Italian Beef Stew

2 lbs. chuck roast, cut into cubes
2 tsp. + 3 tsp. olive oil
salt and pepper to season meat
2 cans (14 oz.) Beef broth
29 oz can diced tomatoes with juice
1 T Italian seasoning
1 tsp. ground fennel seed (optional, but recommended)
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green pepper, chopped
2 small zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced into thick slices
1/2 lb. (or more) mushrooms, washed and cut in thick slices
3-4 T chopped fresh or frozen basil
(Or Basil Pesto)
good quality balsamic vinegar to drizzle on at the table, optional

Heat the 2 tsp of olive oil in a large non-stick pan and brown the beef cubes over medium-high heat until the meat is browned on all sides. Season the meat with salt & black pepper as it cooks. Don't rush this step; browning the meat adds flavor. 

Add the browned meat to the stew pot. Add one can of beef broth to the frying pan and cook a minute, scraping to loosen the browned bits of meat that stick to the pan, then add that to the stew pot along with the other can of beef broth. Add the petite dice tomatoes with juice, Italian seasoning, and ground fennel. Stir. Turn heat to medium-low & simmer 60 minutes, or slightly longer if the meat doesn't feel tender when you pierce it with a fork.

While the stew simmers, peel and chop the onion and cut out the stem and seeds of the green pepper and chop. Cut ends off the zucchini, cut in half lengthwise, and cut into thick slices. Wipe mushrooms w/ wet paper towel and cut into thick slices or half slices.

When you're ready to finish the stew, heat 1 tsp. olive oil in the frying pan, add the onions and green peppers and cook a few minutes over medium-high heat, then add them to the stew. Heat the second teaspoon of olive oil, add the zucchini and cook until it's slightly browned on both sides, then add to stew. Then add the mushroom slices, cook until they have released their liquid and are starting to brown, then add to stew.

Simmer about 15 minutes, then add the chopped basil and cook a few minutes more. Serve hot, with good quality balsamic vinegar to drizzle on at the table if you'd like.

*Crockpot version:
Add browned meat to the crockpot. Cook 4 hrs on high or 6 hrs on low or until tender. Continue with remaining steps, cooking vegetables & adding them to crockpot. Cook a few more minutes in crockpot then stir in basil.

Easy caramel sauce

1 can Sweetened Cond. Milk

Remove label from jar. Place the unopened can in the crockpot & cover can with water. Cook on high temp for 5 hrs.

Homemade Caramel Sauce

1 cup brown sugar

8 tablespoons butter, cut into cubes

10 tablespoons heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In a medium saucepan over low-medium heat, combine all the ingredients together (except vanilla) with a wooden spoon or silicon spatula. Once the mixture boils and bubbles, allow to simmer and thicken for about 5 to 7 minutes until it reaches a caramel like consistency (stir only once or twice in between). Stir in vanilla. Be patient and the caramel will come together eventually.
Remove from heat immediately once it comes together and allow to cool. The mixture will get thicker as it cools. Store in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Marshmallow frosting

4 large egg whites (not from a carton)

1 Cup granulated sugar

1 pinch of salt

1/4 t Cream of tartar

1 tsp vanilla

Add egg whites, sugar, salt & cream of tartar to a double boiler until hot. Pour into a mixer bowl & whip for 6-7 minutes adding vanilla. It will become nice & fluffy. Frost cupcakes. Will hold up for about 1-2 days.

Basic vanilla frosting (LC)

1 Tbsp 1/3 less fat cream cheese
2 heaping Tbsp 0% Greek yogurt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp THM Super Sweet Blend

Mix well until smooth.

Cream Soda GGMS

1 cup water (plus more water to fill the quart jar when done mixing the ingredients)
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp THM Integral Collagen
3 doonks THM Pure Stevia Extract Powder
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp caramel extract
1/2 tsp THM MCT oil
1 small pinch mineral salt 

Maple & Pecan fudge

C

Recipe from: https://ketodietapp.com

• 3 cups pecans or walnuts 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp sugar-free maple extract
• pinch salt
• ¼ cup powdered Erythritol or Swerve
• ½ cup unsalted butter or coconut oil
• 1 ¼ cup chopped pecans + 16 pecan halves
• 10-20 drops liquid stevia (I like NuNaturals or SweetLeaf)

Mix all together in food processor except additional chopped pecans & pecan halves. Stir in chopped pecans. Spread in 8X8 pan & place pecan halves on top in 4x4 rows. Chill & cut into 16 bars.

Low Carb Sweetener Conversion Chart

I like to use this chart when converting regular sugar to natural low carb sugars.

