Chaffles & the Dash Waffle Iron

I’ve gotten on the “chaffle” bandwagon!  

A “chaffle” is a cheese waffle.

The little Dash mini maker waffle iron makes cooking these waffles a breeze!

I have eaten the chaffles as a breakfast with a few strawberries and cream.

I’ve also used the chaffles as a bun for a sandwich.  The possibilities are endless!

For 2 chaffles:

1 egg

1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

1/8 tsp baking powder

Mix the egg, cheese, and baking powder together to form a batter.

On the waffle iron, sprinkle a little more mozzarella cheese.

Pour about half the batter on top, then sprinkle more cheese on top.

(That makes the waffle crispier on both sides.)

Lower the waffle iron lid and cook about 1 1/2 minutes, or

a little longer for crispier chaffles.

Steps are shown below.

 

You can find the Dash Mini Maker in all sorts of colors and styles

HERE.

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Disclaimer: Some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links.  If you purchase through the links provided, I will receive a tiny compensation at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

 

 

Starting the Trim Healthy Mama plan

Are you wanting to get started on the low-glycemic Trim Healthy Mama plan and just don’t know where to start?  I’ve put together some ideas on how to get started and stick to the plan.  Try it for a week and see if you feel better.  🙂

 

There are more tips and meal pictures on THIS page.  Remember healthy fats and slow burning carbs are welcome on this plan, just not at the same meal.

If you’re starting the THM plan, a good blender will be needed to make all the delicious blended drinks, like this Peanut Butter Milkshake, and even some of the new baked goodies.

The new Trim Healthy Mama cookbook is very affordable and full of healthy recipes and tips to continue on your THM journey.   Click on the picture below to purchase the cookbook.

The original plan book is a thick book full of recipes, plan tips, health tips, and even tips on your relationship with your spouse.

The new plan book is in an easier-to-read format and is all about the plan.

Some more great items to have on hand for your journey to weight loss and health.

• Trim Healthy Mama Baking Blend

• Super Sweet Blend

• Gentle Sweet

• Pristine Whey Protein Powder

• Great Lakes Collagen (great for hair, skin, and nails)

 

To find out more about Trim Healthy Mama, visit their website.

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Disclaimer: Some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links.  If you purchase through the links provided, I may receive a very small compensation at no extra cost to you.  Thanks!

 

 

Salami Cream Cheese Rollups

My niece told me about this recipe and I’m so glad she did!

It makes a quick low carb snack or a great party appetizer.

Actually  my niece, Brandi, made this recipe and shared it with me while I was at her house.   Salty salami, creamy cheese, and a little zesty bite from the pepper hooked me from the first bite!

I shared the recipe with my brother who has been eating low carb for years (and is very successful at it!) and he says he makes a similar recipe with pepperoni, cream cheese, and jalapeno!  That sounds amazing and like something I will need try in the near future!  🙂

Quick Note– If you’re following the Trim Healthy Mama plan, these rollups will fall into the S category.  🙂

Here’s what I purchased for this recipe:

Here’s how I rolled them up.  You can use toothpicks if your salami is thicker and won’t stick together.  I didn’t have to.

I stored them in a small container in the fridge.  The didn’t last long!  🙂

Here’s the recipe..

SALAMI CREAM CHEESE ROLLUPS

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese,softened
18 slices thinly sliced salami
18 slices peperoncini peppers, drained,

Spread about a tablespoon of the softened cream cheese
over a slice of salami.  Top with 1 to 3 peperoncini pepper slices.
Roll the salami around the cheese and pepper slices.
Repeat with remaining ingredients.  Store in fridge.

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If you’re looking for another great party appetizer recipe,  check out these Cream Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Poppers,  Warm Cream Cheese and Bacon Spread, or the Buffalo Chicken Dip.

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Disclaimer: Some links in this post may lead to affiliate links.  If you purchase through the links provided,  I will receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you.  Have a great day!

“Better than Frito Lay” Spicy Bean Dip

Friends are so special!

I had a sweet lady give me several bags of pinto beans.  I don’t care much about sitting down and eating a bowl of pinto beans;  I prefer Great Northern white beans flavored with a ham bone if I’m going to do that.

so…my daughter loves bean dip!   The kind you buy in the little can by the chips.

