Easy Zucchini HashBrowns ( makes 4-6)

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These little gems are a breakfast/lunch or dinner staple in my household for Hubby and Myself. The recipe can change according to what is in the fridge but the base always remains the same. I own a set of “Speed Peelers” ( You may have heard Jamie Oliver Bang on about them) they are an excellent investment and allow you to Julienne or Zoodle even the hardest vegetable. If you don’t own one you can grate your zucchini but it tends to be quite wet when grated – which isn’t the texture you want for “Hash Browns”.

Ingredients:

1 Large zucchini ( Zoodled or Julienned)

1/2 a small capsicum ( red or yellow is pretty) diced finely

1/2 a small red onion diced finely

30 g haloumi cheese finely diced

2 eggs lightly beaten

1 tablespoon Almond Flour or meal

Salt and Pepper to taste

Method:

Add all ingredients to a small bowl and gently mix. Dollop into a hot fry pan ( I get 2/4 hash browns depending on size of zucchini) Cook for approx 5 minutes each size till browned ( Obviously this depends on thickness of  Hash Brown)

Serve topped with Bacon and Poached Eggs. Also amazing with poached eggs and hollandaise!

Blueberry Cheesecake Smoothie ( Serves 2)

Blueberry Cheesecake Smoothie

Ingredients: ( Serves 2)

½ Cup Frozen Blueberries

1 Tablespoon Avocado

1 Tablespoon Cream Cheese

½ Cup Raw Almonds

¼ Teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste

1 Tablespoon Plain WPI ( I Use Coles Simply)

300 ml Water & Crushed Ice

A Little Raw Honey to taste ( if you like it sweeter)

Method:

Place all ingredients into a high speed blender and blitz until smooth. ENJOY!

Nutritional Info: Calories :166 Carbs:7.7 Fats:8.2 Fibre :1.3

 

Inside Out Chicken Cordon Bleu ( Serves 4)

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This little gem has been hanging about for a while now, just been indecisive as to release it or not. Seeing as this way of eating has been “the norm” for over two months – this indeed is a treat meal. Its so rich – but also incredibly delicious and is perfect if you want to impress someone by candlelight. I guess this is the first of the candlelight dinners series -maybe there is a book in that?

INGREDIENTS: (Serves 4)

500g Of Chicken Breast Fillet Portioned into 4 (125 g per serve)

100 g Colby Cheese ( 25 g per serve)

8 Slices of Streaky Bacon

125 ml Pure Cream

Chicken Stock & water ( I use Massel Powdered)

Butter & EVOO ( I like garlic infused)

METHOD:

Slice a split into each chicken breast and stuff with 25 G of Colby Cheese ( You could even put spinach in it if you wanted)

Wrap each chicken breast in 2 slices of streaky bacon.

Heat up your fry pan with the butter and evoo. Place the chicken into the pan and seal on each side. Take from pan and pop into a preheated oven ( at least 180 degrees but all ovens vary).

Bake in oven for 15 -20 mins.

De-glaze your pan with a little water and the chicken stock – when its merrily bubbling add your cream and reduce till nice and thick.

Take your chicken from the oven you can slice and be fancy ( this ensures its cooked) and then serve with the sauce over the top.

This only needs some simple steamed broccolini and the good thing is its so low in carbs you can have lava puddings for dessert!

Sticky Asian Inspired Beef Spare Ribs ( serves 4)

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The secret behind these ribs is the marinade. I did try to make ribs a few weeks back with lamb – but they didn’t have much meat and were a little dry. These ones were dribble and juicy just as ribs should be – but next time I will take more time and batch sear them. Before baking them longer. Some were a little chewy – but granted I was lazy and put them on a little later than I would normally. Beef ribs need a long slow cook and a few turns to keep them juicy. The marinade can be used on any meat you wish to slow cook and extra chilli and the whole bunch of coriander I used are optional extras ( we are a coriander loving family).

For 4 people you need at least 1.5kilos of ribs ( greedy people need 2 kilos or more) they are yum – but they are the richest of the ribs being beef..

