Sausage Zucchini Frittata

original can be found here

8oz ground turkey sausage
2 cups unpeeled Zucchini, shredded
1 TBS basil
1 tsp italian seasoning
1 cup Egg Beaters
1/3 cup half and half
4oz light cream cheese with chives
1 c shredded mozzarella cheese
1 c shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 325F. Spray an 8 inch pan with cooking spray.
Brown sausage, drain well and spread over the bottom of the pan.
Top with zucchini, then seasonings.
Whisk Egg Beaters and cream a bit, then pour over sausage mixture.
Spread cream cheese on top, then mozzarella and cheddar.

Bake for 45 minutes or until knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Makes six servings.

Grilled Chicken & Portobella Lasagna Stacks

1/2 cup olive oil
1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
4 each chicken breasts, 4-oz., boneless, skinless, pounded until evenly flat
4 each portobella mushrooms, 3" in diameter
1/4 cup asiago cheese, grated
1 1/2 cups Alfredo sauce, prepared
4 each tomato, sliced, ½" thick
4 each mozzarella cheese slices
1 tbsp Parsley Flakes

Prep your chicken and mushrooms : Combine oil, seasoning, salt, and pepper. Evenly divide mixture between chicken breasts and mushrooms and toss to coat. Marinate chicken and mushrooms under refrigeration for at least 2 hours. Grill chicken breasts until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Hold hot at 160°F. Grill marinated mushrooms over medium-high heat.

Add cheese to hot Alfredo sauce. Hold sauce hot at 160°F. Quickly grill tomatoes over medium-high heat—1 minute on each side.

Assemble your stacks: Slice chicken breasts in half. Stack ingredients in pan in the following order (from bottom to top) ~ mushrooms chicken tomatoes chicken mozzarella cheese

Bake in 350ºF preheated oven for about 5 minutes or until cheese has completely melted.

For each serving, place 1½ fl. oz. Asiago Alfredo sauce on bottom of plate, top with 1 “lasagna” stack. Pour 1½ fl. oz. sauce over top of lasagna stack and garnish with parsley flakes.

*recipe from McCormick

Crispy Lemon and Herb Butter Chicken

from IKEA.com

Ingredients

1 fresh chicken
1 bunch each of fresh basil, flat parsley, fresh rosemary
2 lemons
2 cloves garlic
5 1/4 oz room temperature butter
3 TBS olive oil (Im sure coconut oil would work great)
salt and pepper

Put the room temperature butter in a mixing bowl and chop all the herbs (putting them into the bowl). Grate the lemon zest into the bowl with the butter but do not grate any of the bitter white part. also grate in the garlic and then squeeze the lemon juice into the bowl and mix it all together.

Carefully loosen the skin from the chicken by placing 2 fingers under it starting from the back. Spread the butter evenly between the chicken skin and meat. THis really makes the chicken taste wonderful!

Oil and season the chicken all over with the salt and pepper. Cook in the oven for 45 minutes on 450 degrees.

IKEA.com sells some really nice tools to help with this recipe like fish/poultry shears to help divide up the chicken into portions and herb choppers

* I like to do this recipe in the same manner for turkey, only I use this premix of herbs by McCormick. Fresh is always better, but this is really good!

25 Low Carb Avocado Recipes

Avocado: A large, tropical, pear shaped, fruit with yellowish buttery flesh, one large central nut. Native to Americas, blackish green to yellowish green in color. Widely used in peru in salads, dips, accompaniments etc.,.
Variations: Now spread to Asia as well as Australia. Flesh colour varies to even purple/ black. shape round, elongated to pear

did you know that placing an avocado pit in the center of guacamole will help prevent browning?