My dream to use these pinto beans was to make bean dip.  And you know what?  It is delicious!  I served this with taco salads at our Sunday family dinner. Hope you enjoy!

“Better than Frito Lay” Spicy Bean Dip

2 cups of cooked prepared pinto beans or one 15 oz can of pinto beans, cooked
3-5 slices bottled jalapenos peppers
1 tablespoon brine, from bottled jalapeno slices or pepperoncini peppers
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar or no cal sweetener of your choice
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 package of taco seasoning
1 tablespoon mayo

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.  Chill for several hours before serving to allow spices to blend.  Serve cold with tortilla chips, corn chips, or veggie slices.

Options: make some little cheese crackers made by baking cheese slices on parchment paper or serve with Almond Thins.

This dip is also good when heated with shredded cheese and sour cream on top. Yum!

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For a 3 0z serving of just the bean dip:  118 cal, 4.5 fat, carb 15 (5.5 fiber), protein 5

Yummy Homemade Chunky Chicken Salad

As I was home for lunch, I literally threw together some very delicious homemade chicken salad and served it on toasted bread.

I used about 1 1/2 cups of leftover rotisserie chicken, some diced pickles, chopped green onions (2), and maybe a 1/2 cup of mayo.  I salted and peppered to my taste.  And it was tasty.

To add a little zip to the flavor, I added about a tsp of dill pickle juice and one pack of a Stevia based sweetener.  I think this really brightened up the flavor.

It’s a great way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken and it was quick and easy, too!

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Sharing with

Buffalo Chicken Dip

This creamy, tangy dip with a kick tastes a lot like Buffalo Chicken Wings.

I usually serve with corn chips or tortilla chips, but it’s great served warm with crackers and celery sticks.

It’s kinda spicy for some folks, but the delicious flavor keeps’em coming back for more! Buffalo Chicken Dip

6 chicken tenderloins, cooked and shredded

2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened

1 cup Ranch dressing (I made my own)

3/4 cup pepper sauce (*see below)

1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Heat shredded chicken and hot sauce in a large pot over medium heat, until heated through.  Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing.  Cook, stirring until well blended and warm.

Mix in half of the shredded cheese, and transfer the mixture to a slow cooker. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, cover and cook on low setting until hot and bubbly.

Serve with celery sticks and crackers, corn chips, or tortilla chips. * I used Louisianna brand hot sauce:

*Trim Healthy Mama (S) (serve with veggies or baked blue corn tortilla chips for dipping.)

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This is the birthday of a special lady…my Aunt Mary.

Love and miss her very much!

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Sharing with

National Cheese Ball Day!

I love cheese in most shapes, forms, flavors, and dishes!

I love cheese balls!

And today, April 17th, happens to be

NATIONAL CHEESE BALL DAY!

Let’s celebrate!!!

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Here’s one of my favorites…

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Here’s a great cheese spread, served warm it’s so yummy…

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Here’s a tasty cheese ball from The Country Cook…

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While not served in ball form, Crab Rangoon Dip by Grace sounds like a great cheesy dip…

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Feel free to share your favorite cheese ball links in the comments

and have a very 

Happy National Cheese Ball Day!  

Hope you enjoy your Sunday.

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I’m trying a new (to me) weight loss technique.  If you want to read about it, go here.

Turnip Fries

You either love’m or hate’m!  I found them quite tasty, but not crispy.  I may try baking them next time.

I used a large turnip and tried to cut it into equal fry-like pieces.  I deep fried mine, but the most popular way to cook them seems to be to bake them with parmesan cheese and spices.  Yum!

See links to more recipes at the bottom of this post.

Baked Turnip Fries at Cook Local

Crispy Turnip Fries

Turnip and Sweet Potato Fries

Crispy Turnip Fries 2

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Warm Cream Cheese and Bacon Spread aka “Crack Dip”

This has become one of our favorite cream cheese spreads.

Full of flavor, it is a tasty and quick party or anytime appetizer!

Warm Cream Cheese and Bacon Spread aka “Crack Dip”

(Also similar to Neiman Marcus Dip)

2 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese

1/2 cup mayo

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

8 slices crisp bacon, crumbled

3 green onions, diced

1 T ranch dip mix

• Heat and soften the cream cheese in the microwave on 70% power.  Mix softened cream cheese and mayo together with electric mixer.
• Add all other ingredients and mix by hand.
• Shape into 1 large or 2 small cheese balls and refrigerate for about 3-4 hours , or serve warm with your favorite crackers (see these gluten free crackers and these low carb flax crackers),  your own Almond Thins, chips, or veggies.

