Cosori Food Dehydrator review

Just recently I purchased the Cosori Food Dehydrator. New to dehydrating food, I have been pleasantly surprised.

The COSORI is easy to figure out. The timer and temperature settings are simple, fast, and digital. You can set the temp by one-degree increments and the timer sets by one-minute increments.

The plastic trays stack nicely and clean up easily. I use parchment paper liners to dehydrate smaller frozen vegetables and that has worked fine. I stored 5 lbs of dehydrated frozen veggies in a quart jar with room to spare! I’m now ready for soup weather.

The touch button temperature & timer is very accurate and alternates between the two during the dehydrating process. The machine is very quiet, just the subtle fan noise that are barely noticeable. I really like that the trays can be stacked for thin items or adjusted to be further apart for thicker items.

I have dehydrated frozen mixed vegetables, fresh grape tomatoes (these took a while!), sliced fresh mushrooms, celery, and canned peach slices. I’m looking forward to trying a meat jerky!

What is YOUR experience with a dehydrator and what should I try next?

Yummy Cheesy Sausage Balls ~ Low Carb and Grain Free

I’ve worked on my old sausage ball recipe and I think it’s a success!

If you love Sausage Balls, try this recipe.

You won’t even miss the baking mix!

Yummy Cheesy Sausage Balls (low carb & grain free)

3/4 lb. Odom’s Tennessee Pride breakfast sausage (or your favorite brand)
8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup of almond flour
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tsp baking powder
dash salt
1/4 tsp ground red pepper
1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
1 egg

Preheat the oven to 375º F.  Spray a baking sheet with olive oil
oil cooking spray. (Misto)  Place dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Using your whisk, make sure the dry ingredients are well combined.
Add the sausage, grated cheddar, coconut oil and egg.
Mix well with your fingers, or your mixer if you prefer. The mixture
should be packy and hold the shape of a ball.

Form into 1” balls. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 16-18 minutes or until golden brown.  To prevent sticking,
move the balls with a spatula halfway through cooking or use
parchment paper to line your pan.  Remove from oven and serve warm.

My batch made 32.

*For the Trim Healthy Mama plan: S category

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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 very small compensation at no extra cost to you.  Thanks!

Apple Pie Egg White Oatmeal (E)

*This recipe is suitable for The Trim Healthy Mama plan as an E (energizing) meal.

Creamy, tasty oatmeal filled with protein and with no added sugar.

If you like oatmeal, but can’t eat it even the gluten free kind, check out this recipe that is very similar in taste and texture.

Apple Pie Egg White Oatmeal (E)

½ cup dry Quaker Old Fashioned Oats*
1/3 cup egg white
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup, diced apples (I left these out)
1 cup water
1/4 tsp sea salt, or a healthy dash
2 tablespoons unsweetened apple sauce
your favorite sweetener (I used Swerve)
1 tsp coconut oil

Put oats, water, and salt in a medium pan and bring to boil.

When there is almost no water left, add in egg whites and mix vigorously until cooked through, about another minute.

Once done cooking, add applesauce, cinnamon, vanilla, and sweetener. (add diced apples if you choose to use them)

Stir well and pour oatmeal into a serving bowl.  Top with coconut oil and enjoy.

*cal 229, fat 6 g, net carbs 24, pro 13 g (if using 1/3 cup gf oats and no added apple)

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COOK’S NOTE:  I could not eat all of this in one serving, so I may try 1/4-1/3 cup of dry oatmeal next time.

*I used gluten free oats for this recipe.  If you use the old fashioned oatmeal, you may want to soak them overnight.

If you want to find out more about the Trim Healthy Mama plan:

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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 very small compensation at no extra cost to you.  Thanks!

Pumpkin Pie Spice Baked Oatmeal (E)

October 29, 2014 is National Oatmeal Day!

I really didn’t know that when I decided to make this baked oatmeal.  So glad I did.  It’s not very sweet (I’m sure you could adjust the sweetness), but it was very filling.

