So it's my birthday....

Today I woke up feeling refreshed and grateful. The cool thing about your birthday is you get an enormous amount of love via text and Facebook. Although others may find the intrusion annoying; I find it quite lovely. Today I turned 37 - today is my New Years. Today all is forgiven and I have no worries. For some reason I have anxiety the day before my birthday and every year I stand in the shower and wash my hair so that I release the 36 years worth of tears that I held back so that on my birthday I can rejoice. I have many things to be grateful for this birthday. I have a beautiful family, all my siblings and mother are healthy, I have a restored faith in humanity and I am breathing. I have to remind myself that on this day someone took their last breath and it wasn't me for God has granted me the gift of another day of life. May God be with his new angels that he has chosen to call home.

I am not going to babble on about saving the world, but I will do my fair share of trying. I am not going to say that I am going be in service every Sunday, but my faith will remain strong. Lastly I am not going to strive for perfection because I know I will make mistakes. I will accept my flaws and apologize for the ones I can't correct or don't care to correct. So here to all the February babies...my your days be bright and your heart be open.

Happy Birthday to us all! God Bless

Erika

Lemon Poppyseed Bundt Cake

A delicious lemon poppy seed bundt cake with lemon glaze. A perfect breakfast or tea time treat. Low carb and gluten free.

Ingredients

Cake:
• 3 cups almond flour
• 1/3 cup unflavoured whey protein powder
• 3 tbsp poppy seeds
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp xanthan gum
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup butter, softened
• ½ cup Swerve Sweetener or granulated erythritol
• 3 large eggs
• 20 drops stevia extract
• Zest of 2 lemons
• ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ¼ cup almond milk
Glaze:
• ½ cup powdered Swerve Sweetener or powdered erythritol
• ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 
  

Instructions

1. For the cake, preheat oven to 300F and butter a bundt pan very well.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together almond flour, protein powder, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat butter until smooth. Add granulated erythritol and beat until lighter and well-combined, about 2 minutes.
4. Beat in eggs, one at time, scraping down beaters and sides of bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Beat in stevia extract and lemon zest.
5. Beat in half of the almond flour mixture, then beat in lemon juice and almond milk. Beat in remaining almond flour mixture until well combined.
6. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula.
7. Bake 50 minutes, or until top is deep golden brown and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in pan 5 minutes, then flip out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
8. For the glaze, whisk together powdered erythritol and lemon juice until smooth. If too thin, add a bit more powdered erythritol. If too thick, at a bit more liquid.
9. Drizzle glaze over cooled cake.

Notes

Serves 12. Each serving has a total of 7.6 g of carbs and 3.5 g of fiber. Total NET CARBS = 4.1 g.

Until next time good people. Make sure you check out our Facebook groups at Low Carb Dieter and Everything In Between. Be sure to add yourself to the group, and please submit your comments and questions here. You can also send me a private message at erikacole25@gmail.com. I will be sure that you remain anonymous unless otherwise stated, and answer your question to the best of my ability. 

Remember to love yourself and be open to being loved.

 

Link to original recipe 

Cranberry Lime Mini Loaves

Yield: 16 servings

Ingredients

Loaves:
• 3 cups almond flour
• 1/3 cup unflavoured whey protein powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup Swerve Sweetener or granulated erythritol
• 3 large eggs
• 20 drops stevia extract
• 2 tbsp lime zest
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
• I cup cranberries, chopped
Glaze:
• 1/2 cup powdered Swerve Sweetener or powdered erythritol
• 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice

Instructions

1. For the loaves, preheat oven to 325F and butter 4 mini loaf pans very well.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together almond flour, protein powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat butter until smooth. Add granulated erythritol and beat until lighter and well-combined, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at time, scraping down beaters and sides of bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Beat in stevia extract and lime zest.
4. Beat in half of the almond flour mixture, then beat in lime juice. Beat in remaining almond flour mixture until well combined.
5. Stir in chopped cranberries and divide among prepared pans.
6. Bake 30 minutes, or until top is golden brown and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in pan 5 minutes, then flip out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
7. For the glaze,combine powdered erythritol and lime juice in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Drizzle over cooled loaves.

Notes

Serves 16. Each serving has 7 g of carbs and 2.7 g of fiber. Total NET CARBS = 4.3 g.

Until next time good people. Make sure you check out our Facebook groups at Low Carb Dieter and Everything In Between. Be sure to add yourself to the group, and please submit your comments and questions here. You can also send me a private message at erikacole25@gmail.com. I will be sure that you remain anonymous unless otherwise stated, and answer your question to the best of my ability. 

