Low Carb Cornbread without the Corn!

Wishing I could eat cornbread, but no longer eating corn (or flour or grains, as much as possible, because my “wheat-belly‘ can’t handle it) I spent hours searching for a corn-free CORNBREAD Recipe. I found 3 or 4 and put them all together to make my own version.

LOW CARB CORN-FREE GRAIN-FREE CORNBREAD (can be made into cornbread muffins)

1 Cup Almond Flour, blanched (I made my own)

2 Large Eggs, beaten

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1/4 Cup Sour Cream

1 Tbsp. Whole Milk

2 Tbsp. real Butter, melted

1 tsp. Sugar or sweetner

1/4 tsp. Salt

Optional: I added garlic powder and diced onion, mmmmm. Other variations I plan to try are adding cheese, paprika, green onions, spinich, or leaving plain and topping with a bit of honey for a sweet treat instead.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease 8″ square pan, or 8″ round pie pan. You could also use a muffin tin.

Bake 20 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. (Muffins might take less time, maybe 15 mintues).

Yield: Makes approx. 6-8 small servings. (I used pie pan and cut into 8 small slices)

Approx. Carb Count: 1 serving 5 carbs. (Compared to 27 carbs for 1 serving using regular wheat flour!)

Note: Even though there is no corn, this completely satisfied my craving for cornbread. I had two servings, or 10 net carbs total, completely within my goal range.

Happy Baking! ~Tricia

Share it with a PIN

A Horse of a Different Color

Ranchos Visitadores – Several hundred ranchers and horses came through Solvang yesterday (May 4, 2013) for their annual visit. The ranchers wore pink shirts (“not too tough to wear pink”) for a Breast Cancer Cure fundraiser, and one Mule went the extra mile by wearing pink all over.

Rancheros Visitadores: {from Solvangusa.com)

Said to be the largest riding group of its kind in the world. The Rancheros stop at the Old Mission Santa Inés {in the Santa Ynez Valley} for the blessing of their horses by the padres. Hundreds of riders make the annual pilgrimage.

Hundreds of riders on horseback and in wagons — all wearing pink — arrived in Solvang when the Rancheros Visitadores made their 83rd trip to Mission Santa Ines for the blessing of the riders.

The blessing drew a large crowd, creating a colorful parade ground that fills the open land between Mission Drive and the mission buildings.

Wearing pink is part of the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” national campaign started in 2004 by entrepreneur Terry Wheatley, a breast cancer survivor, and Karl Stressman, then an employee of Wrangler and now commissioner of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PCRA).

Last year, the Rancheros raised $65,000 and they expect to raise $80,000 in 2013. A check presentation to the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara with Sansum Clinic is planned at the blessing.

Rancheros General Manager John Balch expects 800 to 850 horseback riders and 25 covered wagons, carriages and coaches this year.

The Rancheros Visitadores, or the “Visiting Ranchers,” is a men’s social club founded in 1930 to commemorate traditional rides that once were made from ranch to ranch. Members come from many states and several foreign countries.

Each year after the Kentucky Derby broadcast, the Rancheros ride on horseback, in carriages and wagons from Jackson Camp to the mission for the blessing and then move on to Janeway Camp, property they own near Lake Cachuma.

SOURCE

 

Door To Nowhere: Watch That First Step!

While taking a walk with my husband, we saw this apartment building with an upstairs door to nowhere. If opened from the inside, one would step out into nothing. If opened from the outside, one would need stairs or ladder. The door has no stairs, so it can’t be an emergency exit. I am so curious as to what it could be for. Any guesses?

An unexplained mystery….

~Tricia

Funny.Hope.Bacon.

First, I must say that my hope is in Jesus. I did have a good laugh at a variation on this saying that is going around the internet. So I made my own adaptation. Mmmm bacon….

~Tricia

 

Cheese Crisps {Bet you can’t eat just one} Instead of Potato Chips

In researching recipes that are in line with my WheatBelly lifestyle, I saw this SNACK CHIPS recipe for Parmesan Chips {potato chip alternative) from Food Renegade. Mine did not turn out at all like Food Renegade’s did, but wow, were they delicious!! Low Carb (zero), high protein (7g), and yes they do have fat and salt, so do regular chips. So it is not for everyday eating, just for an occasional snack swap. Swap chips for crisps.

CHEESE CRISPS: Drop a dollop of shredded cheese onto a hot skillet. Spread thin. Watch carefully, they burn easily. Flip when golden brown. Remove to paper towel to drain, then to plate to cool.

Bet you can’t eat just one! I couldn’t. In fact, they were so good, I made a few other kinds as well. Parmesan four cheese crisps, then cheddar-jack cheese crisps, then the cheddar-jack again but with diced fresh garlic and Franks Hot Sauce mixed in (darkened the end result, but so good!). Lastly I did the cheddar-jack with BBQ Sauce mixed in. I used way too much, they turned out messy, but these were my FAVORITE (and I liked them all!)

Now to go make some homemade guacamole dip to spread on them (they might break if I try to dip in).

Very rich, you actually can’t eat as many as you would regular chips!

I seem to be in recipe mode lately. So many wheat-free, grain-free, gluten-free recipes I want to try…. my blog is not a recipe blog, but for now, I hope you don’t mind. This also helps me keep my food notes for myself for future reference.

Happy eating.

~Tricia (Share: Pin it)

p.s. In case you want to see how they look in the pan:

NUTRITION COMPARISON:  Costco brand Kettle Krinkle Potato Chips: (9 chips = 1 serving): 140 calories, 9g total fat, 160 sodium, 16g Carbs, 2 fiber. VS. Cheddar/Jack Cheese Crisps (1/2 cup, approx. 6 big chips): 110 calories, 9g total fat, 180 sodium, <1g carb, 7g Protein. For me, the high carb count of regular chips makes me have unhealthy symptoms for days. Plus, I would not stop at 9 chips/serving! I would probably double that with regular chips, but with these cheese crisps, they are rich and filling and easy to stop at 4-6.

Recipes: Cream Cheese Pancakes {Gluten-free Wheat-Free Grain-free}

Flourless Pancakes which are grain-free, wheat-free, gluten-free are remarkably good!

I tried this recipe for Cream Cheese Pancakes from I Breathe I’m Hungry. I followed her recipe exactly and they turned out delicious, not ‘cheesey’ at all.

Yield: 4 small 6 inch pancakes. Serving Size: 1 pancake

2 oz. cream cheese

2 eggs

1 pkt. sweetner

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Blend until smooth. Rest 2 minutes until bubbles settle. Pour 1/4 of batter into pan (greased with butter). Cook 2 minutes. Flip. Cook 1 minute. Repeat. (Original printable recipe).

Topping: I just added butter and sprinkled some cinnamon. No syrup. Delicious!

~Tricia (Pin it)

How to Report Unwanted Spam Text Messages and How to Forward Text Messages

(c) TriciasThings. Feel free to share, giving credit to source: triciasthings.wordpress.com

After receiving a few unwanted spam text messages, I found out how to report them to my phone service provider. But first I had to figure out how to Forward the text to my phone company. Saving this as a blog post and as a pin so I can remind myself next time I get a phishing spam text, and also hopefully it will help someone else who is frustrated by this.

First, if you have not already done so, register your cell phone numbers and land line phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry*. Free and easy.

IMPORTANT: When you receive an unwanted, unsolicited, or spam text, DO NOT REPLY to it! They are phishing for your number, and you don’t want to give it to them! Don’t open any links in the text you were sent!

Next: FORWARD the text immediately to 7726 (SPAM). How to forward (found this info at the ATT website. Works for Verizon as well):

If I get a spam text message, what should I do?

• FORWARD the spam message to the short code 7726 (SPAM) so we can start an investigation. If you receive a number of spam texts we recommend putting 7726 into your contact list so that you don’t need to remember the numbers. DO NOT DIRECTLY RESPOND to any text message you believe is spam; this just alerts the spammer that your number is genuine.
• You may receive other types of spam such as spam messages from email that are converted into a text message or from shortcodes. If it is one of these types of spam, please also report these spam messages to our 7726 service.
• Reply to unsolicited short codes with STOP in the body of the response to prevent future message from that short code {Note from Tricia: I did not do this, because I was concerned about giving my number to the spammer}.

How do I forward a text message on my phone to 7726?

• iPhone: Press the message (careful not to activate a link), then Edit, then tap the little circle next to the message, then forward to 7726.
• Android: Press the message (careful not to activate a link), then choose Forward in the menu and forward to 7726.
• Blackberry: Open the message, then using the Menu key, select Forward in the menu and forward to 7726.
• Windows: Press the message (careful not to activate a link), then choose Forward in the menu and forward to 7726.

For other devices, go to http://www.att.com/devicehowto/ for instructions on forwarding text messages.”

*From National Do Not Call:  ”Scammers have been making phone calls claiming to represent the National Do Not Call Registry. The calls claim to provide an opportunity to sign up for the Registry. These calls are not coming from the Registry or the Federal Trade Commission, and you should not respond to these calls. To add your number to the Registry you can call 888-382-1222 from the phone you wish to register, or go click on “Register a Phone Number” in the left column” of their online page. The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at this Website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free. Your registration will not expire. Telephone numbers placed on the National Do Not Call Registry will remain on it permanently due to the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007, which became law in February 2008.

