Sunday, February 28, 2010

What Can You Do With A Low Carb Tortilla?



Mission Carb Balance Wheat Tortillas are my new bread. They are 4 carbs each. I count them in my daily (below 20) carb count. I buy mine at Kroger. Tortillas give me new recipe options and make up for sliced bread. Be warned - tortillas in general are high in carbs. In particular, stay away from tortillas at restaurants.

Top Ten Ideas for Low Carbing with Tortillas

1. PB & J. That's right. You can have a low carb version of peanut butter & jelly. I occassionally have one for lunch or as a desperation snack. I use 2 tbsp. of Parker's All-Natural Honey Creme Peanut Butter (I found it in the refrigerated section at HEB) and 1 tbsp. Polaner Sugar Free Jelly. Total: 8 carbs.

2. Make a breakfast burrito with scrambled egg, bacon (or sausage), some diced onion and bell pepper, and a little bit of cheddar cheese.

3. Cinnamon toast. Dab several spots of real butter all over the tortilla. Sprinkle with cinnamon and Splenda. Place in toaster and put on light setting (not a pop up toaster).

4. Soft taco. Mmm...A little ground beef mixed with a Picante sauce and cheese rolled up in your tortilla is totally yummy.

5. Fajitas, of course. I fill mine with a lot of meat. Two is usually enough to keep me happy. You can use beef, chicken, or shrimp, or combine them together. Throw on a little pico de gallo and cheese and you've just gone Tex-Mex.

6. Quesadillas. A little cheese and chicken and tomatoes...optional green onions, black olives, mushrooms, or whatever low carb ingredients that makes you happy. Fry your quesedilla in a flat skillet with a little oil or butter. Add your cheese and ingredients in a thin layer. When your cheese is melted, fold your totilla and flip it till browned on both sides.

7. Pinwheel roll-ups. Cut your tortillas in wide strips. Combine 1 pkg. of cream cheese, 1 cup of sour cream, and 1-1/2 tbsp. of dry onion soup mix. Spread a thin layer of the mixture onto your tortilla strips. Layer on lettuce, thin sliced ham, and Swiss cheese. Great for parties!

8. Pigs in a Blanket - the low carb version! Cut your tortillas in 2 x 4 inch strips. Layer on a sliced cheese (cut to match) and a precooked (preheated as well) little smokie sausage. Roll the tortilla around the sausage. Microwave for 30 seconds (microwaves vary).

9. Tostado. Toast your tortilla (not in a pop up toaster). Top with ground beef, diced tomato, shredded lettuce, and cheese.

10. Strawberries & Creme. Dice up some strawberries and sprinkle with a tsp. of Splenda. Let them sit for a few minutes until the absorb the splenda. Put strawberries in the middle of the tortilla. Drizzle on Walden Farms Calorie Free Chocolate Dip (also 0 carb). Roll up the tortilla. Top with Redi-Whip and more strawberries.

*Note about toasting tortillas: The tortilla will often puff up. Stick a fork in it to make it go back down.

Dinner Menu for February 28 to March 5th, 2010

I'm starting to feel a bit repetitive, but I must say, I've found a few favorites. Spring Break is coming up soon. I'll have to try some new recipes. In particular, I'd like to find simple vegy recipes and try out some low carb treats. If you have some ideas, please leave comments and links for everyone.

Sunday

Did you miss the BEST Ever Pork Chop post? It's right before this one. They turned out great. I just finished my chop (and half of DH's second). Yum! Tonight I'm going to make Pumpkin Soup and Holmes Original Pecan Sausage.

Monday

I confess. I'm watching the FRC of The Bachelor tomorrow night. By the time I get home from taking DD to dance, I don't have a lot of time to cook. In the morning I will put a Beef Stew together (beef stew meat, 2 pgks. McCormicks beef stew seasoning w/water, cut onion and celery) in the crockpot.

Tuesday

I'm going to make cheeseburger pie (okay, I love it already - makes great leftovers for lunch). I'm contemplating adding broccoli to the pie.

Wednesday

Can you say chicken wings? I'm driving thru, picking up, order out... KFC's spicy grilled chicken wings are 0 carbs. Add your own vegy sides to keep things low carb.

Thursday

What can I say? I'm a traditional American girl. Meatloaf. Uh-huh. Again. I LOVE the low carb meatloaf. I use Heinz Reduced Sugar Ketchup. I wish they would make bigger bottles! I plan to try cauliflower mashed potatoes (as traditional as a low carb WOE will let me) if I can find a bag of frozen cauliflower. I couldn't find it at Kroger's today (sad face).

