Ketogenic is the new Paleo (for me)

Since March 6th of 2017, due to some pressing health issues of myself and my husband we have been doing the keto way of life. This will how things will be for at least me for the future. I can not imagine this way of life will change ever for me. I was diagnosed with 1. pre-diabetes and 2. Celiac. I was weighing in at 265 pounds and wearing a woman’s plus size of 24. I do not have my gallbladder which made me a little apprehensive that I would suffer quite a lot of problems eating high fat, low carbohydrate and medium protein. And to be honest, I had a couple wrinkles, but things have been going really well for me and even better for the husband, who has A-Fib. I have become a moderator on a keto page out in face book land and have been personal chefing for a dear friend of mine who I found chefing, she started out as a client and is now also a good friend. The basics of keto.  A ketogenic diet is a very low-carb diet, which turns the body into a fat-burning machine. It has many potential benefits for weight loss, health and performance, but also some potential initial side effects

The “keto” in a ketogenic diet comes from the fact that it makes the body produce small fuel molecules called “ketones”. This is an alternative fuel for the body, used when blood sugar (glucose) is in short supply Ketones are produced if you eat very few carbs (that are quickly broken down into blood sugar) and only moderate amounts of protein (excess protein can also be converted to blood sugar).

Ketones are produced in the liver, from fat. They are then used as fuel throughout the body, including the brain. The brain is a hungry organ that consumes lots of energy every day, and it can’t run on fat directly. It can only run on glucose… or ketones.

On a ketogenic diet your entire body switches its fuel supply to run almost entirely on fat. Insulin levels become very low and fat burning increases dramatically. It becomes easy to access your fat stores to burn them off. This is obviously great if you’re trying to lose weight, but there are also other less obvious benefits, like for example less hunger and a steady supply of energy.

When the body produces ketones it’s said to be in ketosis. The fastest way to get there is by  fasting – not eating anything – but obviously it’s not possible to fast forever.  A ketogenic diet, on the other hand, can be eaten indefinitely and also results in ketosis. It has many of the benefits of fasting – including weight loss – without having to fast.

To read more about this please go to https://www.dietdoctor.com/

They have a wealth of information, and join up I did. They have great lists of what to eat, recipes, and even offer a membership that gives great information and video’s.

Now down to the nitty gritty, I have lost 37 pounds and I have gone from a size 24 to a 16 or 14 I was in a XXXL top and now wear XL. I did that in eight months, I am not a spring chicken anymore (55 years young) and I have a under active thyroid so this is stellar! I am going to start doing how to video’s and honest reviews on products that I try. So stick around and lets see what goes on in my little part of the world!

Paleo friendly bite size sweet potato brownies with chocolate ganache frosting

This is why I don’t blog anymore. I’m baking up a storm!!

Busy, busy I have a new business.

I have been very busy and I promise once I get used to my new business I will be posting more.  I need to build my web site for my business as well as build my business.  It’s a local to Dallas Texas only business for now.

  Auntie Janette’s Teas and Treats is the name.  I make small batch hand blended organic loose leaf teas and Paleo friendly treats.  Speaking of business, time for bed so I can deliver my first batch of Paleo treats.  Here are some pictures to tempt y’all 😉

My tea

Narcotea to help you sleep.

Paleo friendly scones.

Newest recipe I’m working on Aztec Chocolate chocolate chip scone.

 

Tea and scones anyone?

Life gets busy! Sorry for being MIA, here is a new recipe for scones!

I have been very bad about posting and I apologize!  I just have no real excuse other than I’ve been busy and lazy all at the same time.  So to make it up to y’all, I am posting a twist on a old recipe I made for Valentines last year.  Scones, cherry chocolate chip scones.  They are Paleo friendly and they contain no dairy, gluten, wheat, or refined sweeteners.  But for some odd reason all dried fruit that is sweetened with fruit juice, usually apple, also contains sunflower oil.  What they do contain is,  

2 cups Almond flour (skinless almond meal)

1/4 cup + 2 TBS Arrowroot flour

2 tsp Bob’s Red mill farms baking soda

1/2 tsp Pink Himalayan sea salt

1 egg ( room temp.)

