Carb Conundrum - Low Carbohydrate Recipes

Low Carbohydrate Recipes

A lot of people have great success with low carb diets, but they get bored, drop out and pack the pounds right back on, often gaining more weight in the process. (This is one flaw of a low carb diet.) To avoid this, you need an arsenal of low carbohydrate recipes and a sense of adventure.

Low Carbohydrate Recipes

Most people on low carb diets know that there are at least three things you can have without worrying about the carb count: meat, cheese and eggs. You can probably think of a lot of low carbohydrate recipes right off the top of your head using just those three ingredients. After all, what's in a quiche? Meat, cheese and eggs. (Crust too, but most of the low carbohydrate recipes you'll find for quiche are for crustless quiche) What's in an omelette? Meat, cheese and eggs. (Actually, you can make quiches and omelettes without meat, but protein and fat are what fuel your body in the absence of carbs on a low carb diet, so you want to include meat.)

Eventually, you'll get tired of quiche and omelettes and you'll want something different. You might even want something sweet, which is a little more difficult on a low carb diet. Of course, you can have sugar free gelatin, but that too will get old after a while. On this page, we wanted to give you a few low carbohydrate recipes to get your creative juices flowing. Have scrambled eggs with the recipe for Breakfast Meatballs, or just eat them alone. The Ham and Cheese Chicken Turnovers are a great main dish, and we found a recipe that adds a twist to orange gelatin.

Breakfast Meatballs

2 pounds breakfast sausage

1 pound ground beef

3 eggs

2 Tablespoons instant minced onion

1/2 pound sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Combine all ingredients in a bowl, then add salt and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly.

3. Roll into 1-1/2-inch balls or drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet.

4. Bake 18-20 minutes. Makes 2-1/4 pounds to 2-3/4 pounds meatballs.

This makes a lot of meatballs, so you can have them for breakfast for awhile if you freeze them. To freeze them, first cool them quickly in the refrigerator to retain freshness. Put three or four meatballs (the amount you will have in one meal anyway) in freezer-proof containers and seal tightly. These will keep in your freezer for up to six months. To reheat them, either bake them in the oven on 350 for 30-40 minutes or microwave on high until hot.

Ham and Cheese Chicken Turnovers

4 thin slices prosciutto

4 slices mozzarella cheese

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, pounded to 1/4 inch thickness

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

2 teaspoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons dry white wine or chicken broth

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon parsley, chopped

Directions:

1. Place 3/4 slice of prosciutto and 3/4 slice of cheese on each flattened chicken breast. Fold in half and secure with wooden toothpicks or small skewers.

2. Heat oil and butter in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat.

3. Saute chicken turnovers 3-4 minutes per side, or until juices run clear.

4. Add wine or chicken broth and simmer 5 minutes more.

Orange Creamsicle Jello

2 small boxes Sugar Free Orange gelatin

1 cup heavy cream

2 cups boiling water

1 cup crushed ice

Directions:

1. Add gelatin to 2 cups boiling water and mix well untill completely disolved.

2. Add crushed ice and stir until the ice is melted and the mixture has cooled.

3. Add cream and mix well.

4. Pour into individual cups, ice cube trays or freezer-pop molds and chill until firm.

Search the Internet or a low carb diet cookbook for more low carbohydrate recipes. Happy dieting!