Absolutely the best ever Guac
Guacamole
AvoSalsa
Avocado Angel Eggs
Avocado Brie Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Avocado Cajun-Spiced Dip
Avocado Cheese Dip
Avocado Lover's Spinach Salad
Avocado Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Avocado Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Avocado Sunrise Omelet
Avocado with Mushrooms and Stilton
Avocado-Asparagus Salad
Avodamia Nest
Award Winning Guacamole
Bacado Omelette
Bacon and Balsamic Avocado
Bacon, Blue and Avocado Quesadilla
Baked Stuffed California Avocados
Balsamic-Roasted Onion Guacamole
Barbara Rose's Enchillada's Supreme
Best in Town Guacamole
California Avacado Dip for Chips


Avocado Bread

Ingredients
3 Cups Carbquik
2 Cups Splenda
1/8 tsp Cinnamon
3 Eggs
1 Cup Mashed Hass Avocado
¾ Cup Oil
3 tsp Vanilla
1 ½ Cups Chopped Walnuts

Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine Splenda, Eggs, Vanilla. Beat Well and add Avocado and Oil. Blend until smooth.
Gradually add dry ingredients. Beat at medium speed until smooth (mixture may be quite thick, add ½ cup water to thin out enough to pour in pans, mixture will still be thick).
Add chopped nuts last, stir in.
Pour mixture into two greased loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Remove from pan; cool thoroughly before slicing.

Avocado-Sweet Relish Spread

Roughly mash 3 California Avocados (1-1/2 pounds). Stir in 1/2 cup chopped parsley, 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion and 1/3 cup prepared NSA "sweet" pickle relish. Chill 1 hour to blend flavors. Serve 2 tablespoons on ham, cheese, turkey and chicken. Yield: 24 Servings


Avocados and Your Heart Why Eat Avocados? CA Avocado Commission Latex Allergies and the Avocado Bad on you, Kraft!

Low Carb Gnocchi

“If you want gnocchi” reads the recipe, “take some cheese and mash it, then take some flour and mix with egg yolks like if you make dough. Place on the fire a pot of water and when starts boiling place the mixture on a board and slide them in the pot with a spoon. And when they are cooked place them on the plates
and top them with a lot of grated cheese"

Gnocchi (pronounced NYO-ki) is the Italian word for dumplings; in Italian, gnocchi is the plural of gnocco, which literally means "lump"... Although the dish is Italian, the word comes from a Germanic word for a knot (as in wood), possibly because of its short, squat shape. Gnocchi are often listed among pasta dishes, although gnocchi has different ingredients and mode of preparation. Dumplings may be any of a wide variety of dishes, both sweet and savoury, in several different cuisines.

Atkin's Gnocchi

1 pound ricotta cheese
1/2 pound cheddar cheese
4 eggs -- beaten
2 tablespoons soy flour
1/2 pound butter -- 250g no salt, melted
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 pinch salt, nutmeg and cayenne pepper

Push cheese through a fine strainer (easy way is with hands) Beat eggs into mixture with electric mixer. Blend in soy powder and seasoning.

Refrigerate for 1 hour. Bring large pot of water to rolling boil.

Lower heat to simmer, drop mixture into water by teaspoon full (they will drop to bottom and then rise to the top) Allow gnocchi to simmer on top of water for about 20 mins. Remove gnocchi carefully with slotted spoon and allow todrain on absorbent paper.

Melt 1/4 lb butter in large baking dish. Place drained gnocchi in dish, cover with remaining butter and parmesan cheese.Gnocchi may be served immediately or kept warm in low oven or refrigerate and re heat.

Per serving: 478 Calories (kcal); 44g Total Fat; (81% calories from fat); 19g Protein; 3g Carbohydrate; 218mg Cholesterol; 579mg Sodium

courtesy of Atkins Diet Cook Books


(Carbquik) GNOCCHI

2 c. Carbquik
2 c. Ricotta cheese
2 eggs

Put Carbquik , Ricotta, and eggs in a mixing bowl, and with a large spoon blend ingredients into a large ball. Place dough on a floured board and roll into a ball again. Add more flour, if necessary, to prevent sticking. Roll small amounts of dough, forming cigar-sized strands. Cut each strand into 1 inch pieces. With your knuckle or index finger, form a dent in the center of each.
Drop into lots of boiling water (they will sink) and cook about 8-10 minutes. When the gnocchi float to the top of the boiling water they are done.