MARINADE:

1 teaspoon crushed garlic

1 teaspoon crushed ginger

2 Teaspoons Coconut Aminos ( available at a health food shop and is a soy alternative)

2 Teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar

4 Teaspoons Pure Maple Syrup

4 Teaspoons Tar 10 Watermelon and Chilli Vinegar ( available here)

3 whole cloves

1 star anise

2 teaspoons cinnamon powder

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

MARINADE IN THIS AT LEAST OVERNIGHT ( THE LONGER THE BETTER)

Optional Fresh Chilli and Coriander to Garnish.

METHOD:

Sear your beef ribs in batches in a heavy based fry pan.

Once seared de glaze your pan with the left over marinade mixed with 500ml  water and 1 tablespoon of Thermomix vegetable stock.

Now you can either pop your Ribs and liquid into a slow cooker and cook for about 8 hours ( if you want to go off shopping or to work and come home to a delicious meal) BUT with this method you will need to reduce some of the stock in a saucepan on the stove to use as a glaze.

I put mine into a low slow oven 100 degrees in a cast iron pan for approx 6 hours – they could have done with more. And I reduced the lot on the stove top prior to serving.

We had them served with steamed broccolini and the kids had mash with theirs. But they would be awesome with steamed asian veg finished with fish sauce and sesame seeds!

Long and slow is the key here – these are a fatty cut of meat in a tough area on the animal. But be warned they are a popular cut and NOT CHEAP anymore ( they used to be thrown away!!!)

Enjoy  L xoxo

Seeded “Bread”

Gluten and grain free this hefty seed loaf can provide you with a freezer filled with a grab pop in the toaster and go easy meal. I always have a stash of this and Soul Bread for when I just want toast days. Make it, slice it, freeze it. Its good.

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This loaf will become one of the basics. Its certainly a must to get you through your first couple of weeks. Its satisfying, super filling and loaded with seeds and good oils and fats. Its delicious served toasted with cultured butter or with lashings of the Offaly Good Pate that you will find located under breakfast ideas. One slice is more than enough and if you slice it correctly you will get 20 slices (including the ends – the best bits) to pop into snack size freezer bags so you don’t get portion distortion. This is the most basic of grind and mix recipes – and is inspired by  Brad Browns Banting Diet Seed Loaf. I have adapted it for Thermomix Users.

INGREDIENTS:

100 grams Flax Seeds

100 grams Sunflower Seeds

30 g Psyllium Husk Powder

250 grams of whole raw almonds ( if using a Thermomix) 1 Cup Almond Flour if not

250 ml of buttermilk (Full fat greek Yogurt also works incredibly well – pot set Bio dynamic if you can get it)

6 Whole Large Eggs ( at least 70 gram eggs)

1 teaspoon baking powder ( gluten and grain free)

1/2 teaspoon pink salt

Can be sweetened with Stevia or Xylitol if you wish ( only a pinch but) I find the natural sweetness of the nuts usually means this isn’t really required.

REGULAR METHOD:

Place your Flax and Sunflower seeds into a high speed blender or coffee grinder and blend to a powder consistency.

Place into a large bowl and add Almond Meal (flour), Psyllium Husk Powder, Salt and Baking Powder (Sweetner if using ) and mix well.

In a seperate bowl mix eggs and buttermilk together.

Combine Wet to Dry Ingredients.

Bake in a lined 20cm load pan in a moderate (150 -160 Degree) oven for 40 – 50 mins. All ovens are different. The bread will rise and be golden and cracked on the top and smell amazing. Insert a skewer if it comes out clean ITS done!

Place onto a cooling rack and allow to sit in cling overnight when cooled before slicing into portions. I love this hot from the oven with a good serving of Cultured Devondale Butter.

THERMOMIX INSTRUCTIONS:

Weigh your Almonds into your bowl. Mill Speed 8 for 30 Seconds. Scrape down bowl and blend again.

