Apple Cranberry Crumble : Low Carb Recipe

Dr. Davis writes:

"Apple, cranberry, and cinnamon: the perfect combination of tastes and scents for winter holidays! 

I took a bit of carbohydrate liberties with this recipe. The entire recipe yields a delicious cheesecake-like crumble with 59 “net” grams carbohydrates (total carbs – fibre); divided among 10 slices, that’s 5.9 grams net carbs per serving. (To reduce carbohydrates, the molasses in the crumble is optional, reducing total carbohydrate by 11 grams.) 

Always taste your batter to test sweetness, since sweeteners vary in sweetness from brand to brand and your individual sensitivity to sweetness depends on how long you’ve been wheat-free/low carb. (The longer you’ve been wheat-free, the less sweetness you desire.) 

Makes 10 servings 

Crust and crumble topping:

3 cups almond meal *

1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter, softened

1/4 cup Virtue Sweetener (or other sweetener equivalent to 1 cup sugar)

1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon molasses

1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Dash sea salt 
Filling:

16 ounces cream cheese, softened

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons Virtue Sweetener (or other sweetener equivalent to ½ cup sugar)

1 Granny Smith apple (or other variety)

1 cup fresh cranberries

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
Method: 
1. Preheat oven to 350° F. 180º C. Gas Mark 4
2. In large bowl, combine almond meal, butter, sweetener, cinnamon, molasses, vanilla, salt and mix.
3. Grease a 9½-inch tart or pie pan. Using approximately 1 cup of the almond meal mixture, form a thin bottom crust with your hands or spoon. (Dip hands or spoon in water to smooth more easily.)
4. In another medium-sized bowl, combine cream cheese, eggs, and sweetener and mix with spoon or mixer at low-speed. Pour into tart or pie pan.
5. Core apple and slice into very thin sections. Arrange in circles around the edge of the cream cheese mixture, working inwards. Distribute cranberries over top, then sprinkle cinnamon over entire mixture.
6. Gently layer remaining almond meal crumble evenly over top. Bake for 30 minutes or until topping lightly browned." 

Both this recipe, and a low carb Cranberry sauce recipe, can be seen here 

If you need help with weight/measurement conversion, see here 

Looking through this blog (and inter-net) you will find many recipes that use low carb flours*, and often when you first start a low carb diet, you may feel confused with which low carb flours to use. You may never have used any of them before and how to use them properly can be daunting. Low carb flours don’t behave like wheat flour, and how to use them in your old regular high carb recipes is a common question.

Libby, at 'Ditch The Carbs' site has a very good article called, 'The Ultimate Guide To Low Carb Flours', which I'm sure many readers will find both interesting and helpful ... you can find it here

Dear reader, a variety of articles, and recipe ideas, are within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues please take these into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use a reliable meter.

All the best Jan

Courgette (Zucchini) and Feta Bakes : Low Carb

Fresh courgettes and crumbly, creamy Greek feta make these egg bakes ideal for a simple lunch or picnic. Why not make a big batch and freeze some for later, as they can even be packed up in lunchboxes for the kids, too. 

Ingredients 
Serves/Makes 12

3 medium courgettes (zucchini), coarsely grated
10 eggs, beaten
handful mint, chopped
100g (3 1/2oz) feta cheese

olive oil, for greasing 

Method

1. Preheat the oven to gas 4, 180°C, fan 160°C.
2. Sprinkle ½ tsp salt over the courgettes and leave for 5 mins. Put in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze tightly to remove the excess water. Put in a large bowl and stir through the eggs, mint and most of the feta and season, if you like.
3. Lightly grease a 12-hole muffin tin. Fill the moulds and sprinkle with feta. Bake for 12-15 mins, then grill for 2-3 mins until the cheese is golden. Leave to cool a little then carefully ease out of muffin tin and serve. Can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 1 month. 

