Ground Sausage  and Spinach Bake

I had some smoked salsa to use up so put this casserole together. This takes a little extra time to prep but it makes 6 generous adult portions and keeps for up to 3 days. Turn this into something of your own, vary the ingredients and have fun! You can’t mess it up!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef and pork mix (plain beef would work too)
  • 2 large onions
  • Large bunch spinach, washed well
  • 1 jar smoky salsa or tin of cooked tomato onion mix, add 1 tsp each smoked paprika and taco seasoning if you are using plain canned tomato mix
  • 6 large eggs
  • ½ cup cream or half and half
  • Fresh cilantro, green onions, 3 large garlic cloves, diced
  • 2 cups grated sharp cheddar
  • Salt and pepper

Method

  1. Fry diced onion until translucent
  2. Turn on oven to 350⁰F (180⁰C)
  3. Add ground beef mix to fried onion crumbling the mince well, and cook for about 5 minutes or until cooked through
  4. Grease a large flat casserole dish well and pour the meat and onion mix into the casserole dish and spread out out evenly
  5. Chop up washed spinach, drain well and re-use the pot you cooked the ground beef/onion mix
  6. When wilted, spread the spinach over the meat and onion in the casserole dish
  7. Sprinkle over a little onion powder
  8. Beat 6 eggs with a pinch of salt and ground pepper to taste
  9. Beat a ½ cup of cream into the eggs
  10. Pour the egg custard over the meat and spinach mix
  11. Spoon over the salsa or canned tomato mix evenly
  12. Bake at 350⁰F or 180⁰ C for 20 to 25 minutes until bubbling
  13. Top with the grated cheese, cilantro, chopped green onions, diced garlic and any other herbs or cheese you enjoy.
  14. Grill until cheese is melted and bubbling.
  15. Serve hot or room temperature and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.

The cheese didn’t bubble and melt as expected. It was a delicious smoked organic WI cheddar but it refused to grill and had such a low fat content did not melt. It was actually deliciously crispy, cheesy and smoky. This was a first time non-melty experience for me. Weird. 

I do hope you are well. It feels as if my efforts are focused on self care these days. Writing a blog post takes such discipline and effort. I think with all the events happening in our world drains the hours in the day and what I used to accomplish.

Be kind to yourself, nurture the light in your heart and the people that light up your life. This is the flicker and then the flame that builds the bonfire of love and endurance that unites us.

With love and stay well until next time.

💜

We have our dining nook back! My partners office is gone and we’re loving this sunny spot to spend time in and invite friends to share a meal again.

Lastly … Quick carrot and radish pickles.

Dressing: mirin, rice vinegar, light soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, sesame seeds and seaweed flakes.

Asparagus Tart

Almond flour crust, mozzarella, cream and shallot egg custard topped with asparagus, spring onions, feta and a few tomato slices.

Ingredients

Pastry:

¼ cup melted butter

2 ½ cups almond flour

1 large egg, beaten

Onion powder,  Salt,  Pepper

Low Carb Rocky Road Treat

Do you have sugar-free baking chocolate, odds and ends of  nuts, low carb/keto cookies, and shredded coconut around to use up? I did, and this was my first attempt at making this LCHF treat.

ROCKY ROAD CHOCOLATE SQUARES

Ingredients

1. 2 chocolate bars, dark unsweetened

2. 1 cup chocolate chips

3. 1 stick salted butter (½ cup)

4. ¾ cup keto cookies, broken up

Naked Spring Roll Pork Stir Fry

I miss Spring Rolls. That wrapped crunchy goodness! Here’s a little recipe of what (probably) goes in them… and a little bit extra…without the roll.

Ingredients

  • 1 onion
  • 6 cloves of garlic
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 1 lb/500g ground pork
  • ½ a cabbage, green or red
  • 2 red bell peppers
  • 1 carrot, grated
  • Contd.