This fits in as an E (energizing) meal in the Trim Healthy Mama plan.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Baked Oatmeal

1/4 cup egg whites
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
½ cup pure pumpkin
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
5 packs stevia (or your favorite sweetener to your taste)
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice blend
½ tsp salt
1/3 cup oat flour (made from ground oats)
2 cups old fashioned oats

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Preheat oven to 350º.

With a wire whisk, mix the egg whites, applesauce, pumpkin, almond milk and stevia until blended.

Add the spice blend, salt, oat flour, and oatmeal.  Stir until well mixed.
Pour into a 9×9 dish that has been lightly coated with coconut oil.

Bake for 30 minutes or until done.

Optional:  I sprinkled some stevia and cinnamon on top of my serving, but I really think it would be good with just a little sugar free maple syrup and maybe some nonfat greek yogurt.

I had this along with 2 thin slices of very lean pan seared deli ham.

Makes 9 servings.

COOK’S NOTE:  I suppose this same recipe might be made with gluten free oats and possibly a gluten free flour blend, but might have to adjust the quantities.

For 9 servings:

Calories 109
Fat 2 g
Carbohydrate 20 g  (Dietary Fiber 3 g)
Protein 4 g

September is National Biscuit Month

September is

National Biscuit Month!

I don’t know about you, but as a Southerner, that’s pretty exciting to me.  It’s like it almost gives me a reason to eat biscuits every morning, or maybe all day!  If I do, it will need to be the almond flour kind, otherwise I might not be able to fit through the door at the end of the month.

Anyway, I have several biscuit recipes on the site already and I wanted to link to those.

Buttermilk Biscuits are delicious with homemade jam!

 

Sour Cream Biscuits are simple, delicious, and only need three ingredients!  Yummy served with Apple Butter.

 

Almond Flour Biscuits ~ Low Carb & Grain Free are so good you’ll almost feel guilty!

 

Low Carb Biscuits are made with Carbquik and great served with Sausage Cream Gravy.

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So if you’re eating grain free, wheat free, low carb, or just plain eatin’, there’s a biscuit that you can enjoy.  Don’t grab a can off the shelf, be brave and try one of these easy recipes.  You won’t regret it!  Go ahead and celebrate!

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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 very small compensation at no extra cost to you.  Thanks!

 

 

 

 

Almond Flour Biscuits ~ Low Carb • Grain Free

Looking for a sturdy wheat free biscuit to hold up some yummy sugar free pumpkin butter or maybe some sausage gravy?   Not exactly like grandma made, but close to it for sure.  And so tasty, you’ll almost feel guilty.

Almond Flour Biscuits ~ Low Carb • Wheat Free • Grain Free

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of almond flour
1 tsp aluminum free baking powder
½ tsp sea salt
2 tablespoons cold salted butter
egg whites from 3 large eggs

Preheat oven to 400º F.

Mix almond flour, baking powder and salt together in a medium size bowl. Add cold butter and using a pastry cutter, mix until crumbly.

Next, in a small bowl, whisk the eggs with a fork until they are slightly frothy, about 30 seconds. Blend the eggs in with the almond flour mixture until combined.  Place in the fridge for 20 minutes to allow the bits of butter to harden.

Divide the biscuit mixture into 4-6 portions and spoon on to a parchment lined baking sheet or into a well-greased muffin top pan. Bake right away for 10 -12 minutes.  Remove when golden brown.  Makes 4-6 biscuits.

Serve with butter and preserves or top the biscuits with your favorite sausage gravy.

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Nutritional information for 6 servings:

For each biscuit = Calories 147,  Carbs 5, Fat 13,  Protein 6

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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!

Fried Fauxtatoes – Low Carb and Grain Free

This crunchy tuber has quickly become one of my favorite potato replacements!

It just satisfies that need to crunch and chew, which I love!

(Don’t these look like the real deal?!)