National Do Not Call Frequently Asked Questions. All telemarketing calls will not stop. Some organizations are still allowed to call you. See the FAQ’s for a list of who can still legally call your number, and who you should report if they violate the law.

BLOCKING: You can also have the number blocked, but my service only offers a limited number of blocked callers, and spammers just change their number anyway, and keep on spamming. For now I just choose to report them and that seems to work for awhile. ~Tricia (PIN IT)

Cakey Brownies {Blackbeans!} Flourless, Grain-free, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Sugar-free optional

BROWNIE EXPERIMENT #1: Flourless Brownies using BLACK BEANS (you don’t taste them at all!) as the flour replacement. Once again, I used what I had on hand in my pantry instead of going to store for new ingredients. Thank you SugarFreeMom for the recipe and inspiration to try this yummy dessert!

I used dark chocolate chips instead of carob chips. Instead of powdered stevia I used a spoonful of sugar, but the brownies were not very sweet (this might be a good thing), and I did not check a stevia to sugar conversion chart first. I could have added a little more sugar, but I am trying to be sugar-free. This was not entirely sugar-free the way I did it, but it was very very low per serving.

My hubby was my taste tester, along with me, and we decided my version was good, but a bit dry/cake-like, whereas the original recipe describes them as Fudgey. Since I am not eating wheat, this black bean flourless brownie recipe was a fun treat anyway.

Adapted from SugarFreeMom original recipe. 

1/2 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips (These were lower carb than expected, but not sugar-free. For the sugar-free replacement in original recipe, use Carob Chips).

1 (15 oz.) Can Black Beans (rinsed until all the starch bubbles are gone! Drain)

1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder, unsweetened

2 Eggs

1/4 Tsp. Cinnamon

1/3 Cup Oil (I used olive oil)

2 Tsp. Vanilla Extract

1/4 Tsp. Sea Salt

1/2 Tsp. Baking Powder

1 Tbsp. Sweetner (orig. recipe calls for powdered Stevia)

PREHEAT OVEN 350 DEGREES. Prepare 8×8″ baking pan with parchment paper, then grease parchment paper with butter. Grease any exposed edges of pan too (makes easier clean-up later).

PROCESS black beans first, then other ingredients, until smooth. (Blender, mixer, or food processor).

POUR into dish and even out the batter.

BAKE 30 minutes until toothpick test comes out clean.

COOL pan on wire rack 10 minutes, then remove parchment by lifting edges. Transfer to wire rack to cool to room temperature. Slice on cutting board when cool.

What I would do differently next time: Stevia instead of spoonful of sugar. Maybe carob chips or the full 1 1/4 cups of dark chocolate chips the original recipe called for. Maybe I would add an egg or two, but this was a dairy-free recipe. Probably would have been more moist if I made those changes, though I am not sure. Next time….

(Please feel free to share my post: PIN IT)… OR: SugarFreeMom’s original PIN (look at her photos, where the brownies appear darker and more fudge like. Yum! I really liked my version though too. It’s fun to make a recipe suit your own tastes or suit the ingredients you have on hand). ~Tricia

Bakery Manager Tip: Clean As You Go

Source: free clipart from I-heart-God.com

Nearly 5 years in a commercial bakery, 4 of those years as the Bakery Manager, left me with some great lessons on baking that I continue to use at home. The biggest tip: Clean as you go. It seems like common sense, right?

START WITH A CLEAN KITCHEN and clean hands: Empty the dishwasher, wash any dishes in the sink, clean out the sink, wash your hands (and put on an apron — I have ruined more tops by forgetting my apron). Starting clean makes staying clean an easier process from the start.

FILL SINK WITH HOT SOAPY WATER: When you are done measuring and mixing, put utensils, bowls and cups in the water, to soak. Have a CLEAN DAMP CLOTH handy, and wipe and rinse your hands, cloth, and surfaces regularly. It only takes 2 seconds extra and saves more time at the end.

WASTE CAN or BOWL ON COUNTER for WASTE: This saves steps and adds to efficiency. Don’t drop waste in the sink, as it will add more cleanup time later. Only handle waste once.

WHILE FOOD IS COOKING/BAKING: You have at least 10 minutes or more, however long your food is baking, to start cleanup. MULTI-TASKING IS GOOD! RINSE DISHES, LOAD DISHWASHER, WASH BIG ITEMS BY HAND, and get them dried and put away (leaving more room in dishwasher). Dish washing tip: Washing biggest items first really cleans up the kitchen fast. It’s psychological too. With the big things loaded in washer or hand washed, it frees up more room right away. Clean out your sink when done.