Freezing and defrosting guidelines

Bake according to the recipe. Allow to cool completely. Wrap well in clingfilm and tin foil (to prevent freezer burn) and freeze for up to 1 month. 

Loosen the tin foil and clingfilm but leave to defrost in packaging at room temperature for several hours before serving. If you wish to serve the baked goods warm, place them on a baking sheet for 10 minutes in a moderate oven.

Nutritional Information

Fat 8g  Protein 7.9g  Carbs 0.7g

From an original idea here

If you’re already living the LCHF lifestyle, you will know that courgettes are low in carbs, just 2g. carb per 100g, and they are probably high up on your must buy shopping (or growing) list. They may not pack the nutritional punch of other green vegetables (broccoli, kale etc.) but they do contain significant levels of potassium to control blood pressure and vitamin C to boost your immune system. 

The courgette’s thin dark skin is high in soluble fibre, which slows digestion and stabilises blood sugar levels – potentially getting rid of those pesky mid-afternoon sweet cravings. Soluble fibre can also prevent constipation and help with those horrible IBS symptoms so many of us endure.

More to read about courgettes/zucchini here 

Dear reader, you will find a variety of recipe ideas, and articles, within this blog. Please note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. 

All the best Jan

Christmas leftovers that garden birds will love !

As regular readers know, this blog brings a variety of articles, studies, thoughts, photographs, music and recipes! It is presented in a magazine style - we hope something for everyone. Our main focus is about the Low Carb Higher (Healthy) Fat lifestyle, LCHF for short, and you can read more about that here

But this post is about our lovely garden birds ...

"Many of us finish the Christmas period with a fridge full of leftovers and an overflowing box of decorations to go back in the loft, but you can transform much of this excess into a festive gift for garden birds. Insects and berries can be scarce at this time of year, so extras on the bird table will be welcomed, while nesting materials will come in handy from late January onwards.

photo credit Nataba

Mince pies

Birds will happily tuck into broken-up pieces of this festive favourite. Pastry, whether it is cooked or uncooked, is a good energy source for birds as long as it is made with animal fats (butter or lard), as vegetable fats don’t provide enough for cold months. Dried fruits, such as raisins, sultanas and currants, are popular with blackbirds, song thrushes and robins. Soak dried fruit in water first to make it softer.

Door wreath

There’s no need to ditch your Christmas wreath come Twelfth Night. If it is made with natural foliage, so much the better, but even one made from synthetic materials can be transformed into a DIY nesting kit for birds. Wind some straw or dried grasses around it, and push in moss, undyed feathers and pieces of sheep’s wool picked from fences. You can even snag combings of pet hair onto the twigs. Move it from the front door and hang it from a tree in the back garden where birds will use the contents for nesting materials when the breeding season starts in February. 

Suet 

If you’ve made your Christmas pudding in the traditional way, then use any leftover beef suet to make fat balls.

• Gently melt it in a saucepan and add bird seed (two parts seed to one part suet).

• Pour the mixture into moulds (empty yogurt pots will do) and leave to cool in the fridge.

• If you decorated your hearth with pine cones, then roll these in the mixture and hang from trees outside (just make sure they haven’t been sprayed with paint or covered in glitter, as both can be toxic to birds).

DON'T use any fat left in the roasting tin after cooking the Christmas turkey or Boxing Day beef – cooled solidified fat, combined with meat juices, can easily smear onto a bird’s feathers and interfere with their waterproofing and insulation.

photo credit Andrew Howe

Roast potatoes
Of course, it is a rare occasion that any roasties are left uneaten after the roast dinners, but the birds will happily snap them up if any are available. Jacket potatoes (broken open) and mash will also go down well. Chips will most likely be left on the lawn, but if you have an excess of rice from the turkey curry, they will gobble that up, too."

Words and pictures above from article here

Related Post

Healthy Fats ... so good for us and our garden birds, read it here 

As always thanks for reading.

