Keto Pound Cake

Finally getting around to writing this recipe up. Been working on other projects for the Wednesday night class that I teach. We’re doing an ice cream theme this year and trying plan out and organize minute to win it age appropriate games is a lot harder than you think.

So let’s escape for a bit and talk about something yummy! Ready?!

Picture it, we’re lounging on a mild summer day, no mosquitoes exist, the humidity is low, and it’s not possible to get sunburned. Hey, you’re in my world so this is possible! 😉 And then a tall hunky man with gorgeous hair comes out with a large tray of strawberry lemonade, sugar free of course, and slices of keto pound cake ready for us to enjoy! Can ya dig it?? 😃

Oh right, the recipe…we’ll come back to the tall hunky waiter later!

What you’ll need:

(Yields 12 slices)

1 stick butter, room temp preferred

8oz cream cheese, room temp preferred

1 1/2 c keto sweetener(Swerve, Erythritol, Stevia, whichever you prefer)

8 large eggs

2 tsp lemon zest +1 tsp lemon juice

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/2 c super fine almond flour, I use Blue Diamond brand

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

Directions:

Set oven temp to 350*F. Prep a regular loaf pan with either non-stick foil, parchment paper, or coconut oil cooking spray. Set it aside.

In a large bowl add softened butter, cream cheese, and sweetener. If by chance your butter and cream cheese aren’t room temp just pop them in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. Cream the three together until it’s light and fluffy. Begin adding the eggs, two at a time and mix thoroughly. To this, add your lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla. (I was half tempted to use orange extract instead of vanilla, you can if you want to for a citrus pound cake). Finally add almond flour and baking powder, mix to combine.

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan, scraping contents out with silicone spatula. Bake for 60 minutes or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let it cool completely before adding the whipped cream cheese topping.

Whipped Cream Cheese Topping

8oz cream cheese, softened

1 tblsp lemon zest

2 tblsp lemon juice

1/4 c keto sweetener

2 tblsp heavy cream, optional

Directions:

Add all ingredients into a small bowl and combine thoroughly. Spread on top of the cooled pound cake and enjoy! Any leftover cream cheese topping can be used with toasted keto bagels.

And there you have it! You would think with it having 8 eggs it would be super eggy and spongy in texture. Thankfully it’s not, at least to me. The lemon zest helps to brighten up the pound cake, making it the perfect summer treat! You can serve this with some fresh strawberries and blueberries. You’ll get roughly 12 slices and if you’re serving this at a cookout or get together you can slice those 12 into 24 half slices.

For storing, cover with foil or plastic wrap and keep in the fridge. You can store this in the freezer as individual slices and leave out to thaw for a couple of hours. No need to microwave.

The carbs are high because I’m still trying to use up the granulated stevia I have. If you use erythritol/Swerve that will save you on carbs. Highly recommend using something other than the Great Value brand of stevia.

Macros:

Carbs: 11.3g(net)

Fat: 36.7g

Protein: 11.4

Hope you all enjoy and have a great week!

Keto Chocolate Pound Cake(Review)

It’s not too often that I find keto/low carb dessert recipes that meet my high standards. It’s difficult to please everyone and when it comes to desserts my family likes for the final results to resemble to real deal high carb version as much as possible. That’s not asking for too much, no not at all.

This is a home run recipe and one that I am very pleased to share with you all! The original recipe can be found here! I’m a lazy typer tonight and decided to not type up the entire name of the original recipe, so don’t go sideways on me about that, ok sugar? 😉

Most of you know I’m not a chocolate fan at all, so for me to be making this recipe and reviewing it is big stuff. So let’s dig in…

The recipe itself is easy to execute. The majority of low carb/keto folks have the following ingredients in their kitchen already:

1. Almond flour
2. Cocoa Powder
3. Baker’s Chocolate
4. Natural sweetener of choice(stevia, xylitol, swerve, erythritol, etc.)
5. Eggs
6. Heavy cream
7. Leavening
8. Cream cheese
9. Butter

The only unusual item I had to get was a box of instant coffee. While this is an optional ingredient, I do highly recommend adding it in. It does lend a lovely layer of flavor to this rich cake and isn’t overpowering at all. I used Folgers instant crystals, simply because a) I’m cheap(a box of 7 packets was a buck) and b) I already know what Folgers coffee tastes like. My advice, stick with one you’re familiar with. I used two packets which perfectly measured out to 2 teaspoons. However, if you have never had instant coffee before and are unsure about it or you detest coffee all together(btw, we can’t be friends if you detest coffee…just kidding😜) you can easily leave it out, no big deal.

I found it a tad odd that the recipe only called for 7oz of cream cheese. I’ve used that amount before but only after using the other ounce in a different recipe. No biggie. But since I didn’t relish the idea of storing a single ounce of cream cheese in the fridge and wasn’t hungry enough to nosh on it I went ahead and added all 8oz into my batter. Might as well, the extra ounce didn’t alter the final result in a major way at all. If anything, the pound cake is light, moist, and with a faint crumb texture. For me, I will always add the full brick of cream cheese, no sense in being too particular. But hey, you do you!

