650 gms medium lean ground beef
1/4 large onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 beef cube
1 tsp cayenne or chilli powder
2 tsp paprika powder
2 tsp cumin powder
1 1/2 tsp coriander powder
1 heaped tablespoon fried tomato paste or tomato puree
1 tablespoon Canola oil
Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

Heat Canola oil in a non-stick pan then fry the ground beef. Continuously turn them over using two spoons so that they don’t form lumps of meat. Keep frying until all the liquid is gone then add the minced onion and garlic. Fry on medium heat until fragrant then add the beef cube, paprika powder, cayenne or chilli powder, cumin powder and coriander powder. Mix well and taste for salt.

Add the fried tomato paste or tomato puree and heat through.

Serve with romaine boats and fresh salsa.

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup well-shaken low-fat (1 1/2%) buttermilk
2 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise
2 tablespoons nonfat sour cream
1 tablespoon packed fresh basil leaves, minced
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon sugar

DIRECTIONS

In a blender or food processor blend all ingredients and salt and pepper to taste until smooth. Dressing keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week. Serve dressing with soft lettuce, shellfish salad, or salmon salad.

They are really nice as an appetiser or even as a main meal with a salad. Its also not a bad dish for a small party at home…although it can get messy with the bones and the messy fingers!

Its not a hard dish to make but you might find this a bit too spicy or too sour! Obviously once you have tried making it using this recipe, you can fine tune it by playing around with the hot sauce and vinegar to suit your own taste buds!

INGREDIENTS
20 pieces chicken wings
Celery sticks
Canola oil for frying

For the hot sauce:
30 gms butter
200 ml hot sauce
1 tbsp garlic sauce
1 tsp white vinegar
1/4 tsp paprika

For the dip:
10 gms blue cheese
100 gms mayonnaise

DIRECTIONS

Cut the wings into 2 segments at the joint and clean them thoroughly. Drain all the water and pat each wing segment dry. Lay them on paper towels on a plate and allow them to come to room temperature. Pat them dry again with more paper towels. The goal here is to get the wings as dry as possible.

In deep fryer or in small saucepan, preheat oil to 350 degrees F.

Fry the chicken wings covered for 10 to 15 minutes or until they are cooked through and golden brown. Remove from pan onto a plate covered with paper towels to drain the oil.

Discard the oil and wipe the pan clean. Heat the butter, and when melted add the hot sauce, garlic sauce and paprika. Mix well and cook on low heat for a while allowing the sauce to reduce. Then add the vinegar and mix well. Taste for salt and add if required.

Switch off the heat and add the wings back to the sauce. Mix them in the sauce ensuring they are well covered with the sauce. Turn onto serving dish.

To prepare the dip, place the blue cheese and mayonnaise in a small bowl and mix well.

Serve the buffalo wings with the dip and celery sticks.

When I posted my accomplishment on Facebook, Kim Mitchell commented that she had a recipe for sugar-free low carb cheesecake and voila, today was the perfect day to try it. And it was amazing…just like the Tiramisu! Except for the bain marie, it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be.

Makes 8 servings

Nutritional Information:
Each serving has 2 grams effective carbohydrate plus 1 gram fibre, 6 grams protein, and 221 calories.

INGREDIENTS

500gms Philadelphia cream cheese (room temperature)
1/4 cup whipping cream or sour cream
3 eggs (preferably room temperature)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup Sweet & Low artificial sweetener or liquid equivalent

For the Crust:

1 cup almond flour
2 tbsp melted butter
1 tbsp Sweet & Low artificial sweetener or liquid equivalent

PREPARATION

Pre-heat oven to 190 C.

Combine all the ingredients for the crust, and press into the bottom of the small 6” spring form pan using a small glass.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until fragrant and beginning to brown. Remove and lower the oven heat to 175 C.

Put the cream cheese in the food processor and process until fluffy. Add other ingredients, scraping the bowl each time. When all ingredients are combined, scrape one more time, beat one more minute, and pour the mixture into the pan over the crust.

Wrap the bottom and sides of the spring form pan in foil, put it in a baking pan and pour boiling water around the sides. Bake at 175 C for 60 minutes, checking often. When the cake is firm to touch but slightly soft in the centre, remove from the oven.