Friday

Italian Chicken, Garlic Shrimp (from Schwan's), and a bag of steamed vegys. I always buy my chicken breasts from Schwans. They turn out right every time.

OMG! Best Ever Pork Chops!

DH just made the best pork chops ever. OMG, they were so good. They came out juicy and delicious. The recipe is very simple.

Best Ever Pork Chops

Ingredients:

1/2 inch thick center cut chops
garlic powder
onion powder
Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning

Sprinkle seasonings onto chops. Seer the chops on both sides in a flat skillet, about 3 to 4 minutes (or until browned).

Bake the chops on 350 for 15 minutes.

We served the chops with broccoli slaw and Hidden Valley Rancy Coleslaw dressing.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Dinner Menu Week of February 21 - 26, 2010

Sorry I didn't post last week's menu. Things got a little harried with both home and work. I did manage to stay on plan and lose 3 pounds. I'm in a new weight loss decade (one I haven't seen in 10 years), and I'm 4 sizes smaller. How cool is that? Low carb rocks!

This week I'm going to simply share the main course. All of my vegys are steamed. Meat sales were great, so I picked up quite a bit to put in the big freezer.

Sunday

The boys should be home from camping anytime now. The pot roast is in the crock pot. It's smells good!

Monday

Garlic butter chicken dipped in French Fried Onions. Melt a stick of butter. Add 2 tsps. of garlic powder. Crush up some French Fried Onions (French's is the best. The off brand tasted like dirt.). Dip the chicken in the butter mixture and the FFO's. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Tuesday

Texas Style Ground Beef (ground beef, diced onion & bell pepper, Greek Seasoning, 1 tbsp. Worchestshire sauce, 1 can Rotel, optional - Dreamfields Pasta)

Wednesday

Beef Stew in a Crock Pot. Add 2 pkgs. of McCormicks Beef Stew seasoning (w/the water recommended), large pieces of onion and celery. If you can handle the carbs, you could add a little bit of carrot and potato, but measure carefully.

Thursday

Pumpkin Soup & Holmes Original Pecan Sausage (my favorite).

Friday

Salmon in a Crock Pot. I never made this last time. I couldn't find any wild Alaskan Salmon. I'm going to try again this week. My alternative plan is pork chops.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Meat Lover's Pizza Casserole

I had a brainstorm. I made cheeseburger pie last week, and I wondered...what if I manipulated the ingredients and made a pizza pie instead? So the experiment began. The best part of the experiment is that it turned out great! DH said he liked it better than the cheeseburger pie.

1/2 ground Italian sausage
1/2 pound ground beef
50 pepperonis (approximate) cut in half (this took all of one minute)
1 package of "real" bacon bits
1/2 cup of whipping cream
1/2 cup of low carb spaghetti sauce
1/4 cup bell pepper
1/4 cup onion
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp basil
5 eggs
6 oz. "Pizza" cheese (pre bought package - Kraft)

Fry the sausage and beef together with the bell pepper and onion. Drain the grease. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Pour into a greased (Pam) baking dish. Top with extra pepporoni and cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Dinner Menu for February 7 - 12, 2010

I have the roast from Friday in the crockpot. I suppose it was too big because it took all day and all night to cook. Lesson learned: choose a smaller cut of meat.

Sunday

Mmmm...Chicken Wings. Combine a tablespoon of Frank's Hot Sauce and a cup of butter. Dip the chicken wings into the butter, then drop into the fryer. I'll most likely steam a bag of vegetables or have a salad to go along with my meal.

Monday

Turkey Breast. I found the whole turkey breast in the freezer section of the grocery store. Pop it in the crockpot with butter and whatever spices you want. Steam some vegys or cook some green beans as a side.

Tuesday

Cheeseburger Pie. This recipe has become a favorite.

Wednesday

Bunless Bacon Cheeseburger. Okay...it's an easy stand by and Wednesday is a busy day at my house.

Thursday

Low Carb Meatloaf. I just love this meatloaf. It is so good. I'm expecting to be too tired to make mashed (mock) cauliflower baked potatoes, but if you are not, they would go perfect with the meatloaf. I'll probably have green beans.

Friday

Pork Tenderloin. I haven't decided how I'll spice. I might buy one that is already seasoned. Steamed vegys for the side.