Keto Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

Recipe from alldayidreamaboutfood.com

3 Tbsp coconut flour 
1 t pumpkin pie spice 
1/4 t baking powder 
1/4 t baking soda 
Pinch salt 
1 c pumpkin puree 
1/3 c Swerve Sweetener  (I use 2 T THM Gentle sweet-erythritol, stevia, xylitol blend)
1/4 c heavy cream, half and half, or full fat coconut milk 
1 large egg 
1/2 t vanilla 

1. Preheat oven to 350 and line 6 muffin cups with paper liners.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the coconut flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk pumpkin puree, sweetener, cream, egg, and vanilla until well combined. Whisk in dry ingredients. If your batter seems very thin, whisk in an additional Tablespoon of coconut flour.
4. Divide among prepared muffin cups and bake 25 to 30 minutes, until just puffed and barely set. Remove from oven and let cool in pan.
5. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving. Dollop whipped cream generously on top.

These are probably one of my favortite low carb desserts! Tastes just like pumpkin pie! Next time I might try to make it as a regular pie.

  Total NET CARBS = 3.43 g.

I also added 1 T sugar free  Café al Fresca vanilla syrup

90 second bread (low carb)

3 T almond flour
1 egg
1/2 t. baking powder
1 T. butter

Mix together & cook in greased microwave safe dish for 90 seconds. Let cool.
I like to slice this horizontally in 2 slices & toast it.

* I have a small 4X4 square dish that I use, that way it comes out square.

Ranch dressing

1 cup Mayonnaise
1/2 cup Sour Cream
1/4 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
1/2 teaspoon White Vinegar
1/2 teaspoon of Black Pepper
1/4 teaspoon of Paprika
1 clove of Garlic, chopped fine and mashed
1/4 cup of fresh, finely chopped Parsley
2 tablespoons fresh, finely chopped Dill
1 tablespoons fresh, finely chopped Chives

Blend all ingredients together & serve.

Healthy Mayo

1 Cup Olive Oil – do not use extra virgin

1 egg yolk

1 tablespoon Lemon juice

1 tablespoon Water

1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard

1 pinch of salt

Pour oil into medium bowl. Add remaining ingredients & blend with stick blender until thickened.

Low Carb Zucchini Brownies

Recipe from: https://cafedelites.com

1 cup finely shredded zucchini (use the smallest blade on a cheese grater. It should look like a puree).

6 tablespoons butter , melted
2 tablespoons coconut oil , measured in melted state
1 large egg
1/2 cup natural granulated sweetener (if using replacement sugar sub as measuring 1/3 c sugar. I use 2 T sweet blend & 1 1/2 t gentle sweet)
1 tablespoon vanilla
3/4 cup peanut flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
4 squares Lindt 90% chocolate, cut into chunks (I don't add this)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper, or lightly grease with oil spray.
Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the zucchini, butter, oil, egg, sweetener (or sugar), and vanilla until well combined. Add the peanut flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt; folding through slowly until just combined. The batter will be thick but shouldn't be dry. (It depends on how much liquid your zucchini has! If too dry, add 1-2 tablespoons of water). Fold in half of the chocolate chunks; pour batter into prepared pan; sprinkle remaining chocolate chunks over the top.

Bake for 30 minutes or until the brownies spring back when gently touched. (If testing with a toothpick, they will be very moist in the centre BUT they do set and harden when removed from the oven.)

Allow to cool completely (about half an hour); cut into squares and chill to semi-set.

If storing at room temperature they're best eaten within 2 days. If refrigerating, they last 3-4 days

Can double recipe & bake in 9X13 pan for 35 min.

Zuppa Toscana Soup (Low Carb)

1 lb Hot or Sweet Italian sausage
1/2 lb fresh spinach, chopped (sometimes I just use a box of frozen chopped spinach)
2 c. cauliflower, cut in florets
2 Qts ckicken broth
1/2 c cream, optional
Salt & Pepper
Serves 6

Cook sausage in soup pot. Drain fat. Add cauliflower & broth & cook until cauliflower is tender. Add spinach & cook until it's wilted. Add salt & pepper to taste. You can add cream to make it more creamy, but I usually don't add it. You can add any additional spices that you want: onion powder, garlic, etc but I find that the sausage I buy has good enough flavor that it doesn't really need anything else.

Stuffed mushrooms

1 lb baby bella mushrooms
1/2 lb country sausage
4 oz cream cheese, cubed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wipe mushrooms off with a damp paper towel. Remove stems. Chop stems up & set aside. Cook sausage until browned. Add chopped mushrooms. Stir in cubed cream cheese until combined. Place filling in mushrooms to overfill them. Place in greased 8X8 pan & bake for 15-20 min. Yum!