The Burgerwich - Easy & Delicious Low Carb Fare

This evening I made a super quick and easy, delicious low carb meal. We had a particularly warm day here today with temps in the mid-80s which felt pretty hot after we were spoiled this past week with unseasonably cool and breezy days. We grilled burgers for dinner. I considered making a batch of my delicious Sesame Seed Sandwich Buns but I didn't feel like putting the oven on, so instead I sliced up the big wedge of Red Wax Hoop Cheese (which melts so beautifully) that I had picked up at Costco and placed a thick slice of it between 2 grilled burgers along with a couple sliced pickles. I melted another slice on top of the burger stack and added some sliced ripe Campari tomatoes and a generous squeeze of yellow mustard...and "ta-da" I had the most beautiful "Burgerwich" sitting in front of me. I didn't even miss the bread at all. Now, if you prefer your burger on a bun, I have the perfect low carb bun recipe for you. You can find it here: Sesame Seed Sandwich Buns. I snapped a quick photo of my Burgerwich below. Enjoy!

            

Wild Alaskan Halibut Pan Seared in Brown Butter & Creamed Parmesan Spinach

This evening we enjoyed the most delicious meal. Our Sprouts Farmers Market had beautiful fresh Wild Alaskan Halibut available in 6-ounce pieces (for $8.99 each). I was so excited to prepare and eat it. It is so very easy to make and takes only about 6 minutes to cook. I pan seared it in brown butter and seasoned it only with a little pink Himalayan sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and a squeeze of fresh lemon. To go with the halibut, I made delicious Creamed Parmesan Spinach with the pound of fresh organic spinach I had in the fridge. It was also super quick and easy to make as well. I made it extra rich and creamy and added Parmigiano Reggiano for a punch of flavor. It went beautifully alongside the fresh wild halibut. I sliced a ripe Campari tomato and dinner was served. It couldn't be any more fresh, simple or delicious...unless of course I was eating it freshly caught in Cordova, Alaska (like I did last summer)! LOL I snapped a few photos below and included the easy peasy recipe for the halibut and the creamed spinach, too. Enjoy!

Wild Alaskan Halibut Pan Seared in Brown Butter

Ingredients:

2 6-ounce portions of fresh wild Alaskan halibut
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter (I used Kerrygold butter)
1/2 lemon

Directions:

Gently pat halibut fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil and butter in a medium 10-inch nonstick skillet just until butter begins to sizzle and turns light golden brown. Place fillets in skillet and cook for 3 minutes; turn fillets and cook remaining side for 3 minutes or until light golden brown. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over fillets. Remove from heat and cover and allow to sit for about 5 minutes. Spoon brown butter over top of fillets when serving.

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Creamed Parmesan Spinach

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound fresh baby spinach
2 tablespoons butter
1 ounce cream cheese (brick style)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons cream (I used Organic Valley heavy cream)
Dash of nutmeg
3 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese, divided

Directions:

In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add spinach and cook until wilted. Drain off any excess liquid in bottom of skillet and return to heat. Push spinach aside, making a well in the center. Add butter and cream cheese and mix around until it begins to melt, combining with the cooked spinach. Stir in cream, nutmeg, and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan. Heat until blended, creamy and combined. Divide creamed spinach between 2 small oven-proof ramekins. Top with remaining tablespoon of Parmesan. Place under a preheated broiler and broil 3 to 5 minutes until lightly browned and bubbly.

         

Sunday's Mixed Grill - Easy Low Carb

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day here. It was breezy, bright and sunny and didn't get much above 70 degrees. It was actually cold when I stepped out early this morning to water my potted flowers. Since it was so gorgeous out, we took advantage of grilling out for dinner. I seasoned steaks and chicken breasts with my favorite McCormick's Chipotle & Roasted Garlic Seasoning and cut up red, yellow and orange bell peppers as well as green Poblano peppers and skewered them to make veggie kebabs. I also cut up a Vidalia onion and skewered it as well. While the meats and veggies were cooking, I made the guys baked potatoes and sauteed sliced mushroom in Kerrygold's Garlic & Herb Butter for me. Earlier in the day I made a batch of my Easy Coleslaw. It was a simple and fresh meal. I snapped a couple of photos below. Enjoy!

        

Grilled Chipotle Chicken Thighs & Veggie Kebabs - Easy Low Carb

This evening we made a quick and easy grilled meal. It was just too hot to cook inside and heat up the kitchen. I had a package of boneless and skinless chicken thighs that I spritzed with olive oil and seasoned with McCormick's Grill Mates Chipotle and Roasted Garlic Seasoning. I cut up some Vidalia onion, red and yellow bell pepper and a green Poblano pepper into chunks and threaded them on skewers and spritzed them with a bit of olive oil. I also threaded some mushrooms on a skewer for me. We grilled everything for about 15 minutes or so; it was quick and easy. I snapped a couple of photos below. I also snapped a photo of the delicious dinner my children treated me to for Mother's Day on Sunday at the Atlanta Fish Market. I had their pan seared wild halibut with butter and olive oil sauce and haricot verts that they served alongside mashed potatoes. It was a delicious meal. It reminded me that it's almost Copper River Salmon time as well which I'm looking forward to. Enjoy!