Chocolate Keto Granola

Recipe: makes about 4-5 cups

Oven temp: 320⁰F or 160⁰C

Optional: makes yummy snack bark, though a tad fragile and keep refrigerated

Chocolate Granola

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups chopped pecans toasted
  • ½ cup chopped almonds
  • ½ cup coconut flakes, toasted
  • ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
  • ¼ cup chia seeds
  • 2 tbl sesame seeds
  • 2 tbl poppy seeds
  • ¼ cup vanilla or chocolate protein powder
  • ½ cup almond butter
  • 2 tblspn tahini (optional)
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 4 tbls keto sugar syrup
  • ½ tsp stevia drops (optional for extra sweetness)
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence or almond essence (optional)
  • 1 bar unsweetened dark baking chocolate
  • 2 tbl ghee or unsalted butter
  • If too wet add some almond flour at the end and taste before adding raw egg to see if you like it sweeter, add more sugar syrup according to your preference!

Keto Cauliflower Soul Soup

I absolutely love cauliflower and autumn!

Cauliflower Soul Soup with a Touch of Spice

Ingredients

  • 1 stick butter (4 oz, 113g)
  • 1 large or 2 small onions
  • 1 bunch of celery
  • 1 head of cauliflower
  • 1 thumb of fresh ginger
  • 4 to 8 garlic cloves
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp white pepper
  • 1 tsp dill dried or fresh
  • 1 tsp herb salt
  • ½ tsp dill seeds
  • ½ tsp saffron threads
  • Chicken, beef or onion stock to cover veg, about 4 to 5 cups (1 litre)
  • ½ cup heavy cream

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Keto Chocolate Almond Protein Bites

I had intended to cut these into bars but they are quite rich. Here’s the thing, though. I end up eating more than one at a time, so I’ll leave it up to you how you cut them!

Keto Health Bites (or Bars)

  • 1 cup whipping cream (240ml)
  • 3/4 cup keto sugar (150g)
  • 2/3 milk powder (130g)
  • 2/3 cup protein or whey powder
  • 1/2 cup almond flour (100g)
  • 1/2 cup almond or peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup almond flakes (70g)
  • 1/2 cup coconut flakes (70g)
  • 1/2 – 1 tsp almond or vanilla essence (your preference)

For topping:

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Keto Hummus with black soy beans

I wish this looked tastier but trust me, it’s delicious.

• 2 cans soy black beans (15 oz ea/425 g – 5 net carbs per ½ cup)
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp fenugreek powder- optional
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp dried or fresh mint
• ¼ tsp cardamom
• 1 tsp lemongrass turmeric paste – optional
• 1 dessert spoon tahini
• ⅓ cup olive oil
• ½ juice of a lemon and zest too
• 3 tblspn sour cream
• Few saffron threads – optional

• 1 tsp Himalayan sea salt

Blend all together and dust with mint, lemon zest, paprika and a drizzle of olive oil.

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Spiced Red Cabbage Stew

We had a smoked pork loin for dinner today with cauliflower mash and I had this beautiful red cabbage and a tart Granny Smith apple to use up. With a low carb count today I figured one green apple in an entire pot of 1 red cabbage could not hurt. Here is a tasty recipe I hurriedly scribbled down when a lovely former neighbour called over the holidays. The family became wonderful friends to our family … this is from many many years ago when I was still a little girl. We were lucky enough to be introduced by Traudi to delicious German food as she is a fabulous cook as well as her wonderful family traditions. I’m officially old enough now to call those “the good old days”! Heartfelt thanks to a dear friend who is still as kind, thoughtful and much treasured and loved by our family. Thanks for the recipe Traudi – please forgive my little twists on your version!

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium red cabbage (if you only have a green cabbage – go for it!)
  • 3 small onions
  • 3 – 4 cloves garlic
  • 3 tblspns oil, grapeseed
  • 1 tart green apple
  • 1 tsp each caraway seed, mustard seed, Chinese 5 spice or allspice, white pepper, salt
  • 4 tblspns brown keto sugar
  • 3 tblspns balsamic or other good vinegar
  • 2 tblspns butter

Method

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