Cool the cheesecake still inside the pan. When completely cool, remove the sides and chill the cake in the fridge for 2 – 3 hours. Turn onto a cake plate and serve!

When we’re on one of our diets (LOL) we don’t really want any sugar in our desserts! If possible we don’t even want any dessert. Actually, make that, we CAN’T have dessert!

So I found a way to make Tiramisu which we can eat when we are on any diet that calls for sugar-free and low carb. It was truly amazing!

The technique is the same as Gordon Ramsay’s Easy Tiramisu – but I’ve substituted sugar for “Sweet and Low” one for one sugar and instead of Savoiardi biscuits, I have used Karen’s Almond Cookies recipe which I’ve modified.

Tiramisu can be high in calories and fat but have one of these dessert glasses of Tiramisu and it’ll be ok!

MAKING the Almond Fingers

1 cup almond flour or sometimes called “almond meal” 
1 tbsp cooled, melted butter  
2 eggs  
2 tbsp Sweet & Low or equivalent liquid 
1 tsp baking powder  
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven at 175º C.

In a bowl, beat the eggs lightly then add all the other ingredients. Mix well into a paste. You can also use a food processor.

Grease an 8” x 8″ baking pan and spread the paste evenly.

It’s helpful to cover the paste with a sheet of plastic wrap, then gently press on the plastic to spread it evenly. Peel off the plastic and discard.

Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Let cool then turn it out and cut into even-sized fingers.

NOTE: These almond fingers can be frozen and they will keep for up to 6 months!

MAKING the Tiramisu Filling

(For 6 dessert glasses)

250 gms mascarpone cheese 
200 gms whipping cream
3 tbsp Sweet & Low or equivalent liquid
2 tsp vanilla extract 
3 shots Espresso, (or 3 tsp instant coffee made up to the size of 3 espresso coffees) cooled
Unsweetened chocolate for grating
6 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting

DIRECTIONS

Place the mascarpone cheese in a bowl and leave it to come to room temperature. It should become creamy and soft. Set aside.  

In another bowl, pour out the whipping cream, add the sugar and beat with a whisk or use an electric whisk. Whisk only until the cream starts to peak and stop – careful not to over whip as the cream will turn clumpy and eventually become butter! 

Add the vanilla extract to the the cream and blend it in. Add one shot of the cooled espresso or instant coffee and mix it in. 

Pour the cream mixture into the cheese and mix everything into a smooth creamy consistency. 

MAKING UP THE TIRAMISU

Get your dessert glasses ready. 

In a flat container, mix the balance of the espresso or instant coffee with 100 ml of water. Dip each finger into the coffee mix. Soak only one side but make sure that its not dripping liquid. Place at the bottom of the dessert glass.

I used four fingers for each of my dessert glasses. You can break each finger into smaller pieces to make it fit in your glass. 

Divide the filling into six portions and spoon in a portion into each glass and flatten it out with a small spatula.

I only used one layer but you can create another layer by soaking another set of the cookies and placing them on top of the first layer of filling. Follow with another layer of filling.

Chill for at least 20 minutes. Just before serving, grate a bit of chocolate over the top then dust with cocoa powder.

NOTE: To make one single Tiramisu in a dessert bowl, line the whole bottom of the bowl with the coffee dipped fingers, spoon the filling over it then repeat 2-3 times till the bowl is full in alternating layers. Chill for at least 4-5 hours or overnight.

Decorate just before serving.

INGREDIENTS

4 ounces almond flour, 1 cup
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 eggs, separated
2/3 cup granular Splenda or equivalent liquid
1 teaspoon vanilla

DIRECTIONS

Grease a 11×17" baking sheet and line with parchment paper or a silicone baking liner. Grease the parchment, if using, as well as the sides of the pan.

Combine the dry ingredients in a small bowl. In a large metal bowl, beat the egg whites to firm peaks. In a separate large bowl, using the same beaters, beat the yolks and Splenda on high speed until thick and lemon colored, 4 minutes. Beat in the vanilla. Gently fold in the dry ingredients.

Fold 1/4 of the egg whites into the batter. Fold 1/2 of the remaining whites into the batter until barely combined, then fold in the remaining egg whites until well combined.

