“Apple Pie” Pastries

These tasty apple pastries can be put together in around 30 minutes!  Of course, if you use a low-carb homemade pastry dough in lieu of the commercial low-carb tortillas, it will take longer, but the carb count will be pulled lower. If you want dessert fast, the ready-made low-carb tortillas are nice to keep around for such occasions.  And I just recently learned about the small 4″ ZERO net carb tortillas Mission is making.  The fiber zero’s out the carbs and they would be perfect for this little dessert!  I bought some at Netrition recently and can’t wait to try them for this tasty treat!  When I do, I’ll post and recalculate the stats below, posting on this recipe.  You could also make these with fresh sliced peaches or nectarines.  These are very good on day two, so you can make a lot.  I would not recommend freezing this dessert treat.  

This recipe is not suitable until you are closer to Atkins Maintenance or are already to your  goal weight.  the tortillas have real flour and grains are the very last food you are allowed to add back after Induction.

INGREDIENTS:

3 Mission Carb Balance whole-wheat tortillas, cut in halves

6 oz. peeled calaba squash or Mexican zucchini pictured above (or peeled green zucchini)

5 oz. peeled apple, sliced 3/8″

3 T. unsalted butter, melted

½-3/4 tsp. cinnamon

2 T. granular Splenda (or equivalent sweetener of choice)

Optional: 1 T. more melted butter + mixture of 1 tsp. erythritol and a dash of cinnamon to sprinkle on top.

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Slice the zucchini 3/8″ thick.  Melt 3 T. butter and sauté zucchini squash and apple slices until nearly tender.  Stir in sweetener and ground cinnamon and remove from heat.  Cut tortillas in half.  On parchment or a silicone lined baking sheet, form cones with each tortilla half and place seam side down on the pan.  Fill with 1/6 the filling with a small spoon.  Melt remaining 1 T. butter.  Brush each pastry with the butter.  Mix on a paper towel the erythritol and cinnamon.  Spoon 1/6th of it over the top of each pastry.  Pop pan into oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until just lightly browned.  Remove from oven and serve hot.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 6 apple pastries, each contains:

127 cals, 8.73g fat, 10.98g carbs, 5.06g fiber, 5.92g NET CARBS, 1.83 g protein, 112 mg sodium

 

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Pecan Tassies

 

I’m not doing sweets currently, but as I haven’t made my husband anything sweet in ages, thought I’d make him some good old fashioned Pecan Tassies this afternoon.  This is basically my classic Pecan Pie recipe low-carbed and slightly modified for the miniature version.  They are so good.  The crust absorbs some of the liquid in the filling, so it is not as crusty as when used for other pies.  These almost seem like a pecan cookie bar to me.  These are not suitable for Induction.

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe my Tart Crust

3 eggs, beaten

1 c. granular Splenda (or other sweetener to equal 1 c. sugar)

1 tsp. vanilla

2 T. butter, melted

1 c. sugar-free maple syrup

1½ c. coarsely chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Make Tart Crust recipe per that recipe’s instructions.  Divide dough amongst 12 mini muffin cups.  Using plastic glove, carefully press dough onto bottom and sides of greased muffin cups.  However, bake for only 15 minutes.  Remove from oven.  Now beat eggs in a bowl.  Add melted butter and all filling ingredients and nuts.  Using small measuring cup, fill mini crusts just shy of the top edge.   Pop back into oven and continue to bake for about 30 minutes or until filing is done to the touch.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 12 tassies, each containing:

273 calories, 23.8 g  fat, 10.5 g  carbs, 6.0 g  fiber, 4.5 g  NET CARBS, 9.1 g  protein, 98 mg sodium

Strawberry Mug Cheesecake

If you love cheesecake but want it FAST, this is your recipe!  I had the tail end of a bag of strawberries in my freezer that needed using so I whipped up this delicious quick cheesecake last night.  It’s a favorite of ours.  Of course, you could use other fruits and berries, but you’d have to recalculate the serving numbers for those changes.  My husband just loves this!  Is asking for it all the time.  This recipe is suitable once you get to the first, ‘nuts and berries’ level of Atkins (Phase 2 OWL).  It is also suitable for other Keto diets and Primal Blueprint.

INGREDIENTS:

1 c. frozen strawberries, thawed and drained of juice

3 oz. softened cream cheese

2/3 c. sour cream

1 c. heavy whipping cream

liquid Splenda (or sweetener of choice), to taste (about 10 drops)

VARIATION:  Use 1 c. diced pealed peaches instead of strawberries.

DIRECTIONS:   Soften cream cheese on a paper plate either in microwave or at room temperature.  Place into food processor bowl.  Add the drained berries, sour cream and Splenda.  Process until smooth.   In a separate bowl, whip the cream until it forms soft peaks.  Scrape the strawberry mixture onto the whipped cream and fold the two together until well-blended.  Taste and adjust sweetener to taste.  Spoon equally into 6 serving mugs, ramekins, or dishes of choice.  Chill for 1 hour and serve.  This will firm up when the cream cheese re-chills.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:    Makes 6 servings (approx. 1/2 c.), each contains:

253 calories, 25 g fat, 5.93 g carbs, 0.76 g fiber, 5.17 g NET CARBS, 2.83 g protein, 71 mg sodium

Coconut Crust Fruit “Pizza”

This is a very old recipe of mine I modified so it is now suitable for Atkins low-carb.  It’s a pretty dessert that impresses company and yet it is so easy to make!  You make the crust a day ahead and put it all together right before serving.  The crust is very dense (not at all crumbly) and is  easiest eaten with your hands just like pizza rather than a fork!  This recipe is not acceptable for Atkins Induction, but you can enjoy it once you get to the nuts and seeds level of Atkins Phase 2 OWL.  Softening 1-2 oz. cream cheese and blending into the whipped cream is a good variation for this.  But that is not calculated in the nutritional info below.

My favorite version of this dessert is one made with fresh peaches and a few drops of almond extract added to the whipped cream.  Sooooo good!

VARIATION:  Use sliced fresh peaches, use raspberries, use blueberries.  You can also add softened cream cheese to the creamy filling and reduce the whipped cream for a firmer, richer filling. 🙂

CRUST INGREDIENTS:

1  c. unsweetened coconut

1/2 c. chopped almonds

1/3 c. Splenda (or equivalent liquid sweetener)

2 ½ T. low carb bake mix or almond flour (or 1 T. coconut flour)

2 egg whites lightly beaten with a whisk until frothy

1 tsp. almond extract

TOPPING INGREDIENTS: 1 c. heavy cream, 1T. s/f syrup like DaVinci or Torani and 1 pt. fruit.   Alternately you can use only 3/4 c. whipping cream and fold in 1/4 c. softened cream cheese if you like.  You will need to recalculate stats below if you do that, however.

DIRECTIONS: Line a pizza pan with foil.  Grease with butter a 9-10″ circle.  Combine all crust ingredients in a bowl and stir well.  Using fingers, spread and press firmly the coconut crust mixture into a 9-10″ circle on a greased sheet pan.  Bake at 325º for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool on a wire rack.  Refrigerate overnight.

The day you want to serve, place crust on flat cake plate.  Whip cream with a splash of vanilla and sweetener of your choice (I like coconut or vanilla DaVinci sugar free syrup).   Spread whipped cream evenly over coconut crust and top with raspberries, sliced strawberries or if on the fruit rung of OWL, this is good with thinly sliced peaches.  Chill for an hour and then cut into 8 wedges and serve.

NUTRITIONAL INFO: Serves 8, each serving (using strawberries) contains:

273 cals, 25g fat, 12g carbs, 5.1g fiber, 6.9g NET CARBS, 5g protein, 43 mg sodium

Strawberry Mug Cheesecake

If you love cheesecake but want it FAST, this is your recipe!  I had the tail end of a bag of strawberries in my freezer that needed using so I whipped up this delicious quick cheesecake for a cool afternoon treat on this hot, 94º day.  Of course, you could use fresh berries or other fruit of choice but you’ll have to recalculate the serving numbers for those changes.  My husband just loved this!  Said I could make it again just any old time!  🙂  This recipe is suitable once you get to the first, nuts and berries level of Atkins (Phase 2 OWL).  It is also suitable for other Keto diets and Primal Blueprint.

Many more delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own cookbooks from LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS, Volume 8, by Jennifer Eloff, Chef George Stella of Food Network fame, and myself.  Volume 8 is almost completely comprised of my recipes! But George Stella and Jennifer Eloff are also including several tasty new delights to try in Volume 8! You’ll LOVE these delicious recipes, so order your cookbooks from Amazon  or our direct order site: amongfriends.us/order.php.   Remember, they make GREAT birthday or holiday gifts! If you’ve already purchased a book, take a moment and drop by the our Amazon page and  leave your personal review on the latest book.  Inquiring minds want to know. 🙂

VARIATION:  Make your favorite low-carb pie crust and fill with this mixture for a pie and recalculate adding in for the crust carbs.

INGREDIENTS:

1 c. frozen strawberries, thawed and drained of juice

3 oz. softened cream cheese

2/3 c. sour cream

1 c. heavy whipping cream

liquid Splenda (or sweetener of choice), to taste (about 10 drops)

DIRECTIONS:   Soften cream cheese on a paper plate either in microwave or at room temperature.  Place into food processor bowl.  Add the drained berries, sour cream and Splenda.  Process until smooth.   In a separate bowl, whip the cream until it forms soft peaks.  Scrape the strawberry mixture onto the whipped cream and fold the two together until well-blended.  Taste and adjust sweetener to taste.  Spoon equally into 6 serving mugs, ramekins, or dishes of choice.  Chill for 1 hour and serve.  This will firm up when the cream cheese re-chills.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:    Makes 6 servings (approx. 1/2 c.), each contains:

253 calories, 25 g fat, 5.93 g carbs, 0.76 g fiber, 5.17 g NET CARBS, 2.83 g protein, 71 mg sodium

 

 

Cherry Mini Bites

Yet another tasty use of my versatile Mozzy Dough recipe and a great way to use up half a can of opened lite cherry pie filling.  The hubs and I have been super strict, ultra low-carbing (under 20 NC a day) since the 1st of September.  We decided to treat ourselves tonight with something sweet.  These  took  a mere 35 minutes to make, start to finish.  I have a 24 slot non-stick mini-muffin pan that turned out to be perfect for this amount of dough and filling.  These come out to be 1.9 net carbs per piece, so an occasional indulgence like this can break the diet monotony without breaking the proverbial “carb bank”.  🙂  These are suitable for Atkins Phase 2 and beyond and most Keto diets.

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INGREDIENTS: 

1 recipe my Mozzy Dough

½ can Lite Cherry Pie Filling

VARIATION:  Use other lite pie filling, like blueberry or what you make up from scratch with other fruit.  Another variation would be to dot each crust with 1/2 tsp. cream cheese before adding the fruit topping.  You will need to calculate numbers again if you do that. 

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Make a batch of the Mozzy Dough.  After kneading the ball of dough until smooth, break off 1″ balls of dough and press one ball into each of the 24 slots of mini-muffin pans.   The “bowls” of dough will be quite shallow in the pan slots.  Spoon just 2 cherries (with dab of filling) into each slot neatly.  Pop into 350º and bake for around 15 minutes or until the “crust” is lightly browned around the edges.  Remove, cool 1-2 minutes and lift out with knife tip onto serving plate.  ENJOY!

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 24 Cherry Bites, each contains:

67 cals, 5.1g fat, 3.61g carbs, 1.71g fiber, 1.9g NET CARBS, 4.5g protein, 95 mg sodium (in cheese)

Pumpkin Pie (individual or large)

 

Individual pies (4″ mini pie pans) using FRESH pumpkin

This is my favorite traditional pumpkin pie filling recipe.  I have been baking this recipe of my mother’s for many years now.  It is very light and fluffy as the egg whites are whipped separately.   Of course, those still on Induction will need to leave off crust as shown to the right.  It’s very good that way!

9″ large pie (crustless for Induction) made with canned pumpkin

Those that are already to the OWL Phase 2 level of Atkins can pour this filling into an uncooked low-carb pie crust of your choice and then bake.  Mine are shown on my “Flour” Pie Crust.  With that crust recipe, each pie (minus topping) contains 9 net carbs.  I usually use canned pumpkin for this but tried it with fresh today and it was delicious, although a tad milder in flavor I think.    This recipe is only suitable for Induction if made crustless.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 c. granular Splenda (or equivalent sweetener of your choice)

1 T. erythritol (or pinch stevia extract)

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. ground ginger (optional)

1/8 tsp. salt

1 c. canned or fresh baked pumpkin flesh (NOT pumpkin pie filling!)

1/2 c. heavy cream

3 large eggs, separated per directions below

1 recipe my “Flour” Pie Crust

DIRECTIONS:  Make pie crust by that recipe’s directions.  Roll and shape in pie pan (large or 4 mini pans). 

For the filling, break and beat one whole egg in a medium mixing bowl.  Take out another medium mixing bowl.  Separate the two remaining eggs, putting the yolks into your first bowl with the whole beaten egg.  Put the whites in a clean, dry, separate bowl.

In the bowl with the 1 whole egg and 2 yolks, add all other pie ingredients.  Beat will with a stick blender or hand mixer until smooth, especially if using fresh pumpkin, as it can be lumpy.  Slowly stir in the cream and blend until smooth.

Beat the 2 egg whites to “stiff peak” stage using an electric mixer.  With a rubber spatula, fold the beaten whites into the pumpkin mixture.  When all is incorporated well, pour the mixture into 4 mini pie crusts.  For the crustless version, pour into a buttered baking dish.  For the large pie version, pour into an uncooked, prepared 9″-10″ low-carb pie crust positioned in your pie plate.

IMPORTANT:  For the large pie version, if you use an 8″ pie plate, this amount of filling will likely overflow during baking.  9″ pie plate works better, but if 8″ is the only size pie plate you have, only fill the prepared crust 3/4 full.  Put remaining filling into a buttered small dish to bake separately for the kids, who often don’t like crust anyway.

Bake at 350º for 40-45 minutes.  Filling will puff way up during cooking and then fall level when removed from the oven and cooled.  When totally cooled, Serve with a dollop of whipped cream sweetened with the sweetener of your choice.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION (for filling):   Makes 4 mini pies or 1 large pie.  Each mini contains enough filling to tally up the following numbers:  (Does NOT include topping or crust)

191 cals, 15g fat, 9.52g carbs, 2.2g fiber, 7.5g NET CARBS, 6g  protein, 72 mg sodium

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION (for crust):  Entire crust recipe contains:  (divide by # servings you cut from your large pie)

612 cals, 70.7g fat, 70.8g carbs, 63.84g fiber, 6.8g NET CARBS, 26.4g protein, 648 mg sodium

Strawberry Mug Cheesecake

If you love cheesecake but want it FAST, this is your recipe!  I had the tail end of a bag of strawberries in my freezer that needed using so I whipped up this delicious quick cheesecake for a cool afternoon treat on this hot, 94º day.  Of course, you could use fresh berries or other fruit of choice but you’ll have to recalculate the serving numbers for those changes.  My husband just loved this!  Said I could make it again just any old time!  🙂  This recipe is suitable once you get to the first, nuts and berries level of Atkins (Phase 2 OWL).  It is also suitable for other Keto diets and Primal Blueprint.

Many more delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own cookbooks from LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS, Volume 8, by Jennifer Eloff, Chef George Stella of Food Network fame, and myself.  Volume 8 is almost completely comprised of my recipes! But George Stella and Jennifer Eloff are also including several tasty new delights to try in this latest Volume 8! You’ll LOVE these delicious recipes, so order yours (Volume 8 or ANY of our cookbooks) from Amazon  or our direct order site: amongfriends.us/order.php.  For a limited time, there is free shipping if you order 2 or more cookbooks on the same order.  Remember, they make GREAT birthday or holiday gifts!If you’ve already purchased a book, take a moment and drop by the our Amazon page and  leave your personal review on the latest book.  Inquiring minds want to know. 🙂

VARIATION:  Make your favorite low-carb pie crust and fill with this mixture for a pie and recalculate adding in for the crust carbs.

INGREDIENTS:

1 c. frozen strawberries, thawed and drained of juice

3 oz. softened cream cheese

2/3 c. sour cream

1 c. heavy whipping cream

liquid Splenda (or sweetener of choice), to taste (about 10 drops)

DIRECTIONS:   Soften cream cheese on a paper plate either in microwave or at room temperature.  Place into food processor bowl.  Add the drained berries, sour cream and Splenda.  Process until smooth.   In a separate bowl, whip the cream until it forms soft peaks.  Scrape the strawberry mixture onto the whipped cream and fold the two together until well-blended.  Taste and adjust sweetener to taste.  Spoon equally into 6 serving mugs, ramekins, or dishes of choice.  Chill for 1 hour and serve.  This will firm up when the cream cheese re-chills.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:    Makes 6 servings (approx. 1/2 c.), each contains:

253 calories, 25 g fat, 5.93 g carbs, 0.76 g fiber, 5.17 g NET CARBS, 2.83 g protein, 71 mg sodium

 

 

Pumpkin Pie Filling

           Pumpkin Pie Filling

This is my favorite traditional pumpkin pie recipe!  My recipe is very light and fluffy and the cloves doesn’t overtake the entire flavor.  Of course, those still on Induction will need to bake and serve crustless, but those already to the OWL Phase 2 level of Atkins can pour this filling into an uncooked low-carb pie crust of your choice and then bake.  I have only made this pie filling with  fresh baked pumpkin one time and found it so tasteless (though I just don’t know why) I have never used anything but canned pumpkin for this ever since.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 c. granular Splenda (or equivalent sweetener of your choice)

2 T. erythritol (or pinch stevia extract)

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/8 tsp. salt

1 c. canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling!)

1/2 c. heavy cream

3 large eggs, separated per directions below

DIRECTIONS:  Break and beat one whole egg in a medium mixing bowl.  Take out another medium mixing bowl.  Separate the two remaining eggs, putting the yolks into your first bowl with the whole beaten egg.  Put the whites in a clean, dry, separate bowl.

In the bowl with the 1 whole egg and 2 yolks, add all other pie ingredients.  Beat will with a stick blender or hand mixer until smooth, especially if using fresh pumpkin, as it can be lumpy.  Slowly stir in the cream and blend until smooth.

Beat the 2 egg whites to “stiff peak” stage using an electric mixer.  With a rubber spatula, fold the beaten whites into the pumpkin mixture.  When all is incorporated well, pour the mixture into either a buttered baking dish (if making crustless) or into an uncooked, prepared 9″-10″ low-carb pie crust positioned in your pie plate.

IMPORTANT:  If you use an 8″ pie plate, this amount of filling will likely overflow during baking.  If that’s the only size pie plate you have, only pour the crust 3/4 full and put remaining filling into a buttered small dish to bake separately to avoid this problem.

Bake at 350º for 40-45 minutes.  Filling will puff way up during cooking and then fall level when removed from the oven and cooled.  When totally cooled, Serve with a dollop of whipped cream sweetened with the sweetener of your choice.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:   Serves 8, each contains:     (Does NOT include topping or crust)

95.38    calories, 7.53 g.  fat, 4.76 g.  carbs, 1.1 g.   fiber, 3.9 g  NET CARBS, 3.03 g.  protein, 36 mg. sodium

Strawberry Mug Cheesecake

If you love cheesecake but want it FAST, this is your recipe!  I had the tail end of a bag of strawberries in my freezer that needed using so I whipped up this delicious quick cheesecake for dinner last night.  Of course, you could use other fruits and berries, but you’d have to recalculate the serving numbers for those changes.  My husband just loved this!  Said I could make it again just any old time!  🙂  This recipe is suitable once you get to the first, nuts and berries level of Atkins (Phase 2 OWL).  It is also suitable for other Keto diets and Primal Blueprint.

INGREDIENTS:

1 c. frozen strawberries, thawed and drained of juice

3 oz. softened cream cheese

2/3 c. sour cream

1 c. heavy whipping cream

liquid Splenda (or sweetener of choice), to taste (about 10 drops)

DIRECTIONS:   Soften cream cheese on a paper plate either in microwave or at room temperature.  Place into food processor bowl.  Add the drained berries, sour cream and Splenda.  Process until smooth.   In a separate bowl, whip the cream until it forms soft peaks.  Scrape the strawberry mixture onto the whipped cream and fold the two together until well-blended.  Taste and adjust sweetener to taste.  Spoon equally into 6 serving mugs, ramekins, or dishes of choice.  Chill for 1 hour and serve.  This will firm up when the cream cheese re-chills.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:    Makes 6 servings (approx. 1/2 c.), each contains:

253 calories, 25 g fat, 5.93 g carbs, 0.76 g fiber, 5.17 g NET CARBS, 2.83 g protein, 71 mg sodium

Blueberry Pie

We have company in from Dallas tonight and I made a blueberry pie to serve using my new Einkorn flour-Almond flour pie crust.  I wasn’t exactly sure I was going to pull the top crust off, as low-carb pie dough is so fragile, but with much care I managed to get it onto the berry-filled bottom crust just fine.  It sliced nicely, tasted wonderful and will be a lovely dessert to serve my company. This recipe is one of the carbiest on my website and is therefore not suitable until you reach the berry rung of the Atkins Phase 2 OWL carb reintroduction ladder, and it would probably be wise to wait until you are nearly at goal weight for enjoying this one.  The higher carb count is mostly attributable to the berries themselves, as the crust is only responsible for around 7 of the 17.7 net carbs.   So I’m afraid the only way to cut carbs on this would be to cut the pie into smaller pieces.   This pie is not suitable for Primal-Paleo followers unless you use a plan-suitable crust.

Many delicious low-carb recipes like this can be at your fingertips with your very own cookbooks from LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS, by Jennifer Eloff and low-carb friends (me included).  Chef George Stella also brings you a wealth of delicious recipes you will love!  Order yours TODAY! from Amazon  or our direct order site: amongfriends.us/order.php.

INGREDIENTS:

2 lb. frozen blueberries, unsweetened

¼ c. erythritol (or equivalent sweetener to equal ¼c. sugar)

¼ tsp. glucomannan powder (or your preferred thickener)

2 recipes my Einkorn-Almond Flour Pie Crust

DIRECTIONS:   Preheat oven to 350º.  Make a double recipe of the pie crust as instructed in the recipe linked above.   Divide the dough in half and form into balls.  Chill for 30 minutes.  Take one of the portions from the refrigerator and place it on a piece of parchment paper.  Lay a piece of plastic wrap on top and using a rolling pin, roll it into a circle slightly larger than you pie plate.  Invert the plate centered over the dough and grabbing plate, dough, paper and all, flip the plate back upright with the sheet of dough now on top.   I find gravity pulls the the dough right down into the pie plate.  Gently peel off the parchment paper.  If crust tears, just press it gently with your fingers to “mend the cracks”.  🙂  Crimp the edges decoratively however you like.  Pop into a preheated 350º oven for 10 minutes, precooking just to the stage the dough feels dry on the surface (half cooked, but not brown yet).

While the bottom crust is cooking, place blueberries in a medium bowl.  Sprinkle with the erythritol and glucomannan powder (or whatever thickener you prefer).  Stir them every few minutes to allow the filling to begin thickening (though it will not be fully thickened until it has baked and cooled).  Remove the bottom pie crust from the oven as soon as it is dry to the touch.  Cool it a few minutes and then stir the berries one last time and fill the bottom crust, spreading the berries evenly in the pie shell.

Remove the remaining dough from the fridge.  Run a damp sponge over your counter and place a piece of plastic wrap on it so it is smooth.  The water keeps it from sliding around.  Place the chilled ball of dough on top.  Lay a second piece of plastic wrap on top and roll it just the size of your pie plate.  Slide the crust, plastic and all onto a sheet pan or the back of a cake pan lid and set in the refrigerator to chill 15 minutes.  Remove from the fridge and carefully remove the top sheet of plastic wrap.  Quickly flip the crust onto your left hand that is centered right over the bottom crust, simultaneously sliding your left hand out from under it as you let the crust fall onto the pie below.  Remove the remaining piece of plastic wrap carefully.  Crimp the top crust and bottom crust together along the edges as best you can.  Pop the assembled pie into a 350º oven for about 35 minutes or until the top crust is browned in the center. The very center of mine was SLOW to brown (not sure why), thus, as you see in the pics, mine browned a bit too much on the edges.  Next time I will definitely use my metal crust protector ring so that won’t happen.  You might want to use foil to protect the edge of your pie from browning so much.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 8 servings, each contains:

318 calories, 25 g  fat, 29.32 g  carbs, 11.57 g  fiber, 17.75 g  NET CARBS  (14.2 net carbs per serving if cut into 10 slices), 7.07 g  protein, 161 mg sodium

Coconut Pie

This delicious pie can be made with a sweetened whipped cream topping, with a baked meringue topping, or simply served with a low-carb vanilla ice cream.  We prefer a whipped cream topping, so that’s what is shown above.  The nutritional information below is for the crust and coconut custard filling only.  Add whatever topping you decide to put on this.  This coconut custard can also be made without a crust by baking the filling in a buttered dish.  If making crustless as a custard, I would think it better served warm.  🙂  This recipe is not suitable until the nuts rung of the Atkins OWL phase.  I used to be able to get my Coconutti extract at Kroger, but as we don’t have one here, I have to order direct from Select Products.

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INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe Peggy’s “Flour” Pie Crust

½ c. + 2 T. heavy cream

1 c. unsweetened coconut milk

½ c. erythritol

Liquid sweetener equivalent to ¼ c. sugar

7 beaten eggs

1 tsp. Coconutti extract (or 1 tsp. regular coconut extract + few drops of vanilla)

2 T. coconut butter (I use Artisana brand)

½ c. (1.5 oz) unsweetened coconut + 1 T. toasted for garnish

1/8 tsp. salt

DIRECTIONS:   Make pie crust per that recipe’s instructions and place into a glass pie plate.  Set aside while you make the filling.  Preheat oven to 350º and toast 1 T. coconut flakes on a pan for 3-5 minutes at 350º.  Place coconut milk, cream and erythritol in a saucepan and heat just to a boil and remove from heat.  Stir in Splenda, coconut extract and salt.  In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs well and add the coconut butter.  Add 1 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes (all but the 1 T. you toasted for garnish).  Slowly stir the coconut milk/cream mixture into the egg mixture and blend well.  Pour the filling your pie shell (it will be very full) and carefully set into the hot oven. Bake for approximately 1 hour or until the center is firming up to the touch and a knife stuck into the center comes out clean.  This filling will dome up incredibly during baking, so do not be alarmed.  It will fall level with the crust when done and it cools.  If you plan to make a meringue, do so according to your recipe directions.  Spread meringue atop the pie, and bake as instructed.  If using a whipped cream topping, chill pie COMPLETELY before adding the topping. This pie should be stored in the refrigerator.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 8 servings, each contains: (does not include whipped or meringue topping)

327 calories, 30.8 g  fat, 14.46 g  carbs, 8.63 g  fiber, 5.83 g  NET CARBSs, 10.33 g  protein, 195 mg sodium

“Apple Pie” Pastries

These tasty apple pastries can put these together in around 30 minutes!  Of course, if you use a low-carb homemade pastry dough in lieu of the commercial low-carb tortillas, the carb count can be pulled lower.  But if you want dessert fast, the ready-made tortillas are nice to keep around for such occasions.  You could also make these with fresh sliced peaches or nectarines.  These are very good on day two, so you can make a lot.  I would not recommend freezing them, however.

This recipe is not suitable until you are closer to Atkins Maintenance or are already to your  goal weight.  the tortillas have real flour and grains are the very last food you are allowed to add back after Induction.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS. She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and other wonderful cooks to bring you a wealth of recipes you will love! Some of my low-carb creations appear in each of the 5 volumes! Order yours TODAY! from Amazon or our direct order site: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: By personal choice, I do not accept payment for this book promotion nor for the inclusion of my recipes therein. I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection.

INGREDIENTS:

3 Mission Carb Balance whole-wheat tortillas, cut in halves

6 oz. peeled calaba squash or Mexican zucchini pictured above (or peeled green zucchini)

5 oz. peeled apple, sliced 3/8″

3 T. unsalted butter, melted

½-3/4 tsp. cinnamon

2 T. granular Splenda (or equivalent sweetener of choice)

Optional: 1 T. more melted butter + mixture of 1 tsp. erythritol and a dash of cinnamon to sprinkle on top.

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Slice the zucchini 3/8″ thick.  Melt 3 T. butter and saute zucchini squash and apple slices until nearly tender.  Stir in sweetener and ground cinnamon and remove from heat.  Cut tortillas in half.  On parchment or a silicone lined baking sheet, form cones with each tortilla half and place seam side down on the pan.  Fill with 1/6 the filling with a small spoon.  Melt remaining 1 T. butter.  Brush each pastry with the butter.  Mix on a paper towel the erythritol and cinnamon.  Spoon 1/6th of it over the top of each pastry.  Pop pan into oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until just lightly browned.  Remove from oven and serve hot.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 6 apple pastries, each contains:

127 calores

8.73 g  fat

10.98 g  carbs, 5.06 g fiber, 5.92 g  NET CARBS

1.83 g protein

112 mg sodium

 

 

Pineapple-Butternut Hand Pies

Pineapple is way to high in carbs to use much in desserts on a low-carb eating plan.  However, if mixed with something a little lower in carbs, like winter squash, you can end up with a dessert a low-carber can enjoy once in awhile.  The crust here is Jennifer Eloff’s Miracle Dough, slightly modified with the addition of a bit of sweetener for this dessert application and a little oat fiber as well.   I made the dough recipe into 5 7″ empanadas or hand pies, so the carb count, although still lower than a conventionally made hand pie, is still too high unless you are near or at the final Maintenance phase of the program.  A possible solution, would be to make smaller pies, 10 little empanadas, to halve the carb count.  These came out delicious and are easily held in the hand.

CRUST INGREDIENTS:

1 large egg, beaten

2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

2 T. unsalted butter

1 T. Splenda® or equivalent sweetener of choice

1 c.  Jennifer Eloff’s Splendid Gluten-Free Bake Mix (or other low-carb bake mix)

1 T. oat fiber

FILLING INGREDIENTS:

Half a 2# butternut squash, cooked (1 c. mashed squash)

1 c. pineapple chunks (water pack), drained and coarsely chopped

Liquid sweetener to equal 5 T. sugar (no carbs in the liquid variety)

2 T. more butter

Few drops vanilla (optional)

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:  Make the filling first.  Slice butternut squash in half lengthwise.  Microwave on HI for 12 minutes, cut-side down, in a dish of shallow water.  Scoop out seeds and mash flesh.  Place 1 cup squash pulp in a bowl.  Add chopped pineapple, liquid sweetener, cinnamon and vanilla (if using).  Taste and adjust for sweetness preference.  These are Mexican style empanadas and therefore not be as sweet as you may be used to.

Make dough next. Melt cheese along with butter in a medium glass bowl on medium setting of your microwave.  Takes 3-4 minutes, stir and check couple times as it heats.  You don’t want to over cook, but merely melt it.   Remove bowl carefully as it will be very hot.  Sprinkle bake mix over the cheese.  Sprinkle Splenda® and oat fiber on top next.    Add beaten egg last. Now, using a fork, work dough into a smooth clump of dough until ingredients appear to be uniformly blended.  Switching to a rubber spatula as it begins to bind together works nicely.  When it forms a contiguous ball of dough, turn out onto plastic wrap on your counter.  Top with second sheet of plastic and roll out with rolling pin to about 3/16″ thick or typical piecrust thickness.  Preheat your oven to 350º.

Construction:  If making 5 larger hand pies, I used a 7″ mini pizza pan to cut out my circles of dough.  A small saucer would also work.  If making 10 small pies, I would suggest using a 4″ ramekin, large drinking glass or large cookie cutter to form your circles of dough.  Lay one circle of dough onto the corner of your baking sheet lined with silicone sheet or parchment paper.  Fill circle with 1/5 of the filling (or 1/10 for the littler pies), placing the filling only on half the circle of dough.  Don’t get filling too close to the edges or it will ooze out during baking.  Dot filling with 1 tsp. butter.  Fold other half of dough over filling and crimp edges decoratively with a fork.  Repeat for remaining pies.  Pop into 350º oven and bake for 20 minutes (smaller ones may take less time).  Watch these, as the dough with all that cheese, over browns quickly if you get distracted at the “almost done” designated time.  Just saying, as I did that very thing and way over-browned my first trial working with this dough recipe (and it was only over 3 minutes).

 

NUTRITIONAL INFO:    Makes 5 large hand pies, each contains:  (halve numbers for small pies)

389 cals, 27.8g fat, 21.28g carbs, 3.92g fiber, 17.36g NET CARBS   (small pies=8.68 net carbs), 24.64 g protein, 288 mg sodium

 

Strawberry Pie

I like to use xanthan gum to thicken up a fruit filling, but chia seeds or glucomannan will also do that job for you if you prefer.  And with the xanthan gum, it doesn’t go watery on you and ruin the crust overnight in the fridge!  My hubby’s reaction was  “This is like REAL pie!”  But it’s low-carb all the way folks!  This recipe is not acceptable until you reach Atkins Phase 2.  Keto dieters can have this if the carbs will fit into your daily limits.  For those that find this crust too high in carbs, I have other pie crust recipes that are quite a bit lower in carbs than this particular Nutty Pie crust.  Click the “Pie Crust” category on the right side of the page to check out my lower carb crusts.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in the cookbooks! Order your 5-volume set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: By personal choice, I do not get paid for this book promotion or for the inclusion of my recipes therein.  I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection

INGREDIENTS:

1½ pints strawberries, stemmed (reserve 1 large whole berry for center decoration)

1 “Nutty” Pie Crust, baked

1 c. water

Sweetener of your choice to taste

Red food coloring (optional)

liquid Splenda® or stevia to taste for whipped cream topping

Dash vanilla

1½ c. heavy cream

xanthan gum (1/8-¼ tsp.)

DIRECTIONS: Put 5 berries into a food processor or blender.  Slice remaining berries into a  medium bowl.  Add the 1c. water to the berries in the blender/processor and puree until smooth.  Pour this mixture into in small saucepan and heat over medium heat.  Add Splenda® and quite a few drops red food coloring and stir, repeating until you get a nice red glaze color.  When it comes to a slow boil, lower heat to a slow simmer and begin dusting with xanthan gum, stirring well between additions, allowing it to thicken.  Will take several additions to get glaze thick enough.  When satisfactorily thick remove from heat and pour over sliced berries. Stir well to coat all berries and pour into baked, cooled pie shell.  In clean bowl, whip the whipping cream.  When nice and thick, add a dash of vanilla and your preferred sweetener to taste.  Spread topping over berries and decorate center with whole berry, or fan slice it and spread the layers out a bit.  A couple of fresh mint leaves (if you grow mint) placed aside the berry looks lovely.

NUTRITIONAL INFO: Serves 8, each serving contains:

198.3 calories

16.83 g  fat

14.91 g  carbs, 8.14 g  fiber, 6.77 g  NET CARBS

5.24 g  protein

80 mg sodium

Pumpkin Pie (individual or large)

Individual Pumpkin Pies (baked in 4″ Calphalon pans

This is my favorite traditional pumpkin pie filling recipe.  I have been baking this recipe of my mother’s for many years now.  It is very light and fluffy as the egg whites are whipped separately.   Of course, those still on Induction will need to bake and serve this crustless.  Those that are already to the OWL Phase 2 level of Atkins can pour this filling into an uncooked low-carb pie crust of your choice and then bake.  Mine are shown on my “Flour” Pie Crust.  With that crust recipe, each pie (minus topping) contains 9 net carbs. It looks a little dark because I was out of golden flax meal and had to use my 50:50 mixed flax meal.   I usually use canned pumpkin for this but tried it with fresh today and it was delicious, although a tad milder in flavor I think.    This recipe is suitable for Induction if made crustless.  All other phases of Atkins and Keto diets can enjoy these small pies.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS. She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and other wonderful cooks to bring you a wealth of recipes you will love! Some of my low-carb creations appear in each of the 5 volumes! Order yours TODAY! from Amazon or our direct order site: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: By personal choice, I do not accept payment for this book promotion nor for the inclusion of my recipes therein. I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 c. granular Splenda (or equivalent sweetener of your choice)

1 T. erythritol (or pinch stevia extract)

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. ground ginger (optional)

1/8 tsp. salt

1 c. canned or fresh baked pumpkin flesh (NOT pumpkin pie filling!)

1/2 c. heavy cream

3 large eggs, separated per directions below

DIRECTIONS:  Break and beat one whole egg in a medium mixing bowl.  Take out another medium mixing bowl.  Separate the two remaining eggs, putting the yolks into your first bowl with the whole beaten egg.  Put the whites in a clean, dry, separate bowl.

In the bowl with the 1 whole egg and 2 yolks, add all other pie ingredients.  Beat will with a stick blender or hand mixer until smooth, especially if using fresh pumpkin, as it can be lumpy.  Slowly stir in the cream and blend until smooth.

Beat the 2 egg whites to “stiff peak” stage using an electric mixer.  With a rubber spatula, fold the beaten whites into the pumpkin mixture.  When all is incorporated well, pour the mixture into 4 mini pie crusts.  For the crustless version, pour into a buttered baking dish.  For the large pie version, pour into an uncooked, prepared 9″-10″ low-carb pie crust positioned in your pie plate.

IMPORTANT:  For the large pie version, if you use an 8″ pie plate, this amount of filling will likely overflow during baking.  If that’s the only size pie plate you have, only fill the prepared crust 3/4 full.  Put remaining filling into a buttered small dish to bake separately for the kids, who often don’t like crust anyway.

Bake at 350º for 40-45 minutes.  Filling will puff way up during cooking and then fall level when removed from the oven and cooled.  When totally cooled, Serve with a dollop of whipped cream sweetened with the sweetener of your choice.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:   Makes 4 servings, each contains:  (Does NOT include topping or crust)

191  calories

15 g.  fat

9.52 g.  carbs, 2.2 g.  fiber, 7.5 g  NET CARBS

6.06 g.  protein

72 mg. sodium

Cherry-Strawberry Mini Pies

Cherry-Strawberry Mini Pies

I like to keep 4-5 pie-crusts made up in my freezer (uncooked) at all times.  I just find it makes me more inclined to bake pies than if I have to make both the crust and filling on the same day.   I’ve found over the years keeping them frozen in Ziploc® bags is just so convenient.  They lose nothing in flavor or results from the freezing.  Just thaw a bit, and while still cold, roll out between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and you’re good to go. Today I felt like taking advantage of having crust ready to go.

I took one and made some mini cherry-strawberry pies that were incredibly tasty!   I had to abruptly leave the house mid-cooking to go unlock our other house we’re selling.  Needed to unlock for a carpet cleaner as the hubs was running late from his doctor’s appointment.  The result was these overcooked a tad, despite turning the oven off as I left.  I’ll get a better photo next time I make these and post a prettier picture at that time.  But I wanted to share this with my readers since the hubs and I just thought they came out sooooo tasty.  Who’da thunk cherries mixed with strawberries would be so good?  These simple treats are going to be made again and again at our house, but I’m sure I’ll try with different berries as well!  They are a little carb-y using cherries, but using more strawberries and less cherries (or even all strawberries) will lower carbs for you.  You could also try using only 3/4 of the pie crust recipe, pressing it thinner into your pan forms.  Or you could make this in muffins cups and make more, reducing the serving size.

These are suitable once you reach the grains carb reintroduction level of Atkins OWL ladder.  These are too high in carbs carb for Keto folks I suspect, unless you’re at goal weight.  They are not suitable for Primal or Paleo unless modified.

INGREDIENTS: 

1 12-oz can red tart cherries with juice

3/4 c. frozen whole strawberries, thawed with juice

1/4 c. Splenda + 2 T. erythritol (or sweetener of choice to = 5 T. sugar)

1/8 tsp. glucomannan powder (or ¼-½ tsp. other thickener of choice)

1 recipe my “Flour” Pie Crust

DIRECTIONS:  Make the pie crust by that recipe’s instructions and divide into 4 portions (or 5 if trying to reduce carb count).  Press each portion firmly into mini pie pans (I used a 4-slot shortcake pan).   Preheat oven to 350º.  Place fruit, juices and sweeteners in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.  Bring to a boil and lower to a simmer.  Dust the glucomannan or other thickener into mixture and stir, simmering 1-2 minutes to thicken.  Remove and dip into filling equally into the 4 (or 5) formed shells.  Place on a baking sheet to catch ooze/spillover during cooking and pop into 350º oven for bout 20 minutes or until the crust is lightly browned on the edges. Remove, cool slightly and enjoy with some low-carb ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

NUTRITIONAL INFO: Entire recipe has 862 calories, 60.7g fat, 134.5g carbs, 69.3g fiber, 65.2g NET CARBS, 29g protein, 669 mg sodium

If making 4 pies, 3″x 1″-deep, each contains:  215  calories, 1 5.2g fat, 33.6g carbs, 17.3g fiber, 16.3 g NET CARBS, 7.2g protein, 167 mg sodium

Recalculate as needed for the number you are making. Also adjust carbs for thickener changes.

Pecan Tassies

 

I’m not doing sweets currently, but as I haven’t made my husband anything sweet in ages, thought I’d make him some good old fashioned Pecan Tassies this afternoon.  This is basically my classic Pecan Pie recipe low-carbed and slightly modified for the miniature version.  They are so good.  The crust absorbs some of the liquid in the filling, so it is not as crusty as when used for other pies.  These almost seem like a pecan cookie bar to me.  These are not suitable for Induction.

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe my Tart Crust

3 eggs, beaten

1 c. granular Splenda (or other sweetener to equal 1 c. sugar)

1 tsp. vanilla

2 T. butter, melted

1 c. sugar-free maple syrup

1½ c. coarsely chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Make Tart Crust recipe per that recipe’s instructions.  Divide dough amongst 12 mini muffin cups.  Using plastic glove, carefully press dough onto bottom and sides of greased muffin cups.  However, bake for only 15 minutes.  Remove from oven.  Now beat eggs in a bowl.  Add melted butter and all filling ingredients and nuts.  Using small measuring cup, fill mini crusts just shy of the top edge.   Pop back into oven and continue to bake for about 30 minutes or until filing is done to the touch.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 12 tassies, each containing:

273 calories, 23.8 g  fat, 10.5 g  carbs, 6.0 g  fiber, 4.5 g  NET CARBS, 9.1 g  protein, 98 mg sodium

Coconut Crust Fruit “Pizza”

This is one of my old recipes that I simply modified so it would be compliant with the Atkins low-carb eating plan.  It’s so good I thought I’d post it again today as we’re moving into berry season.  It’s a pretty dessert that impresses company and yet it is so easy to make!  You make the crust a day ahead and put it all together right before serving.  The crust is very dense (not at all crumbly) and is  easiest eaten with your hands just like pizza rather than a fork!  This recipe is not acceptable for Atkins Induction, but you can enjoy it once you get to the nuts and seeds level of Atkins Phase 2 OWL.  Softening 1-2 oz. cream cheese and blending into the whipped cream is a good variation for this.  But that is not calculated in the nutritional info below. My favorite version of this dessert is one made with fresh peaches and a few drops of almond extract added to the whipped cream.  Sooooo good!  This crust shaped deeper in a pie plate, works for chocolate pies and cream pies as well.  It is a VERY sturdy crust. VARIATION:  Use raspberries, or blueberries instead.  If closer to goal, you can even use thinly sliced mango or peaches.  All versions are DELICIOUS!  You can also add softened cream cheese to the creamy filling and reduce the whipped cream. That makes it more like a cheesecake.  🙂

Many more delicious desserts await you in the best-selling Low Carbing Among Friends cookbooks by Jennifer Eloff and a group of extremely talented chefs, including George Stella!  Here’s a sampling of recipes you’ll find in them:  http://www.facebook.com/LowCarbingAmongFriends.  Order yours from Amazon or here:  http://amongfriends.us/order.php DISCLAIMER:  By personal choice, I receive no remuneration for this promotion.  I do so simply because these are GREAT cookbooks!

CRUST INGREDIENTS: 1  c. unsweetened coconut

1/2 c. chopped almonds

1/3 c. Splenda (or equivalent liquid sweetener)

2 ½ T. low carb bake mix or almond flour (or 1 T. coconut flour)

2 egg whites lightly beaten with a whisk until frothy

1 tsp. almond extract

Optional:  3 oz. softened cream cheese

TOPPING INGREDIENTS: 1 c. heavy cream, 1T. s/f syrup like DaVinci or Torani and 1 pt. fruit

DIRECTIONS: Line a pizza pan with foil.  Grease with butter a 9-10″ circle.  Combine all crust ingredients in a bowl and stir well.  Using fingers, spread and press firmly the coconut crust mixture into a 9-10″ circle on a greased sheet pan.  Bake at 325º for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool on a wire rack.  Refrigerate overnight. The day you want to serve, place crust on flat cake plate.  Whip cream with a splash of vanilla and sweetener of your choice (I like coconut or vanilla DaVinci sugar free syrup). I always add a dusting of glucomannan powder to my whipped cream when I need it to “firm it up” for things like this, but a sprinkle of dehydrated coconut milk powder will also firm up the whipped topping.  If doing the variation with cream cheese, I would add at this point and stir well. Spread whipped cream mixture evenly over coconut crust and top with raspberries, sliced strawberries or if on the fruit rung of OWL, this is good with thinly sliced peaches.  Chill for an hour and then cut into 8 wedges and serve.

NUTRITIONAL INFO: Serves 8, each serving (using strawberries) contains:

273 calories

25 g  fat

12 g  carbs, 5.1 g  fiber, 6.9 g  NET CARBS

5 g  protein

43 mg sodium

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Pecan-Chia-Flax Crust

Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake

I can’t take full credit for this recipe.   As my filling inspiration I used SugarFreeMom.com‘s no-bake pumpkin cheesecake slightly modified.  I changed up the filling sweeteners a bit and totally eliminated the coconut.   I’m not too terribly fond of coconut in desserts unless coconut is the “focal” flavor, as in coconut pie, coconut custard, coconut cake.  So I had to eliminate the coconut flour in the filling and didn’t want it in my crust at all. Instead of a sunflower seed and coconut crust, I switched to a pecan-chia-flax crust.  Man, this was DELICIOUS!   And just the thing for my Thanksgiving dinner with my oven out of commission this year.  This recipe was every bit as tasty as the popular Jody’s Pumpkin Bake recipe I’ve been baking the last few years.  But this recipe caters to my lazy cook side, as it requires NO BAKING!  This is not suitable until the nuts and seeds level of Phase 2 Atkins OWL carb ladder.  This recipe is OK for Keto diets if you can fit the carbs into your daily limits.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in each of the 5 volumes! Order your set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: I am not paid for this book promotion nor for the inclusion of my recipes therein.  I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection.

CRUST INGREDIENTS:

Before Cutting

4 T. cold unsalted butter

2 c. pecan halves

¼ c. flax meal (I used 50:50 dark and white mixed)

¼ c. ground chia seeds

1 tsp. cinnamon

½ c. erythritol (or sweetener to equal ½ c. sugar)

FILLING INGREDIENTS:

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

1 c. simmering water

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 15-oz can pumpkin puree

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

¼ c. erythritol

¼ c. Splenda

1 tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. ground nutmeg

¼ tsp. ground cloves

OPTIONAL:   Sweetened whipped cream to top

DIRECTIONS:  Pulse the butter in a food processor or blend until it it finely crumbled.  Add the flax, ground chia seeds, cinnamon, sweetener and pulse a couple times.  Add the pecans and just pulse until they are coarsely ground. Pour into an 8″ square or oval casserole dish.  Press the crust into the bottom and partially along the sides of the pan with your hands. Set aside for now.

Bring water to a boil and lower to a simmer and dissolve the gelatin in it, stirring constantly.  Set aside to cool as you mix up the rest of the ingredients.  In a medium mixing bowl, whip the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer.  Add the pumpkin and mix until smooth.  Add the gelatin and vanilla and mix some more to blend well. Add all the spices and mix until smooth.  Gently pour or spoon the pumpkin mixture into the crust.  Decorate with a few pecan halves if you like and cover with plastic wrap.  Chill for several hours until firmly set.  Cut into 9 squares and serve with whipped cream if you like.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 9 servings, each contains: (does not include any topping)

323 calories

30 g  fat

11.23 g  carbs, 6.34 g  fiber, 4.89 g  NET CARBS

.71 g  protein

49.33 mg sodium

Einkorn “Apple” Cobbler

“Apple” Cobbler

We low-carbers can’t afford to eat a lot of higher-carb fruit, especially if we are on the beginning of our weight-loss journey.  But once we have increased our daily carbs a bit, we can enjoy the occasional treat with fruits other than berries.  I find that if you mix a high-carb fruit with a lower-carb “disguising” vegetable, like a mild squash, one can trick the palate into thinking you’re eating the  real McCoy :).  This little cobbler is a perfect example of that.  We both LOVED this cobbler!  The flavor was truly amazing.

I learned early on in my Atkins journey that Baked Spaghetti Squash tastes almost exactly like apples, with nearly the exact same texture, too!  When I tried this cobbler creation, I decided to add some real apple and see if I could keep the carbs low enough.  I also decided to use my latest Einkorn Flour Pie Crust.  As you can see by the per serving carb total below, this dessert is a wee bit higher in carbs than most of mine.  HOWEVER, if you use only one apple and use my “Flour” Pie Crust recipe rather than my Einkorn Pie Crust, you can drop the per serving count to a more “palatable” 6.82 net carbs, which isn’t bad at all for a pastry dessert with real fruit in it.

This absolutely delicious recipe is not suitable for Atkins Induction but is OK once you reach the final high-carb fruit rung of the Atkins carb-reintroduction ladder.  Keto followers should make the alternate version suggested above for lowering carbs, and use the “Flour” Pie Crust and 1 less apple if you want to try this recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

½ spaghetti squash (mine was 9″ long and yielded 4 c. threads)

2 medium apples, grated or sliced (I used Delicious apples)

3 T. unsalted butter, melted

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/3 c. erythritol (or preferred sweetener to equal 1/4 c. sugar)

2 pkts. stevia

3/4 c. water

Dash of xanthan gum (or 1 tsp. chia seeds)

1 recipe Einkorn Pie Crust  (or my “Flour” Pie Crust for lower carbs)

DIRECTIONS:  Cook the spaghetti squash cut side down in ½” water in a dish in your microwave for 13 minutes.  Remove, cool and fork out the threads into a large bowl. The exact amount isn’t crucial, but the stats below are based on 4 cups of threads.

Grate the apples.  I find that cut in half and grated cut-side down, the grating process sort of peels the apples for you.  🙂  Now is a good time to preheat your oven to 350º.  Add the grated or sliced apple to the bowl of squash threads.   Melt the butter and drizzle over the fruit-squash mixture.  Add the cinnamon, sweeteners and water.  Dust the xanthan gum or chia seeds over the surface and stir well.  Pour into a buttered baking dish.  I used an 8×11″ rectangular ceramic dish.

Make the pie crust according to the directions for that recipe (linked above). Chill the dough 30 minutes.  Remove dough from refrigerator and roll between 2 sheets of plastic to the approximate shape of the dish you are making.    When you have rolled the crust slightly larger than your dish, remove the top plastic and gently lift the bottom sheet up over to the cobbler dish and flip the crust onto the cobbler filling.  Push or crimp the edges of the dough up into to the dish and poke a few holes in the top of the crust with a fork randomly to allow air to escape.  Pop into a 350º oven and bake for about 30 minutes or until the crust is dry to the touch in the center and golden on the edges.  Serve warm.  Leftovers store nicely in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave quite nicely.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:    Makes 8 servings If baked exactly as written, each serving contains:

195.4 calories

14.7 g  fat

18.6 g  carbs, 7.88 g fiber, 10.72 g NET CARBS  (only 6.82 NC using just 1 apple & the “Flour” crust)

6.05 g  protein

202 mg sodium

Blueberry Pie

Blueberry Pie

Blueberry Pie (Side view)

We have company in from Dallas tonight and I made a blueberry pie to serve using my new Einkorn flour-Almond flour pie crust.  I wasn’t exactly sure I was going to pull the top crust off, as low-carb pie dough is so fragile, but with much care I managed to get it onto the berry-filled bottom crust just fine.  It sliced nicely, tasted wonderful and will be a lovely dessert to serve my company. This recipe is one of the carbiest on my website and is therefore not suitable until you reach the berry rung of the Atkins Phase 2 OWL carb reintroduction ladder, and it would probably be wise to wait until you are nearly at goal weight for enjoying this one.  The higher carb count is mostly attributable to the berries themselves, as the crust is only responsible for around 7 of the 17.7 net carbs.   So I’m afraid the only way to cut carbs on this would be to cut the pie into smaller pieces.   This pie is not suitable for Primal-Paleo followers.

INGREDIENTS:

2 lb. frozen blueberries, unsweetened

¼ c. erythritol (or equivalent sweetener to equal ¼c. sugar)

¼ tsp. glucomannan powder (or your preferred thickener)

2 recipes my Einkorn-Almond Flour Pie Crust

DIRECTIONS:   Preheat oven to 350º.  Make a double recipe of the pie crust as instructed in the recipe linked above.   Divide the dough in half and form into balls.  Chill for 30 minutes.  Take one of the portions from the refrigerator and place it on a piece of parchment paper.  Lay a piece of plastic wrap on top and using a rolling pin, roll it into a circle slightly larger than you pie plate.  Invert the plate centered over the dough and grabbing plate, dough, paper and all, flip the plate back upright with the sheet of dough now on top.   I find gravity pulls the the dough right down into the pie plate.  Gently peel off the parchment paper.  If crust tears, just press it gently with your fingers to “mend the cracks”.  🙂  Crimp the edges decoratively however you like.  Pop into a preheated 350º oven for 10 minutes, precooking just to the stage the dough feels dry on the surface (half cooked, but not brown yet).

While the bottom crust is cooking, place blueberries in a medium bowl.  Sprinkle with the erythritol and glucomannan powder (or whatever thickener you prefer).  Stir them every few minutes to allow the filling to begin thickening (though it will not be fully thickened until it has baked and cooled).  Remove the bottom pie crust from the oven as soon as it is dry to the touch.  Cool it a few minutes and then stir the berries one last time and fill the bottom crust, spreading the berries evenly in the pie shell.

Remove the remaining dough from the fridge.  Run a damp sponge over your counter and place a piece of plastic wrap on it so it is smooth.  The water keeps it from sliding around.  Place the chilled ball of dough on top.  Lay a second piece of plastic wrap on top and roll it just the size of your pie plate.  Slide the crust, plastic and all onto a sheet pan or the back of a cake pan lid and set in the refrigerator to chill 15 minutes.  Remove from the fridge and carefully remove the top sheet of plastic wrap.  Quickly flip the crust onto your left hand that is centered right over the bottom crust, simultaneously sliding your left hand out from under it as you let the crust fall onto the pie below.  Remove the remaining piece of plastic wrap carefully.  Crimp the top crust and bottom crust together along the edges as best you can.  Pop the assembled pie into a 350º oven for about 35 minutes or until the top crust is browned in the center. The very center of mine was SLOW to brown (not sure why), thus, as you see in the pics, mine browned a bit too much on the edges.  Next time I will definitely use my metal crust protector ring so that won’t happen.  You might want to use foil to protect the edge of your pie from browning so much.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 8 servings, each contains:

318 calories

25 g  fat

29.32 g  carbs, 11.57 g  fiber, 17.75 g  NET CARBS  (14.2 net carbs per serving if cut into 10 slices)

7.07 g  protein

161 mg sodium

66 mg potassium

8% RDA Vitamin A

36% iron, 27% zinc

Raspberry Mini Cheesecakes (Dairy Free)

I tried my hand at a non-dairy cheesecake by adapting a Blueberry Cardamom Cheesecake recipe at LifeIsStillSweet.com . I put no cardamom or lemon juice in my raspberry version.  I added some almond flour to the middle layer, and I changed up the sweeteners, as honey and dates are just too high in carbs for me.  I also decided to use coconut cream rather than coconut milk, as I find it richer.  This is still quite high in carbs and calories (one of the highest carb counts on my website, in fact), even with my changes.   So this special treat will be reserved for holidays and special occasions.  This recipe is suitable for Phase 2 OWL of Atkins.   Primal/Paleo folks will likely want to use the honey in the fillings and dates in the crust called for in the inspirational recipe, in lieu of the sweeteners I used below.  Below is the mini non-stick springform pan I used:

Click to enlarge. 4 3/4″ diameter

CRUST:

½ c. pecans, chopped

½ c. walnuts, chopped

3 T. granular erythritol (or sweetener of your choice)

¼ tsp. cinnamon

1 T. coconut oil

BOTTOM VANILLA LAYER:

1 c. raw cashew nuts, soaked in water for 2 hours

¼ c. almond flour

6-8 drops liquid stevia extract

2 T. coconut oil

¼ c. coconut cream

1½ tsp. vanilla

TOP RASPBERRY LAYER:

3/4 c. fresh raspberries

¼ c. coconut cream

2 T. coconut oil

6-8 drops liquid stevia extract

DIRECTIONS:  Soak cashews for 2 hours in water to soften them and set aside for now.

Measure all crust ingredients into a food processor and pulse to blend into a “dough”.  Press half the crust into the bottom of two greased or non-stick mini springform pans. 

Chill crusts while you wait on the cashews to soften.  Wash processor parts.

Drain water off cashews and place them in food processor bowl.  Measure all other vanilla filling ingredients into the bowl except sweetener.  Pulse until completely smooth and add sweetener slowly, pulse and taste to get it as sweet as you like.  Brands of sweetener vary greatly.  Spoon half the mixture onto each chilled crust and spread top even.  Chill while you make the raspberry top layer.  Wash processor parts.

Place berries in processor bowl.  Add coconut oil and cream and pulse to puree.  Add sweetener slowly again, tasting as you add between pulses, until you get the proper amount for your taste.  If your berries are real sweet, you may want less sweetener; you may need more if they are tart.  Spread half the fruit mixture evenly on top of each cheesecake, trying not to disturb the vanilla layer.  Optional garnish can be a single berry in the center or a sprig of mint.

Chill for 2 hours.  Each mini cheesecake serves two people as it is so rich.

      Sliced View

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 2 mini cheesecakes.  Serving= ½ cheesecake.  Each serving  contains:

636 cals, 63.7g fat, 20.15g carbs, 6.0g fiber, 14.15g NET CARBS, 11.7g protein,

22 mg sodium

 

Mini Fruit Tarts

Mini Peach Tart

I bought a few lovely small peaches today and decided to make a combination cheesecake, fruit tart dessert.  I prefer no-bake cheesecakes, so would be simple.  I’ve been wanting to use my 4 new Wilton mini-tart pans I bought recently.  I decided to mix up basically 1½ recipes (so as to make a large and 4 mini tarts) of Linda Sue’s Cheesecake Pudding recipe (with some changes), 1½ recipes of my Pecan Pie Crust , and top off one of the minis with fresh sliced peaches, one mini with strawberry slices, one mini with raspberries, one mini with purple grape halves and left the large tart plain vanilla.  Pineapple cubes or kiwi slices would have been nice, but I didn’t have any on hand.  This came out FANTASTIC with the pecan crust!   My husband emphatically said “This one’s a ‘keeper'”.  We liked the peach version the best.  🙂  This recipe is not suitable until the highest fruits rung of the Atkins OWL ladder, in pre- maintenance.  If you prefer, you can use full-fat cream cheese, but I am close to goal and must watch calories as well these days.  Nutritional info is calculated using the fat-free version.  The different fruits only change the nutritional counts by a couple calories and only fractions of a carb, so I’m not going to provide the numbers for all the fruit variations possible here.  You can half this recipe and just make the large tart if you prefer.  Each mini tart will actually serve 2 people as it is so rich. 🙂

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented chefs to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in her cookbooks! Order your 5-volume set TODAY! (available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: I do not get paid for this book promotion or for the inclusion of my recipes therein.  I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection

CRUST: 

1 3/4 c. + 2T. finely ground pecans
4½ T. unsalted butter softened
1½ packets Stevia
1/4 c +2T. flax meal (I used mostly dark mixed with a little golden)

Combine all crust ingredients in a bowl (I chopped nuts and mixed in a food processor) and slightly press half of it into the bottom of an 11″ tart pan and the remaining half equally into four 4″ mini tart pans.  Bake all on a sheet pan in 375º oven for 10-11 minutes to slightly toast pecans to  bring out their flavor. Do not over brown or the pecans will become bitter!  Cool and fill nearly to top with cheesecake filling below.

FILLING:

8 oz. fat-free cream cheese, softened (I’m watching calories as I’m close to goal.  You should use full-fat cheese, which will increase fat and calories a bit.)

6 oz. sour cream

4 oz. Greek yogurt

2½ tsp. vanilla

3/4 c. erythritol

4 pkts. stevia

1/4 tsp. glucomannan powder or xanthan gum (optional but helps thicken it up)

1½ c. whipping cream, whipped

DIRECTIONS:  While crusts cool, whip the whipping cream in a medium mixing bowl until very thick and set aside.  In another bowl, beat all other filling ingredients together until smooth.  Fold the whipped cream into the cheese mixture and mix until smooth.  Carefully spoon the filling gently into the pecan crusts trying not to dislodge any crust as you spread it with a rubber spatula.  There should be ample filling for the large tart and four mini tarts.   Top with slices of 3/4 fresh, peeled peach, or 21 raspberries, 21 seedless grape halves, 2 sliced strawberries, some pineapple chunks or kiwi slices).  Chill 1 hour before serving.  I found the mini tarts served two people just fine and slid half of it onto a plate with a knife.  These are quite rich and extremely filling.  the large tart will make 8 nice servings.  Here’s a pic of the raspberry tart:

Mini Raspberry Tart

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  This very large recipe makes one 8-serving 11″ tart and four 4″ mini tarts that will each serve 2 people.   That is a total of 16 servings.  Each serving contains:

261 calories

25 g  fat

5.59 g  carbs, 2.26 g  fiber, 3.33 g  NET CARBS

5.43 g  protein

104 mg sodium

 

Mango Cheese Tart

Click to enlarge

I just adore all things mango!  And I just LOVE their beautiful color!  Matches my kalanchoe plant blooms, too!  Although a little carb pricey and not suitable until the higher fruits rung of the Atkins OWL ladder, mangoes are a wonderful addition to summertime desserts, salsas, ice cream or just to eat by themselves!  They have such an exotic flavor to me.  Above you can see my latest mango creation.  I only had 12 oz. of cream cheese in the house today, so I went from there as I added the typical cheesecake-type ingredients to the bowl.  I decided on an almond crust with a few walnuts added in.  Again, this dessert is not suitable until you reach Pre-Maintenance level.

I buy my mango extract from a small Indian grocer here where I live.  Google and you may find other sources.  I see Amazon carries a mango extract.  I use less mango extract in a recipe than I would vanilla as it is quite strong.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS. She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try. Even a few of my recipes are in each of the 5 volumes! Order your set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: I am not paid for this book promotion nor for the inclusion of my recipes therein. I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection.

INGREDIENTS:

Crust:

3/4 c. almonds, chopped medium-fine, but not as fine as almond flour!

1/3 c. walnuts, chopped (or use all almonds or all walnuts if you prefer)

2 T. granular Splenda

1½ T. unsalted butter, softened

Filling:

2 large mangoes, peeled and fruit cut away from seeds (mine yielded 10 oz.)

12 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 c. sour cream

2 large eggs

20 drops liquid Splenda (I use small bottle EzSweetz)

2 T. erythritol

½ tsp. mango extract

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Chop the nuts. Reserve 1 T. for the top garnish.   Add butter and the 2T. granular Splenda to nuts and stir until well mixed.  Scrape nut mixture into a tart pan (the kind whose bottom will lift out) or a spring form cheesecake pan.  Spread the crumbles out as evenly as you can, leveling with fingertips.    Pop the pan into the hot oven and bake for 10 minutes to toast the nuts a bit. Remove from oven.

While nut crust is toasting up, make the filling.  Place all filling ingredients into a food processor (or blender) and puree until smooth.  Scrape filling out into the nut crust, trying not to disturb them too much as you gently spoon it in.  Spread the top even and smooth.  Sprinkle with the reserved 1T. chopped walnuts.  Set tart/cheesecake pan onto a baking sheet and pop into the hot oven and bake for about 40-45 minutes.  It will rise slightly higher on the outer 2″ as it bakes and then settle back level with the center as it cools (a pattern seen with many cheesecakes).  It should be dry and slightly firm to the tough at the very center when done.    Cool, lift out of pan and cut into 10 slices.  If serving to company, I would recommend plating each serving with 1-3 slices of fresh mango and a lovely sliced strawberry.  Refrigerate any leftovers.  Due to the cream cheese, I would NOT recommend freezing this or any recipes containing cream cheese.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 10 servings, each contains:

306 calories

27.7 g  fat

9.76 g  carbs, 1.87 g  fiber, 7.89 g  NET CARBS

7.26 g  protein

132 mg sodium

156 mg potassium

31% RDA Vitamin A, 14% B12, 11% C, 14% copper, 14% iron and 15% phosphorous

Almond Butter Cheesecake

This rich, creamy no-bake cheesecake goes together really fast!  It’s delightful with strawberries or fresh cherries if available.  I buy my large canister of Emerald Cocoa Almonds at Sam’s, but you may be fortunate enough to find them at your local grocery store.  I’ve seen them at my Walmart, too.  These nuts crushed up make a delightful bottom crust and top coating for this no-bake dessert.  You can substitute in chopped pecans if you like.  This cheesecake is obviously not acceptable until the nuts rung of the Atkins OWL (On-Going Weight loss) ladder.   If you have any available, and you’re of a mind, a splash (1-2T.) of Amaretto or Kirschwasser (cherry brandy) would enhance this dessert greatly. 🙂

Use your preferred sweetener in this.  I highly recommend you add it slowly and taste.  Everybody’s taste for sweetness differs.  I use a mixture of stevia and erythritol, a sugar alcohol.

INGREDIENTS:

½ c. (2 oz) Emerald brand roasted cocoa almonds

24 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 c. heavy (whipping) cream

Sweetener of your choice to equal 1½-2 c. sugar  (always add a little at a time & taste)

½ c. water

1 envelope Knox unflavored gelatin

1½ tsp. almond extract

2 T. almond butter

DIRECTIONS:  Process or crush cocoa almonds until evenly crumbly.  Spread all but 1 T. (for topping) onto the bottom of a pie plate as evenly as possible.  Place softened cream cheese into large mixing bowl. Place water in a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over the water and heat on medium heat until gelatin is completely dissolved.   Pour gelatin over softened cream cheese and whip with hand mixer until creamy.  Add in almond extract and almond butter and whip another couple seconds until well blended.  Add in sweetener slowly and stir, tasting as you go.

In a separate bowl, whip whipping cream until thick.  Gently fold that whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.   Now gently dip up the filling mixture and gently place atop the crumb bottom crust.  Try not to disturb the crumbs any more than is absolutely necessary.  Smooth the top of the cheesecake with a rubber spatula or spoon.  Sprinkle the reserved tablespoon of crushed cocoa almonds over the top and chill for 3-4 hours.  Cut into 8 pieces and serve with or without cherries or strawberries for garnish.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 8 servings, each contains:

412.6 cals, 38.7g fat, 6g carbs, 0.9g fiber, 5.1g NET CARBS, 12.4g protein, 296 mg sodium

Kirschwasser Cherry-Walnut Tart

I had a half recipe of my “Flour” Pie Crust made up in the fridge and decided to put the filling to my Mini Black Forest Cake to a totally new use this morning.  Added some walnuts and baked it 20 minutes and voilà, a fun new dessert that features a delightful nutty, fruity filling with a dollop of whipped cream on top when served.  This recipe is not suitable until the grains rung of Atkins OWL as you get closer to goal weight.  Man, was this ever GOOD, even on day two!  I’ll definitely be fixing this for my holiday table in future.

NOTE:  The quiche pan pictured above is only 8″  in diameter so this recipe only serves 4 people, possibly 5 if some enjoying it are children.  Double the filling recipe and use a whole recipe of the pie crust if you want a standard-size pie that will serve 8 people.

INGREDIENTS:

½  can (14.5 oz.) sour cherries, packed in water

¼ tsp. xanthan gum (or your favorite thickener)

Sweetener of choice to equal ¼ c. sugar

¼-½ tsp. almond extract

1 T. Kirschwasser (cherry brandy)

½ recipe my “Flour” Pie Crust

1 c. walnuts, coarsely chopped

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Make the pie crust as directed in that recipe.  Separate out 1/2 of the dough and place in zipper plastic bag and refrigerate for another use.  Roll the remaining dough between plastic and lift/place into an 8″ ceramic quiche or tart pan.  Crimp the edges a bit over the top to avoid slippage downward during baking. Bake in a pre-heated 350º for about 15 minutes JUST until it ever so slightly begins to brown on the edges.  Remove shell from oven carefully so as not to break the edges with your potholder (been there, done that).  Cool while you make the filling.

Drain the juice off the cherries into a small saucepan.  Add xanthan gum and cook over medium heat to slightly thicken.  Stir in the cherries, sweetener and almond extract.  Add brandy.  Chop the walnuts and toss nuts and cherry mixture together in a bowl.  Pour into shell and bake at 350º for about 20 minutes or until crust has turned a nice golden brown. Remove and cool completely.  I would serve with a generous dollop of sweetened whipped cream or low- carb vanilla ice cream sprinkled with a few finely chopped walnuts and a drizzle of Kirschwasser.  Be sure it it totally cooled or chilled before serving or it is a bit difficult to dip up in tact.  Here’s what a slice looks like if cooled properly before attempting to dip up:

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 4 servings, each contains (not including any topping):

304.8 cals, 27.1g fat, 18.83g carbs, 11.38g fiber, 7.45g NET CARBS, 8.25 g  protein, 83 mg sodium

Coconut Pie

This delicious pie can be made with a sweetened whipped cream topping, with a baked meringue topping, or simply served with a low-carb vanilla ice cream.  We prefer a whipped cream topping, so that’s what is shown above.  The nutritional information below is for the crust and coconut custard filling only.  Add whatever topping you decide to put on this.  This coconut custard can also be made without a crust by baking the filling in a buttered dish.  If making crustless as a custard, I would think it better served warm.  🙂  This recipe is not suitable until the nuts rung of the Atkins OWL phase.  I used to be able to get my Coconutti extract at Kroger, but as we don’t have one here, I have to order direct from Select Products.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in the cookbooks! Order your 5-volume set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe Peggy’s “Flour” Pie Crust

½ c. + 2T. heavy cream

1 c. unsweetened coconut milk

½ c. erythritol

Liquid sweetener equivalent to ¼ c. sugar (I used 6 drops EZsweets)

7 beaten eggs

1 tsp. Coconutti extract (or 1 tsp. regular coconut extract + few drops of vanilla)

2 T. coconut butter (I use Artisana brand)

½ c. (1.5 oz) unsweetened coconut + 1 T. toasted for garnish

1/8 tsp. salt

DIRECTIONS:   Make pie crust per that recipe’s instructions and place into a glass pie plate.  Set aside while you make the filling.  Preheat oven to 350º and toast 1 T. coconut flakes on a pan for 3-5 minutes at 350º.  Place coconut milk, cream and erythritol in a saucepan and heat just to a boil and remove from heat.  Stir in Splenda, coconut extract and salt.  In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs well and add the coconut butter.  Add 1 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes (all but the 1 T. you toasted for garnish).  Slowly stir the coconut milk/cream mixture into the egg mixture and blend well.  Pour the filling your pie shell (it will be very full) and carefully set into the hot oven. Bake for approximately 1 hour or until the center is firming up to the touch and a knife stuck into the center comes out clean.  This filling will dome up incredibly during baking, so do not be alarmed.  It will fall level with the crust when done and it cools.  If you plan to make a meringue, do so according to your recipe directions.  Spread meringue atop the pie, and bake as instructed.  If using a whipped cream topping, chill pie COMPLETELY before adding the topping. This pie should be stored in the refrigerator.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 8 servings, each contains: (does not include whipped or meringue topping)

327 calories, 30.8 g  fat, 14.46 g  carbs, 8.63 g  fiber, 5.83 g  NET CARBSs, 10.33 g  protein, 195 mg sodium

Lemon Cheesecake

Lemon Cheesecake

This is an easy cheesecake to whip up since it’s a no-bake cheesecake.  When it comes to sweeteners I would recommend not putting all the sweetener in all at once and TASTING after adding all ingredients adding sweetener to taste. Everyone’s taste on sweeteners is just so highly personal.  I like things much sweeter than my husband.  As always, I recommend only adding sweeteners slowly and tasting, say only ½ c. of the granular (or 20 drops) and then TASTE before adding any more.  Sweeteners vary; taste varies.  Cheesecake is always lovely with a Raspberry Sauce or Blueberry Sauce, as shown in the linked danish recipe.  This cheesecake is not suitable for Induction unless you make it without a crust.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented chefs to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in her cookbooks! Order your 5-volume set TODAY! (available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: I do not get paid for this book promotion or for the inclusion of my recipes therein.  I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection.

INGREDIENTS:

2   8-oz pkgs. cream cheese, softened

38 drops liquid sucralose (or other sweetener to equal 1½ c. sugar)

1 pkt. unflavored gelatin

lemon zest from 2 lemons

lemon juice from 2 lemons)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. cream, whipped

1 baked, cooled Pecan Crust 

DIRECTIONS:   Pour gelatin onto the lemon juice in a small saucepan and heat on lowest heat, stirring until dissolved.  Whip cream cheese in a large bowl with sweetener until smooth.  Add lemon juice, zest and vanilla.  Beat until smooth and well blended.  I like to use my food processor to achieve the smoothest mixture possible.   In another bowl, whip the cream with an electric mixer until quite stiff (but not butter!).   Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.  When well incorporated, pour into cooled pie crust.   Chill several hours and serve.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 8 servings, each serving (filling AND crust) contains:

370 calories

35.2 g  fat

6.34 g carbs, 1.99g fiber, 4.35 NET CARBS

10 g protein

188 mg sodium

Mock Coconut Custard

 

Click to enlarge

I found this recipe while doing Weight Watchers many years ago and tweaked it a bit to come out with a truly tasty little coconut custard dessert my husband and I really like.  The secret is that it’s not made with coconut at all!  It’s made with spaghetti squash threads, which give the texture and impression that it has coconut in it.  I also added what I believe to be the very best coconut extract in God’s Christendom, “Coconutti”, which I buy direct:  http://www.superiorflavors.com/servlet/Categories?category=Flavors&searchpath=7816&start=17&total=56  I discovered this extract years ago and am willing to pay the high price for it because it’s truly WORTH EVERY PENNY!

You could also pour this filling into your favorite pre-baked low-carb pie crust, but you might want to double the filling recipe so the pie filling will actually FILL the shell.  🙂  Recalculate to add those figures to what is below for the filling only, however, if you do.  You should wait until OWL to enjoy this dessert.