I know I’ve answered a lot of questions about almond flour in keto groups and in DMs. What brand to use, substitutions, etc. this recipe specifically uses almond flour. I know it’s an expensive ingredient and I wish I could tell you to go ahead with another alternative but honestly I cannot. If you absolutely NEED to make this recipe I highly suggest Blue Diamond Almond Flour. It’s finely sifted and for 1/4c serving it has 2g net carbs. I had been a Bob’s Red Mill Super Fine Almond Flour user but I prefer the finer texture of the Blue Diamond brand. Bob’s Red Mill Super Fine Almond Flour has 4g net carbs per 1/4c serving. I’m not sure how these companies figure out the carbs when both only contain blanched almonds and nothing else. But since Blue Diamond has fewer carbs per quarter cup then that’s what I’m going to go with from now on.

Next, don’t let the amount of eggs in this recipe scare you off. I know 8 eggs is a lot and you would think the outcome would be super eggy and sound like you’re biting into a wet sponge, but it’s actually not. Just make sure to use large eggs, not extra large, jumbo, or regular. Just large eggs, I’m an Eggland’s Best Kind of gal. If you have fresh eggs then go with that. I made the mistake in buying extra large without realizing it, I probably could have gone ahead used 4 eggs and said a prayer, but I’m a stickler when it comes to my baking. Unless I know for sure that my substitution isn’t going to ruin the recipe, I rarely ever go off roading with my baking. There’s an exact science when you bake, all ingredients need to be properly measured and/or weighed(when specified) to ensure that your baked good is going to turn out right. Thankfully my dad brought home large eggs and all was right again in my little world! 💗🌏💗

I did not make two loaf pans worth as the original recipe states. To save my own sanity and dishes I went with a disposable half size aluminum steam pan from Sam’s Club. You get 36 pans usually for a little over $8. Not bad and I use them for everything! Low carb brownies, casseroles, pork rind coating for chicken, and vegetable sides. Clean up afterwards is a cinch, just pitch it or recycle…whatever floats your boat. If you don’t want to use those pans you can certainly use a 9×13. Just make sure to grease your pan well before adding the batter. I used Pompeiian Coconut Oil Spray, get mine from Walmart and I’ve had great results every time I use it! Used about 5-7 sprays and no need to coat the pan with cocoa powder or almond flour, each slice of cake has come out perfectly! You could also turn these into muffins and then drizzle the chocolate ganache over the top, just a thought.

And finally, since I didn’t bake this into loaves I decided to adjust the baking time. For the loaves you would have to bake at 325 degrees for 70-90 minutes to ensure even baking. In a 9×13 pan leave the temp at 325 degrees and set your timer for 30 minutes. I used a clean knife to check the center twice, both times the knife came out clean. Let it cool completely before you add the chocolate ganache. Store it covered and enjoy!

Honestly this is a yummy recipe, I hope my review has helped and no hindered. If you have any questions please feel free to ask! Hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Single During Valentine’s Day, It Could Be Worse!

It’s that time of the year when couples are finalizing their plans for the next evening. Making sure the dinner reservations are in place, flowers are purchased, candy and card is set to receive…maybe some jewelry for those who are lucky. 💍👍🏼

It’s fine and all, I’m not anti-Valentine’s Day at all. Just because I’m as single as a Pringle doesn’t mean that I hate everything that this particular holiday stands for. And I know I don’t go crazy posting all kinds of ideas for gifts, desserts, decorations, etc. I guess I’m just not that kind of person. I’ve been blessed with witnessing what real love is like. It goes beyond flowers, candy, cards, and jewelry. It’s been see what 46 yrs of trying not to kill each other looks like! 😏 That’s a joke, seriously…my folks will most likely see this so I’m joking! Love you both! 💘

I could pretend to be all wrapped up in this holiday like every other blogger out there, that just isn’t my style. Don’t get me wrong I love planning out all kinds of stuff for kids, in fact I’ve been busy for a few weeks now doing just that. Had to push the party back by another week since so many have been out sick lately, which gives me some extra time to get my ducks in a row. But when it comes to adults, I can’t help but withdraw.

Again, nothing against this holiday at all. I’m just a practical romantic when it comes to down to it. No need to get all glitzy, frilly, or expensive.

Honestly, I am all for that kind of date night! 👆🏼True, it’s been 16 yrs since I’ve dated…and believe me that was as painful to admit as it was to read, but like the title says “it could be worse.” Which it honestly it could be. There are worse things than being single on Valentine’s Day. How about…

1. Being in a bad relationship with someone who doesn’t truly love you.
2. Getting beat up all the time.
3. Not knowing if you’re going to wake up the next day or not.
4. Dying of injuries from blunt force trauma.

See where I’m going? Grim, extreme, but not all too far from what I’ve experienced in my past. Except number four, obviously escaped that one. 👍🏼

All right, so I won’t get to dress up and go out with a handsome fella on a special night out to our favorite restaurant. I won’t get flowers, candy, or a card like everyone else.

Nope. I get something way better. I get to stay home, sans makeup, wearing my comfy pj’s, eating yummy “good for me” food, and watching hilarious tv shows with my family. I also get to snuggle up with my precious fur-baby, Spot, and not have to worry about if my spanx are cutting off the circulation to my girly bits. 😬 (Ok, forget that last part…)

I guess if the Lord ever blessed me with another relationship I’d like to think that He’d pair me up with someone who was thoughtful, sweet, and showed me everyday just how much he loved me! Valentine’s Day is nice, but there are 364 other days in the year to show that special someone just how much you love them. Am I right?!