All the best Jan

The Godfather – Orchestral Suite The Danish National Symphony Orchestra

Saturday night and the last music night of 2019. The Godfather one of the best films of all time and also one of the best sound tracks, enjoy folks and peace and good health to all. Eddie

Salmon parcels with pesto and green vegetables ... quite delicious !

This simple salmon recipe with pesto is the ultimate hassle-free meal. A green vegetable medley of courgettes, peas and green beans is wrapped in parchment with salmon fillets and fresh pesto and all roasted together … quite delicious.

Ingredients
Serves Four

220g green beans
150g frozen peas
2 courgettes (zucchini), trimmed and finely sliced
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 lemons, ½ juiced, the rest cut into wedges to serve
4 salmon fillets, skinned
4 tsp fresh pesto
500g miniature/small potatoes*
25g butter
10g fresh mint, finely chopped 

Method

1. Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200'C, fan 180'C. Put the green beans and peas in a pan of boiling salted water and cook for 3 mins, then drain.
2. Cut 4 rectangles (30 x 40cm) of non-stick baking paper. Divide the courgettes (zucchini), green beans and peas between each paper, season and drizzle with olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. Top with a salmon fillet and spread each piece of salmon evenly with pesto.
3. Loosely fold each paper into a parcel and place on a baking tray or in a shallow roasting tin. Roast for 10-15 mins until the salmon is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
4. Meanwhile, boil the potatoes for 10 mins, then drain and return to the pan. Toss with the butter and mint.
5. Remove the parcels from the oven and serve with the potatoes* and lemon wedges. 

Nutritional Details

Carbohydrate 27.1g Protein 39.3g Fat 29g Fibre 5.7g
From an original recipe here

* I would serve with buttery mashed swede/rutabaga, as it doesn't spike blood sugar numbers like potato may, most important if you are diabetic.
More to read about swede/rutabaga here

Dear reader, you will find a variety of recipe ideas within this blog. Please note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

The Day After Christmas ...

"Boxing Day takes place (the day after Christmas) on December 26th and is only celebrated in a few countries; mainly ones historically connected to the UK (such as Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand) and in many European countries. In Germany it is known as "Zweite Feiertag” (which means 'second celebration') and also “Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag” which translates as Boxing Day (although it doesn’t literally mean that)! 

It was started in the UK about 800 years ago, during the Middle Ages. It was the day when the alms box, collection boxes for the poor often kept in churches, were traditionally opened so that the contents could be distributed to poor people. Some churches still open these boxes on Boxing Day.

 

It might have been the Romans that first brought this type of collecting box to the UK, but they used them to collect money for the betting games which they played during their winter celebrations! 

In Holland, some collection boxes were made out of a rough pottery called 'earthenware' and were shaped like pigs. Perhaps this is where we get the term 'Piggy Bank'! 

The Christmas Carol, Good King Wenceslas, is set on Boxing Day and is about a King in the Middle Ages who brings food to a poor family. 

It was also traditional that servants got the day off to celebrate Christmas with their families on Boxing Day. Before World War II, it was common for working people (such as milkmen and butchers) to travel round their delivery places and collect their Christmas box or tip. This tradition has now mostly stopped and any Christmas tips, given to people such as postal workers and newspaper delivery children, are not normally given or collected on Boxing Day. 

Boxing Day has now become another public holiday in countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It is also the traditional day that Pantomimes started to play. 

There are also often sports played on Boxing Day in the UK, especially horse racing and football matches! It's also when shops traditionally had big sales after Christmas in the UK (like Black Friday in the USA). 

The 26th December is also St. Stephen's Day. Just to confuse things, there are two St. Stephens in history! The first St. Stephen was a very early follower of Jesus and was the first Christian Martyr (a person who dies for their religious beliefs). He was stoned to death by Jews who didn't believe in Jesus. 

The second St. Stephen was a Missionary, in Sweden, in the 800's. He loved all animals but particularly horses (perhaps why there is traditionally horse racing on boxing day). He was also a martyr and was killed by pagans in Sweden. In Germany there was a tradition that horses would be ridden around the inside of the church during the St. Stephen's Day service! 