1/4 cup melted coconut oil

2 TBS Grade B Maple syrup

1/3 cup dried cherries sweetened with apple juice

1/4 cup Enjoy life chocolate chips

topping

1/4 cup Enjoy life chocolate chips

1 tsp coconut oil

Mix dry ingredients together in a medium bowl and set aside

In medium bowl add egg, maple syrup, melted coconut oil (make sure it’s not hot), mix with hand mixer until well blended. Add wet ingredients to the dry and mix well. Mixture will be very wet and sticky, add chopped dried cherries and Enjoy life chocolate chips, mix well.   Add an additional 2 TBS of Arrowroot flour to help dry batter out and make it less sticky so you can handle it easier. Form your batter into a ball and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, flatten slightly. You want to cut your flattened ball into eight pieces, I used coconut oil spray on my knife to help the knife slide through the batter better. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until just turning golden brown. Cool on cookie sheet with a cooling rack. 

Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil together and drizzle over scones once they are completely cooled.

 

Baked and cooling scone

chocolate drizzle

they make a wonderful gift if you can part with them!

Can’t you just taste it?!

What’s all the hoo ha about Bullet proof coffee?

I know every morning when I get up I have a cup of coffee.  I am on the wagon of bullet proof coffee and I’m riding it as long as I can.

It has helped me break the sugar cycle, or honey in my coffee.  There have been days that it kept me full until late in the afternoon.  It does  give me energy and my mind seems to be a little more clear.  I use what is available to me locally and even though I’d love to try the bullet proof coffee and MCT oil from the actual web site, I really can not justify the cost on my limited budget.  Here is the link to the original recipe and on the web site you can purchase the coffee beans and MCT oil, as well as a few other items.

http://www.bulletproofexec.com/bulletproof-coffee-recipe/

Here is the pictures of my version and the products I use.

My bullet proof coffee with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Unsalted grass fed cow’s milk butter.

Coconut  oil, aka. MCT oil

 

Local roaster, small batch roasted coffee beans.

I love going to get my beans, I get them fresh every two weeks.

 

Recipes are fun!

I have been doing the 21 DSD and making the recipes in the book, not the cook book.  I haven’t gotten the cook book yet.  The recipe I made this time was the apple streusel muffins.  They were very tasty but not what I was looking for.  It seemed to wet when I bit into it.  I can’t give you the whole recipe you can buy Diane’s book The 21 DSD and get the awesome recipes, tips and different levels you can do.  I found it at Costco for under 20.00.  

Apple Streusel egg muffins.

I did however fall in love with her almond butter cup recipe!  It takes that chocolate edge off and kills it dead!  I love the almond butter cups.

  The apple muffins have granny smith apples peeled and chopped,eggs, cinnamon,coconut milk and quite a few other ingredients in them, but I can not share them since they do not belong to me.  I will how ever show you the pictures of how I made them.

Raw cacao and coconut oil, it can be a little messy!

almond butter in a baggie to make layers easier.

Once done they go into the freezer to firm up.

What they look like right before someone takes a bite.

Once bitten!

 

Get the book, it really has great stuff in it!!  I’m hoping to get her new 21 DSD Cookbook!!  Maybe Valentines will be the day !!

Caulifredo sauce, why did I wait so long to try you?

I have seen many recipes on Pinterest about faux Alfredo sauce and healthier versions of the butter and cream filled awesomeness that is Alfredo sauce.  I finally caved and gave it a try, much to my surprise it is really, really good!  I tried it first without any dairy and decided to add the Parmesan cheese to it for a little more pizzazz.  I will have to warn you though, full disclosure and all, I love garlic.  I use garlic in everything I possibly can and a lot of it.  I will be making this again and very soon, since I got more cauliflower in my co-op share this weekend.

