Bacon-Cauli Soup

This weather is too winter-y for me.  I'm in Northeast Florida, and even though we don't get super cold her, anything below 70 is cold to me, being a native Floridian. I don't feel like I'm a huge soup fan.  I have lots of friends who get uber-excited when fall hits because it's soup weather. I've never really been that person.  Every now and then, I love a cup of chili or soup, but not too frequently.  When it's cold, like it has been, the mood does strike, though...  Here's a great soup that uses one of my favorite ingredients: BACON!

Here's what you'll need:

1 head of Cauliflower (cut into florets)

2 stalks of Celery (chopped)

1 onion (chopped)

8 slices of bacon (cut with kitchen shears before frying)

salt and pepper to taste

xanthan gum to thicken

1 cup half and half

1 quart vegetable broth

Here's what you'll do:

First things first, let's cut and cook the bacon. I take a pair of kitchen shears and cut the bacon right into the pot you'll be cooking the soup in. Then, fry it up until it's crispy and let it settle on a paper towel lined plate. You'll come back to it later!

Now, to the pot, add your onion and celery.  Cook those for about 5 minutes and stir in your xantham gum.  Let that cook for another 2 minutes. 

Add in your cauliflower, and then pour in your half and half and chicken broth.  Bring this to a boil, and quickly reduce the heat to a simmer.  Allow this to simmer for about 15 minutes, which will bring the cauliflower to a tender place, but not mushy.

Add some salt and pepper to taste and serve piping hot!

 

Let's Try a Spinach and Cream Cheese Omelet!

Spinach is something that I have acquired a taste for more and more as I have gotten older. I love it fresh in a salad, or a deconstructed sub.  I love it cooked in a variety of dishes, including soups and dips.  This spinach and cream cheese omelet is SOOO good.  If you're a breakfast eater, add it into your rotation weekly. If you choose to skip breakfast, this is a great "breakfast for dinner" choice.  

Here's what you'll need:
2 ounces of cream cheese (room temperature or softened)
2 large eggs
1/4 cup fresh spinach leaves (chopped to your preference)
EVOO for your pan

Here's what you'll do:|
In a medium bowl, you'll mix together your cream cheese and your spinach.  In a separate bowl, you'll beat your 2 large eggs.  Add some Extra Virgin Olive Oil to your preheated pan.  Pour in your eggs and cook on medium heat until you can flip your them, and flip them. Spread your cream cheese and spinach mixture onto the cooded side of the eggs.  Give that about 30 seconds to ensure the other side of the eggs are cooked.  At that point, fold your eggs in 1/2, and wait approximately 1 minute for the cream cheese and spinach mixture to melt.  Remove your omelet from the heat, and serve immediately.  I can't wait to hear how it this tastes!  Enjoy.

I was all about Eggs before Egg Fasts were a thing!

Back in February of 2011, I dedicated a week to sharing multiple egg recipes.  This was years before I learned about The Eggloaf, Keto Pancakes, Chaffles, etc. I just knew that I loved eggs, and that eating them was helpful for the low-carb lifestyle.  Now, egg fasts are a thing, and I am here for it.  I have done a few egg fasts, and the results are great, and I enjoyed eating eggs for every meal more than a lot of people.  Check back soon for some fun egg recipes (they may not fit the egg fast plan, as that includes very few ingredients other than eggs), but I promise, you won't regret it!

Hello, Hello

Well, hello there! Again, I decide it's time to start blogging. I honestly don't want to keep you on this roller coaster, but I know I have a lot to give when it comes to the low-carb (now, also, Keto) community. I have seen low-carb work first hand on my mom, myself, some great friends, etc, and most recently with my husband, who I helped to lose 25 pounds. I know low-carb works, and I just need to get back to the correct mindset.  

While becoming a mom has been the greatest joy I could experience, it has caused me to put myself and my health on the back burner. I don't want my babies ever to feel like they aren't important, but I also don't want to continue to feel like I do. 

I am mentally struggling. I am not happy with how I look, and while I know that's not what life is all about, I will admit that I am superficial. I also know that when I look better, I feel better. I have really made sure to teach my girls that beauty is found on the inside, and that they should care about a person's heart. However, I want to be the best version of myself, and I know that's a fit version of me.  

This transformation is starting with my mind!  I feel like I am in the best frame of mind for dieting, and I'm ready to take on this weight loss. I have weighed the options, and considered WLS.  I know I can do it without, though! I have the tools and I know what to do to see results.  This is it.  I have some mini-goals over the next few months, but an ultimate goal of being where I want by my 40th birthday, which is in December.  Join me as I knock out this weight loss, but also get in the shape I want. I have decided that a tummy tuck may be in the future, but that I also won't be mad if I can do it on my own without spending that excess amount of money!

I'm starting with the goal of weight loss, but also thinking that this blog can help many. I'll be updating progress on here, but also working to get information and recipes out to everyone.  I can't wait to see where this takes me!  

Let's do THIS!!!

I Heart Fuze

There is a fantastic product on the market. It isn't new, but there are still some people who don't know about it. It's called Fuze. It's a great fruit drink with only 10 calories per serving. Sounds great, huh? But, here's the kicker. They make a Fuze Slenderize, which is even better. It's got only 10 calories, and it's low-carb. There are only 2 carbs per serving. The best part is, they have 6 Slenderize flavors, each with 4 vitamins and minerals that help you slim down.

Fuze Slenderize contains Chromium, which is a micro nutrient known to improve the amount of energy you get from food.

Fuze Slenderize contains Vitamin C, which is an antioxidant essential for vision, growth and healthy skin.

Fuze Slenderize contains SuperCitrimax, which helps users maintain a normal appetite and increase energy in healthy individuals, which in turn helps support a healthy metabolism.

Fuze Slenderize contains L-Carnitine, an amino-acid which boosts energy.

Fuze Slenderize is a fantastic product that you can buy at Sam's. The cost is less than $1.00 per bottle, making it less than $.50 per serving. I absolutely love it, and so do the kids that I teach. They bring it in to school with them, and love the fact that we have the taste for Fuze in common. If you want to know more about Fuze Slenderize, go to their website. You can even sign up for the newsletter and coupons.

Low-Carb on a Budget

With the constant talk of recession on nearly everyone's lips, it's tough to not worry about your finances. When you have worries such as this one, it's not uncommon to notice a little weight gain. Stress often causes you to put on some unwanted pounds. Unfortunately, when you are worried about finances, you really don't want to committ to an eating plan, because many times, you worry about how much it costs to eat healthy.

Eating foods that are unhealthy costs very little. For example, the cheapest food that I can think of is Ramen Noodles. On average, a package of Ramen Noodles costs somewhere between $.50 and $1.00. With that one package, you can either feed two people, or make two meals for yourself. Now, when money is tight, that might sound like the best thing for you. However, if you look at the nutrition facts for Ramen Noodles, you will see that no matter how great of a deal you get on these, they are not worth what you pay. First of all, the amount of sodium is grotesque. But, of course, you know what nutrition fact I am most interested in...carbs. The amount of carbs in one serving of Ramen Noodles is almost twice the amount of carbs people on low-carb plans should consume in one day. It's important to realize that eating healthy is definitely worth spending a little extra money each week at the grocery store.

There are ways, however, to save money, and still stay on the low-carb eating plan. For example, one thing to remember is that it is okay to buy store-brand, as opposed to name brand. A peanut is a peanut, whether it's a Planters or not. Another way to save is to buy your veggies at local markets instead of grocery stores. The local market in my area has a great selection, wonderful prices, and they often let you sample what they offer. What better way is there to know what you're getting, and get a good deal? My final tip for low-carb on a budget is to shop at places like Sam's, BJ's, and Costco. You can get great deals there on all of the items that should be on your grocery list. I can get great deals on things like cheeses, olives, and of course meat, which is a staple on the low-carb lifestyle. Olives last a long time, so buying them in bulk is fine. Cheeses and meats are both foods that you should consume regularly on this meal plan. If you're worried about buying too much at a time, it's good to know that meats, and most cheeses, can be frozen and last a good while. For tips on how to freeze cheese, go to Angie's blog. She can help you out.

We are all feeling the financial crunch right now, but we must make sure that it doesn't affect our eating habits. It's important to keep your health in mind, even in times of what is being referred to as a recession. Hopefully, some of these tips can help you to stay low-carb, even when on a tight budget.