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One Saturday my girls had a friend over and we had an appetizer lunch.

It felt like we were having a party!

We had Pizza Rolls, Party Meatballs, Warm Cream Cheese and Bacon Spread, and fresh fruit.  It was delicious and hit the spot!

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For low carbers…serve the cheese spread with Almond Thins.

DISCLAIMER: If you purchase from some of  the links in this post you are helping support Heart of a Country Home at no extra charge to yourself.  Thanks and Happy Holidays!

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I’m joining the party over at

Almond Thins ~ Low Carb Crackers

ALMOND THINS

1 cup almond flour (I use Honeyville )

1 package Truvia sweetener

1 egg white

1/4 tsp salt

dash of garlic powder and  onion powder (see organic spices here)

Preheat oven 325. Mix ingredients well. Place mixture onto a well greased piece of tin foil.  Spray a piece of wax paper with cooking spray and lay over top of mixture (I prefer to use  parchment paper).

Use a rolling pin to roll out to a cracker thickness.  Gently remove wax paper.  Sprinkle more salt on top if desired and press lightly into dough. Score with knife or pizza cutter into squares.  Lay tin foil on rack in oven. Bake until golden brown about 10 minutes.  Makes around 50 crackers. (I didn’t get that many, but my dough needed to be thinner and maybe the crackers should have been cut smaller.)

If you can make 50 crackers, serving of 5 crackers each is:

Cal 66, carbs < than 2 per serving

*Recipe from Low Carb Friends.

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DISCLAIMER: If you purchase from the links in this post you are helping support Heart of a Country Home at no extra charge to yourself.  Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Cream Cheese & Bacon Stuffed Peppers aka Poppers!

Previously I posted my recipe for Poppers.  In fact, it was one of my first foodie blog posts!  I’ve posted several recipes since then and hope you’ve enjoyed them.

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Here’s another way to make poppers.  They’re delicious and naturally low carb!  Instead of wrapping the stuffed peppers in bacon…add the cooked bacon to the cream cheese stuffing!

Easy-peasy!

 Here’s what you’ll need…

oops!  Forgot to include the bacon.

Soften the cream cheese and add the rest of the ingredients.

Stuff the peppers and place on a baking sheet.  Sprinkle with the

parmesan cheese.

yum-yum!

I’m one of those cooks that rarely ever measures anything so it does make

it hard to pass on the recipe.  But, looking at my

previous Poppers recipe, I’d say I used about

the same amount of ingredients.

Poppers

Jalepeno peppers (cut open and remove all seeds)

8 oz cream cheese

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

seasoning such as Soul Seasoning or Seasoning Salt, garlic, Old Bay, etc

2 green onions, sliced

6 -8 slices bacon, cooked, drained, crumbled

Parmesan cheese

Mix the cheeses.  Add the seasonings, onions and bacon.  Fill the peppers with the mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Place on a foil lined pizza pan or baking sheet.

Bake in a 375º oven for about 20-30 minutes.  Keep a check on them after 20 minutes and bake until the peppers look done and the filling is all melty and gooey.   Cool and enjoy!  I served these with Ranch Dressing.

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In case you’re wondering about my readers…here’s the results! Apparently readers from all over enjoy low carb and Southern cooking!  Thanks to all who participated.

Canada – 2

Florida – 2

West Virginia-2

Georgia-1

Hawaii-1

Indiana – 1

Kentucky – 1

Mississippi – 1

Pennsylvania – 1

Texas – 1

Washington – 1

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DISCLAIMER: If you purchase from the links in this post you are helping support Heart of a Country Home at no extra charge to yourself.  Thanks and Happy Holidays!

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Bacon-Wrapped Lil’ Smokies

Yum, yum!  When I saw these on 2 different sites, I just had to make me some!  Anything wrapped in bacon…can it get any better?!

When these came out of the oven, I had to share!  So I quickly snapped a shot with my cell phone and uploaded it even quicker!

Make these and soon.

