Lemon Vinaigrette

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Combine all ingredients except the oil and then add the oil slowly while whisking to emulsify.

4 servings, 1.2 grams net carbs, 0.1 g protein, 0.1 g fiber, 13.5 g fat, 123.6 calories

Brownies (Scratch and Mix)

1 stick butter
6 ounces dark or bittersweet chocolate (Trader Joes 72%) chopped
2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 tablespoon coffee
1 teaspoon espresso granules
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt if using unsalted butter

Preheat to 350 - Spray the brownie pan with cooking spray.

In a microwave safe bowl melt the butter and chocolate, add the sugar and vanilla and coffee.  Cool a little and then add the eggs.  Add the flour and mix well.  Bake for 12 - 14 minutes.  Toothpick should come out almost clean.     

When using a mix, I bake at 325 for about 25 minutes when I use my 12 square individual brownie pan.  

Rolled Ice Cream

Rolled Ice Cream

Ingredients

2 cups cold heavy cream
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Mix with a whisk and add in anything you want!

You will need two metal baking sheets (9x13)

Instructions

Make sure you have enough flat space in your freezer for both pans. 

Make the ice cream base. Whisk the cream, sweetened condensed milk, and salt together in a medium bowl and add any extra things like crushed cookies or cereal or nuts and chocolate.

 

Pour the ice cream base into the baking sheets or pans. Divide the ice cream base between the baking sheets or pans.

Freeze the ice cream base for 2 hours. Freeze until completely frozen, about 2 hours.

Roll the ice cream. Roll 1 pan of ice cream at a time (keep the other one in the freezer). Place the pan on a counter top lengthwise and work quickly so that the ice cream doesn't melt.  Use a flat, sharp edged spatula or putty knife to cut the ice cream into 3-inch wide strips. Starting at the bottom, use the spatula to scrape up and roll the ice cream strips into rolls. Using tongs, gently pick up the rolled ice cream and stand them up in a cup or small bowl.

Garnish and serve. Top the rolled ice cream with whipped cream and anything else like nuts, shaved chocolate or sprinkles, etc.  

German Chocolate Pie

Make pie crust and when removed from oven put a small layer of chocolate on the bottom of the pie crust.  Let it cool.  Make the pie filling.  

Pie Filling:
8 cups of milk
1 cup of sugar (I often go a bit light)
3/4 cup of packed cornstarch
1/4 cup of cocoa powder (german chocolate bar or dutch chocolate)
1 teaspoon of vanilla

Place 7 cups of milk in a big saucepan on low-to-medium until steaming, stirring occasionally.

Place the other cup of milk in the blender with the sugar, cornstarch, and cocoa.

Once the milk on the stove is steaming, add the cup of milk/cocoa from the blender slowly.

Stir constantly to keep from sticking/burning, until the milk comes to a light bubbling boil (not rolling).  Then add the vanilla and remove from heat.

Let the pie filling cool a little and then add coconut and pecans.  Pour filling into the crust.

Let pie cool completely in the fridge and when ready to serve top with whipped cream.  

Oatmeal Lace Cookies

Preheat oven to 375 and use Silpats on baking sheets

2 sticks butter (1 cup)
2 1/4 cups light brown sugar 
2 1/4 cups rolled oats
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 egg lightly beaten
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla  

Melt the butter and sugar on the stove top.  
Stir in the other ingredients and mix.
Use a small ice cream scoop and place about two inches apart.

Bake for about 7 minutes. 

Allow to cool and then move to a cooling rack.  

These would be really good with some dark chocolate either dipped on one side or drizzled over the top.  

Egg Bites

10 large eggs
1/2 cup cottage cheese
3/4 cup cheddar cheese
6 slices of bacon, cooked
non-stick cooking spray
salt and pepper
baking dish with one inch of water.  

Cook the bacon and chop into small pieces.  Grate the cheese.  Place the baking dish with water on the bottom rack and preheat the oven to 300 degrees.  Add eggs to the blender with the cottage cheese and blend for 30 seconds.  Spray the muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray and then fill them equally with the egg and cottage cheese.  Add the chopped bacon equally to each and then add a little salt and pepper.  Top each with grated cheese.  Bake for 30 minutes, remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes.  Remove from muffin tin and freeze.  To re-heat, 45 to 60 seconds in the microwave.  

Lemongrass Sauce

1 lemon
2 tbsp grated ginger

1/8 cup brown sugar
2 stalks fresh lemongrass
1 shallot minced
2 garlic cloves minced
2 tbsp butter

14 ounces coconut milk

 

1/8 cup fish sauce (optional)

Lemon Juice
 

Zest the lemon, mix with grated ginger, add the brown sugar.  Chop the lemongrass and mince the shallot and garlic.  Add butter, lemongrass, shallot and garlic to pan with the butter, cook until all is just warmed - add the lemon zest, grated giner and brown sugar and cook until combined.  Add the coconut milk and simmer.  Add lemon juice if desired.

 

 

 

Pickle Chips

Dill Pickle Chips
3 C All Purpose Flour
1-1/3 cup All-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tablespoon Oil
2 egg yolks
3/4 - 1 cup Beer

Mix the flour, salt, pepper, oil and egg together. Gradually whisk in the beer. Refrigerate the batter 3 1/2 hours to rest before using. Lay pickle slices on paper towels to drain.  Pat pickle chips with paper towel to dry and dip them in the batter. Deep-fry in 375 degree oil until golden brown.  

Serve with Special Sauce with horseradish or Ranch dressing. 

Armadillo Eggs

Ground Chicken, Ground Beef or Sausage
Egg
Diced Jalapenos
Cream Cheese
Pepper Jack Cheese
Crushed Saltine Crackers (retain some larger pieces, do not crush fine)

Mix all together (you could also substitute finely diced cooked chicken or diced beef). 
Roll into the shape of a large egg and then roll in seasoned flour, egg wash and crushed saltines.  Fry until dark brown and cooked through. 

Serve with ranch dressing or special sauce with horseradish.