St. Stephen's Day (or 'the feast of Stephen') is when the Carol 'Good King Wenceslas' is set. It's about helping the poor - so it has a strong connection to Boxing Day." 

Words above taken from article, which has additional links, here

Talking about tradition, for as many years as I can remember, it was always a Boxing Day tradition for the family, with any relations who may be visiting, to enjoy a walk. Some years it was not possible due to very bad weather, and I don't think our weather forecast is too promising, and umbrella's and boots may be needed ... 

I think a nice bowl of Turkey Soup

could be most welcome ...

you can find more details here

Happy 26th December - Boxing Day

All the best Jan

Merry Christmas 2019

I Didn't Know That !     Some Christmas Facts ! 
Christmas is so close now, and you are probably like me checking lists, perhaps still wrapping presents and doing your best to be as organised as possible.

I certainly hope this scenario hasn't happened to you! 
"After queuing up to get your turkey, you arrive home only to find the cat has swallowed most of the tinsel and you completely forgot to buy any tangerines!" 

But have you ever stopped to wonder how these Christmas traditions started - why we kiss under the mistletoe, or give each other stockings full of goodies?

Speedy Santa

US scientists calculated that Santa visits 822 homes a second to deliver all the world's presents on Christmas Eve, travelling at 650 miles a second.

Robins

Robins on cards were a joke 150 years ago when postmen wore red tunics and were named after them.

Mince Pies
Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.

Tangerines
The tradition of putting tangerines in stockings comes from 12th-century French nuns who left socks full of fruit, nuts and tangerines at the houses of the poor.

Wassailing
Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.

Carols
Carols weren't sung in churches until they were introduced by St Francis of Assisi in the 13th century.

Stockings
Hanging stockings out comes from the Dutch custom of leaving shoes packed with food for St Nicholas's donkeys. He would leave small gifts in return.

Christmas Trees

Nearly 60 million Christmas trees are grown each year in Europe.

Noel

The word Noel derives from the French expression "les bonnes nouvelles" or "the good news".

Xmas
The abbreviation Xmas isn't religious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.

Tallest Tree
The world's tallest Xmas tree at 221ft high was erected in a Washington shopping mall in 1950.

Jingle Bells

James Pierpont's 1857 song Jingle Bells was first called One Horse Open Sleigh and was written for Thanksgiving.

Turkey

Before turkey, the traditional Christmas meal in England was a pig's head and mustard.

Banning Christmas
In 1647, after the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell banned festivities. The law wasn't lifted until 1660.

World's Biggest Snowman
In 1999, residents of the state of Maine in America built the world's biggest ever snowman. He stood at 113ft tall.

Christmas Cards

The first commercial Christmas cards were commissioned by civil servant Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843.

Christmas Crackers
The largest Christmas cracker - 45.72m long and 3.04m in diameter - was pulled in Australia in 1991.

Bing Cosby

The bestselling Xmas single ever is Bing Crosby's White Christmas, shifting over 50million copies worldwide since 1942.

Band Aid

In Britain, the best-selling festive single is Band Aid's 1984 track, Do They Know It's Christmas?, which sold 3.5million copies. Wham! is next in the same year with Last Christmas, selling 1.4million.

Christmas Pudding

Christmas pudding was originally a soup made with raisins and wine.

you can see a low carb Christmas Pudding recipe here

Cracker Design

London sweet-maker Tom Smith created the first Christmas crackers in 1847, based on the sweet wrapper design.

Mistletoe Kisses
Kissing under the mistletoe is thought to spring from Frigga, the Norse goddess of love, who was associated with the plant.

Early Christmas Trees
They may date back to pagan traditions, but the earliest known reference to a Christmas tree is in a German pamphlet from 1570.

The First Christmas

The first Christmas celebrated in Britain is thought to have been in York in 521AD.