COOL SKILLETS ON STOVE: Don’t put a hot skillet in the sink. Rinse it off, then set it on the stove to cool. As soon as it is cool, then hand wash or load in dishwasher. Some skillets will warp over time, if you do not do this. And it keeps sink clear until you are ready to wash.

WIPE DOWN OUTSIDE OF MIXER, BLENDER, FOOD PROCESSOR, etc. AFTER EACH USE and put away: In my home kitchen (a tiny apartment space), I wipe down each appliance after using, including wiping the cord, dry the small appliance surfaces and put the base back in the box (you probably have room on your counter for yours — just slide it back in its place after cleaning base and cord). I pop the box up on top of the refrigerator (no cupboard space!) Even if the bowls and lids are in the dishwasher, the rest of the small appliance is clean and out of the way.

WIPE COUNTERS AS YOU GO: With the dishes washed or loaded in dishwasher, wipe every bit of counter space down. (I had 17 minutes until my muffins were done while baking today, and in that short time I did the dishes, cleaned the counters, spot cleaned the floor {see below} and got a little dish of bleach and a cleaning toothbrush out, and bleached the grout on my old tile counters. Left the bleach on 2 minutes, rinsed off, and still had a minute to spare). I did not rush frantically to do any of this! It is very calming and stress-reducing to clean as you go, and saves time later.

SWEEP AND SPOT MOP with a damp paper towel: There will be flour or crumbs or spills. Do a quick cleanup rather than leaving the entire floor for later. This takes about 10 extra seconds and makes future cleanup easier.

DING! THE FOOD IS READY: And your kitchen is clean, your delicious baked goods or dinner meal comes out of the oven or off the stove, and you are ready to enjoy it. BEST PART? NO MONSTER CLEANUP still ahead (by now you may be tired and dreading cleanup). Yes you will have your main dish to clean, and your dinnerware as usual, but the rest of your cleanup has been cut in half!

LIKE TO COOK BUT DON’T LIKE THE CLEANUP AFTER? — or — “I don’t have time to do all this while I am cooking!”: The clean-as-you-go professional cooking school / bakery mantra, when applied, SAVES TIME, and will make you feel so much more EFFICIENT, more satisfied, and happier in your kitchen. This applies to breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. It works! ~Tricia

Image Sources: Clip Art drawing: Free clip art from I-heart-god. Photo: Google Images free image added to image designed by TriciasThings and Sweet Rascal Photos.

Flax Wrap {Flaxseed Wrap Recipe} {Wheat Belly, Wheat-free, Gluten-free} for Sandwiches or Burritos

LOW CARB, LOW CALORIE, NO WHEAT: Going wheat-free is easier if you are doing it for the sake of your aching belly because you have a sensitivity to certain foods. After 3 months on a wheat-free eating plan, I have begun trying a few recipes for breads, wraps, crusts, because frankly I occasionally miss a sandwich or burrito or pizza. No need to give those foods up, only give up the wheat or any starchy “gluten-free” replacements (gluten-free flours are very starchy and a big no-no to my blood sugar and to my belly). I just made this recipe today and my guinea pig food-tester hubby gave it a thumbs up and ate every last bite with delight. I liked it too!

WHEAT FREE GLUTEN-FREE FLAX SEED WRAP for Sandwiches or Burritos (from Wheat Belly Book):

3 Tbsp. Ground Flax seed, 1/4 tsp. Baking Powder, 1/4 tsp. Paprika, pinch of Sea Salt, 1 Tbsp. Coconut Oil (I did not have any, and used Olive Oil with success), 1 Tbsp. Water, 1 Lg. Egg.

Mix and blend all ingredients well. Grease and Warm a 10″ skillet. Pour batter into pan. Cook approx. 3 minutes (I flipped and cooked another 30 seconds on second side). Lift with spatula and slide onto plate. Cool 5 minutes.

MY RECIPE: I usually adapt any recipes I try, either to suit my wheat-free, starch-free, sugar-free tastes, or because I do not have the named ingredient in my kitchen pantry. This time I had some flax seed in the cupboard was wondering what I could make with it. The recipes I was reading today called for ground flax seed, so I used my coffee grinder and made a batch. Quick and easy as could be. Sealed it in a container in the frig. SANDWICH: Added ham and swiss cheese and lettuce, with spicy mustard for condiments. TORTILLA FOR BURRITO: Add your usual burrito fixings!

PIN IT: FLAX WRAP RECIPE

How the flax wrap looked cooling on the plate after cooking in pan. Doesn’t look so pretty, but it tasted delicious as “bread”/wrap for my ham and swiss SANDWICH!