INGREDIENTS:

2 c. cooked spaghetti squash threads

3 beaten eggs

¼ c. granular Splenda

½ tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. Coconutti extract

½  tsp. vanilla

¼  c. unsalted butter

1½ tsp. baking powder

DIRECTIONS:

Cut spaghetti squash in half and place cut side down in 1/2″ water in a glass dish.  Microwave on HI for 13-15 minutes.  Drain off water.  Fork out squash threads onto a cutting board and chop up a bit with a sharp knife, so as to more resemble real coconut.  Place threads into a mixing bowl.  Add butter and stir to melt.  Beat in the 3 eggs and add all remaining ingredients.  Butter a glass pie plate and pour mixture into pie plate.  Bake 20-25 minutes at 350º until center is set and a sharp knife inserted comes out clean.   Cool and top with sweetened, whipped cream (not included in the stats below).

NUTRITIONAL INFO: Makes 6 servings, each with:

137 calories

11.6 g  fat

5.27 g  carbs

.78 g  fiber

4.49 g  NET CARBS

3.58 g  protein

149 mg sodium

Lime Tart

Lime Tart

I duplicated my Lemon Tart today using lime juice and zest and it came out DELICIOUS!     This one is OK for those who have reached Phase 2 Atklins OWL.  The crust makes an excellent all-purpose pie crust for other pies as well.  It didn’t get soggy on the bottom even after 4 days!  Really tastes like a traditional flour pie crust to me!  Two large limes should yield enough juice and peel for this recipe.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in the cookbooks! Order your 5-volume set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

INGREDIENTS:

1 T. lime zest, grated

¼ c. lime juice

¼ c. water

2/3 c. granular Splenda, erythritol (or other sweetener to equal 2/3 c. sugar)

6 T. unsalted butter

3 whole eggs

3 egg yolks (in addition to the whole eggs above)

Couple drops blue food coloring (Trust me, it will be green when stirred in)

1 prebaked  “Peggy’s Pie Crust”

DIRECTIONS:  Whisk the eggs, egg yolks and Splenda together in medium saucepan.  Add lemon zest, juice and water.  Whisk again to blend.  Cook over medium-low heat until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in remaining butter, stirring until melted.    Pour the filling into your pre-baked tart crust (I use a removable bottom non-stick tart pan) and cook 10-15 minutes more until set in center.  Remove from oven, cool and serve.  Can be eaten as is or topped with whipped cream (cream not included in nutritional info below).

NUTRITIONAL INFO: Makes 8 servings, each containing:  (does not include whipped cream topping)

310 cals, 29g fat, 10.1g carbs, 5.45g fiber, 4.65g NET CARBS, 9g protein, 88 mg. sodium

Lemon Tart

I recently modified a lemon pie recipe to come up with a quite tasty lemon dessert Atkins OWLers can enjoy.  Those still on Induction could make it crustless for an Induction-friendly baked lemon custard.  🙂  The crust, BTW, would make an excellent all-purpose pie crust for other pies.  It didn’t get soggy on the bottom even after 4 days!  Really tastes like a traditional flour pie crust to me!  Two large lemons should yield enough juice and peel for this recipe.

For those more fond of lime, like my husband, try my Lime Tart.

Many delicious low-carb recipes like this can be at your fingertips with your very own cookbooks from LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS, by Jennifer Eloff and low-carb friends (me included).  Chef George Stella also brings you a wealth of delicious recipes you will love!  Order yours TODAY! from Amazon  or our direct order site: amongfriends.us/order.php.

INGREDIENTS:

1 T. lemon zest, grated

¼ c. lemon juice

¼ c. water

2/3 c. granular Splenda

6 T. unsalted butter

3 whole eggs

3 egg yolks

1 prebaked “Peggy’s Pie Crust”:   https://buttoni.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/peggys-pie-crust/

DIRECTIONS:  Whisk the eggs, egg yolks and Splenda together in medium saucepan.  Add lemon zest, juice and water.  Whisk again to blend.  Cook over medium-low heat until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in remaining butter, stirring until melted.    Pour into pre-baked pie crust and cook 10-15 minutes at 350º until set in center.  Remove from oven, cool and serve.  Can be eaten as is or topped with whipped cream (cream not included in nutritional info below).

NUTRITIONAL INFO: Makes 8 servings, each containing:  (This info includes counts for crust as well)

310 calories, 28.7 g  fat, 10.1 g  carbs, 5.45 g  fiber, 4.65 g  NET CARBS, .1 g  protein, 88 mg. sodium

Coconut Crust Fruit “Pizza”

With fresh fruit in season right now, there’s no better time to enjoy an old high-carb recipe of mine I modified to make it suitable for Atkins low-carb.  It’s a pretty dessert that impresses company and yet it is so easy to make!  You make the crust a day ahead and put it all together right before serving.  The crust is very dense (not at all crumbly) and can even be eaten with your hands just like pizza rather than with a fork!  This recipe is not acceptable for Atkins Induction, but you can enjoy it once you get to the nuts and seeds level of Atkins Phase 2 OWL.  Softening 1-2 oz. cream cheese and blending into the whipped cream is a good variation for this.  But that is not calculated in the nutritional info below.

My favorite version of this dessert is one made with fresh peaches and a few drops of almond extract added to the whipped cream.  Sooooo good!

VARIATIONS:  Use sliced fresh peaches, use raspberries, use blueberries.  You can also add 4 oz. softened cream cheese to the creamy filling and reduce the whipped cream for a firmer filling. 🙂

CRUST INGREDIENTS:

1  c. unsweetened coconut

1/2 c. chopped almonds

1/3 c. Splenda (or equivalent liquid sweetener)

2 ½ T. low carb bake mix or almond flour (or 1 T. coconut flour)

2 egg whites lightly beaten with a whisk until frothy

1 tsp. almond extract

TOPPING INGREDIENTS: 1 c. heavy cream, 1T. s/f syrup like DaVinci or Torani and 1 pt. fruit

DIRECTIONS: Line a pizza pan with foil.  Grease with butter a 9-10″ circle.  Combine all crust ingredients in a bowl and stir well.  Using fingers, spread and press firmly the coconut crust mixture into a 9-10″ circle on a greased sheet pan.  Bake at 325º for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool on a wire rack.  Refrigerate overnight.

The day you want to serve, place crust on flat cake plate.  Whip cream with a splash of vanilla and sweetener of your choice (I like coconut or vanilla DaVinci sugar free syrup). I always add a dusting of glucomannan powder to my whipped cream when I need it to “firm it up” for things like this, but this is not absolutely necessary if you don’t have any.  Spread whipped cream evenly over coconut crust and top with raspberries, sliced strawberries or if on the fruit rung of OWL, this is good with thinly sliced peaches.  Chill for an hour and then cut into 8 wedges and serve.

NUTRITIONAL INFO: Serves 8, each serving (using strawberries) contains:

273 cals. 25g fat, 12g carbs, 5.1g fiber, 6.9g NET CARBS, 5g protein, 43 mg sodium

Lime Cheesecake

Lime Cheesecake

My husband likes anything lime, so here’s his favorite:  Lime cheesecake.  Me, I prefer my unbaked lime cheesecake as I like them fluffier.  He prefers the baked ones because he likes them denser.  🙂  This is what he always asks for on his birthday.  The filling, baked crustless, is OK for Induction, but the Pecan Crust must be saved until you get to Phase 2 OWL.

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INGREDIENTS:

5   8 oz. blocks of cream cheese, softened

5 beaten eggs

3/4 c. Splenda granular sweetener (or your preferred sweetener to equal 3/4 c. sugar)

1/2 c. heavy cream

1/2 c. sour cream

1 tsp. vanilla

Few drops Boyajian Lime Oil (I order direct from their site, but Whole foods carries)

(or you can substitute 1/2 tsp. lime extract or 1 T. lime juice)

grated zest of 1 lime

couple drops green food coloring

1 recipe my Pecan Pie Crust

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Press 1/2 crust mixture into bottom of  springform pan.  Bake 10 minutes to toast lightly.  Cool.  Using a mixer or blender, mix all cheesecake ingredients but cream cheese.  Slowly add cream cheese in small amounts.  Blend until smooth.  Pour into pan with crust.  Sprinkle remaining pie crust crumbles on top of cheesecake.  Bake at 350º for 1- 1½ hours or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean.   If serving to company, I like to top with sweetened whipped cream and garnish the center with a slice of lime you have cut along one radius and twisted, standing it up in the middle of the pie.

NUTRITIONAL INFO: Serves 12, each slice including crust contains (whipped cream topping not included below):

535 calories

52.43 g  fat

7.71 g  carbs, 1.84 g  fiber, 5.93 NET CARBS

27.8 g  protein

approx. 24 mg. sodium

Pumpkin Pie Filling

Pumpkin Pie Filling

This is my favorite traditional pumpkin pie recipe but Linda Genaw’s Jody’s Pumpkin Bake runs a close second.  Here’s a link to that delicious recipe for anyone interested in taking a peek My recipe is very light and fluffy.  Much less dense than Linda’s.  Of course, those still on Induction will need to bake and serve crustless.  Those that are already to the OWL Phase 2 level of Atkins can pour this filling into an uncooked low-carb pie crust of your choice and then bake.  I have only made this pie filling with  fresh baked pumpkin one time and found it so tasteless (though I just don’t know why) I have never used anything but canned pumpkin for this ever since.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 c. granular Splenda (or equivalent sweetener of your choice)

2 T. erythritol (or pinch stevia extract)

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/8 tsp. salt

1 c. canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling!)

1/2 c. heavy cream

3 large eggs, separated per directions below

DIRECTIONS:  Break and beat one whole egg in a medium mixing bowl.  Take out another medium mixing bowl.  Separate the two remaining eggs, putting the yolks into your first bowl with the whole beaten egg.  Put the whites in a clean, dry, separate bowl.

In the bowl with the 1 whole egg and 2 yolks, add all other pie ingredients.  Beat will with a stick blender or hand mixer until smooth, especially if using fresh pumpkin, as it can be lumpy.  Slowly stir in the cream and blend until smooth.

Beat the 2 egg whites to “stiff peak” stage using an electric mixer.  With a rubber spatula, fold the beaten whites into the pumpkin mixture.  When all is incorporated well, pour the mixture into either a buttered baking dish (if making crustless) or into an uncooked, prepared 9″-10″ low-carb pie crust positioned in your pie plate.

IMPORTANT:  If you use an 8″ pie plate, this amount of filling will likely overflow during baking.  If that’s the only size pie plate you have, only pour the crust 3/4 full and put remaining filling into a buttered small dish to bake separately to avoid this problem.

Bake at 350º for 40-45 minutes.  Filling will puff way up during cooking and then fall level when removed from the oven and cooled.  When totally cooled, Serve with a dollop of whipped cream sweetened with the sweetener of your choice.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:   Serves 8, each contains:     (Does NOT include topping or crust)

95.38    calories

7.53 g.  fat

4.76 g.  carbs, 1.1 g.   fiber, 3.9 g  NET CARBS

3.03 g.  protein

36 mg. sodium