Drain and place on a large platter. Top with low carb marinara sauce, grated cheese, and chopped fresh basil.

Low Carb "Cinnamon Buns"

3 oz softened cream cheese
4 eggs
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 tbs Cinnamon
1/4 to 1/3 cup Splenda granular
cheddar/mozzarella blend cheese

Blend cream, cream cheese, eggs, cinnamon and Splenda in food processor till smooth.

Spray a 6 "pocket" muffin tin with nonstick.

Put shredded cheese 1/4" deep in "pockets" and pour egg mixture over that.

Bake at 375 for 30 minutes and allow to cool before eating.

Table of Low Carb Heart Healthy Foods

Some Examples of Healthy Foods
Foods	Important Phytochemicals	Vitamins Etc	Possible Benefits
Apples	Flavonoids	Fiber	May have activity against certain cancers (lung), heart disease, asthma, and type 2 diabetes.
Avocados		Vitamin E, vitamin B6, folate	May be heart protective
Beans	Flavonoids	Folate, iron, potassium and zinc, fiber	Some experts believe beans are the perfect food.
Berries, All kinds of dark colored	Ellegic Acid	Vitamin C, minerals	May protect the aging brain. (In one study blueberries were most effective.)
Broccoli (also kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower)	Flavonoids, Isothiocyanates	Vitamin C, folate, fiber, and selenium	Anticancer properties. Protective against heart disease and stroke.
Fish (particularly oily fish, such as mackerel, salmon, sardines)		Vitamin B3 and B12, Essential fatty acids, selenium	Heart and brain protective.
Garlic	Allium (organosulfurs)		May be slightly protective against heart disease. Possible infection fighter.
Ginger	Zingiberaceae		Cancer fighting properties.
Nuts (such as almonds, macadamia, and walnuts)		Vitamin E, Vitamin B1, Essential fatty acids, folate, fiber	May lower cholesterol levels, reduce sudden death rates from heart disease, and help prevent stroke and type 2 diabetes.
Onions	Flavonoids, allium (organosulfurs)		May have activity against certain cancers (lung), heart disease, asthma, and type 2 diabetes.
Potatoes (Sweet)		Vitamins A, C, and E	Many health benefits.
Soy: Four ounces of tofu equals about eight to 13 grams of soy. A soy burger contains about 18 grams of soy.	Isoflavones (phytoestrogens), flavonoids, phytosterol, phytate, saponins		May have effects similar to estrogen, including maintaining bone and benefiting the heart. May also be protective against prostate cancer and possibly other cancers. Possible protection against mental decline. More studies are needed.
Spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables	Zeaxantin, Beta carotene	Vitamin C, folate, Vitamin A (converted from carotenoids)	Protects heart, lungs and brain.
Tea (Green tea has reported best benefits.)	Flavonoids		Both black and green tea are heart protective and may protect against stroke. Cancer-fighting properties, particularly in green tea (probably not black tea).
Tomatoes	Lycopene, Flavonoids	Vitamin C, biotin, minerals	Protects heart. Studies suggest reductions in prostate and other cancers. Infection fighters.

{Read The Entire Article Here..}

Low Carb Peanut Butter Cups

1 stick unsalted butter (DO NOT use salted)
1 oz unsweetened chocolate
1/3 c Splenda
1 T heavy cream
4 T low carb (I use carb options) or natural creamy OR chunky peanut butter (more or less depends on your taste and carb allowance)
chopped walnuts (I don't use these, but walnuts are heart healthy)

Melt 1 stick butter, 1 oz bakers choc, 1/3 c Splenda in microwave ~ I suggest microwaving for 30 seconds then stir then micro again for 30 seconds (so you wont burn the chocolate)

Stir in 1 T heavy cream + 4 T peanut butter until smooth.

line 6 muffin tins with muffin cups; Divide the chocolate mixture between them..

Freeze until firm. store in freezer because they melt!