My delicious Mother's Day Pan Seared Halibut

Grilled Chipotle Chicken

Ingredients:

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
Olive oil spray
McCormick's Grill Mates Chipotle & Roasted Garlic Seasoning
Smoked paprika

Directions:

Spray both sides of chicken thighs with olive oil spray. Season both sides of chicken with chipotle seasoning and smoked paprika. Grill over a hot grill (approximately 400 degrees F) for about 6 to 7 minutes per side, or until done.

*Note: These seasonings can usually be found at most local grocery stores and supermarkets.

        

Saturday Breakfast - Easy Low Carb & Gluten Free

This morning we started this beautiful bright and sunny day with a big breakfast to last us throughout most of the day. I scrambled some organic eggs and added lots of "Three Alarm Colby Jack Cheese" (by Great Midwest) that I found at Sam's Club not long ago. If you like spicy cheese, you will love this cheese!  I served it along with crispy strips of bacon and my Strawberry & Cream Biscuits. It's the perfect way to begin this beautiful May morning...now I'm off to seize the day. Enjoy!

          

It's Friday Night CHEESE HEAD PIZZA Night - Low Carb & Delicious

This evening I made my Cheese Head Pizza for dinner...it's the perfect Friday night meal in my opinion. I've been extremely busy these past few weeks working on several big projects (which is why you haven't seen a lot of me on here) and just decided to take tonight off to enjoy doing one of the things I enjoy best...cook and eat a yummy meal in my kitchen. I have many different low carb pizza crust recipes to choose from but my most recent favorite has to be my Cheese Head Pizza Crust. It is so much like regular pizza dough and crust that I honestly can't tell the difference between them at all whatsoever. Hubby and I shared the same pizza with pepperoni and Kalamata olives on his half and pepperoni, red bell peppers and onions on my half. My brother enjoyed plain old pepperoni pizza. We all have plenty of pizza left to enjoy for another meal tomorrow (maybe even breakfast). If you haven't tried my Cheese Head Pizza Crust yet...you definitely need to do so. You won't believe it's grain and gluten free; I promise. I snapped a few photos below. The recipe for the crust can be found here: CHEESE HEAD PIZZA. Enjoy!

            

Strawberry & Cream Biscuits - NEW RECIPE!

I've got a new recipe for you today that I shared on my guest post for Honeyville. It's for Strawberry & Cream Biscuits. They are rich, delicate and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor and remind you that summer is just around the corner. They're a cross between a sweet roll and a biscuit and can be made even more decadent by topping them with the optional vanilla glaze I made. I've enjoyed them both glazed and plain and they are yummy either way. They go great with a cup of coffee and would be perfect to serve for Mother's Day breakfast, too. Check out some photos of them below. I hope you enjoy them! To get to the recipe, please click here: Strawberry & Cream Biscuits. Enjoy!

            

Easy Hickory Grilled Burgers w/ Spicy 3-Alarm Cheese

It's a gorgeous day here today but unfortunately, I've been under the weather for the last few days. I actually skipped eating dinner altogether last night. This afternoon my brother was itching to grill for lunch so rather than make both lunch and dinner, we had a late lunch to cover us for both meals. We made burgers using 85/15 ground beef and seasoned them with salt, black pepper and a bit of  Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce. He did all the grilling and used his Weber Jumbo Joe charcoal grill with added hickory chips to cook them on. I added some diced onions to my burger and he and hubby enjoyed their burgers on rolls. It only takes about 7 to 8 minutes go cook them once the grill is hot. I sliced up some spicy 3-pepper cheese to top our burgers with (hoping it might help open up my sinuses as well). They turned out great. I had broccoli on the side. We made extras just in case we get hungry later but I think this may last me through the rest of the day. I snapped a few photos below...I love grilling season. Enjoy!

        

Breakfast for Dinner - Mushroom, Bacon, Onion & Gruyere Omelet w/ Parmesan Pepper Biscuits

This evening I scrapped our plans to grill out because we had rain showers that moved through late in the afternoon. Instead I decided to make it a "breakfast for dinner" night instead. I made my Parmesan Pepper Biscuits (by simply adding lots of freshly ground black pepper to my Parmesan Biscuit recipe); cooked up some torn pieces of bacon and sauteed them with onions and mushrooms. I grated a mound of delicious Gruyere cheese imported from Switzerland to add to my omelet. Hubby had scrambled eggs with a mixture of grated sharp cheddar and Gruyere and my brother had a spicy habanero pepper jack cheese filled omelet. It was the perfect quick and easy low carb meal. I forgot how much I loved having "breakfast for dinner", also known as "brinner". I snapped a couple of quick photos below. Enjoy!

