Cooking

Are you tired of having the same old thing every week? Tired of steak? Tired of salad? Tired of the same flavors? If you answered yes to any of these questions, grab your apron, peel some shrimp, and let’s get frying.

Frying? What frying, you say?

Deep-Fried Coconut Shrimp!

How can a person (namely me), forget one of her favorite dishes and let the last 10 years go by without making it once? How can that happen? I used to make this dish ALL THE TIME! Why did I suddenly stop? I have NO idea. However, I can tell you that I've recently re-discovered this past favorite and am happy to report that it converts to low carb VERY well. The mystery dish in question?

Chicken Divan, of course!

Are you guys ready for the 4th of July? Ready to munch on veggies and dip? Ready to down a few burgers dripping with cheese? Ready to guzzle water while everyone else is guzzling beer? Ready to enjoy your favorite low carb cheesecake while.....wait a minute! Cheesecake? Again?

Yes, yes, I know. You love cheesecake. So do I. But let's face the facts, we all need a little something different once in a while, right? We can't be eating cheesecake for dessert at every single family gathering for the rest of our lives can we?

Sawat dee kha! This phrase is the traditional "hello"greeting of Thailand. The Land of Smiles. Thailand is one of my favorite places to go because the people are kindest, the shopping is to die for and the food is colorful and bursting with flavor.

Chinese is actually my overall favorite Asian cuisine but nothing beats grilled up pork strips with a spicy sauce made of coconut milk, peanut butter, and nam pla (fish sauce). Actually, this dish is made in many Southeast Asian countries including Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. What I'd like to make for you today is my own low carb version of a classic Pork Satay with Spicy Thai Peanut Sauce. If you like peanut butter and coconut, you're sure to be in heaven!

I love fall. The weather is temperate, the fun of the holidays is around the corner, and I feel like cooking again. Cooking is one of my favorite things but when you live in the desert, summer just isn't the right time for it.

Lately, I've been thinking of my favorite fall comfort foods and decided I was ready for some baked brie with all the trimmings. Only this time, it was going to be fast because I was going to prepare the almonds and garlic on the stovetop and melt the brie in the microwave.

What could be better than preparing a yummy gourmet snack in under 15 minutes? Not one thing.  

A little high in carbs for everyday enjoyment, but these make a great special holiday treat.

One the greatest things about low carbing is being able to use full fat, delicious salad dressings. And with spring and summer just around the corner, I'm sure many of us will begin eating more and more of them and sometimes, even make them a meal.

I have a couple of favorite bottled salad dressings but sometimes, I'm in the mood for something a little more special.

I don't know about you guys, but I like having SOFT butter out on the counter at ALL TIMES. You're not supposed to do this because the butter CAN go rancid but I've always done it anyhow.

Then, I started feeling guilty. Here I am trying my best to improve my health and all the while eating "possibly tainted" creamy goodness. OK, I'll get a butterbell.

Well, that was a great idea until I saw how much butter they hold. I mean really, let's get SERIOUS. I use 1/2 that much butter in one sit down meal and I have 3 other people to consider. There was no way I was going to spend $30-$40 on something that was going to be a chore to keep constantly filled.

Pizza fans, this one is for you. My husband is a pizza lover from way back and ever since starting low carb in 2001, we've been trying to come up with a GOOD pizza substitute.

It didn't have to be perfect but it did have to have all the right flavor and a good "mouth feel" that would remind us of our favorite pizza joint.

A Fresh Idea for Strawberries

Strawberries are often the first fruit we low carbers add back into our daily eating plan and what a great choice they are. Fiber, vitamin C, potassium and even calcium are found in this little powerhouse of a food.

Whether you like your strawberries with whipped cream, over cheesecake or blended into a morning smoothie, they are probably a staple in your low glycemic household. But, as wonderful as all these options are, what else can a hungry low carber do with these declicious ruby jewels? Plenty.