NOK Bone Toss: all right, I’m gonna toss ya bone. Below are links to my go-to recipes for my family. We have:

1) Holy Cow! LC/GF Brownies these are a huge hit and I’m making them for Thursday. They are the most requested by all and I have even been able to fool non-low carbers with them! Yes, these brownies are that awesome!!

2) LC New York Style Cheesecake plus here’s my original post reviewing this recipe.

3) LC/GF Chocolate Cake with Buttercream Frosting it’s as good as it sounds, very rich! Can also be made in a 9×13 if you’d rather not make it in layers.

I sincerely do hope you all have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, stay safe, and have fun!

(Seriously, the only box of chocolates I truly care about! I’m a big ol’ softy when it comes to labs! Even the dark chocolate variety.)

What to Eat When It’s THAT Time of the Month 😑

Right off the bat, let’s just get this out there…ladies that time of the month is the absolute pits and the LAST thing you want to eat is a bunch of healthy food. I’ll even admit it, I crave pizza, mac n cheese, Chinese dumplings, ice cream you name it. Over the last few months I’ve been trying to do better, choose healthier options during my “shark week” and I will admit I have noticed a difference. Minute as they are, but it’s just enough to take some of the edge off.

Life with PCOS it’s not always a guarantee that I will have a period every month. Sometimes it’s so light I wonder if I’m having one at all. Other months there is NO doubt it is present. Aside from the obvious, the bloat, acne, cramps, and constantly being cold is at times unbearable. I joke that one day I plan to kick Eve in the shins. 😏

This month I’m trying to do my best to not rely on pain reliever as much. Being dependent on those isn’t as healthy as relying on nutrition. Is it going to be instant relief? No, and the effects aren’t as lasting as pain relievers but in the long run eating the right foods(not just during your monthly cycle but every day) is better for you. No ill side effects and your body will truly thank you!

So here’s a mockup menu on how to beat Aunt Flo’s painful stay.

Breakfast: Pineapple-Carrot-Turmeric Spritzer This is a refreshing and a surprisingly tasty drink. No funky ingredients. If you don’t have a juicer, you can use a blender and strain the juice into a glass.

Lunch: Smoked Salmon on Romaine – Skip the thick creamy dressing, those are loaded with sugar. Opt for avocado oil and vinegar. Keep it light and simple. Add some berries, or almonds with dark chocolate on the side for a sweet treat!

Snack: Greek Yogurt with Berries and Nuts – If you are feeling peckish grab a lower carb snack. The best option is homemade yogurt. If you aren’t brave to attempt it, you can always go for store bought. Personally, I skip the yogurt and go for zesty dill pickles. At 1g net carb per serving I can splurge a little and eat about 3 whole small/medium pickles. Kills the sweet tooth and fills me up without feeling like I’ve eaten another massive meal.

Dinner: Organic Red Meat – I will leave this up to your incredible imagination! I am not a steak fan, however I do love ground beef. During my shark week I tend to eat more ground beef in the form of meatballs, ground beef steaks, and in soups. My favorite recipe is the GAPS Diet soup I make, Roasted Pepper and Acorn Beef Soup. It’s full of good for you stock, vegetables, beef, and is the best comfort food during your period. See recipe here. You can swap out the acorn squash for other seasonally available vegetables such as zucchini, yellow squash, green beans, fresh or frozen okra, even turnips and parsnips are great additions as well!

Dessert: Holy Cow, LC/GF Brownies – these are incredibly easy to make, freeze well, and can be made with peppermint extract for a yummy grasshopper version!

The above two pictures show how you can turn them into Cheesecake Swirl and the Grasshopper version, I was getting ready to add the low carb chocolate ganache on top. They are both low carb and gluten free. These will definitely fix that late night sweet tooth without compromising your waistline.

Hope these ideas will help you, inspire you to try something new, and encourage you to take your health back! Have a blessed Sunday!!

LC/GF Cheesecake Swirled Chocolate Pound Cake

If you are wanting a good basic chocolate pound cake recipe that’s not only gluten free but also sugar free, then you’ve come to the right place!

What You’ll Need:

2 sticks organic butter with salt

1 c granulated sweetener, I use Stevia

8 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 c Dutch Processed Cocoa

1 c super fine almond flour

2/3 c coconut flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

Optional Add-in:

Chopped walnuts

Sugar free chocolate morsels

Cheesecake Topping:

1 brick cream cheese, softened

1/4 c granulated sweetener

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Set oven temp to 350 degrees. Prep a 7×11 inch baking pan with non-stick foil.

In a large bowl, melt butter. With hand mixer combine butter with granulated sweetener, eggs, vanilla extract, and cocoa powder. Mix for at least 2 minutes to make sure everything is combined completely. Fold in almond flour, coconut flour, and baking soda. Spread thick batter into prepared pan evenly. Set aside.

In a medium bowl mix all the ingredients for the cheesecake topping with hand mixer. It will be thin, this is good! Pour over the cake batter and spread evenly. With a knife, swirl the cream cheese mixture into the batter. Don’t over do it.

Bake for 35 minutes or until a clean knife inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

This roughly comes out to 4g net carbs per serving. If you substitute with low fat ingredients or add in extra ingredients such as chocolate morsels, that will increase the carb count.

My picky eater enjoyed it so much he ate two pieces last night and another one today. Needless to say this was a hit! Definitely a keeper, can also be baked into muffins or mini loaves. This also makes great holiday gifts for neighbors, family, and friends who need a safe gluten/sugar free treat!

Happy Baking!

Be sure to subscribe to the Night Owl Kitchen Blog to receive up-to-date posts.

Did you know that Night Owl Kitchen Blog is on Instagram? Please feel free to follow nok_amandagayle for more recipes such as NOK’s original “recipe cards” and more!

Low Carb Cheeseburger Salad with LC Burger Sauce

What You’ll Need:

1 whole romaine heart, thoroughly rinsed and dried

1/3 red onion, diced or thinly sliced

1 pound ground beef, cooked and seasoned with favorite burger seasoning

1 small onion, chopped

1 rounded tblsp of fresh minced garlic

1 tblsp coconut oil

For the Burger Sauce:

1 cup full fat mayonnaise, homemade is preferred

1/2 cup full fat sour cream

Dash of hot sauce or 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar(ACV)

1/4 c ketchup, homemade is preferred

1 tblsp Wickles Relish, or your favorite

1 tblsp dried minced onion, more if you want it stronger

2 tsp granulated garlic, mor or less according to your preference

Salt and pepper to taste

Garnish

Shredded cheese

Jalapeños

Chopped bacon

Tomatoes

Pickle slices

Drizzle of mustard

Directions

Clean and dry romaine leaves. Set aside.

In a medium pot brown the ground beef with onions and add coconut oil to keep from sticking. Season with your favorite burger seasoning. I just used salt, pepper, a little cajun seasoning, and some of my dad’s favorite grill seasoning for some extra kick. Add garlic once onions are transparent and cook for another minute before removing from heat. Set aside.

Mix all the ingredients for the burger sauce in a medium size mixing bowl. (You can make this up a day ahead to allow the flavors to blend together.) Adjust the spices according to your preference.

Assembling Salad

Tear the lettuce to your desired amount, usually I use about 4-5 leaves and I like big chunks. Now from here you can “dress” the salad as you wish. Add a spoonful of meat and garnish with the diced red onion, cheese, burger sauce, etc. How you finish this off is up to you! Use your favorite cheeses too. This is why the carb count will vary.

Hope you enjoy, please let me know what you think about this recipe. If you’d like to see more salad recipes like this one, please comment below.

Have a great week!

Low Carb Beef Enchilada Soup

As much as I love to bake, I also love to cook! There is a difference and a lot of the time those who excel in one don’t in the other. Not sure why that is. 🤔 Thankfully I’ve had people confirm that I’m a great cook and baker, all I can say is I love them equally because I LOVE food!

Tonight we made a family fave, low carb beef enchiladas, into a SOUP! Is it GAPS legal? Most likely not. 😔 However, it IS low carb and the flavor is out of this world! Plus, 6.4g net carbs can’t be beat when compared to the fully loaded soup recipes out there.

It’s a soup-er easy recipe, alright I’ll stop being corny. 😉 Here’s how it goes…

You will need:

2 pounds ground beef

2 pounds ground pork

1 large onion, chopped

1/4 c fresh minced garlic, use less if you want

1/4 c raw organic coconut oil

1 1/2 cans tomato paste

2 c water

4 cups homemade chicken stock

1/4 c chili powder

1/4 – 1 tsp cumin, we use 1/4 tsp since we’re not huge fans of it

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp black pepper

1 packet fajita seasoning mix or equal amount of homemade mix(I make and love this one)

Optional topping: homemade guacamole, sour cream, Mexican blend cheese, squeeze of lime(this is crazy good too)

Directions

In a large dutch oven soup pot over medium/high heat begin browning the ground beef and sausage. Chopping it down as it cooks, add chopped onions and minced garlic. Cover with lip and cook till onions are transparent. Add remaining ingredients, stir to combine, reduce temp to allow soup to simmer for 30 minutes. Adjust seasoning as desired and serve with your favorite toppings. (Mine just happens to be homemade guacamole! 🥑)

Nutritional Information for 1/12 serving(per MyFitnessPal)

Calories: 597

Fat: 40g

Carbs: 8.8g

Fiber: 2.4g

Net: 6.4g

🔸This is a keeper, we all love the flavor the fajita seasoning brought to this dish. Leftovers freeze well too, so go ahead, make a huge pot of soup and freeze it in portioned out servings. Or you do what we sometimes do…we line a clean soup pot with an opened freezer bag and pour the soup into the bag. Zip it shut and set the entire pot with bag into the freezer. That way the next time you’re not in the mood to cook dinner from scratch, just pull out on of those frozen bags of soup, remove from bag, and slowly heat it up over medium/low heat.

🔺Premade seasoning has nothing on the homemade stuff. Plus you can skip out on the hidden sugar, msg, and other chem lab ingredients when you make it yourself.

▪️If you’re worried about the calories and fat, this recipe is supposed to be that way. It’s low in carbs and high in good for you fat! You can use any amount you feel is best for you, that will change those numbers of course. And for me, since I might eat 1 – 1 1/2 times a day, so a meal like this is totally ok to have!

Hope you all enjoy, have a great Friday, and a wonderful weekend!

An Update and Recipe

Afternoon everyone!

Been a while since the last post, a lot has changed. Before I get into that, please keep Florida in your thoughts and prayers. I have family and friends who are hunkering down for various reasons and naturally we are worried about them. 

About a month ago I started doing the anti-candida diet. Started out great, lost 10Lbs of bloat that first week everything was awesome. A week later I had gained a pound and the week after that I was up another two pounds. Very discouraging. 😠 That’s when I started reading about the underlying cause for my candida issue…leaky gut. This wasn’t a new topic for me, I had read about, talked about, and even listened to numerous discussions about leaky gut syndrome with it’s laundry list of issues that come with it. Yay me! 😒

So, what’s the go to protocol to treat leaky gut syndrome? GAPS Diet. Gut and Psychological/Physiological Syndrome Diet, it’s designed to help those with leaky gut issues and those who are autistic, have ADD/ADHD, are schizophrenic, and have skin issues such as eczema and psoriasis. It is certainly good for a whole host of other issues as well, especially candida. My mother is currently living with fibromyalgia and suffering from side effects after taking Cipro(she’s been floxed), last night was her first time trying one of my GAPS soups and it was a hit(will share it in another post). 

Currently I have completed two weeks of the GAPS Intro stages 1 & 2. There are six stages in this intro diet and it is not for the faint of heart. I first started out almost immediately with cold like symptoms. I was miserable, cold, coughing, unabel to sleep lying down, beginning to doubt my decision to go stage by stage. Typically beginners are encouraged to do the full GAPS Diet which allows them to eat everything from all six stages and it eases them into it rather than eliminating everything all at once. I was unaware of THAT tid bit of information until I was already halfway through my first week. No matter, I pushed through the first week proud that I had stuck it out. 

You see, I have a lot of food issues. Dairy is usually a biggie for me, eggs, and gluten. This is why I tend to shun such foods and tend to miss out on a lot of low carb treats. For me, going stage by stage is helping me to identify where my real issues are. I’ll break it down…

Stage 1 was not fun, easy but not a walk in the park. Most of what I was allowed to have that first week was homemade stocks, overcooked vegetables, boiled meats, and could only season with salt(either Himalayan Pink or Celtic). Not that exciting. I was developing a sore throat from all the coughing so I drank a lot of warm lemon honey water. I won’t lie, I was miserable since I couldn’t take cough meds because of the alcohol, cough drops were out of the question due to the sugar. I sounded rough and could not wait to get into the second stage. 

Stage 1 meals:

Chicken & Vegetable Soup–basically boiled chicken, homemade stock, carrots, leeks, minced garlic, and Himalayan Pink Salt to taste.

Beef and Vegetable Soup–grass fed beef & stock, leeks, carrots, zucchini slices, minced garlic, and Celtic Sea salt.

Turkey Meatball Soup–homemade raw turkey meatballs, chicken stock, yellow squash, zucchini, leeks, minced garlic, and Himalayan Pink Salt.

Mexican Turkey Soup–chicken stock, half head of cauliflower(destemmed), small onion, oregano, minced garlic, 4oz jar green chiles(big mistake on my part) turkey meatballs, and Himalayan Pink salt.

Stage 2 came and the first thing I made, without even trying, was an egg drop soup. I had been reading about how onions and eggs help with sore throats so I got busy eating lots of eggy onion soups those first few days of that second week. It. Was. Divine! Sweet relief for my throat. By Wednesday I was finally feeling somewhat normal and began including bovine gelatin to my soups. 

Stage 2 Meals:

Egg Drop Soup–chicken stock, a small onion chopped, an egg yolk, minced garlic, ghee, and Celtic Sea salt

Warm Chicken Stock-just warmed up chicken stock with Celtic Sea salt for flavor(very soothing)

Turkey Vegetable Stew–ground turkey meat, ghee, zucchini and yellow squash slices, leeks, Celtic Sea salt and bovine gelatin

Italian Meatball Soup–beef meatballs, carrots, onions, celery(not stage 2 legal, I know), minced garlic, beef stock, chicken stock, diced tomatoes, Celtic Sea salt, ghee, coconut oil, and avocado oil(family loved this!)

Now As I approach the third stage I am prepping for a little bit more food options such as: boiled and scrambled eggs, fermented foods like sauerkraut(in small doses), fully cooked vegetables that aren’t boiled in stock, and add some new organic vegetables to my menu. The one thing I’ve started doing is taking a drop of organic kraut juice in the morning. Wicked stuff, I say that because I’m not a fan of fermented things anyway, especially sauerkraut. 😑 BUT it’s a must since it’s good for digestion. 

And I decided to try pancakes this morning. These are most likely NOT GAPS stage 2 legal since I chose to use coconut flour instead of butternut squash and a nut butter as the base of my pancakes. (Original recipe for these coconut flour pancakes is here.)

What you’ll need:

1/2 c coconut flour

3 tblsp favorite granulated sweetener–I used about 4 packets of Naturevia)

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp finely ground Celtic Sea salt

6 organic eggs

1/4 c coconut oil, melted

3/4 c sparkling mineral water

Coconut oil for cooking

Directions:

Heat griddle over medium heat, just until you’re ready to cook. 

In a medius bowl combine coconut flour, granulated sweetener, baking powder, and sea salt. Add eggs, coconut oil, and mineral water, whisking vigorously until well combined. Let the batter sit for a few minutes to thicken up. Use 1/4 cup of batter per pancake, should yield 12 pancakes. Add a little coconut oil to the hot griddle and add batter. Reduce heat if needed so nothing burns, little bubble will form on top and the edges will dry a bit. That’s when you’ll know they’re ready to flip. 

I ate mine with a thin spread of ghee and a drizzle of raw unfiltered honey(since it’s GAPS approved). So far I’m feeling ok, still full but no discomfort. Will see how I am by tomorrow, please don’t follow my example if you are not sure exactly how coconut flour is going to affect your system. We’re all different, but if you are further along in your GAPS journey then I hope you will enjoy these pancakes! 

This whole experience has been a reeducation of not looking at certain foods as “I can’t have that because of the carbs”, but rather, “I’ll have a little because I do need some carbs but not the entire serving.” Since starting all of this I’ve dropped 19 pounds and obviously everything is working out smoothly. My die off is at a manageable state, my guts have quieted down more, there’s less churning and gurgling without the cramping discomfort. 

I will not be making these pancakes too often, as much as I loved their fluffy goodness! Definitely a keeper 👍🏼👍🏼 Even G liked them! 

If you do give these a try let me know what you think, feel free to share this recipe with others, and reblog if you like! I have shared certain GAPS recipes on on my IG account(nok_amandagayle), but I will be moving those recipes over here so everyone can have access to them. 

Have a blessed weekend! 

Maple Turkey Sausage Patties(LC/DF/GF/SF)

Afternoon all, trust everyone has recouped from the after effects of watching the solar eclipse yesterday. I know a lot of folks were complaining of having headaches, eyes were burning, and feeling tired. If you’re still not feeling well I pray for speedy recovery soon, I know how draining those types of headaches can be. 

Yesterday I spent some time, post solar eclipse, making some breakfast meat for myself. I love maple flavored sausage, especially with extra maple syrup drizzled on top…mmmmm, the best! But carb wise it’s like the plague attacking my body, which is why I haven’t had that in quite awhile. I do miss regular sausage though…and bacon, deli ham, spam, kielbasa…😑I’ll stop. (Le sigh)

Most of what’s available in stores I can’t even trust. There are hidden sugars, preservatives, and msg in almost everything. I’m not being as strict with my anti-candida lifestyle as some folks have suggested. I still eat meat whereas others tend to become vegetarian. Nothing wrong with that at all, I personally cannot go without meat, which is why I think such things ought to be tailored for each person. There is no clear cut and dry protocol that will work for everyone. I’ve learned a lot in the last few weeks about the various candida protocols and have taken from each one customizing what I think will work best for me. So far, everything that I’ve been doing is helping and most of the die off on my chest has cleared up. PTL!! Since I have to resort to making my own breakfast meats, desserts, and meals, it does take a little extra time and effort, but the end results are worth it! 

I do want to mention that the maple flavoring is optional, I only added it because I personally LOVE it. 😍😉 However, you can use maple syrup if the carbs are not an issue for you. Ground chicken can also be used in lieu of ground turkey. Or you can mix ground turkey with ground hamburger, which I’ve done in the past when making meatballs. It’s just as good and the ground beef lends some fat to the mixture since ground turkey tends to be lean. 

What you’ll need: 

1 pound ground turkey

2 tsp poultry seasoning

2 tsp maple extract(optional)

1 tblsp granulated stevia(optional)

1/8 tsp marjoram

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp Cassia cinnamon(purchased from The Spice House)

1/8 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tsp Himalyan pink salt

Coconut oil, for cooking

Heat oven to 375*F, line sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium size bowl mix all the ingredients by hand thoroughly. There are a few methods with which you can make sausage patties. METHOD 1: on a clean work surface place a piece of wax paper down and add half of the meat mixture on it. Cover with another sheet of wax paper, then use a rolling pin to flatten out to desired thickness. Cut into 8 rectangular pieces and repeat with second half of mixture. METHOD 2: skip the wax paper all together and free form patties by hand. METHOD 3: on clean work surface lay down wax paper, place half of the meat mixture down and flatten out with hands to desired thickness. Use a biscuit cutter cut to shape the patties. Repeat with second half of the meat mixture. Cook in coconut oil over medium heat until browned on both sides. 

You can freeze these raw or cooked, I went ahead and cooked all of mine up to help cut down on my time in the kitchen each morning. I used wax paper to keep the patties separated and put them into a quart size freezer bag. 

Depending on the size and how thick or thin you make the patties will determine how many it yields. I was able to get 16 rectangular patties. The carb count for these is basically non existent. Using maple syrup would change that, so keep that in mind. If you decide to make these with maple syrup just remember to omit the granulated stevia. 

I had three this morning with a couple of egg muffins that I made, such a nice carb free meal! 

(Pictured above: Half of the egg muffins are dairy and meat free for me. The other half have ham, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese which are G-Man’s fave!) A simple and easy low carb breakfast that you can customize with any flavor and add ins. These were really fluffy, the almod milk added a nice light texture to these. I used cajun seasoning, turmeric powder, kosher salt, dried oregano, and dried parsley. Gave a good whisking and portioned it out to all the silicone muffin cups. Baked @375*F for 20 minutes, plan to make more to freeze. I love breakfasts that I can grab and warm up. Makes for a hassel free morning. 

Hope you give these sausage patties a try, play around with the seasonings and let me know what you think. I love getting feedback from you all! If you have any questions please email me at nightowlkitchen@yahoo.com. You can also follow me on Instagram: @nok_amandagayle, for more recipe ideas/inspirations. 

Have a blessed week! 

My Life with Candida Albicans(Here I Go Again)

Afternoon everyone, hope your Wednesday has been a blessed one so far. Today I want to share an update on my candida detox, plus an article I just found that explains what foods to eliminate when you suspect you have a candida overgrowth, and a recipe that I made a couple of nights ago that was absolutely delicious and dairy free! So this will be a jam packed post, but bear with me! ☺️ Below is a picture that is NOT the most flattering, but it shows just how bad this mess has gotten. 

Picture from Sunday night. It spans from shoulder to shoulder, the worst of it in the center. It’s still creeping slowly up my neck, but for now it’s not as bad as it was last Wednesday. As of today, it only itches around the edges of the rash site. There is a soap I found that I plan to try, it’s designed for these areas so I’ll share more after I give it a go. 

For a while now I have been dealing with this candida overgrowth and die off. Ever since my first die off from a few years ago I have done just enough to get over the worst of the symptoms and once the die off would clear up I would slowly begin to add certain foods back into my low carb diet. I can already hear the clucking of tongues from certain folks 😉, trust me I have been kicking myself since last week for not having realized sooner how detrimental that decision was to my health. Just like low carb/keto is more than a diet, it’s a lifestyle, so is eat to keep your candida in check. And yes, EVERYONE has candida in their bodies. It’s a nasty bacteria in your digestive system and when we aren’t eating right, when we are pumping our bodies full of antibiotics(including the animal meats we eat) we are feeding the candida. That’s when things get out of balance and we start having issues with our sinuses, allergies, skin related problems(ie rashes, eczema), flatulence, brain fog, IBS, fibromyalgia, yeast infections, and so on. It just seems to snowball and we can’t figure out why all of the sudden we are having all these issues. 
That’s been my life now since 2011 and quite possibly longer if I think about it. This could explain my most recent issue with the top of my left foot. It was hurting to the point where I could barely walk. Which that has actually started to improve over the last few days! I’m not hobbling around as much and I can stand for short periods of time with minimal issues. This is great news since this means I will be able to get back to my workouts! 

So what is it EXACTLY am I doing to improve my health? What protocol am I following to eliminate the candida overgrowth? It’s not any one thing or method. I spent last weekend reading anything and everything online, refreshing my memory of what needs to be done. The first thing I did was change my diet. Since I am already living a lower carb life, I knew I was going to have to give up more even MORE foods that may have been contributing to the overgrowth. And Saturday night proved to be a near breaking point for me. I was emotionally drained and frustrated by the realization that I would have to give up a lot of my favorite low carb foods for a while(possibly forever) and it all hit me that night. I was hungry and wanting stuffed green olives. My go to snack food when I have the munchies. High in fat, zero carbs, and I can easily eat half a jar! No judging. 😒My 13 yr old comes in and asks me what I’m doing. Trying to keep the shreds of emotions in check I tell him I’m hungry and can’t have the things that I would normally go to. At this point I could feels the tears welling up and I absolutely hate crying in front of people. When I cry it’s messy and ugly, so I took a few breaths to calm myself and without skipping a beat G-Man told me “so fix yourself some eggs.” 

I won’t lie, I scoffed at that idea. For one eggs don’t like me. Honestly, they make me sulfur gassy(and there goes any hope for finding a future husband). Before I could stop him, G-Man was already grabbing the container of eggs and asking me what meats and veggies I can have. He was shocked when I told him I can’t have sausage patties, deli ham or turkey, and no more bacon. Pitiful, I know. 😔 So he grabbed tomatoes(which aren’t EXACTLY a safe thing but it added color to my dish), frozen green beans, and a green onion. He stood there watching me fry a couple of eggs in coconut oil with a handful of green beans, added in a few tomatoes for color, seasoned it all with Himalayan seas salt, black pepper, and turmeric. Garnishing the top with thin slices of green onion. And that was dinner! It was so satisfying, delicious, and simple! 

I know not too many folks like to give God credit these days, but I have to take a moment to. If my son hadn’t come into the kitchen when he did I wouldn’t have eaten such an amazing meal. I would have eaten half a jar of stuffed green olives, maybe some cheese slices, and hated myself later. God intervened by using my son to ground me (meaning forcing me to focus) and get me thinking what I should do instead and kept me from eating the very things that have led to this overgrowth and further the issue more. 

Sunday was even better! I had to make the decision to stay home from church since I was experiencing some IBS issues(again I’m just killing my prospects here lol) and didn’t want to chance anything. I rarely eat breakfast y’all, I take after my Memaw, leave me alone for an hour after I get up and let me enjoy my morning coffee(only for her it was hot tea). Coffee fills me up but I made half a cup instead and fried up two eggs just so I could get something into my system. Lunch came and I was starving! That’s when I made this…

All right, it’s not the prettiest bowl of food, but it was tasy! Stir fry veggies and garlic ginger chicken, it made four servings so I had enough for dinner and some to freeze! Sunday afternoon my detox pills arrived and I was actually excited! Me, I hate swallowing pills, but I was actually excited about having THOSE! I know, crazy. 😏 With my biggest meal I take my pills every day and haven’t had too many issues with them(mild burping…I’m batting a thousand already who cares anymore?!). And this is what is helping me to combat the candida overgrowth. I still pine for the foods that I used to eat, but I know in the end it’s better that I go without and finally get well after years of neglect. 

So…

Goodbye to : dairy(heavy cream, butter, cheeses, cream cheese), processed meats(kielbasa, spam, hot dogs, bacon, pepperoni, deli meats), mushrooms, peanut oil, mini sweet peppers, fathead pizza dough and bagels, creamy/cheesy casseroles, homemade ranch dressing, ketchup, mayonnaise, low carb brownies(because of the chocolate and butter), pork rinds, low carb protein smoothies(because the protein powder I love has whey in it), mashed cauliflower(I tend to make it with cream cheese, parm cheese, and heavy cream), pickled foods(sliced jalapenos, dill pickles, stuffed green olives), naturally sweet veggies and fruit, and the list goes on. 

Say hello to: dark green veggies(kale, broccoli, chard, romaine), cruciferous veggies(cauliflower, cabbage), organic meats(beef, chicken, and pork…not a fish fan), peppers, fermented foods(soy sauce, sauerkrauts, kimchi), squash, zucchini, green beans, onions, garlic, coconut oil, evoo, safflower oil, avocado oil(and avocados), hemp seeds, chia seeds, almonds, eggplant, blueberries, unsweetened cranberries, stevia, xylitol, vitamins and supplements, and candida detox pills(two pills once a day). 

Here’s a link to a site I found today that gives a basic outline of what foods to avoid and what foods are safe when killing off the candida. CLICK HERE. 

A friend recently asked me how my ice cube diet is going. 😏 I love her cheekiness! If it were anyone else I wouldn’t have laughed. For the most part I am able to maintain my low carb lifestyle while incorporating more of the anti-candida regimen. I don’t feel as bloated, the gas is slowly going away, mental clarity is emerging, I’m not as tired during the afternoon, but I am still battling with cold extremities, that might take a bit longer to get over since I’ve dealt with it for years. Plus I actually dropped a pound over the weekend which I haven’t been able to do for a while! 

Now, what yummy recipe do I have for you?! 

It’s baked chicken legs(you can use breasts, thighs, wings, or the whole chicken, go nuts!!) with oven roasted broccoli and cauliflower, served over a very basic romain salad topped with spicy brown mustard. 

What you’ll need:

12 chicken legs, skin on

No salt added seasoning of your choice(the one I used is pictured below)

Evoo

2 pounds frozen broccoli

1 pound frozen cauliflower

Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

Directions:

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line two sheet pans with non stick foil. Coat the chicken legs evenly with salt free seasoning and place on sheet pan. Bake for 40 minutes uncovered. Crank the heat up to 425 degrees and bake for another 30 minutes. 

In a large mixing add frozen broccoli and cauliflower. Drizzle on evoo and season with pink Himalayan sea salt. Spread out on remaining sheet pan and bake for 30 minutes or until it reaches a desired doneness. 

Serve with chopped organic romaine lettuce and use your favorite dressing. It’s simple, it’s easy, and leftovers are great the next day for breakfast with a couple of fried eggs. Leftovers can be frozen or used for those Bento boxes. Just make sure to debone the chicken first before storing. Makes it easier to enjoy later on! 

Below is the no salt added seasoning recipe I used. 

I store mine in a regular mouth glass jar and washed off a screw on lid from a Kraft Parmesan cheese container. This way I can shake on the seasoning on one side or measure it out from the other. I can’t remember if I doubled or tripled the recipe at the time I made this, but it is worth it! I use it on my eggs, veggies, beef, pork, and of course chicken. 

You can make a non-spicy version by leaving out the cayenne pepper. I think the next batch I make I’ll add turmeric and ginger powder since both of those are amazing anti-candida seasonings. 

If you have any questions please feel free to ask me below or email me at nightowlkitchen@yahoo.com, don’t forget to follow me on Instagram(@nok_amandagayle). I tend to post a little more frequently on IG these days since it’s quicker. But I hope this post has helped to shed some light on this growing issue. If you suspect you are suffering from a candida overgrowth, here is a link with a list of symptoms. CLICK HERE. This is definitely something you DO NOT want to leave untreated. I will be honest with you, there is a lot of controversial information out there, please be careful with your research and take a majority of it with a massive grain of salt. What works for one person won’t always work for another, there is no one size fits all protocol. There’s a basic outline that we all have to follow, but how I am approaching treatment is not necessarily going to work for the next person. 

In the meantime, take care, happy healthy eating, and hope you all have a blessed week!