Light Summer Dinner

I ate a huge lunch...along with an ice cream sandwich...So for dinner I want to go with something delicious but light!

I sauteed the shrimp in a mixture of butter, lemon, garlic power, sea salt, and pepper.

I then baked asparagus at 400 degrees with olive oil, sea salt, and lemon and threw a little salad on the side.

Kabobs on the grill: Perfect Summer Dinner

Who doesn't love kabobs? If you are like me (terrified of lighting a gas grill) you may need some help on this one.

I used a 3-5 pound roast and cut it into cubes

Next I cut up some poblano peppers, white onions, mushrooms, and pineapple into about one inch squares.

Next I arranged them on skewers, I did some veggie only, some with pineapple and some without.

Next I sprinkled a generous amount of steak seasoning on them.

My boyfriend grilled them on Medium heat for about 20-30 minutes .....I wasn't timing :(

They turned out PERFECT!!

Veggie Sandwich.

This veggie sandwich it so unbelievably delicious!!

I use the 100 calorie everything bagle, spicy hummus,  guacamole,  mixed greens, cherry tomatoes,  red onion, cilantro, provolone cheese, and cucumbers.

Sangria & cheese with the girls

I know that it's summer but that doesn't mean you are limited to BBQ and beer. Go to the deli and grab some brie and an assortment of other cheeses with some water crackers. Replace that beer with some homemade sangria

Summer Salads

Throw some fruit on top of some mixed greens with onion, feta, and some strawberry vinaigrette for a light summery salad.

If you are looking for a little more, add a side of pan fried shrimp.

Chicken Salad

Chicken salad is a great summer meal that helps you get closer to the bikini body you have been fighting for! 

I chopped up some red onion, celery, pecans, and grapes while I was baking two pounds of chicken. 

When the chicken cooled down I chopped it up, mixed in the onion, celery, grapes, and pecans, and I added spicy mayo, and two hard boiled eggs.

 I threw some avocado on the side and it was delish!

Light Lunch

Okay it is almost spring break and you know what that means...BIKINI SEASON! It is time to get serious about dieting...no carbing/low carbing was fun while it lasted but I'm looking for long term results now so I am going to try a balanced diet..here goes nothing!

For lunch i made a simple salad that consists of mixed greens, red onions, fresh mushrooms, chopped baby carrots, a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, and a tablespoon of Sun dried tomato dressing.

Yummy yummy yumm yumm!!!

Snack time!!

Are you craving something salty? Don't grab a bag of potato chips!! Steam some Edamame with sea salt! Yummy yummy without the tummy!!

Are you craving a something sweet? Let the girl scouts go! Bananas with peanut butter will satisfy that sweet tooth!

Be the best you that you can be!

Slow cooker pulled pork

Talk about mouth watering...sweet Jesus this was DELICIOUS! If you are looking for the key to a mans heart, make him this meal! mmmm mmmm!!

I just threw the pork (about 2 & 1/2 pounds) in the crock pot with half an onion (sliced), 1 cup of water, and about 20 ounces of BBQ sauce

After about 3 hours I flipped the pork but that is not a necessary step. I cooked it for a total of 5 hours and then shredded it with a fork. 

I also made some deviled eggs for a low carb side. I place the eggs in cold water and set them on high heat for 20 minutes. Next I chill them in ice for about 30 minutes, peel them, slice then, put the yolks in a bowl, mix the yolks with miracle whip and a little bit of mustard and then sprinkle each one with salt, pepper, and paprika. 

I also used a little bit of cabbage mix as a side and it was PERFECT!!!!

Meatloaf!!!!

I don't know about you, but I am a huge meatloaf fan! 

first I chopped up some fresh bell pepper and onion and lightly simmered it in about a tbsp butter for a few minutes and then mixed it in with two pounds of ground beef, two eggs, 1/4 cup of Italian bread crumbs, I package of onion soup mix, 3/4 cups of water and three spoon fulls of spicy marinara sauce.

Next I buttered a baking dish (13 by 9) and formed a loaf out of the mixture. 

I put a thin layer of spicy marinara over the meatloaf and baked it for 40 minutes and then covered the meatloaf with the remaining jar of spicy marinara and baked it for another 20 minutes 

I let it sit for ten minutes and it was done! DELICIOUS!!!!

Mashed Cauliflower

One of my favorite comfort foods is mashed potatoes, low carbing is hard without potatoes.....or so I thought! Mashed cauliflower tastes just like mashed potatoes!!! 

First I took a medium head of cauliflower rinsed it, cut off the leaves, chopped it up, and boiled it for 6 minutes in lightly salted water

Next I strained out the water, threw the cauliflower in the food processor (a blender would also work) I added about two tbsp butter, two tbsp cream cheese, 1tsp black pepper, 1 tsp sea salt, a pinch of rosemary, a pinch of garlic powder, and a splash of milk.

Once it was done I added some chives and it was PERFECT!!!