This crispy tuber has a hint of sweetness and resembles a turnip in appearance.  A cup of jicama contains 11.5 g carbohydrates (with 6.4 g being fiber), which is about equal to a carrot.  It also brings to mind water chestnuts, so it would probably work great in a stir-fry.

(Photo courtesy of COOKING LIGHT)

For my Fried Fauxtatoes recipe, I first peeled the jicama and cubed it up into small bite-size pieces.  I diced up some onion and skillet fried both in bacon grease for great flavor.  The jicama retained its crunch instead of softening like potatoes but it was still a very satisfying breakfast.  I topped it with a fried egg.

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Linking with

Pumpkin Bars ~ Grain Free • Wheat Free • Sugar Free

October and cooler weather brings on that desire to bake!

This tasty bar recipe is perfect for breakfast or dessert.

(Here’s my version of pumpkin bars topped with a warm cinnamon butter cream sauce that I just threw together using cream, Stevia, and cinnamon.)

 Low Carb Pumpkin Bars

 2 cup blanched almond flour (I like Honeyville)
2 tsp. aluminum-free baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. baking soda
4 large eggs
1 15 oz. can of real pumpkin
1 cup granular sweetener (for example, Swerve)

    Preheat oven to 350º F.   Grease 9×13 inch glass cake pan or spray with    non-stick spray. I like to fill my Misto sprayer with coconut oil.  In medium mixing bowl, sift together almond flour, baking powder, cinnamon,
salt and baking soda. Set aside.

  In the bowl of your electric mixer, blend together eggs, pumpkin and sweetener until smooth.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet and combine on low speed until smooth.  Pour pumpkin bar batter into cake dish and smooth with spatula.  Bake for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.

  Completely cool on rack before cutting and serving. Top with your choice of real whipped cream or buttery cinnamon glaze.

Serves 15.  Nutrition Information: 120 calories 9 g fat, 6 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 3 g net carbs, 5 g protein (without the toppings)

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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 very small compensation at no extra cost to you.  Thanks!

Sausage and Sweet Potato Hash

Sausage and Sweet Potato Hash

1/2 of a small sweet potato, cut into small pieces
1 large sausage patty (from the freezer section)
2 tablespoons diced onion
salt, pepper, garlic salt or garlic powder
1 tablespoon bacon grease (or coconut oil)

Saute all together in a small skillet until potatoes are tender
and sausage is heated through.  Serves 1.

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Cal 316
Carbs 19
Fat 23
Protein 7
Fiber 4
Sugar 5

Summer Squash Casserole

With an abundance of yellow summer squash from our garden, I’m using it in almost more ways that you can count!

I made this casserole for our Sunday dinner and some of it was left over.  It made a delicious breakfast this morning!  I think it has gotten better with age.  Some things just do that .  🙂

I found the recipe I used at Allrecipes.com.

Summer Squash Casserole

4 cups sliced yellow squash
1/2 cup chopped onion
35 buttery round crackers, crushed
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Place squash and onion in a large skillet over medium heat. Pour in a small amount of water.  Cover and cook until squash is tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well and place in a large bowl.

In a medium bowl, mix together cracker crumbs and cheese. Stir half of the cracker mixture into the cooked squash and onions.  In a small bowl, mix together eggs and milk, then add to squash mixture. Stir in 1/4 cup melted butter, and season with salt and pepper.

Spread into a 9×13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cracker mixture, and dot with 2 tablespoons butter.  Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Enjoy the day you bake it and be sure and save some for breakfast the next morning.  You’ll be glad you did.

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*By leaving out the crackers and using a mix of cream and water, the carbs in this recipe can be lowered significantly.

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I forgot to mention that I made Squash Pickles the other day.  Stay tuned for the recipe.  🙂

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Partying over at

 

 

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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!

Easy Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

Oh, my!  I just had to share this recipe from The Country Cook with my readers!  