Weigh Flax Seed and Sunflower Seeds into Bowl ( if you are using psyllium husk instead of powder pop it in now too) Blend speed 8 for 20 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl.

Place Salt, Baking Powder and your choice of sweeter ( if using) into bowl. Mix on Speed 4 for 5 seconds.

Place Buttermilk ( or Yoghurt) into bowl. Blend Speed 4 10 Seconds.

Add eggs one at a time through m/c hole. While mixing on speed 4 for 1 min 30 seconds.

Scrape down sides of bowl and mix again.

BAKE IN OVEN AS ABOVE. Enjoy!

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION: (per serve 20 slices/serves)

Calories: 142   Carbs ( including Fibre) :7.1 g Net Carbs:2.7g  Protein:5.3g  Fat:11.2g

This has a “high carb” value per slice as it is loaded with fibre. The Net Carb Value ( subtract the fibre content) brings it down to be an excellent start to your day. Spread with Avocado and top with Feta and Grill. Use to dunk in a low carb Cauli Soup. This is an excellent little protein  starter and so easy for those in a hurry. Make it a staple in your prep!

Cheesus! Its Cheese Sauce

In the quest for a béchamel sauce without the flour ( no roux here) I have developed this gorgeous one with the help of my handy Thermomix. You don’t need a Thermy really but it certainly helps as this one could catch and burn on a stove and can be microwaved but you will have to watch and stir and stir…

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INGREDIENTS:

150g Good Quality Shredded Mozzerella

100 Grams Philadelphia Cream Cheese

100 Grams Pure Cream ( If you want a thick sauce halve this)

1 Sliced Green Shallot ( Spring Onion)

Salt & Pepper to taste

1 Tablespoon of Garlic Infused EVOO

METHOD:

Chuck it all in the Thermomix and mix speed 3 85 degrees 4 minutes.

Or put it on the stove and stir it over a low heat till it melts!

Calories – High – Carbs near to Zero.

 

Mustard Maple Chicken

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With the addition of Maple ( or a little honey)  –  ( this was to get my Honey Mustard Chicken Loving Kids) to eat this dish – this becomes an Orange Category Meal. To make it a green category and if you can handle the taste ( I can’t) add a liquid stevia.  In all honesty – the amount of maple per serve is minimal. And its purely for taste. I only use pure maple syrup – never the artificial stuff. AND remember if you invest in this ( its pricey) keep it in the fridge after you open it or it will go furry. If you want to sub Raw Cold Pressed Honey not only will you cut the carbs – but you add a natural locally sourced product to this dish that has amazing health benefits. Honey – when not processed is natures anti-biotic and anti-inflammatory.

INGREDIENTS:
500 g Lean chicken breast ( either sliced into pieces or chunks)
300 ml Cream For Cooking
1 Tablespoon Whole Grain Mustard
1/2 Tablespoon Djion Mustard
1 Tablespoon Pure Maple Syrup ( Must be the pure stuff to keep the carbs down)
100 ml water
1 tablespoon powdered chicken stock
Salt and Pepper to taste
METHOD:
Pan Fry your chicken in a decent  fry pan with a little cultured butter and olive oil and season to taste
Place chicken onto a plate to rest
De-glaze ( chuck water) into the hot frypan once the chicken has been removed.
Add Chicken Stock and Mustards to the Juices now in the pan let this reduce a little
Add Cream and mix well – bring to simmer and place chicken back into pan.
To lower the carb count I love to serve this with Zoodles ( or Zucchini Noodles) but my kids have it with sweet potato mash and steamed broccolini.
Nutritional Information Per Serve with Zucchini Noodles:
Calories: 337 Carbs(G):7.6 Fats(G):18.4 Protein(G):30.8

Refined Sugar Free New York Baked Cheesecake

cheesecake slice

As Cheesecakes go this one packs a punch – for the devotee of the cheesecake in all its gooey richness – this won’t crack a cracker for you so look away now – you’re gonna need more of the sweet stuff in it or on it. But for those who have trained their palate in turn with the Sugar Fighters – this is a rare treat for occasions where you need to take a showstopper to ooohhh and ahh over ( and maybe even drool a little).