Be careful not to over mix and deflate the meringue. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.

Bake at 350º 20-25 minutes or until golden brown, firm and the top springs back when pressed lightly. Cool and cut into 32 pieces.

Makes 32 servings
Can be frozen

With granular Splenda:
Per Serving: 37 Calories; 3g Fat; 2g Protein; 1g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 1g Net Carbs
Per Batch: 1184 Calories; 87g Fat; 62g Protein; 44g Carbohydrate; 13g Dietary Fiber; 31g Net Carbs

With liquid Splenda:
Per Serving: 35 Calories; 3g Fat; 2g Protein; 1g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; .5g Net Carbs
Per Batch: 1120 Calories; 87g Fat; 62g Protein; 28g Carbohydrate; 13g Dietary Fiber; 15g Net Carbs

Anyhow, the chicken cooked this way not only smells good, it tastes really good. Now I need to figure out how to keep the chicken from getting dry. There must be a way…

By the way, the best Caesar Salad of all time is at the Terrace Grill in the Marriott Hotel in Kuwait. They make it right in front of you and it is simply sumptuous!

INGREDIENTS
Serves 4 

400 gms Romaine lettuce, cleaned and cut
4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
Fresh Parmesan cheese, sliced

Cajun Chicken Marinade:
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon oregano
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Drizzle olive oil
Salt to taste

Combine everything in a bowl and taste for salt. Make some cuts across the chicken breasts so the marinade penetrates. Mix chicken breasts with the marinade and place in an airtight bag overnight for extra spicy flavour. Otherwise at least an hour will be fine.

Grill 15 minutes each side then remove to cool. Slice and put aside.

Caesar Dressing:

4 tbsp light mayonnaise
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp anchovy paste (comes in a tube) or 4 – 5 anchovies without the oil
Salt to taste

To prepare the dressing, mix everything using a fork. Taste for salt. Add 2 – 3 tbsp water and mix well.

To serve the salad:

Mix the salad with dressing and put in individual plates. Arrange Parmesan and chicken slices. And serve!

Since we started the South Beach Diet, we’ve discovered that we could eat really interesting stuff AND lose weight. Well, I still can’t eat pasta but I’m getting there.

We discovered Kalyn’s Kitchen when we Googled for South Beach meal plans and recipes…she has an exhaustive collection of recipes. The most interesting of which was her egg muffins which she has revisited over and over again.

I knew I had to try it because I hated fried eggs or omelettes for breakfast and there were only a few things I could do with hard-boiled eggs for breakfast. Her egg muffins seemed easy to make and could be kept in the fridge for up to a week, or even frozen. They can be re-heated in the microwave or eaten cold. Its something you make in batches, stick them in the fridge, eat for breakfast, eat as a snack and best still, hubby could take it to work for snack or lunch!

So last weekend we bought a ton of eggs and a muffin pan. Tonight I have made it and it turned out great.

INGREDIENTS

9 large eggs
1/2 medium-sized red pepper
1/2 medium-sized yellow pepper
20 gms onion
20 gms spring onions
Shredded mozarella or cheddar cheese
Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 180C.

Mince the red and yellow peppers and onion in a food processor or chop them finely. Slice the spring onions finely. Beat the eggs well in a spouted container. Add salt to taste.

Distribute the cheese in each muffin segment just enough to cover the base. Next add 1 – 1.5 teaspoon of the minced vegetables and sprinkle the spring onions.

Pour the beaten egg in – try to distribute evenly up to around 2/3 of each segment. Bake in preheated oven for 20 – 25 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

INGREDIENTS

250 gms fresh button mushrooms

1 whole garlic

5 – 6 guindilla (dried little Spanish peppers)

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 capful sherry vinegar

Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

Wash the mushrooms and cut into quarters. If they are larger, cut into 6 pieces each.  Peel the garlic cloves and chop coarsely.

Heat the olive oil in a heavy non-stick pan and sauté the chopped garlic. Crush the guindilla and add to the garlic. Fry for a short while on medium heat until fragrant.

Add the mushrooms and salt to taste and fry slowly, turning it regularly, until the mushrooms have shrunk and lost part of its liquid. Add the sherry vinegar and continue cooking until all the water has dried.

Serve hot.