Other names of Christmas
There are many names for Christmas from the old times and these include 'Midwinter', 'Nativity' and 'Yule'.

The above and more can be seen here

And how about this!

Fruit Cake A Low Carb Alternative
"Please come into my kitchen and discover this 'low carb fruit cake which is a great alternative to a traditional fruit cake.' It can be enjoyed at any time of year but could prove a popular low carb Christmas alternative."

To learn more please use this link here 

Finally, in the midst of all the Christmas preparations, please take time to sit down and enjoy a refreshing cuppa - will it be tea or coffee?

Readers - you will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas, are within this blog. It is important to note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

In case you missed our earlier post:-

We wish all our readers the compliments of the Season and a happy, peaceful and healthy New Year.

Thank you so much for reading our blog, and a special thank you to the very kind people who take the time to comment.

Jan and Eddie

Chocolate Cake - No Bake - Low Carb - Keto

This luxurious, creamy chocolate cake recipe is from Diet Doctor and is almost too easy to make - but looks and tastes amazing - a rich smooth chocolate taste with a hint of salt mingled with nuts and seeds. Ah yes! It's also low carb / keto and could be the perfect cake for any low-carb celebration.

Ingredients

12 Servings

4g carbs per serving

1¼ cups (300ml) heavy (double) whipping cream or coconut cream
3 tbsp. erythritol
7 oz. (200g) sugar-free dark chocolate, stevia sweetened
7 tbsp. butter
1 pinch sea salt
7 oz. (200g) hazelnuts

3½ oz. (100g) pumpkin seeds

Serving suggestion

Serve together with fresh mint and heavy (double) whipping cream for extra deliciousness.

Instructions

can be seen here

Did you know that hazelnuts are rich in dietary fibre, vitamins, and minerals and packed with numerous health promoting phyto-chemicals. Altogether, they help protect from diseases and cancers.

The nuts, like in almonds, are free from gluten, and therefore, safe alternative food sources that can be employed in the preparation of gluten-free food formulas for gluten-sensitive, wheat allergic, and celiac disease patients.

Read more about hazelnuts here 

Dear reader, a variety of articles, and recipe ideas, are within this blog, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

Tips For A Healthy Christmas and New Year !

These words/post from an idea by James Colquhoun ...

When it comes to holiday celebrations, it can be difficult to resist all those extra treats and temptations, with good intentions sometimes flying out the window. It is possible to keep a reign on your health and feel fantastic throughout Christmas and New Year however, with these seven simple tricks. 

1. LOAD UP ON VEGGIES 
With roast turkey a common Christmas meal in many homes, it is the ideal dish to boost with veggies. Load up on pumpkin, kale, sweet potatoes, asparagus, carrots, onions, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, green beans, garlic, and mushrooms, and you will find you have a plate of sensational goodness right there – no guilt necessary! Just be careful how you cook your veggies, using a high-quality oil if roasting (keeping oil to a minimum), steaming as many veggies as possible to ensure their nutritional value is maintained. Complement them with homemade gravy and fresh cranberry sauce, and voila! 

2. EXPERIMENT WITH A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS OR NEW YEAR MENU 
Christmas is the perfect time to cook up a storm, so why not break some boundaries and do something different this year? It’s the perfect moment to think outside the square and make your own Christmas or New Year classics! With so many delicious and healthy recipes available, you can nurture your body with tasty nutritional dishes galore. Try gluten/grain/dairy/meat-free if you want – it’s up to you! 

3. PRACTICE CONSCIOUS CONSUMPTION 
Eating mindfully and slowly is one of the best ways to listen and respond to your body. Being aware of each mouthful as you eat brings your mind to the moment and helps your stomach connect with your brain, allowing you to sense when you feel satisfied. The antithesis of mindless consumption, conscious consumption enables you to revel in and feel grateful for each taste, flavour, and sensation that you encounter. 