When I originally popped in the ingredients – I had a screaming headache and was not at all well. So I do apologise for getting you all excited and thinking you could have more than one slice. Well you – can but you wouldn’t – because its rich. This is a serving size for 20 portions – I found half a portion to be more than enough. I do hope you all enjoy this – and remember this IS AN ORANGE LEVEL recipe and not an everyday food. And if you are LCHF pure – sub the maple syrup for a sweetener of your choice within the guidelines ( I don’t like chemical sweetness)

THIS RECIPE HAS METHODS FOR BOTH THERMOMIX AND TRADITIONAL METHODS:

INGREDIENTS: BASE

200 g Raw Almonds (Th)   or Almond Flour/Meal (Trad)

20g Psyllium Husk Powder

60 g Coconut Flour ( you can use shredded coconut if using a Thermomix)

80 g Cultured Butter melted together with 30g Coconut oil and 30 G Pure Maple Syrup.

METHOD: BASE

Thermomix – Blend Almonds, Psyllium & Coconut ( Flour or Shredded) 30 Seconds Speed 9.

Scrape down bowl – blend further 15 seconds if required ( needs to be crumb consistency)

Add Melted Butter and Oil and Maple Syrup to Bowl Blend 20 Seconds Speed 4. Scrape down sides of bowl repeat if required.

Pat into base of 20cm heavy based lined springform bake for 10 -15mins 160 -180 Degree Fan.

TRADITIONAL METHOD:

Place Dry ingredients in a bowl, Mix to combine. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and bake as above.

INGREDIENTS: Cheesecake ( 30g is approx 1 tablespoon)

400 g Philadelphia Cream Cheese ( Room Temp)

400 g Quark ( Can be found in Aldi or Woolworths) If you can’t get Quark Sub Ricotta

300 g Thickened Cream

6 Large Eggs

2 Scraped Vanilla Pods ( Or 30 g Vanilla Paste MUST Be Queen Organic)

30 g Pure Maple Syrup

30 g Lemon Juice Plus Zest Small Lemon

THERMOMIX Method:

To Clean Bowl. Add Philadelphia Cheese Blend 20 Seconds Speed 5

Add Quark repeat Add Cream Repeat ( scrape sides of bowl after each addition)

Add Vanilla Maple and Lemon Juice Repeat ( 20 Second Speed 5)

While  Mixing for 1 min 30 seconds on speed 5 add eggs one at a time through MC Hole.

Your base should now be out of the oven and be wrapped in foil and cooling in a deep sided baking dish . ( like this)

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Then you pour your cheesecake mix gently into the base

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Place into the pre heated oven ( it will still be going from the base) back it off to 140 degrees and into your dish place the contents of a recently boiled kettle. Be careful not to get any in your cheesecake ( the foil is wrapped around it firmly to prevent leaks).

Bake for 1 hour and 20 mins ( this will vary according to your oven) Its baked when it has a gentle wobble and the top is lightly browned. Cool on the bench and then in the fridge overnight before chocolate topping and decanting.

Once your ready top with 4 squares of 70% coco chocolate melted in 30 grams of double cream ( you can use coconut cream if you wish to make this “ganache”) this topping won’t set hard which makes this cake very easy to serve.

TRADITIONAL METHOD:

Beat your cream cheese until smooth – add your quark – repeat – add your cream – repeat. Add your Syrup/Lemon Juice and Zest and Vanilla.

Beat in eggs one at a time until a smooth consistency. Fill and bake as above.

ENJOY!!

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION: (Note using Approved sweetner products will cut the carbs even more)

Calories Per Slice: 267  Fats:22.3g  Carbs:8.9g Net Carb:6.3g  Protein:8.7g

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Chocolate Cheesecake Brownie Bites

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These delicious morsels were sent down the coal mine with the hubby and tried and tested by the harshest of critics. If they will give a coal miner a chocolate fix – they will fix anything..

These little Brownie Bites are made from dark bitter chocolate and have a hint of raw honey in them to take the edge off. Nutty dense and delicious – serve these babies along side some clotted or double cream.  This makes 16 in a square brownie tin and be aware – they are rich, they are fudgey and they are very grown up with their flavours.  This Recipe is for Thermomix and has traditional instructions.

INGREDIENTS:

Dry –

200 g Raw Almonds ( If using Thermomix) Almond Flour if not

50 g 95% Coco Chocolate ( I used Lindt)

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

2 tablespoons Cacao Powder ( or coco powder if you can’t source this)

Wet –

50 g Devondale Cultured Salted Butter

30 g Coconut Oil

250 g Philadelphia Cream Cheese

1 Tablespoon Raw Honey

4 x Large Eggs lightly beaten

THERMOMIX:

Weigh your Almonds and Chocolate into Bowl and Blend M/c on Speed 9 5 seconds.

Set aside and add cacao and baking powder mix well.

Without washing bowl place cream cheese ( at room temp), Butter , coconut oil and honey into your bowl.

Blend m/c on Speed 3 , 45 degrees for approx 1 min 30 seconds. Scrape down sides and repeat on 30 second intervals until melted.

Add dry ingredients back into bowl and blend speed 3 for 2 mins adding eggs through m/c hole one at a time.

Place into a lined brownie pan and cook in a moderate oven for 15 -20 mins.

TRADITIONAL:-

Add dry ingredients to bowl with well crushed dark chocolate ( you can blitz into shards with a food processor or stick blender).

Melt cream cheese, honey, butter and coconut oil in microwave – mix well. Add to dry ingredients.

Add eggs one at a time mixing well after each addition.

Bake as above.

To serve make a ganache out of the other half of your block of chocolate and a little cream – melted and mixed together. Pipe or drizzle onto your brownies and place a pecan on each square.

NUTRITOINAL INFORMATION:( Per bite makes 16)

Calories:146  Fat:13.6g Carbs Net:3.2 Protein:3.8

 

Beef Broccolini And Basil Stir Fry ( Serves 4)

I had a hankering for stir fry last night. I have this amazing new stove with an amazing wok burner and I haven’t used it in some time. A stir fry is so easy and convenient and does not need to come from a pre-packaged jar loaded with hidden sugars to taste good. With a little imagination and resourcefulness – you can find the ingredients to create a Gluten and Grain Free Sugar Free tasty quick meal. And if theres only two of you – enough for lunch leftovers the next day. I hope you enjoy this stir fry as much as we did.

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Ingredients:

500 g Beef Stir Fry Strips ( Purely for convenience – if you want to cut it use rump)

1 Bunch Broccolini Spilt and Steamed

1 Carrot Julienned

1 Zucchini Julienned

1/2 Bunch torn basil

Cobram Estate Roasted Onion Infused Olive Oil

MARINADE:

1 Teaspn Crushed Garlic

1 Teaspn Crushed Ginger

3 Tablespoons Tar10 Watermelon & Chilli Vinegar Finishing Sauce ( link here)

1 Tablespoon Coconut Aminos ( or Tamari if you do soy)

2 Tablespoons  Fish Sauce

METHOD:

Marinade your beef strips in the marinade for 10-15 minutes while you prepare your veg.

Add apron 1 Tablespoon Infused Oil to meat and heat your wok.

Batch fry your stir fry strips and set aside between batches.

When you do the last batch drop in your vegetables and a little more oil. Turn off the heat and toss through torn basil leaves.

Serve with brown rice for extra carbs if you require it ( do not do this if you are on Green Level) .

 

My Hubby and I add extra Sirarcha Sauce ( yes the super hot stuff) and a few chopped hot chilli to get this little metabolic monster boosting your system. Why? Its the way we like a stir fry. This would also be great with a fried egg and some coriander … ALL THE NOMS!

Such an easy weeknight after work dinner!

Cheers

Lyndal xoxo