is out of Atkins for Life Low Carb cookbook.  The cabbage resembled noodles in the soup.  It was very good.

Cabbage and Meatball Soup

1 lb ground beef
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp salt,divided
1/2 tsp pepper,divided
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp ground allspice
3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp granular sugar substitute(I use Xylitol)
1 1lb green cabbage, thinly sliced
1 28oz can diced tomatoes
4 cup water
1/2 sour cream

Gently combine beef, onion powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper and mustard in bowl.  With wet hands, form into balls(I used a cookie dough scoop and then formed into balls) and set into a large saucepan sprayed with oil.   Set saucepan over medium-high heat and cook meatballs, turning until all sides are brown, about 7 minutes.  Remove meatballs and place on plate and cover with foil.  Add red pepper flakes and allspice to pan drippings.  Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Add vinegar and sugar substitute and bring to a simmer.  Stir in cabbage, remaining of 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.  Add tomatoes, and water, bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low and simmer until cabbage is very tender, about 35-40 minutes.  Add meatballs and cook to warm through.  Serve, top with sour cream if desired.

About 8 serving 1 1/2 cup
Each serving: Calories 242, Fat 16g, Carbs 9.7g, Fiber 2.9g, Protein 15.5g, Net Carbs 6.8g
Atkins Phase 2 and up.

Low Carb Brownies

Who said you can't have delicious brownies while low carbing!!  I made these for mom night in and all my friends LOVED them.  Try them, I promise you will make them again:)  even my kids LOVED them!!

Chocolate brownies
1 stick unsalted butter
2 cup xylitol, powdered(process it in your food processor until powdered)
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
4 lg eggs, room temp
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp sea salt
4 oz unsweetened bakers chocolate, melted
2 cup golden flax meal
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
2/3 cup water
1 cup walnuts, chopped(optional)

Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a 9x13 pan with butter.
Cream the butter until fluffy.  Add the xylitol and cream until fluffy.  Add vanilla and beat in eggs, one at a time.  Add salt and cocoa, beat well.  Add melted chocolate, beat until fluffy.  Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until combined.  Pur into prepared pan and bake for 35 minutes or until top springs back.  Cool, then cut into 28 squares.  If you  cheat and eat one warm, kow the texture will be different once cooled completely.  That's when they become like real brownies!!

28 brownies
Each brownie: with out nuts Calories 114.2, Fat 10.2g, Carbs 5.2g, Fiber 3.5g, Protein 3.5g, Net Carbs 1.7g
with nuts Calories 142.8 Fat 13.1g, Carbs 5.8g, Fiber 3.8g Protein 4.2g, Net Carbs 2
Atkins Phase 2 and up with nuts, Induction friendly with out the nuts.

160's HERE I AM!!!

This Morning I hit 169!!!  That is a total of 116lbs lost as of today:)  I am over the moon HAPPY that I have made it this far.  Only 19 more lbs to go to reach my goal.  I CAN DO IT!! Friday I did enjoy myself with friends for the birthday mom night out.  Had 2 long island ice teas, spinach & artichoke dip with chips, and got a small ice cream sunde shooter.  We where at Applebee's.  The staff sung to me.  Had a great night with lots and lots of laughs:)  With that cheat I only gained .6 of a lb, so that was great.  I thought I would not hit the 160's until later this week, but I made it today!!  I am slowly moving up the carb ladder on the Atkins program.  I am now at 30-35g of net carbs a day, eating berries, nuts, melon, greek yogurt, cherries, cottage cheese and ricotta, along with protein, lower carb veggies, cheese, fats and oils.  My next rung is Legumes.   Hummus, here I come!!

Low Carb Almond Butter Cookies

I wanted some peanut butter cookies, but I can't due to my son has an allergy to peanuts, so I made these instead.  Helped with my sweet tooth craving:)

Almond Butter Cookies
1 cup almond butter(I used trader joe's almond butter with roasted flaxseed, crunchy and salty)
1/8-1/4 cup almond flour, depends on oil of almond butter
1/2 cup xylitol
1/2 cup brown sugar twin
1 lg egg
1 tsp baking soda
dash of salt
1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Mix all ingredients in bowl with electric mixer.  Form into 22 balls(I used a small cookie dough scoop and then formed balls).  Put on cookie sheet leaving about a 2 inch space between balls.  Use a flork and make crisscross pattern on top.  Bake for 8-10 minutes.  Remove from oven and let pan sit for a few minutes before removing.

Makes 22 cookies
Each Cookie: Calories 95.3, Fat 7.1g, Carbs 2.4g, Fiber 1.6g, Protein 3.1g, Net Carbs 0.8g
Atkins Phase 2 and up.

Low Carb Pizza Cassarole

I made this up Friday for dinner.  I was craving pizza but needed to make something quick and easy.  It was very good.  The kids LOVED it!!  It fixed my pizza craving:)

Pizza Cassarole
1 16oz frozen cauliflower, thawed
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
1 14oz jar pizza sauce(I used great value all natural pizza sauce, No sugar added)
1 can mushrooms
mini pepperoni

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
I threw the cauliflower in my food processor to "rice" it.  After cauliflower is riced, add it to large bowl with 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1 cup parmesan cheese.
Dumb cauliflower cheese mizture in a 13X9 baking pan.  Press down.  Pour jar of pizza sauce on top.  Add mushrooms and pepperoni and top with the rest of the mozzarella cheese.  Bake for 45 minutes or until bubble and cheese is melted.

Makes 8 servings
Each Serving: Calories 198, Fat 10.4g, Carbs 7.4g, Fiber 2.5g, Protein 14.7g, Net Carbs 4.9g
Atkins All Phases