*Disclaimer:  This is not a low carb recipe…but oh how I wish it was!  🙂

A few weeks ago before I started the HHCG diet, I made this easy, yummy coffee cake.  It has a secret ingredient that helps make it easy…pancake mix!  I just happened to have all the ingredients so I threw it together and I was so happy I did.

Hurry over to The Country Cook’s blog to get this easy recipe and make it this weekend.  You know you want to!  🙂

My breakfast that day…

Just for Fun…and a tease! :)

Just for fun today…I’d like to see where my readers are from, so if you don’t mind, please leave the name of your state (or country) in a comment.  I’d appreciate it so much!

. . .

Also, just let you know…I’ve been busily baking!

Right now I’m testing some new low carb recipes and some new uses of some already tried and true recipes.

Here’s some pics to let you know what’s coming up.  I’ll be sharing the recipes in the very near future.

I’ve been using my low carb Carbquik biscuit recipe in different ways and I’m pleasantly surprised at how versatile this recipe is!

First…

my biscuit recipe baked in a muffin pan.

Then I had the bright idea to add a little bit of Splenda and some sugar free chocolate chips.  To 2 of them I added some peanut butter just to see how they would bake up.

 

Same biscuit recipe made a little sweeter and turned into a cake batter, then baked in a cast iron skillet.  With the added fruit, I’m not too sure of the carb count.

But this sure is good when heated and topped with a little sugar free vanilla ice cream!

Hope you enjoy looking at the food pictures and will be back to check out the recipes!

Y’all come back now, ya heah?!  😀

Great Low Carb Breakfast Recipes

These are great for a quick breakfast on a cold snowy morning.  Grab and go!

(click on the pictures for the recipes)

Cheesy Sausage Egg Muffins

Coconut Flour Pancakes

Cheesy Sausage Balls

Low Carb Biscuits

PB & J Wrap

Low Carb Sandwich Rolls

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And last, but not least, ’cause it’s so good…here’s a Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffin recipe from my friend Grace.  It’s my breakfast on this cold snowy morning.  It’s even good enough for dessert! Thanks, Grace, for such a tasty recipe!

More low carb links:

Low Carb Diet Recipes

Low Carb Lunches

Low Carb Office Lunch Tips

Low Carb Brown Bag Lunches

Low Carb Low Cal Lunches

Rachel Ray Low Carb Lunch

Low Carb Guy Lunches

More Low Carb Lunch Ideas

AC Low Carb

Simply Recipes Low Carb

Kalyn’s SB Low Carb

Low Carb Friends Soup Recipes

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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

Low Carb Sandwich Rolls

For years I’ve used this basic Atkins’ Revolution Roll recipe, with a twist.

I use cream cheese instead of cottage cheese.

It makes a smoother roll.

Low Carb Sandwich Rolls

3 eggs, separated

1 tablespoon granular Splenda

3 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 Tablespoon coconut flour (optional)

dash salt,  (and other spices)

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With a stand mixer, beat the egg whites on high until stiff.  In another bowl, blend the egg yolks, sweetener, cream cheese, coconut flour, salt and any other spices you might want to add, with a mixer until smooth.  I didn’t use any extra spices for these particular rolls.

Gently fold the yolk mixture into the beaten egg whites carefully.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Divide the mixture into 6-8 medium size mounds, flattening them slightly with the back of the spoon.

Bake at 400º  for 20 minutes or until lightly browned on top.   Cool and  store in an airtight bag in the refrigerator.  Use for sandwiches, burgers, breakfast, etc.

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Nutritional facts provided by My Fitness Pal. 

For the whole batch:  Cal 547,  Carbs 8,  Fat 46,  Fiber 3

For each roll (if making 6 rolls):  Cal 91,  Carbs 1.5,  Fat 8,  Fiber 0

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Today I’m joining the link party over at

and I am so excited to have my Mom’s Pimento Cheese Recipe featured on Simply Sweet Home’s site today!