March 14 2018

Still going strong.  I have lost 26 pounds so far, still have a lot to go.  Still having trouble drinking enough but I am improving.  I also started Elevate Coffee and I love it! I  really like Fathead Bread but not in the bread way.  To me, it tastes just like cheese bread from Pizza Hut.  I am working on some pictures so stay tuned.

Minestrone Soup

It's getting cool again on Beaty's Creek and I want me some soup. Nothing is better than a pot of soup on a cold day. Bake some bread and you are good to go. I am making a hard crusty bread to dip in olive oil tonight.

Needed:
1 pound Italian sausage-cut into chunks
1 large purple onion-chopped
4 large carrots-peeled and chopped
4 celery stalks-stripped and chopped
5 garlic cloves-minced
2 zucchini-sliced into 1/2 inch slices and then quartered
1/2 pound green beans-these can be fresh or frozen(I could not find fresh so I used frozen.)
3 quarts beef or chicken broth(Add this as you go, we like it soupy, so we add more.)
1 quart whole tomatoes-smashed(I used home canned)
3 T Italian seasoning(I use fresh in the summer but this time of year I use dry.)
1 T pepper
salt to taste
3 cups cabbage-shredded into 1/2 inch shreds
1 can cannelloni beans-drained
1 can garbanzo beans-drained
1 cup small shaped pasta(I always use different shapes to jazz it up.)
Fresh Parmesan cheese- shredded finely

Brown sausage with onions and garlic until the sausage is no longer pink. This is the time to add your broth, so you can get all the goodies off the bottom of your soup pot, now add the green beans, zucchini, carrots, celery, and both beans. Simmer for 20 minutes and add cabbage, tomatoes, pasta, and all of your seasoning. Cook for 30 minutes, you may need to add a little water if soup gets too thick after adding your pasta. We grate Parmesan cheese over soup in each bowl. This makes a lot of soup but it reheats very well. In fact I usually freeze some for lunch. Give it a try, I know you will like it! Well that is "what's cookin" tonight.

Spring Forward Strawberry Shortcake

I sit here at the computer waiting for my shortcake to cool off so I can dig in. I love strawberry shortcake. My favorite is with Stilwell Strawberries but we are a little early for them yet so I will make do with California strawberries. I think this recipe is the bomb! Try this and you will be a happy you did! That is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:
2 cups all purpose flour
4 t baking powder(I use Rumford)
1/2 cup oil(I use canola)
1 cup sugar 1/2 cup sugar for top of cake
1 T vanilla
1 1/2 cup milk

Sift flour and baking powder together into a large bowl and make a bowl in the middle, this is where you will add your sugar, milk, oil, and vanilla. Mix as you would pancake batter. I few lumps are fine. Now pour into a 9x13 baking pan and sprinkle a 1/2 cup of sugar on top. Bake at 350' until golden brown, this happens in about 30 minutes in my oven. Cool and serve with with strawberries and whipped cream!

February 17

Well, I am going strong on this Keto adventure.  I have not had bread, pasta, rice or any sweets for over a month now.  I really don't miss anything.  I know that is weird but I really don't.  I have lost 16 pounds but I have a lot more to go....  I am having trouble with getting enough electrolytes.  Everyone must be on this diet in my small town because I cannot find Powerade Zero or electrolytes add-ins.  Other than that I am going strong!

Still Going Strong

January 26 2018
Weight 252


Well, I am down 6 pounds and going strong.   How do I feel you may ask?  Well, I feel pretty darn good.  Just have to get used to eating so much. I know that sounds weird coming from someone at my weight but I really am not a big eater, never have been.  The place I lose control of calories is when my blood sugar gets low and we are talking 30 and below.  At that blood sugar, I have never thought real rational.  I grab whatever and eat until I feel better.  Well with this keto diet I cannot do that.  Just can't but I also cannot die. LOL  So I bought glucose tablets,  not very tasty but they get the job done with just a few carbs.  I really think that is going to help me.  I have been in ketosis and out.  No clue why but I got to a moderate and now I am at a trace.  Something I am working on. 

Things I have made, fat head bread, mashed cauliflower, stuffed peppers, and last night I made pizza with almond flour.  All have been quite tasty.  I am a big vegetable eater and prefer my cauliflower roasted or steamed.  I have recipes I will get on this weekend.

Wish me luck! 

Keto?????

I have debated back and forth with myself for about a year now whether or not to get on the Keto band wagon.  See Ketones in the Type 1 diabetic world is a very bad thing. So me getting use to having "ketones" is a very scary thing.
 
Once I had gotten past that I was good to go.

I will tell you I am not a big eater, even tho I am a fatty.  So this eating breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner and then a snack is very hard for me.  Also Fat Bombs???  What the heck, I am eating Fat Bombs to lose weight????  Another big one for me.  Also I don't really like meat...Why am I doing this again?  Yeah because I need to lose weight. I admit it I am not a big water drinker unless you count the water in Coke Zero.....Another big adjustment.  I love beans and those are a no-no too.  Not a big bread eater at all so that is not a problem.  Really not big on sweets either. 

So here I go, if you want to follow this journey saddle up.  I am going to publish my stats too and we will see how things go week by week.


January16-2018
Weight 258
Height 5'3

I will post recipes that I like and the family likes.  They are eating normal so I am still cooking everything I always have too.  Wish me luck!

Copy Cat McDonald's Oatmeal Cookies

My hubby is addicted to the McDonald's oatmeal cookies.  Well I hate the place, but I secretly do go there and get McRib's, hangs head in shame, and wanted to come up with a healthier, if that is even possible, recipe.  Here is my attempt and Sean says they are just like the other one's.

Needed:

1 cup butter-room temperature

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 t vanilla 

1 1/2 cups flour

1 t baking soda

1 t  cinnamon

1 t salt

3 cups old fashioned oats

1 cup raisins-plumped

1 cup toffee bits

1 cup of coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and cinnamon (and salt); stir into the creamed mixture. Blend in the oatmeal and toffee bits. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.