4. HOLD BACK ON THE GLUTEN 
Gluten is a protein composite found in several types of grains, including wheat, spelt, rye and barley. Gluten does not agree with everyone, and even in those who do not experience an obvious intolerance, it has been shown to cause lethargy, bloating, stomach pain, diarrhoea and irritable bowel syndrome to just name a few side effects. Gluten has even been linked to some serious autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes. Holding back on the bread over the holiday period is therefore not unwise. 

5. STEER CLEAR OF REFINED SUGAR 
One of the main sources of calories is refined sugar – and it is poison! In fact, excessive sugar consumption is probably the largest factor underlying obesity and chronic disease in America, and many other countries. It damages the immune system, causes mood swings and premature aging, and contributes to ailments such as tooth decay, osteoporosis, and heart disease. Found in pre-packaged foods, refined sugar is toxic, and should be avoided at all costs. 

6. LOOK AFTER YOU 

If you are out dining with friends or family over the Christmas and New Year period, don’t feel you have to bend to peer pressure by gorging on the food you would rather not have. Feel free to refuse a second helping or give the chocolate box a swerve. If eating out, suggest a restaurant you know has a great healthy menu. You deserve to look after yourself and ultimately your body will thank you for it. 

7. LIMIT YOUR ALCOHOL INTAKE 
Everyone loves to relax and unwind over the holiday season, but overdoing it in the alcohol stakes can leave you feeling sluggish, moody, dehydrated and on a big come-down. With alcohol depleting the body of essential minerals and nutrients, zapping energy and causing weight gain, keeping tabs on the amount you consume is a good idea. Alternatively, you could ditch it altogether, and go for a fresh juice mocktail instead, packed full of feel-good fabulousness! 

Related Post:

Simple Ways You Can Increase Your Daily Vegetable Intake, see it here 

Have you any healthy holiday habits, tips to pass on … please share in the comments below.

This blog brings a variety of articles and recipe ideas, and it is important to note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

As always ... thanks for reading.

All the best Jan

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Hymn of the Cherubim

Saturday night and the last Saturday before the most important day in the Christian calendar. We thought this most sublime music and painting appropriate. We wish all our readers the compliments of the Season and a happy, peaceful and healthy New Year.

Thank you so much for reading our blog,
and a special thank you to the very kind people who take the time to comment.

Jan and Eddie

The Best Things In Life ...

The best things in life

are the people we love,

the places we've been,

and the memories we've made 

along the way.

- - Unknown - -

I think the above words sum up life very well,
and the older we get the more we do appreciate special memories,

well I know I do ...

Like this one here,
look at those wonderful smiles.

We have been fortunate to make lots more lovely memories this year,

the photograph above shows two of our grandchildren, and is one we will cherish.

Yes, it's one of this years special memories

Enjoy your day

All the best Jan

Scallops Pan-Seared With Cauliflower : Low Carb : Keto

We do enjoy scallops, but they can be quite expensive. However, once in a while we do include them in our LCHF menu plans. I think when you "say the word scallops you know that a truly fabulous meal is about to be served. They are considered a “power food”, as they are more than 80% protein, plus they are a decent source of magnesium and potassium – if you haven’t tried eating them yet, you should! Did you know there are several kinds of scallops coming from the sea? Of course, there is the common sea scallop, there are also Weathervane, Japanese, Bay, Pink, Spiny, Calico, Queen and Icelandic scallops. 

How to choose the best scallops for dinner? First off, always choose wild scallops versus farmed ones. Secondly, look at freshness and whether they are wet- or dry-packed. Go for the dry-packed ones, always. Wet-packed scallops are often soaked in a phosphate whitening solution, allowing the scallop to absorb more liquid – what you are buying is a waterlogged scallop with possibly a faint chemical aftertaste. Plus, they don’t sear well with all the extra water. If you can’t find them dry-packed, or not at all, the next best option is to purchase them frozen. Simply thaw them in the refrigerator overnight and proceed as planned. 

