The War on Flavor - Low-Carb, great tasting foods.

[Miss Esa]

~*~ The War On Flavor ~*~

Just because I am on a low-carb diet doesn't mean I have to give up food that tastes good. With some simple substitution and research it's easy to come up with good tasting, low carb meals. Please feel free to share your low-carb recipes, tips, or even struggles that you have faced.

I am not here to convert you to a low carb diet, that is a decision for you and your nutritionist to make. I am here looking to share with others who are on a low-carb or who have been on a low-carb diet in the past for any reason.

Rules:
* Please do not come in here and bash the low-carb diet. This thread is for sharing recipes and talking about the low-carb lifestyle.
* You may not come in here and tell people that there are better dietary choices. Some people have a low-carb lifestyle due to medical reasons.
* Follow the terms of service and the rules and guidelines of Gaia.
* Please don't spam/flame this thread.
* Don't post any rude, harsh, or disrespectful things.
* Don't bash or patronize anyone in this thread, treat others with respect.
* Please don't advertise, bump, or post anything unrelated to this thread.

[Miss Esa]

~*~ Information on Low-Carbohydrate Diets ~*~

Low-carbohydrate diets or low-carb diets are dietary programs that restrict carbohydrate consumption usually for weight control or for the treatment of obesity In addition to obesity, low-carbohydrate diets are used as treatments for some other conditions like diabetes, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Low-carbohydrate diets usually restrict carbohydrate intake to 20g to 60g per day.

The Atkins Diet - The Atkins diet involves limited consumption of 'net' carbohydrates to switch the body's metabolism from metabolizing glucose as energy over to converting stored body fat to energy. This process is called ketosis. Net carbohydrates can be calculated from a food source by subtracting fiber and sugar alcohols (which are shown to have a smaller effect on blood sugar levels) from total carbohydrates.

Ketogenic Diet - The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that in medicine is used primarily to treat difficult-to-control epilepsy in children. The diet mimics aspects of starvation by forcing the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. This diet contains a 4:1 ratio by weight of fat to combined protein and carbohydrate. This is achieved by excluding high-carbohydrate foods such as starchy fruits and vegetables, bread, pasta, grains and sugar, while increasing the consumption of foods high in fat such as cream and butter.

The Zone Diet - This diet centers on a "40:30:30" ratio of calories obtained daily from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, respectively. Many studies over the past several years have shown that it can produce weight loss at reasonable rates. The Zone Diet is much less restrictive in total carbohydrate intake than the Atkins diet is.

Other diets with similar views:
The Protein Power Lifeplan
The Primal Blueprint
The Go Lower Diet
The Earth Diet
The South Beach Diet

[Miss Esa]

~*~ Main Dishes ~*~

Baked Chicken Parmigiana
Ingredients:
1/3 cup(s) bread crumbs or topping
1/4 cup(s) cheese, Parmesan, grated
1/4 teaspoon pepper, black
2 cloves of copped garlic
2 tablespoon olive oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
cooking spray
1/2 cup(s) sugar free spaghetti sauce

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 425°.
2. Heat a large baking sheet in oven for 5 minutes.
3. Combine first 3 ingredients in a shallow dish.
4. Place garlic and oil in a small glass bowl, and microwave at HIGH 30 seconds or until warm and fragrant.
5. Dip chicken in garlic oil; dredge in breadcrumb mixture or topping. Coat preheated baking sheet with cooking spray, and place chicken on pan. Coat chicken with cooking spray.
6. Bake at 425° for 25 minutes or until done and golden. Serve with pasta sauce.

Low Carb Topping - There are two ways to pull this off. You can either use pork rinds or low carb bread.

Pork Rinds -
1 bag or pork rinds, crushed

Low Carb Bread -
4 slices, toasted until hard, crushed

Corned Beef and Cabbage
Ingredients:
3 pounds corned beef brisket with spice packet
5 carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch pieces
]1 large head cabbage, cut into small wedges

Directions
Place corned beef in large pot and cover with water. Add the spice packet that came with the corned beef. Cover pot and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer approximately 50 minutes per pound or until tender.
Add carrots, and cook until the vegetables are almost tender. Add cabbage and cook for 15 more minutes. Remove meat and let rest 15 minutes.
Place vegetables in a bowl and cover. Add as much broth (cooking liquid reserved in the Dutch oven or large pot) as you want. Slice meat across the grain. Enjoy.

