SWEET AND SALTY PECANS

Alrighty, it's fall time and I love me some pecans. This is simple, tasty and is nice for us that have that sweet tooth issue. Bonus... while they are baking...you don't need to burn those fall candles.

4 cups roasted and salted pecans
3 egg whites-beaten
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup Splenda
1 tsp salt
1 stick of butter-melted

Pour the melted butter on a pan(one with a lip-line the pan first with tin foil for easy cleanup). Mix all the ingredients together and then add the pecans. Stir up and pour over top of the butter lathered pan. Bake in oven for about 30 min. in a 350 degree oven. Stir a couple of times during the baking. Then let them cool and break them up. SOOOOO GOOOD!
Enjoy!

Hi Everybody,
I just wanted to announce that I have my first book signing Wednesday. I'm soooo excited. We will see if anybody shows up. lol I'm so nervous and excited all at the same time. If your in town-stop by. Love to meet you!

Meet and Greet Author Book Signing

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Oct 10, 2012
(General)

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Meet author Rachael Connelly at Max and Patsy's in Olivet! Rachael will be featuring her delicious samples from her new cookbook. Stop by and try one and get your very own signed copy!

Location: Max and Patsy's 4506 Butterfield Rd Olivet, Mi

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EASY FREEZER SALSA

 

Well a friend of ours gave us a good amount of Roma tomatoes. So I thought lets cook up some salsa. I thought I would try a sweet/hot version. Normally Chris and I don't like sweeter salsas-ever. But we both had this one tonight and we were both very happy with it. So much so I'm getting some more tomatoes from my friend tomorrow and I'm going to whip another batch. Now this is a nice easy batch that you can store in freezer bags and toss in the freezer. Gotta love that.

 

10-12 ripe Roma tomatoes (or any average size tomato really)

2 medium onions-finally chopped

8 garlic cloves -minced

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 (6oz) cans of tomato paste

1/2 can of jalapeno peppers-hot(or what ever you want to fit your taste)

2 bell peppers-chopped..I used orange and yellow

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1 tablespoon paprika

2 teaspoons splenda

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup water

 

Heat oil in a large skillet-over medium heat then add onions and garlic-stirring often. While they are cooking up dice the tomatoes. When onions are soft add tomato paste, tomatoes, jalapeno, bell peppers, vinegar, splenda, paprika, salt and water. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally -about 30 minutes.

Cool to room temperature before packing into zip top freezer bags.

Makes 8-10 cups-gently press bags flat then you can stack them in the freezer.

Enjoy!



OUR SUNDAY DINNER

I love Sunday dinners and try to do them at least twice a month. It's just me and my husband...but it means a lot to both of us. So many memories for both of us as children and remembering the little more pricey and little more extravagant dinners with your family.  Plus it's such a calming time for me in the kitchen..taking my time to prepare a meal that normally you might not have time to do during your hectic work week. Sometimes I get so excited for Sunday dinners that I can't decide what to make. THEN...it happens..we both get that "I'm so full feeling" afterwards and sit back and relax. SO REWARDING...IN SO MANY WAYS! With all that in mind, this is what I made for Sunday dinner today. Enjoy!

Salisbury Steaks with French onion gravy
*adapted from Rachael Ray recipe*

EVOO for liberal drizzling

2 tablespoons butter

2 large onions, sliced

Salt and coarse black pepper

Ground thyme

1 bay leaf

 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

About 2 pounds ground sirloin

1 large egg, beaten

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

 1 tablespoon garlic powder

 1/2 teaspoon Xanthum Gum

1 1/2 cup beef stock

Place a drizzle of EVOO in a skillet over medium heat and melt the butter into the oil. Add the onions, season with salt and pepper, a little ground thyme and add the bay. Caramelize the onions until very soft and sweet and light golden in color, 20 to 25 minutes.

 Place the meat in a bowl and add the egg.  Add the Worcestershire, garlic powder and cheese to the beef. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and combine. Form into 4 (1-inch thick) oval loaves. Heat a drizzle of EVOO in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the loaves and cook until cooked through, about over the caramelized onions, stir 1 minute.  Add the beef stock along with the Xanthum gum and thicken a moment. Take the bay leave out. Serve the gravy over the Salisbury steaks.

Drop biscuits

1 cup sour cream

2 sticks unsalted butter-softened

2 cups Carbquik *you can get from Netrition.com)

1/4 tsp butter flavoring *optional

Mix butter, sour cream and butter flavoring. Add in the Carbquik and mix until doughy. Spray a muffin pan (holds 12) with cooking spray. Drop evenly into each divot. Bake at 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown on top.

*these are good with the gravy on top.

EASY PUMPKIN CAKE


Alright, so I was playing around with a can of pumpkin...and this is what I came up with. A VERY moist Pumpkin Cake. It's very good. I can't stop eating it!.

1 cup almond meal
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 large eggs-slightly beaten
1/4 cup sugar free pancake syrup
1/4 cup Splenda
1 scoop Designer Whey French Vanilla protein powder-or another brand if you choose
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Mix all the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl. Add in wet ingredients. Mix well together. Spray a 1 qt dish -round or square...doesn't matter. Pour in and bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes.

It's very good...you don't need whipped cream for this one. Of course you can always add it. Just saying...it's gooooood!

Enjoy!

MY COOKBOOK IS DONE AND READY TO ORDER

I'm soooooo excited. I can't wait for you all to read it and try out the recipes. I will still be posting various recipes not in the book on my blog. I hope you all enjoy it. I have it on sale right now for $13.00 plus s/h. It's also on Amazon for a little more and I believe Barnes and Noble. If you do purchase -please rate it on Amazon if you can. The more ratings the better and it moves it up the list for searches! I would be forever greatful! Thanks for all the support and please feel free to leave me comments on the recipes I post. Any questions are also welcomed! Bring it on low carbers.....

CHOCOLATE SYRUP

So I'm not extremely thrilled with the sugar free syrup you can buy in stores but it's ok. I haven't had any since last summer and we wanted some last night while we were having some ice cream. The weather is so beautiful this March in Michigan that it is putting us in the mood early to enjoy summer fun. Soooo, at 9:30 last night I whipped up my own batch. I made dark chocolate(not found in stores) and it was soooo good. My husband and I both agree we like it much better then the store bought and it only took 10 min.

1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups Stevia (you can use any sweetner here..but remember Splenda doesn't always go well with chocolate-it makes it bitter)
1 cup unsweetened cocoa-I used dark
1 tsp pure vanilla

In a non stick saucepan combine everything but the vanilla and whisk over medium-high heat until bubbly. Add the vanilla. Whisk until a little more and when it's think and bubbly-your done. This fills a pint jar (well after we already used some on ice cream). Enjoy

VERY BEEFY STEW ANYONE?

Life has been hectic and a lot of changes are happening. All for the good now...got over the humps. Sorry I was gone for awhile. But I'm back...never really left just had to get some stuff in order. Working on my cookbook and was having a lot of trouble with the publisher. Well I want to let you know that it should finally be done in about a month. I can't even believe it. Everything is done and set and ready to print. 6 months ago I never thought it would happen.

Anyway, every week my husband has been having his weekly poker games with the guys. I've been trying a few recipes and what's so nice is that they are just as excited for my cookbook as I am. LOL
I usually make a couple of dishes for them...nice hearty dishes. Fill the belly and they are happy poker players.

Sooo, last night I made stew for them. They don't even notice the potatoes missing. It was all gone in about an hour my husband said. I love it! I love to make people happy with food. I really love to cook for guys. They can just eat and eat.

3 pounds of beef chuck roast cut into 1 inch squares
6 baby carrots -cut into small slices (gotta have carrots in stew!)
2 small onions -diced, sliced anyway you want them
1 bag of frozen cut green beans
2 cups of beef broth
1 small can of tomato paste
2 bay leaves
1 tsp Italian seasoning
salt and pepper
xanthan gum about 1 tablespoon to thicken

Put all of the above except xanthan gum in large crock pot on low for 8 hours. In the last 30 min add the xanthan gum-mix it in and cover with lid. Just let it sit until ready to eat. It will thicken it up. Enjoy!


I will be back soon............