Remember to love yourself and be open to being loved.

 

Link to original recipe 

Panera Bread's Hidden Low Carb Menu

 

10 Low Carb Staples You Can’t Live Without

For those just starting out and even for you long timers, sticking to your healthy low carb lifestyle can be difficult. There are carbohydrates, sugar, and sneaky anti-foods in everything. Some times it’s hard to figure out what’s ‘safe’ and what’s not. Eating low carb takes a bit of rewiring your brain to look for certain things to avoid.

You should start by reading labels. Pay attention to carbohydrate count, sugar count, and fiber count. You should also check out the ingredients list under the white Nutrition Facts box. This is where the really important information is. If you’re trying to stay away from anti-foods like high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), hydrogenated fats, hydrolyzed fats, trans fats, and other scary chemicals, this is where they will be listed.

Like with any other kind of cooking, there are staple ingredients we rely on. Here is a list of 10 low-carb staples to get you through your recipes.

Eggs

Eggs are one of natures amazing foods that comes prepackaged for our enjoyment. Boil a few up and you can easily transport them anywhere with you for a great snack on the go. You can also make all kinds of great things with them. One of my favorites is the timeless deviled egg.

Bacon

Everyone loves bacon right! You can cook it ahead of time and snack on it throughout the day. It’s great crumbled on a salad, wrapped around a jalapeño popper, or along side some eggs.

Flax Meal

Flax meal is an amazing replacement for flour in all kinds of recipes. You can use it to make pancakes, muffins, breads, and crackers. Full of healthy fat and fiber, this staple is a must in any low carb lifestyle.

Ground Beef

The most versatile meat you’ll find. Ground beef can be done taco style for chip-less taco salads, hamburgers, chili, it’s great for so many things!

Cheese

Cheese is one of my favorite snacks, I always have a block of cheddar or Gouda in the fridge for a grab and go snack. Everything is better with cheese!

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is THE low carb veggie. Subbing in for starches like mashed potatoes, rice, potato salad, twice baked potatoes, and pizza crust the sky is the limit with cauliflower.

Romain Lettuce

Romain lettuce is a great substitute for breads and tortillas. Aside from the obvious salad, you can use the leaves of Romain lettuce in place of taco shells or bread on sandwiches. I love to wrap a cheese burger in a Romain leaf, yummy!

Nuts

The low carb candy. Just be careful not to go overboard here.

Heavy Cream

For you coffee drinkers this will become a staple. It’s also great for making low carb ice cream, whipped cream, and adding to diet root beer for a ‘root beer float’.

Cream Cheese

Cream cheese is another one of those super versatile ingredients that can be used in billion recipes. It’s great for dishes like buffalo chicken dip and enchilada bake.

Until next time good people. Make sure you check out our Facebook groups at Low Carb Dieter and Everything In Between. Be sure to add yourself to the group, and please submit your comments and questions here. You can also send me a private message at erikacole25@gmail.com. I will be sure that you remain anonymous unless otherwise stated, and answer your question to the best of my ability. 

Remember to love yourself and be open to being loved.

Link to original posting 

Influenster Holiday Voxbox

So I received my Holiday VoxBox from Influenster...super excited when I checked my mail that day in mid December. Needless to say Influenster never fails to impress me with their full size products that they distribute for review. In the picture to the left you will see I received a great sampling of full sized products to review. The products I received are as follows:

• Goody Quickstyle half round hair brush. The packaging states that the products is for all hair types. It features absorbent microfiber bristles that are suppose to dry hair 30% faster.  Review: The brush seemed a bit daunting at first glance. After washing and conditioning my hair I thought I would use the brush just to soak up some of the water. My hair in natural curly and I do not use heat tools in my hair. The texture of my hair made it particularly difficult for the brush to pass through my kinky hair. The brush seems that it would be well suited for people with naturally straight hair or hair that does not have a lot of texture.
• Montagne Jennesse deep cleansing clean up mud mask. Includes aloe juice for blemish prone skin. The product is 20 grams of product. The package states that the special mud blend contains aloe vera, willow, rosemary and witch hazel to naturally target your problem areas. The cleansing mud was all kinds of amazing. The packet had enough to do possible two treatments. I applied my mask to a clean face with a makeup foundation brush. I found that doing this way spread the product evenly over the face a reduced waste. I put the remaining product in an airtight bag to save for another use. After about 15 as directed on the instructions, the mask dried and made my face feel really tight. For me the best way to remove the mask was to do so in the shower. The mask did not have an unpleasant odor and was very soothing on the skin in the wet stage. Once it has had a chance to dry - don't count on moving your face because the product not on tightens the skin but feel as though it may flake off if you try to move the muscles in your face. The mask left my face feeling very soft and refreshed. I give this product a huge thumbs up.
• Natural energy EBoost pink lemonade powder. The product is 6.8 grams and stats that its contains vitamins, mineral and super nutrients to deliver energy to boost your workout or life. The product contains no sugar, artificial flavor and only 10 calories. The Eboost did exactly what it said it would. It give you a good burst of energy which is perfect if you are needing a charge before the gym. I have a little bit of a commute to work, so I took mine in the morning and I immediately felt the effects. The powder took a little bit of time to dissolve and I am not a big fan of pink lemonade, but the taste was not too bad. I am not a big fan of energy drink, but if I had to choose a quick pick me I would try this again.
• Kiss Nail Dress. 28 strips to apply to the nail that last up to 10 days. I wore my nail dress on New years eve on my ring finger and thumb to add a bit of pizazz to my nails. I received tons of compliments. I love this nails strips because it takes the guess work out of creating what I like to call a bling nail. I have since bought a collection of these nail dresses because I am absolutely in love with these. 
• NYC Liquid Lipshine in shade Nude York City 582. Non sticky formula with a doe foot applicator. Contains .24 fluid ounces. Review: The lipshine is just that - it add a lot of shine to the lips. The color payout if very faint. My lips are pigments already, but this would be great to add over a lipstick to add a lot of shine. The applicator itself seems a bit flimsy - I am used to a stiffer applicator. The doe foot on the end of the applicator itself is very soft and allows the products to glide on smoothly. The consistency of the products is very nice and not sticky at all on the lips. There is no scent to the product and no taste. I let my daughter try the gloss and she loves it. She does not like very pigmented gloss so this was perfect for her.
• Quaker Real Medleys. Apple Walnut Oatmeal with sweet apples, tart cranberries, walnuts and multigrains. Contains 2.64 ounces - 290 calories per serving. Review: I live a low carb lifestyle so trying this oatmeal was out of the question for me. The oatmeal has 48 net carbs which is way over my daily allowance (20 grams). I did have my son eat it and he said that he did enjoy the flavor, but was not a big fan of the tart cranberries. He's 11 and I do not think his palette has quite matured yet (lol). He loved the apples and the walnut - seeing how he is a big fan of oatmeal- he was the best person in the house to give me an honest opinion. I did notice that he seemed full many hours after he ate the oatmeal, which was great.

Mud Mask, Eboost, Oatmeal

Kiss Nail art, Lipshine, Goody brush

What Is Influenster

Influenster is a free-to-join community of invited trendsetters who live to give opinions of products and experiences. Influenster creates links between brands and members to reward participation and influence future products.

So...what exactly is Influenster? So glad you asked. Here’s a handy definition that would make Merriam-Webster proud:

Influenster [in-floo-uhn-ster]

An exclusive online community where tastemakers and trendsetters (such as yourself) come to share the latest and greatest news, places, products, and reviews with each other. 2. The hotspot you just bookmarked on your web browser that turns your social influence into sweet rewards.

Click here to join the influenster community. Join Influenster

Low-Carb Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole

Serves 8.

4 cups hashed brown jicama or daikon radish hashed browns (optional)
12 ounce package crumbled, cooked, drained bacon slices
1 pound cooked, drained ground sausage
1 medium diced sweet yellow onion
1 diced green bell pepper
1-1/2cups sliced fresh mushroom
1-1/2 cups fresh spinach
2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
1/2 cup chopped Feta cheese (or other sharp cheese)
1 dozen eggs
1 cup heavy white cream
1  tsp salt
1-1/2 tsp pepper

Place a layer of hashed browns on the bottom of 1 4-6 quart slow cooker. Follow with a layer of bacon and sausage, then onions, green pepper, spinach, mushrooms, and cheese. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, cream, salt and pepper together. Pour over the crock pot mixture, Cover and cook for 10-12 hours on low.

Makes 8 servings. Refrigerate or continue to keep warm in the crock pot the day you plan to serve.

Nutritional information per serving: Calories: 443.6, Carbohydrates: 8 g, Fiber: 1.95 g, Net Carbohydrates: 6.05 g, Protein: 18.1 g, Fat: 38.25 g
Skip the Hashed Browns per serving: Calories: 429.6, Carbohydrates: 4.8 g, Fiber: .7 g, Net Carbohydrates: 4.1 g, Protein: 17.7 g, Fat: 38.25 g

Link to original recipe