[Miss Esa]

~*~ Side Dishes ~*~

Roasted Artichokes
I like to make these with the Baked Chicken Parmigiana

4 Artichokes
1 lemon
2 garlic cloves , minced
2 -3 basil leaves , chopped
1 -2 tablespoon olive oil
sea salt & fresh ground pepper , to taste
½ cup chicken stock or ½ cup vegetable stock

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Combine the olive oil, basil, minced garlic, lemon zest and juice, sea salt and fresh cracked pepper in a bowl. Mix until it becomes a paste.
With kitchen scissors, trim all the sharp ends off of each leaf. Wash the artichoke well in cool water. Slice down the center to form two halves.
Clean out all the fuzzy hairs and smaller leaves with a spoon then immediately rub all the cut areas with the zested and juiced lemon.
Coat the baking dish with olive oil.
Rub the paste all over the artichoke halves and inside the leaves.
Place each artichoke half top side down in a baking dish.
Pour the stock in the dish and cover with a lid or tin foil.
Bake for 45-50 minutes or until soft and tender.


Roasted Zucchini Parmigiana

1 – Zucchini
2 tbsp – Parmesan cheese grated
a sprinkle of a spice of your liking
Non-stick cooking spray

1 serving = 1 cup – 4.8 net carbs

Turn your oven to broil. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and then coat with some non-stick cooking spray. Place the zucchini slices out on the pan, then spritz with them with the butter spray or you can drizzle oil over the vegetable. Sprinkle on the parmesan cheese, add the spice of your liking (I used pepper flakes because we love heat in this place) and then pop it in the oven. Broil for a few minutes – until the cheese starts to brown. Enjoy it while it’s warm!

[Miss Esa]

~*~ Snacks ~*~

Lunch Meat Roll-Ups

This is one of my favorite lunches ever, and its so easy to make
What you will need:
Sliced lunch meat
Cream cheese

How to make:
Lay lunch meat slice out and spread with cream cheese.
Roll up the lunch meat.
Enjoy.

I tend to use salami when I make these because the salami holds together quite well, and is damn good with cream cheese.

[Miss Esa]

~*~ Desserts and Treats ~*~

Low-Carb Crust
Ingredients:
1 cup Almond Meal
2 Tbsp Butter
2 Tbsp Artificial sweetner
Preparation:
Blend ingredients. press into bottom of greased pan.

Low Carb Cheesecake

This is a pretty basic cheesecake recipe.
Ingredients:
3 packages of room temperature reduced fat cream cheese
4 eggs preferably room temperature
1 and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 and 1/3 cups of artificial sweetener (Slpenda)
1/4 cup sour cream
Foil Pie Pan

Preparation:
Heat oven to 375 F.
Mix together cream cheese, Splenda, and extracts. Then add eggs and beat until creamy.
Pour into the greased foil pie pan.
Bake for 35 minutes at 375°F or until cracked and golden brown.

[Miss Esa]

~*~ Low-carb Finds ~*~

NoOdle - Calorie Free, Carb Free, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Casein Free & High in Fiber! Noodles & Pasta.
Typical pastas and noodles are made of starch, so they have plenty of calories and carbohydrates. But NoOodle™ Noodles are made from high-fiber glucomannan flour and water, which are both calorie-free ingredients.

[Miss Esa]

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[Miss Esa]

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[Miss Esa]

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[Ratttking]

Based on my experience with the Atkins diet, I would highly recommend it.

[Ratttking]

Miss Esa

~*~ Low-carb Finds ~*~

NoOdle - Calorie Free, Carb Free, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Casein Free & High in Fiber! Noodles & Pasta.
Typical pastas and noodles are made of starch, so they have plenty of calories and carbohydrates. But NoOodle™ Noodles are made from high-fiber glucomannan flour and water, which are both calorie-free ingredients.

Also called konnyaku, these have a wonderful texture and take on the flavor of whatever sauce they are served with. I first saw them on Iron Chef. You can find them at Japanese markets.

[Miss Esa]

Ratttking

Also called konnyaku, these have a wonderful texture and take on the flavor of whatever sauce they are served with. I first saw them on Iron Chef. You can find them at Japanese markets.

I am having such a hard time finding these again. My Grandma (of all people!) found them at Jewel last week and I have been to several grocery stores since, with no luck.
I'll be sure to check the next time I'm at the Japanese market, thanks!

[Teh Angry Monster]

The Best BLT Ever

Ingredients

2 slices bacon, cut in half
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 slices low carb bread, toasted
2 lettuce leaves
3 slices tomato

Directions

Place bacon in a skillet over medium heat. Mix together the mustard powder, curry powder and red pepper flakes. As soon as you turn the bacon over, sprinkle the spice mixture onto the cooked side of the bacon.
Place the lettuce and tomato onto one slice of toasted bread, then top with the seasoned cooked bacon. Top with the other slice of toasted bread.