Scallops and cauliflower fit in nicely with the Low Carb/Keto lifestyle by their very nature of being, why not complement that with a Keto salad? A cucumber and radish salad comes in with just a few grams of carbs, while adding a delicate pop of colour to the plate."

cucumber, radish and dill ready to prepare

Ingredients

Serves Four
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 small head cauliflower, cut into florets
1 lb. fresh sea scallops
2 tbsp. grass-fed butter or ghee
1 green onion, chopped
1/2 cup white wine
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

8 fresh basil leaves, minced

Nutritional Details

Per Serving : Protein 24g  Carbs 10g  Fat 17g

Need help with weight measurement conversion

this may help - see here

Instructions

can be seen here

I hope you may enjoy this recipe suggestion soon.

A variety of articles, and recipe ideas, are within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues please take these into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use a reliable meter.

All the best Jan

Roast Ham For Christmas and New Year : Low Carb Recipes too !

Looking back to childhood memories, as well as Turkey or sometimes Chicken for Christmas Day … Boxing Day was the day we sat down and enjoyed Roast Ham. Somehow Christmas just wasn't complete without a proper homemade ham and of course any leftovers were used with salad or sandwiches.

There are many ham recipes and I give links to some low carb ones at the end of this post - but first how about this recipe suggestion for Roast Ham, I can smell it cooking as I type!

Ingredients

Serves 8 - 10

1 raw smoked ham, about 5kg/11lb, bone in
2 leeks, halved
1 onion, halved
1 carrot, cut into big chunks
10 black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
For the glaze
1 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp grated orange zest
3 tbsp. demerara sugar
3 tbsp. light muscovado sugar
2-3 tbsp. English mustard powder
handful whole cloves, for decoration

honey to drizzle

Method
1. Test the saltiness of your ham by slicing a small piece off the end and frying it in a little oil. If the ham is very salty, you will need to soak it for 12 hours in cold water, changing the water once. If your ham is quite salty, place the joint in a very large pan, cover with cold water, bring to the boil. Drain and discard the cooking water.
2. Once the ham is ready to cook, put the joint into a large pan, cover with fresh cold water and add the leeks, onion, carrot, peppercorns, and bay leaves. Bring to the boil, cover with a lid then simmer the ham for about 20 minutes per 450g/1lb. To test that the ham is cooked, stick a cold skewer down into the centre of the ham and leave it for 10 seconds. Take it out and test it carefully against your lip. It should be piping hot.
3. Let the ham cool a little in its cooking liquid, then carefully lift it out and onto a board. (The liquid can be used as a delicious stock for split pea soup and other recipes.) Leave the ham to cool a little.
4. Using a small sharp knife, carefully cut the skin from the ham, leaving behind a good even layer of fat.
5. Score the fat into a diagonal criss-cross pattern with a sharp knife. The ham can now be chilled for up to two days, or you can bake it straight away.
6. Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.
7. Grind the coriander seeds in a pestle and mortar. In a bowl, mix the grated orange zest and sugars, then add the ground coriander seeds. Sift the mustard powder evenly over the ham, then scatter the sugar mixture over the work surface and roll the ham in the mixture to coat the fat. Push a clove into the centre of each diamond in the fat of the ham. Drizzle over the honey.

8. Cover the exposed end of the ham loosely with foil, securing with a few toothpicks. Place the ham on a rack inside a roasting tin and bake the ham for 15 minutes until the glaze is sticky and crisp, maybe even a little charred here and there. Eat hot or cold.

From original idea here

Low Carb Ham Recipes

Low Carb Apricot and mustard glazed ham - details here

Low-Carb Pineapple Baked Ham - details here

Low Carb Glazed Ham - details here

Sugar Free Keto Glazed Ham - details here

For those readers who aren't meat eaters how about this Veggie Packed - Zoodle Minestrone Soup - details here

A variety of articles, and recipe ideas, are within this blog, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan