LOW CARB MEAL IDEA RECIPE - ALMONDIGAS (ALBONDIGAS)

When you have vital low carb ingredient like a noodle, you can get creative and adopt recipes into one delicious low carb meal.

Here is my low carb version of a dish I had eaten growing up at my grandmother's ancestral home- Almondigas.(Albondigas)


Almondigas -low carb version

1-1/4 lbs. ground pork
1 1/2 medium onion
1 thumb size ginger
6 gloves garlic
3 tbsp flax-meal
5 pcs shrimp 21/100 (peeled and deveined.
3 packs of shiritake - spaghetti noodles

2 cans Chicken broth
you can add chicken bouillon
Cilantro

3 stalks spring onions
2 eggs
Cilantro

Place 1 onion, shrimps and 3 heads garlic into a blender or food processor (cut into the onions, into bite sizes ,peel and, cut shrimps into half ) pulse until all is well blended . Add the blended mixture into the ground pork . Add flaxmeal and beaten eggs . Mix very well with clean, very clean hands .

Place 2 cans of chicken broth into a pot add 3 chopped garlic and minced ginger and half sliced onion. Let boil. ( YOU MAY ADD WATER AND CHICKEN BOUILLON)

Make small balls of ground pork mixture and one by one drop into simmering pot of onions garlic n ginger .Continue to simmer till meatballs are cooked.

Follow instruction on shiritake noodles packet. Add into the pot when meatballs are cooked and let residual heat finish cooking noodles.salt and pepper to taste.Add sliced spring onions and cilantro.
serve hot. YUMMMM

DINNER IDEA - Total 22 grams Carb

Microwaved Broccoli and shrimp Quesadilla with low carb tortilla

Total carb
.5 cup Mexican mix cheese = 2 grams
2 Low carb Tortilla - 6 grams
1 cup Broccoli - 6 grams

Total - 14 grams

Dessert
1/2 cup of Artic Zero Ice Cream - 4 g
with walnut- 1 g
and half a coco nib 3 g
Total - 8 grams

Meal n dessert - 22 g

DARK CHOCOLATE A ONCE IN A WHILE TREAT !! YAY

Well it seems like big Candy maker are taking on a healthier approach to chocolates by coming out whith Dark Chocolates. Dark cohoclate simoply means it has more cacao that milk thereby having less sugar and therefore can be enjoyed MODERATION by people into a low carb lifrestyle.

90 % cocoa that;s a lot. not too sweet and very satisfying.

yummm..

Chef P Calamari King

Since I have started my Hi protein diet, I have lost a good 15 lbs. Living a low carb lifestyle can get challenging especially when you run out of ideas and food choices. For an OCD like me. I tend to "like" certain foods for like 2 weeks to a month or two then it's history until maybe a few months after. When I say "like" that means I could eat it everyday or for breakfast, lunch and dinner, (hahahhaha). But after 3 months I was running out of ideas and the foods I "like" were one by one going into my "see you later" list.

Calamari meets my criteria for a low carb meal, although it has a dusting of I assume, cornstarch, it still falls within my allowable gram.per day of 0-50 grams.

Realizing this, the cravings started. My brain seemed to have not forgotten that rush of endorphins when I first bit into a crisp salt and pepper Calamari of Chef P (chinese ) restaurant located both in San Jose and Milpitas. Problem is it's a 28 miles away, 56 miles round trip....well as they say if there is a will there is a way. Together with good buddy Anne Marie Achacoso. we dared trek this route at the peak of rush hour traffic, passing through Silicon valley and finally to our destination a very unassuming, humble, no frills restaurant, Yes, it's that good.

On the wall, by the order counter, hand 3 big aluminum trays indicating party size orders of small . medium and large. To give you an idea, a small is an overflowing 12 x 6 x 2" aluminum tray for $ 32.50 plus tax. Ce'st pas mal!! Although the CALAMARI has led me to this place, judging from the reviews on Yelp and other sites their other offerings on their menu are all drive worthy. YUMMMMMM.

You may call in for advance orders Mondays to Sundays 10 AM to 9 PM

San Jose 408-729-4373

22 N. jackson St.

San Jose, CA 95118

Milpitas -

408-586-8389

1535 Landess Ave. Ste 162

Milpitas, CA 95035

ENJOY!!

This is a small "party size" tray

Dear Friend Annmarie about to take her first bite .... what do u think Annemarie?

"CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL" , WHO KNEW?

If you live in the bay area I'm pretty sure you have seen a CHIPOTLE (smoked chili pepper) Mexican Grill . I have hesitated trying it out because I was quick to judge it as "one of those fast food, fat ridden, hi caloric processed meat peddler that sells cheap products at the expense of both animal and human health." BUT I was SO WRONG. As it turns out CHIPOTLE is an earth conscious, responsible company that promotes the idea of "FOOD WITH INTEGRITY" - The very best of ingredients, raised with respect for the animals, the environment, and farmers. I thought this would never happen in corporate America. I think the Bay Area can be credited for this nouvelle concept even when the very first Chipotle opened in Denver, Colorado.

Steve Ellis founded the company in 1993 after having worked in San Francisco as a line cook for Jeremiah Tower at Stars. Here, he was inspired by the popularity of taquerias and burritos in the Misison district. That together with the popular "green" ideology amongst the locals, I believe and assuming, gave birth to what is now a multi-million dollar industry with more than 1000 restaurants in the USA, Canada, and Europe.

Kudos Mr. Ellis and CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL.for proving that being organicly responsible and profitability are indeed possible . Hopefully this will inspire others to follow suit.

My eye opener was a week ago when friend JinggayDava of Antonik's BBQ with her daughter, Nicky tagged me along . Here I was able to find a low carb option with their Burrito Salad selection where you have choices of what goes into your plate. full control,. how cool is that? . YAY.. Besides their low carb option Calorie value are listed on their MENU

Sources: wikipedia

My low-carb choice from their nake your own burrito salad of chicken asada, ,cheese and guac.. No beans, no rice no frills...Yummm.

CAULIFLOWER "MAC N CHEESE"

I got this recipe from the Food Network, I tweaked it a bit by adding a sprinkle of bacon bits to break the creaminess.

1 head of cauliflower-  approx 3 cups-  9 net carbs
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1.5 tablespoon of bacon bits
1.5 cup of Mac n cheese mix by Tillamook - 10 g carb
1 cup heavy cream - 7 grams carb
2 oz cream cheese -  2 net carbs
Salt pepper to taste

Total 28 carbs -

Pre hear over to 375  Cut cauliflower and cream cheese(set cream cheese aside) into bite size florets and boil for about 5 minutes . Set aside and dry with paper towel . Bring cream to a boil add salt and pepper, a cup of mix cheese ,Dijon mustard and cream cheese till everything is melted. On a baking dish place cauliflower n pour melted cheese cream mix and top with the remaining half a cup of Mac n cheese shredded cheese mix . Bake for 15 minutes or till cheese is melted n bubbly. Add bacon bits . Enjoy !

A GOOD READ "WHITE" RICE A HIDDEN DANGER?

 Another article I found that confirmed my suspicions for years now. I grew up with white rice. All my life has been a struggle with weight lost , at 44,  at my heaviest ,240 lbs-5"9" ,I developed diabetes, I immediately quit eating white rice , bread, soda and went on a low carb diet in 6  months my sugar was normal. although it has been a struggle of lost and gain since, I have streamlined my low carb lifestyle with the help of research and technology. I got apps to monitor my carb intake and research food that is allowable. Things I have been posting here. I realized that I didn't have to deprive myself of sweets and things I was use to, just knowing which ones you can eat and allowed. of course EXERCISE is key as well. Slowly I am getting to a point where I feel I am on a diet but just living a lifestyle that suits me and my DNA.

Article Source

Rice A Major Cause of Diabetes

Most of us will not agree that rice can cause diabetes. People always linked diabetes with the absorption of too much sugar by the body, but have you ever wondered that the source of diabetes can be linked with other nutrients that our body takes everyday? Rice, for example?I bet no, as the long told myth has always associated this illness with sugar.

As we know, type 2 diabetes is a disease with a startling world growth rate, so much that it is considered an epidemic in certain countries. People with Type 2 diabetes are known as being insulin resistant. Their body is not able to move insulin from the bloodstream into cells where it belongs.
As the sugar levels in the bloodstream rise, people become hypoglycemic and become ill. Type 2 is often considered adult-onset diabetes because it usually happens over a long period of time and is most commonly seen in people with weight management issues. The recent results of a 22-years study now show that it’s not just how much you eat, it’s what you eat that increases your chances for the disease.
The Harvard School of Public Health released the results of the study which watched 350,000 people in four countries over the span of 22 years. Out of those 350,000 people, more than 13,000 developed Type 2 diabetes. Japan and China, where the majority of food eaten was white rice, had a 55 percent higher likelihood of the illness than those in western countries where rice consumption is low.
White rice is considered a major contributor to the disease because of how it is refined. By the time the rice grain goes through the milling process, little of it remains other than starch. Starch and carbohydrates create more glucose and insulin in the bloodstream. Though experts know white rice was a contributing factor, they do admit there are some discrepancies in the study.
The participants were not required to write down everything they ate. The study also wasn’t done just to find a correlation between rice and diabetes. This most recent study was the conjoining of four previously done studies in China, Japan, Australia, and the United States. The scientists took the data and looked at it as a whole, finding a pattern that had to do with rice consumption.
The study heads at Harvard agree that further research is required before they can say with 100 per cent accuracy if white rice does truly have an effect on Type 2 diabetes. For now, they are recommending eating brown rice instead of white. Brown rice has more fiber and vitamins, resulting in a lower glycemic index rating. The glycemic index is used to measure the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar.
A food with a low glycemic index is one that will take longer to digest, thus taking longer to send sugar into the blood stream. Not only are these foods healthier, they result in a more regimented distribution of insulin within the body. For years, doctors have been steering diabetics away from refined sugars which include candies and baked goods. Breads are also on the do-not-eat list, and should be eaten in moderation if at all.
Not surprisingly, Type 2 diabetics who are able to get their diet under control will then start to lose weight. Sometimes, though not common, the need for supplemental insulin is significantly decreased

MUFFIN RECIPE MODIFIED- YUMMIER!!

Most definitely and still low carb.. Here is the recipe I posted last

1.5 NET CARB PER MUFFIN YAY!!!

I GOT THIS RECIPE FROM ADRIENNE LAROQUE SUITE 101 AND DECIDED TO TRY IT. TURNS OUT MOIST AND YUMMY AND 1.5 NET CARBS HELLO?

Low Carb Chocolate Hazelnut Muffins Contain No Sugar or Wheat -

If you're looking for a healthy treat that's bursting with chocolate flavor, this recipe does the trick. Kids love it!

Many people have recognized the health benefits of limiting gluten and carbohydrate in their diets, but sometimes they miss the treats they used to eat. Luckily, it’s possible to have your muffin and eat it too! This recipe is sugar free, grain free, gluten free and very low carb, so you needn’t worry about indulging.

Recipe for Gluten Free Chocolate Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 cup hazelnut MEAL/FLOUR= .25 CUP = 2 NET CARBS X 4 = 8 NET CARBS ( TOT 740 CAL)
• ½ cup flax seed meal = 2 TBSP = 4 G CARB W 4 G FIBER WITH 1 SOLUBLE FIBER SO 1 NET CARB 8 TBSP = 1/2 CUP = 8 NET CARBS - (TOT CAL 480)
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 0 CARB CHANGED THIS TO 1/4 CUP INSTEAD
• 1 tbsp coconut flour IF YOU MUST INCLUDE IT IS 5 GRAMS FOR 1 TBSP- 60 CAL
• ½ cup melted butter (salted) 0 CARB 1/2 CUP 4 OZ = (800 CAL)
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature 0 CARB
• ½ tbsp baking powder 0
• ½ tsp xanthan 0
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ tbsp cinnamon
• 3-4 tbsp Truvia ™ brand low carb sweetener 4 net carb  (one packet of Stevia is one net carb) - CHANGED THIS TO 1 AND 3/4 TABLESPOON I USED LIQUID STEVIA - " ENGLISH TOFFEE " flavor (LOWERS THE NET CARB BY 2 POINTS)

• 1/3 cup water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

1. Place muffin liners in a muffin tin.
2. Combine dry ingredients except sweetener (flours, flax seed meal, cocoa powder, baking powder, xanthan, salt and cinnamon) in a bowl. Stir to mix well.
3. Beat eggs until fluffy. Add melted butter, water and Truvia ™. Beat until thoroughly combined.
4. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir until dry ingredients are moistened.
5. Use a tablespoon or serving spoon to distribute batter amongst individual muffin cups.
6. Bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin and removed comes out clean.

20 TOTAL NET CARB = DIVIDE BY 12 = 1.66 NET CARB A MUFF
2080 TOTAL CALORIE - DIVIDE BY 12 = 173 A MUFF NOT BAD AT ALL
MUCH BETTER RECIPE ( I FEEL PERFECT NOW WITH THE REVISIONS , ITS MOIST AND NOT TOO SWEET NOR BITTER) THE FIRST ONE WAS A BIT BITTER. TOO MUCH UNSWEETENED COCOA AND STEVIA.

TODAY I MIXED LEFTOVER MUFFS CRUMBS FROM MY MUFFINS TRAY AND PLACE THEM ON 1/2 OF ARTIC ZERO VANILLA MUFFIN. OMG!!!

I ASKED MYSELF , IS THIS REALLY LOW CARB ITS WAY TO ODELICIOUS. BUT THE LABELS ARE CLEAR,. SO I BELIEVE..

MUSHROOM CHEESE QUESADILLA

Another easy low carb snack or dinner.

2 Low Carb Tortilla ( 6 grams net carb each)
.5 cup Cheddar cheese (3 grams net carb
2 tbsp bittabuttah - zero carb
1 spring onion

Tortilla =12 total
cheese= 3
total 15 carbs divide by 8 pieces
1.5 net carbs per piece hello?

saute sliced miushroom with bittabuttah intill soft then place unto tortilla.add cheese spring onions.place another tortilla on top , melt a teaspoon of butter , spread on pan , turn to medium heat, place sandwiched mushroom and cheese on pan,. press slighlty for 2 minutes or untill lightlhy brown, flip for two minutes ,cut into 8 pieces.or cold

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NICOISE A LA REESE

A very filling yummy , definitley LOW CARB Salad dressing by dear friend La Reese Taples. If you happen to like Anchovies, which I do very much. here goes:

NICOISE A LA REESE

2 Cans Anchovy fillets
2 Cloves of garlic
1 Juice of lemon
1 Cup of Olive Oil
1 Can of Tuna
2 Boiled eggs

Combine all ingredients in a blender except for BOILED EGG and TUNA. Blend to a dressing consistency.

Add the salad dressing tuna and boiled egg into a bowl of mix greens .TOSS pepper and salt to taste.

Fabulous!!!

Just like us (joke) hhahaha

LA REESE AND ME

TUNA OF YOUR OWN CHOOSING

MIX GREENS . GOOD WITH LETTUCE SPINACH

OR GET A BAG OF MIX SPRING GREENS

LOVE BABY ARUGULA

CHOCOLATES WITH A HEART AND LOW CARB

WF (whole Foods) does not carry products that contain artificial ingredient or additives .
I remember many years ago when I looked so stupid asking the cashier for DIET coke the very first time I went .This philosophy is true with chocolates, yes, CHOCOLATES .No MALTITOL (which I read has ALMOST the same GI as refined sugar) aspartame and corn syrup.
Here are a few of the chocs I found to have a net carb of 11 and lower for half a bar. NOT BAD.

Some of these producers get their cacao from organic farmers in third world countries and help them get  FAIR trade prices for their harvest. A noble practice that defies abusive unfair  practices of some, if not most of the big greedy corporation.

I don't advise to have chocolates everyday but should you have the urge there are options. Just do not over do it. Maybe once  a week .. no more than 15 net carbs of chocs I feel should be okay. .. half a bar of really good quality choc is soooooo yummy and satisfying.. That should keep you

HERE ARE A FEW CHOC MAKERS WITH BIG  HEARTS, CONSCIENCE AND NOBLE INTENT.

EQUALE EXCHANGE

THEO CHOCOLATES

TCHO

DIVINE

will add more links later...

KELLY OF WHOLE FOODS GIVING TIPS WHEN SELECTING LOWER CARB

CHOCOLATES

LOOK FOR THESE STAMPS FOR BETTER QUALITY FOOD WE ALL DESERVE

ORGANIC. FAIR TRADE FOR FARMERS AND NON- GMO (GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD)

THEO CHOCOLATES

MY FAVE...

DIVINE  (IT DESERVES IT'S NAME)

THE DARK CHOC WITH CRANBERRIES MY FAVE

ONLY 8 NET CARBS FOR 10 NUGGETS

TCHO CHOCOLATES

"MIRACLE NOODLE " MAC N CHEESE WITH LO ROASTED CHICKEN

ANOTHER LATEST FIND FOR ME IS "SHIRITAKE NOODLES" AN 8 OZ PACKAGE HAS 40 CALORIES, 2 NET CARBS ,YES, TWO, DOS, DEUX, DUE , DALAWA, ( INCROYABLE) NET CARB ( 6 TOTAL 4 G FIBER)

NOODLE MADE FROM SOLUBLE FIBER HAS NO CHOLESTEROL,GF, VEGAN THEREFORE GUILT FREE. AND IT COMES IN A VARIETY OF PASTA SHAPES.

TIPS : ONE MUST FOLLOW PRECISELY INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PACKET. LIKE DRYING IT VERY WELL..

FOR MY FIRST TRIAL I DID THE MAC N CHEESE VERSION AND ADDED LEFT OVER CHICKEN. I HAVE TO WARN YOU WHEN YOU OPEN THE PACKET IT DOES HAVE A FISHY SMELL BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL TASTE LIKE IT. DRAIN AND WASH VERY WELL. THEN DRY EXCESS WATER. MICRO FOR A MINUTE THEN REMOVE EXCESS WATER AND PAT DRY WITH PAPER TOWEL DRYING IT VERY WELL. THEN YOU CAN PUT YOUR CHEESES. I ADDED 2 TBSP OF SHREDDED MILD CHEDDAR - 55 CALORIES, 2 TBSP TILAMOOK MEDIUM CHEDDAR - 55 CALORIES AND 2 TABLESPOON SHREDDED PARMESAN CHEESE 40 CALORIES, ADDED A THIGH FROM THE LEFTOVER BAKED CHICKEN FROM THE SUPER.- 153 CAL - ZERO CARB

THIS BIG BOWL OF FOOD ONE FILLING MEAL IS 383 CALORIES AND 2 NET CARBS. ( MAYBE 3-4 NET FROM THE CHEESE) IS UNBELIEVABLE!!