Snack

Favorite low carb snack: Jimmy Dean Hot sausage! mmmm mmmm!!!

Spaghetti Squash & Steak

Are you in the mood for some pasta? Spaghetti squash definitely hit the spot for me!!! MMM MMM!!!  This is one of those meals that you feel like you should be gaining weight from! 

 I'll start with the steak. So first I poked them all over, front and back with a fork

Next I put them in a plastic ziplock bag with some delicious marinade and let them sit in the fridge for about twenty minutes. (usually I do this for two hours but tonight I didn't have the time)

Next I laid them out in a frying pan on low heat 2-3 and cooked them for about 15 minutes flipping them occasionally. (They were cooked medium-rare) 

For the squash I started by poking holes all over it with a knife (I've heard it can explode if you don't do this) then I baked it for 1 hour an 20 minutes at 375 degrees, flipping it after 40 minutes

Next I let it cool down, scooped out the seeds, and started flaking it with a fork. (it literally falls into noodles very easily. 

Next I put an entire stick of butter into a cup with about a tsp of black pepper and two tsp of sea salt into the microwave for 30 seconds

 I mixed the butter, salt, and pepper into the squash and also added Parmesan.

And that is it! I threw everything on a plate and it was delicious!

 Yummmmyyyy!!! Eating good & losing weight!!

Mac&Cheese.....low carb substitute!!!!

So I have been feeling a little under the weather lately and the only thing I have been craving is some good ol fashion Mac & Cheese, but I don't want the belly that comes along with it....what a predicament right? Wrong!!! Cauliflower and cheese is just as delicious! 

First I took a head of cauliflower and broke it up into a baking dish and added in some chives, fresh garlic, salt, black pepper, and a tbsp of melted butter. I put it in the oven for thirty minutes at 400 degrees.

Next I melted about two tbsp of butter in  about a cup and a half of milk to start off my cheese sauce 

Once the butter melted I added in two cups of sharp cheddar cheese and continuously stirred until the consistency was correct. 

Once the cauliflower was ready I poured the cheese sauce over the dish and added a generous amount of Parmesan cheese over the top and baked the dish for another 5 minutes and it was ready!!!!

  Even the boyfriend LOVED it!!!

Garlic & Butter Shrimp with Parmesan Mushrooms

I seriously don't understand why everyone doesn't choose the low carb route to drop pounds quick! I am shedding pounds and eating like a queen! Tonight I made the most delicious dinner O.M.G.!! (Yes I am saying that in the a super obnoxious valley girl accent) But seriously it's easy, and defreakinglicious!!!

First I washed my shrimp and shrooms (don't worry, I won't show you a picture of that) Next I chopped up some fresh garlic and green onions. For the shrimp I started sauteing the garlic and green onions in about 2 tbsp of butter.

For the mushrooms I melted about a tablespoon of butter in a cup and mixed in the green onions and garlic and poured it over them in a baking pan and baked them at 425 degrees for twenty minutes

Next I added the shrimp into my garlic and green onions that were sauteing and I also added in about a tsp on garlic powder, a tsp of onion powder, a tsp of black pepper, a tsp of sea salt, and I squeezed half of a large lemon in as well. 

I cooked the shrimp on medium heat adding between 1 & 1/2- 2 tbsp extra butter during cook time. 

I sprinkled some Parmesan on the mushrooms and that was it! Delish!!!!! 

Low carb sloppy joes..say wha??

Tonight is definitely a lazy, curl up in a blanket and read kind of night. I don't really feel like cooking for three hours so instead I'll make some quick and easy sloppy joes!!

I just brown 1 pound of lean ground beef and add one can of mild green chilies.

Next I add one can of hunts bold sloppy joe mix

simmer on low for about 3 minutes and toss some on a crisp slice of cabbage 

Delicious. Simple. Sloppy. Low carb!

Best chili EVER!!!!

Have I got a treat for you my low carbing friends!!! Holy moley I can't even put into words the flavor extravaganza I just put on for my mouth, but don't worry I am going to try for you! 

So I didn't realize how hard low carb chili was going to be (not really hard, it just made me use my brain a little more) because I typically put beer, flour, and sugar in my chili so this time I mixed it up and it turned out even better!!!

I decided to add some hot sausage links this time so I put them on low heat in the frying pan until they were brown on each side

Next I browned two pounds of lean grounds beef and added in 1 finely chopped medium white onion, 1 small can of mild green chilies, and I let that simmer on medium heat 

Next I sliced the sausage up and added two cans of hunts tomato sauce, 1 can of kidney beans, three tbsp of chili powder, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1&1/2 tbsp ground cumin, and 5 beef bullion cubes

 

I covered it, cooking it on low heat (between a 2 & 3) stirring occasionally for 1 hour

I prefer it spicy (which is why I used hot sausage links) so I added a tsp of hot sauce 

last step was stirring in some cheeeeese!!!!! mmmmmm mmmmm mmmm!!!!!

Low carb chili!!! Done and Done!!! Delicious!!!