What's in My Pantry?

There are a few "must haves" in my pantry for me to be able to cook (and bake) successfully on a "no sugar low starch" lifestyle.  I keep these things stocked all the time so I can successfully "whip something up."

1.  Whey Protein (vanilla, chocolate, and original)
Whey protein is called for in many recipes.  I also make some incredible shakes using it, including   whatever speciality seasonal shake McDonald's is offering - most recently the Shamrock Shake.  But whey protein is also used as a flour alternative sometimes.  I find my whey protein at Sam's Club for a very reasonable price.

2.  Ideal Sweetener (white sugar and brown sugar)
Ideal Sweetener is made of Xylitol and really doesn't have any funny aftertaste that I can notice.  Or anyone from my family has ever noticed.  Believe me, they'd tell me.  I have found the best price for Ideal on Amazon.  You can usually find it with no shipping.

3.  Coconut Oil
I use coconut oil not only in my baking, but also in place of butter.   My favorite and most common thing to use it for is Chocolate Delight.  There are too many health benefits for me to outline here. It's worthy of an entire blog entry.  Check out Dr. Mercola; http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/22/coconut-oil-and-saturated-fats-can-make-you-healthy.aspx

4.  Shirataki/Miracle Noodles
Have you tried these things?  **WARNING:  You have to make them properly or they are completely gaggable.  You MUST drain them, rinse them, drain them again, and then microwave them for 3-4 minutes before using them.  With that being said, these are a great addition to your cooking staples.  You can use them as a noodle substitute in whatever noodle dish you make.  They really don't have much flavor, they mostly just absorb the flavor of the sauce you are serving them with.  I love them best with pesto or Alfredo sauce.  A whole cup of these noodles are only 40 calories, 1 gm fat, 6 carbs and 4 fiber (equalling 2 "usable carbs."  I buy mine at Whole Foods for about $2.50 a bag.  They give you 10% off if you buy 12 bags or more at a time.

5.  Frozen Cauliflower
     I do SO MUCH with cauliflower!!!  Including make all kinds of rice dishes (using riced cauliflower instead), lasagna noodles,and even bread sticks.

6.  Baking Cocoa
     I have discovered Penzy's Spices baking cocoa and there truly is no replacement for that.  However, any baking cocoa will do the trick.  Add it to a little sweetener and you can make anything chocolate that you could ever want.

7.  Coconut flour
     This is a new find for me.  It can be used as a flour substitute.  I have made cookies, brownies, cakes, muffins, biscuits, and pizza crusts with it.  It can be found in the natural foods section of the grocery store, but I get mine at Whole Foods for about $8.00.  That may sound like a lot, but a little goes a very long way.  For example, 1/3 of a cup makes a dozen .  I bought a 16 oz. bag and finally used it up after 6 months of baking with it.  1 serving of coconut flour (2 TB) of coconut flour is 60 calories, 2 gm fat, and 3 usable carbs. 

8.  Veggies and fruit
   I don't want anyone to think that veggies and fruit are not a part of our lives around here.  HUGE.  PART.

9.  Cheese
All kinds.  All the time.

10.  Meats
Once again.  All kinds.  All the time.  We freeze them so we can pull them out and whip up dinner without ever requiring an emergency trip to the store. 

As you can see, with these 10 items always at hand, there is no reason to not be able to cook every day recipes. With these items on hand, I can always whip up noodle dishes, rice dishes, biscuits, desserts and even pizza!  I feel like there is nothing that I can't convert to a no sugar low starch dish.  Hmmm.  I think it's time to start thinking about dinner!

Happy shopping!

LET THEM SCOFF

So....  I'm visiting my family in Michigan and am doing the cooking while I'm here (5 weeks!).    Prior to coming, I invited those who I will be cooking for to eat the way I've been eating if they like, otherwise I was going to be prepared to cook carbs as side dishes for them.  That was my first mistake - asking.  They would have never noticed if I hadn't mentioned it.  Then my second mistake - ordering 2 large containers of coconut oil (for my Chocolate Delight) and having it shipped there, instead of shipped to my home and porting it to Michigan myself.  Oh the mockery that was awaiting me when I got there!  (Seriously, I should have known better.)

As soon as I got there, it began.   The scoffing.  The mockery.  The whining!  Now for anyone who might read this and know my family, there was only one scoffer.  But he's really into intensive scoffing.  It's practically a professional sport to Him.

I didn't get defensive.  I didn't get offended.  I just smiled and laughed inside.  Because I knew that he would love my cooking and only want more.  I was just mad at myself for mentioning it.  Well.....he scoffed.  And scoffed.  And looked over my shoulder and scoffed some more.  "What IS that?"  "Oh, your life must be so BORING now!"  "Of course eating like that will make you loose weight -- it's so disgusting you never want to eat!"  and on and on. 

I just smiled and nodded.  As I was making my Chocolate Delight.  As he was looking over my shoulder and scoffing some more. 

As I made my delectable delights, I didn't say a word.  Eventually they were done and I offered him one.  Well!  It WAS chocolate, right?  He couldn't say no to chocolate.  In fact, I think he was excited to be able to gain more scoffing material.  So he eagerly accepted and popped one of those little delights in his mouth.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up.  "MMMmmm.  Mmmmmmm!  MMMMmmmmmMMMMMM!!!!  What IS that?  It's WONDERFUL!  I mean, It's good.  REALLY REALLY GOOD!"

Yep.  I knew it.  I offered him more and he quickly accepted.  I stopped him there.  FYI, It was only an option for those who refrain from mockery.

He stopped and had to think about that.  What to do???  Surrender the joy of making fun of the health foodie in the house?  Or enjoy the chocolate?  What a dilemma!    He laughed and passed up another chocolate, claiming it was much more fun to mock my new lifestyle.  That was fine by me.  Less to share!

And 10 minutes later I caught him walking around with a handful of my Chocolate Delights!  Well, guess who's scoffing now!

Soon it was dinner.  Beef pot roast, roasted in red wine, beef bullion, and spices.  Then served with mushroom cauliflower "risotto."  Oh he couldn't help himself.  With every bite he exclaimed the deliciousness of it all (especially the cauliflower risotto) and expressed that he had never had anything like it in his life.  And he ate (literally), 2/3 of the dish.

So I've been enjoying the scoffing, because every time he does it, I know he's going to love whatever it is that I make.  So he'll be scoffing, but I'll be laughing --  all the way to a size 4.  Hello size 4 -- I see you out there and I'll be there soon!

***  To see my Chocolate Delight Recipe, CLICK HERE!