         

Cheeseburger Salad - Easy Low Carb

Today was a busy day running errands and working on projects around the house. It was a beautiful bright and sunny day, but quite windy and chilly for April. For dinner this evening we kept it simple. We grilled burgers. I enjoyed mine on top of a big salad. I topped my burger with 2 slices of Boars Head 3-Pepper Colby Jack cheese. I love that cheese; it's nice and spicy. I added a couple of sliced pickles on top and a squeeze of mustard. It was so good and super quick and easy. I snapped a quick photo below. Enjoy!

            

Friday Night Pizza - Pepperoni & Peppers on Cheese Head Crust

This evening I made pizza for dinner. I used my Cheese Head Pizza Crust and topped it with Muir Glen Organic Pizza Sauce, shredded mozzarella, pepperoni and thinly sliced mini peppers. It turned out great. I spread the dough out with a rubber spatula after drizzling about 1 tablespoon of oil on top of the dough. It was much less messy than pressing the dough out with oiled hands. I snapped a few photos below. The recipe for the crust can be found here: Cheese Head Pizza Crust. Enjoy!

            

Italian Style Sloppy Joes (Giuseppe's) - Low Carb

This evening I prepared cheese tortelloni for hubby and my brother (they aren't wheat free). Rather than make zucchini pasta to put my spicy meat sauce on, I decided to use my leftover Parmesan Biscuits to make a mini Italian Style Sloppy Joe instead. I browned a package of ground sirloin, then poured on a jar of DelGrosso's Fireworks Sauce and a couple pinches of red pepper flakes and simmered it uncovered for about 20 minutes. I split a Parmesan biscuit in half and spooned the thick spicy meat sauce on top along with some shredded Parmigiano Reggiano. I enjoyed it alongside a big green salad topped with cherry tomatoes and Cello's Whisps (crispy wafers made with 100% Parmesan) that I picked up at Costco. They are light, crisp, and crunchy like croutons and packed with delicious Parmesan flavor. Some low carb folks like to make their own cheese crisps by baking little spoonfuls of shredded Parmesan on a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. I snapped a few photos below. There are so many simple and creative ways to stay grain free even when others in your household are not without having to make completely separate meals for everyone. I snapped a couple photos below. Enjoy!

            

Greek Spinach Feta Pie - Low Carb & Gluten Free

This evening I made one of my all time favorites; Greek Style Spinach Feta Pie. I used to love making and eating Spanakopita that's made with phyllo pastry dough. After I went wheat and grain free almost 4 years ago, I created this recipe so I could still enjoy all the flavors, minus the wheat. My brother (who claims he doesn't like veggies), particularly if they are green, actually ate and enjoyed it for the first time! I'm looking forward to having leftovers for lunch tomorrow. To get to the recipe, click here: Greek Style Spinach Feta Pie. I snapped a couple photos of tonight's dinner below. Enjoy!

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Grilled Shish Kebab Salad - Easy Low Carb Leftovers

This evening we had Grilled Shish Kebab Salads made by using the leftover grilled kebab meat, onions, red, yellow, and orange bell peppers (I used the chicken kebabs and the guys used the beef kebabs). It was the perfect way to use up our leftovers and it was a quick and easy meal that changes it up a bit. I'm looking forward to using leftover grilled foods on top of salads the next day during the upcoming hot summer nights. Last week we enjoyed Steak & Cheese Salads with leftover grilled steak. I love to purchase the baby heads of artisan romaine lettuce (by Tanimura and Antle) at Costco because they stay fresh and one small head cut up makes a nice main dish salad or 2 smaller side salads. I snapped a few photos below. Enjoy!

            

Grilled Shish Kebabs - Our Belated Easter Dinner

This evening we enjoyed Grilled Shish Kebabs for dinner (I made both beef and chicken). It turned out delicious. I used my basic marinade recipe (fresh lemon juice, olive oil, rosemary, garlic, salt and black pepper) but also added about 1 teaspoon Turkish Seasoning and 1 teaspoon Aleppo Pepper (from Penzey's Spices) and 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano. I let it marinate all day long in Ziploc bags; it turned out great. I made a huge batch of kebabs (using 4 pounds of steak, 5 pounds of chicken breast, 7 large multi-colored bell peppers and 1 large sweet onion) because the whole family got together to celebrate our Easter dinner that we missed out on last weekend because we were busy moving my brother here to Atlanta. It was a beautiful day to cook outside. My brother also smoked a Boston butt all day long to make pulled pork. I made jasmine rice for the family to eat with their kebabs (I ate mine as is). I also made a batch of my Parmesan biscuits. The basic marinade recipe I like to use is here: Grilled Shish Kebab (for beef, chicken or lamb). The recipe for the Parmesan Biscuits is here: Parmesan Biscuits. I snapped some photos below. Enjoy!