1 head of cauliflower cut into florets

8 cloves of fresh garlic, minced

4 cups of broth ( I used my chicken bone and feet broth)

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese ( I used a little less)

salt and pepper to taste

bacon grease, butter, ghee or coconut oil ( to cook garlic)

Melt bacon grease, add minced garlic cook until almost crispy, set aside.  In a soup pot add broth and cauliflower to pot and cook until cauliflower is very tender, using a slotted spoon put cooked cauliflower into Blender or food processor, add garlic and 12 ounces of the broth and blend until creamy.  Add Parmesan and blend until smooth, add salt and pepper to taste.  I had baked a spaghetti squash and grilled some chicken thighs to go with my Califredo sauce, which went great together!!

Spaghetti squash and Caulifredo sauce.

grilled chicken thighs on top.

I welcome all comments and would love to know if you tried this and what you thought!

 

Real food with vegetables for breakfast.

Hash browns, I love them, but according to some, white potatoes are not Paleo.  I have my own thoughts on that, but they are a night shade and those tend to cause me issues, some more than others.  I wanted something, not a sweet potato to try instead.  Spaghetti squash to the rescue, again!  I will have to say I was very happy with my results.  They were not at formed as the potato, but they worked and what I cooked them with made them taste awesome!  I will try and tweek them out a little more to see if there is a way to help them keep their form better.  Maybe using the dehydrated spaghetti squash would work better. 

I made the “hash browns” to go with my eggs and bacon.

 

Ingredients

1 cup cooked spaghetti squash

2 shallots chopped

1/2 tsp garlic ( I love garlic)

salt and pepper to taste

bacon grease to cook with

melt bacon grease in a pan, add chopped shallots, cook until just tender.  Add chopped spaghetti squash,garlic,salt and pepper.  Cook until browned.

They do try and fall apart when you put them on the plate, but they are darn tasty!!

Trying to make them square.

Nice and brown

If you try these and are able to keep them from falling apart let me know how you did it. If you try them and just want to let me know what you thought, please do.  All comments welcome, I love feed back!

 

Night time and not sleeping.

We all have nights like that, where you just can’t get sleepy or fall asleep.  I have found a tea that I blend myself for my husband and myself.  My hubs jokingly calls it Auntie Janette’s Narcotea.  I will have to say it works very well and I am not going to give out the measurements.  But I will tell you what’s in it, mostly. ‘)   Catnip, spearmint, chamomile and a few other choice herbs.  It relaxes you and helps you get to sleep and stay a sleep.  Brew a cup and if you like add some local raw honey, or what ever sweetener you’d like.  If your little heart desires you may add Almond milk, coconut milk or raw dairy or even goats milk.  In the summer I cold brew it for my hubs and I.

Bodum single serving loose leaf tea brewing cup.

Tea and a touch of local Raw honey.

I have been a huge slacker! Back to basics J.E.R.F. Just eat real food!

I was really good about posting on my 21 Day sugar detox, then I got tired of posting.  I did make it through the whole 21 days, then Thanksgiving with my family in Arkansas.  I pretty much bailed out on just eating real food and I feel like crap!!  I am sorry I stalled out on posting what I ate and went through on my 21 DSD, but I am doing it again.  I will start January 6th with the groups.  It is the first Monday of the month.  In celebration of that I am eating real food today!  It’s not 21 DSD compliant unless you work out or are pregnant or nursing.  I am none of the above!!  I will attempt to purchase the new 21 DSD cook book, but since funds are low, it may not happen in time for the start.  Okay, here are my breakfast pictures below.

Homemade organic apple sauce sprinkled with a touch of cinnamon.  I took all the apples I had and chopped them up, put them in my crock pot and let them cook on low over night.  Nothing added to them at all, skins left on.  I let them cool a little and put them in my Blendtec blender on the soup setting.

Farm fresh eggs and bacon with sweet potato hash browns.  Cooked in, yes bacon grease!!   J.E.R.F. = Just eat real food.  I really need to stay focused on that!!!