I made them like my friend, Grace, but since I didn’t have the Sugar Twin Brown Sugar (she’s right! it is very hard to find!), I used Splenda and added some spices…like garlic powder, bbq seasoning, and some Cajun seasoning I had on hand.

These would be great for a Super Bowl Party! or have them for breakfast with a low carb biscuit and cuppa Joe, like me.

Happy Sunday to you all!

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Holiday Candy and Cookie Trays

Happy New Year!

And Happy Birthday to me!

Yesterday I turned another year older.

Since I was so busy over the holidays, I didn’t get to share with

you the holiday candy and cookie trays I made for my family

and friends.   Here’s just a few that I sent out.

Peanut Butter Balls, Coconut Macaroons, Peanut Butter Fudge

(I used my PB Fudge recipe and added 3 tablespoons of cocoa)

Nut Crescent Cookies (recipe below)

Coconut Macaroon, Choco Chip Oatmeal Bars,

Peanut Butter Balls, Peanut Butter Fudge,

White Chocolate Dipped Pretzels,

& Applesauce Nut Cake

(same items as above)

Hello Dollies, Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

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Here’s the recipe for the cookies:

Nut Crescent Cookies

• 1/2 cup unsalted softened butter
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup ground nuts (I used walnuts and pecans)
• dash salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• confectioners’ sugar

 

Preheat oven to 325°. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Mix in flour, walnuts, salt, and vanilla to make a smooth dough.  Roll into balls and shape into crescents.  (I also flattened some into round cookies.)

Bake cookies on ungreased cookie sheets for about 8-11 minutes, or until just set.  Let stand for 2 minutes; transfer to wire racks to cool.

Dredge in or sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar.  Keep in air-proof container.  Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

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Over the next few days I’ll be sharing some other dishes I made over the holidays.  Some will be low carb, others not so low carb, but my plans are to go back to the low carb lifestyle full time.  I just feel better that way.

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My family doesn’t eat low carb and insists on the old fashioned Southern-style dishes and desserts that I make on occasion.  So be sure and stop by soon as I’m sure there’s a recipe coming up soon that you’ll enjoy.

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Also this year, I want to focus more on things other than food and recipes.  My daughters want to their rooms redecorated and there’s some ideas I have for redecorating my kitchen that I’ll be sharing.

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Another goal I have this year is to exercise at least 4 times weekly.  I have started walking in the evenings and I want to continue to do that as well as adding some light weight lifting and stretching.  So I may be sharing these updates as well.

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Once again, Happy New Year to you and yours!

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Ham Pecan Pinwheels

I love appetizers and this is one of the best roll-ups I’ve tried in a while!

I got this recipe from a friend who got it from Taste of Home, my favorite cook book!  I’m so glad she shared this tasty recipe.   I served these at my daughter’s birthday party, at her request.  She is a garlic lover and loves these pinwheels.

Ham Pecan Pinwheels

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 8 to 10 slices deli ham
• 1 package tortillas (I used lower carb tortillas)

In a bowl, beat cream cheese, mayonnaise and garlic until smooth. Stir in pecans. Spread about 3 tablespoonfuls on tortilla, add a ham slice.

Roll up tightly; cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.  Cut into bite-size rounds.  Yield:  several dozen depending on how wide you cut them.  🙂

*I used Mission Carb Balance tortillas to reduce the carbs.

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My daughter is loving photography.

In fact, I’m having to hunt for my camera lately.

She loves taking pictures out doors.

She caught her cat posing one day and snapped a quick shot.

She loves the vintage sepia look.

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Today I’m linking to

PB & J Wrap

Mornings are busy around here!

Sometimes breakfast can be as simple and delicious as a peanut butter and jelly (sugar free for me) wrap.

Low Carb PB & J Breakfast Wrap

Using your favorite low carb tortilla, thinly spread a tablespoon of your favorite no sugar added peanut butter around the tortilla covering as much as possible up to within about 1/2″ of the edge.  Top that layer with a tablespoon or less of your favorite sugar free jelly or jam.  Roll up into a wrap.  It sometimes get messy, but is oh-so-good with a hot cup of coffee!

I know…it’s not rocket science…but stayed tuned for tomorrow.  I have a cookie recipe coming up that will rock your socks off!

Have a great Thursday!

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Today I’m linking with