Chicken Alfredo

This is one of my family's favorite meals.  I buy chicken breasts in bulk, slice and then freeze them in 2 lb packages.  

Ingredients:

• Tuscan Herb Olive Oil
• 1 lb sliced chicken breast
• 1 c ~2 sticks~ butter
• 1 c whipping cream
• 1 1/2 c shredded Parmesan cheese
• Penzey’s Roasted Garlic

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in large skillet over med-high heat.  

2. Sauté chicken breast in skillet; remove to bowl.

3. Reduce heat to medium-low.

4. Melt butter in skillet.

5. Add cream; stirring constantly.

6. Add Parmesan cheese; stirring until melted.

7. Sprinkle in Roasted Garlic.

8. Add chicken back into sauce.

9. Serve over prepared noodles or tortellini.

Tips:

• My family likes this recipe with bow tie pasta or with tortellini.  
• I cook my pasta in the microwave in my Rockcrok Everyday Pan.  Pour pasta in pan.  Sprinkle with a pinch of salt.  Just cover with water and cook for 5 - 6 minutes longer than the stove top directions.   Drain and serve.

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• 

Southwest Ranch Veggie Dip

This is a dip that I keep on hand for fresh veggies.  

Ingredients:

• 2 T Penzey's Buttermilk Ranch Seasoning
• 4 teas. Penzey's Salsa and Pico Seasoning
• 16 oz. sour cream

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a small batter bowl  Refrigerate.

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Caesar Salad Dressing

I must confess, I stole/borrowed this recipe from OnceUponaChef.  My twist on it is that I use avocado mayonnaise.  I do not use "vegetable" oils of any kind in my kitchen.  I use olive, avocado and coconut oils in my kitchen because of the inflammatory nature of "vegetable" oils.  If you are making the change to olive or avocado mayonnaise, be sure to read the labels.  Brands like Kraft and Hellmann's Olive OIl Mayo are made with soybean and canola oils.  I use Chosen Foods Avocado Mayonnaise that I find at Costco.

Ingredients:

• 2 small garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp anchovy paste
• 2 T lemon juice ~ I use Minute Maid frozen if I don't have fresh lemons~
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 1 tsp worcestershire sauce
• 1 c avocado mayonnaise
• 1/2 c grated Parmigiano Reggiano
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 ground black pepper

Directions: 

In a medium glass bowl, whisk together garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, dijon mustard and worcestershire sauce.  Add mayonnaise, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt and pepper; whisk until well combined.  Adjust seasoning to taste.  Pour into glass jar or container and refrigerate.

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Quick Cooker Crack Chicken ~Keto~

Quick Cooker Crack Chicken

Ingredients:

• 1 lb bacon, chopped
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 Tbsp Penzeys Buttermilk Dressing and Dip Seasoning 
• 4 lbs chicken breasts ~can be frozen~
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened and cubed
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 4 - 5 green onions, chopped

Directions:

1. Turn Quick Cooker to SEAR and cook the chopped bacon for 5 - 7 minutes, until crisped.
2. Drain the excess bacon grease from the inner pot.
3. Add chicken broth, seasoning and chicken.
4. Seal the Quick Cooker, press CHICKEN/POULTRY and adjust the timer to 15 minutes ~20 if using frozen chicken.~
5. When the timer goes off, allow 5 minutes for natural pressure release and then manually release the rest.
6. Use the Salad Choppers to chunk up the chicken.
7. Set the pot back to SEAR and add cream cheese whisking for a few minutes until melted.
8. Add half of the shredded cheese and bacon.  Stir to combine.
9. Serve over rice or pasta.  Top with shredded cheese and chopped green onions.

Tips:

• The Quick Cooker is Pampered Chef's pressure cooker. ~i.e. Instapot~   Many recipes for the Instapot call for various accessories like a trivet, ceramic pot, ramekins, or springform pan.  Pampered Chef has accessories specifically created to use with the Quick Cooker.  
• This recipe can be make in a slow cooker.  It just takes longer.  LOL
• To keep this recipe keto, simply serve over riced cauliflower or eat by itself.

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5 Tips for Surviving Christmas on Your Keto Diet

Do you have a love/hate relationship with Christmas?  Most of us do.  I love the decorations and the parties and the music and the food.  I love to bake and spend time with friends and family.  We were created for relationships and Christmas is a great time to catch up with friends and family that we don't see as often as we'd like.  Plus we're really busy so it's easy to just run thru the drive-thru and grab dinner.  

But the food . . .  How do we stay on track with our Keto lifestyle with all this good food?  Here's 5 tips to survive all the Christmas parties.

1.  Eat a bit before you go.

One of the beauties of the Keto lifestyle is the food we eat fills us up and we don't get hungry.  If you aren't as hungry, it's easier to say no to the sugary and high carb delights at the party.  Our fridge usually has either beef taco meat or chicken fajita meat for quick Keto meals or snacks.  Or grab a handful of mixed nuts.  Or a few bites of Broccoli Slaw, which I also keep in the fridge.

2.  Take your own dish.

I have several dips that I make that are very Keto-friendly.  I'll be adding them in the weeks before Christmas so be sure and check back.  Or better yet, join my "What's For Dinner?"  Facebook group.  It's a great place to get tips, recipes and menus.  Meatballs are another great app that you can take.  I'll also be sharing my Keto Cheesecake bites that you can take.

3.  Use the raw veggies as dippers instead of crackers.

Most parties have a veggie tray.  Use the veggies from it for other dips.  Most of the dips at parties are very Keto-friendly.  Made with sour cream, cheese, bacon and other fats.  Or eat them with a fork.  Who says you have to eat a cheeseball with a cracker?  

4.  Enjoy little bites . . . 

Instead of eating a whole slice of that delicious chocolate torte or pie, just eat a bite or two.  Share that brownie with another party goer.  Grab just one chocolate covered pretzel.  

5.  Give yourself some grace . . . 

Be realistic.  How many times have you actually lost weight during Christmas?  Enjoy the time with family and friends.  Enjoy the good food.  Don't be the party pooper that guilts everyone at the party.  Don't make it all about you and your diet.  Moderation here is key.  Just don't overdo it at the party or family get-together.  

Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients:

2 T. olive oil

1 t. Penzey's Garlic, Minced ~or 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced~

Penzey's Forward Seasoning or Smokey Barbecue Rub by Pampered Chef 

2 1 lb. Pork Tenderloins

8 - 10 bacon slices.

Preheat oven to 400 deg.

Soften minced garlic in olive oil for 5 minutes.

Brush pork tenderloins with olive oil infused with the garlic.

Sprinkle liberally with seasoning of choice.

Lay out 4 slices of bacon on cutting board side by side.  Lay one pork tenderloin on bacon.  

Starting at one end, wrap tenderloin with bacon securing with toothpicks.

Place bacon wrapped tenderloin on large bar pan.  Repeat with other tenderloin.

Bake for 20 minutes.  Reduce heat to 300 deg.  Bake for additional 15 minutes.  

Check tenderloin with a meat thermometer.  It should be 135 deg.  Increase the heat to low broil ~450 deg~ and broil for 3 - 5 minutes to crisp up bacon.

Remove from oven.  Cover with foil for 10 minutes.  Internal temp will rise.

Slice and serve. 

Broccoli Coleslaw - Keto

Broccoli Coleslaw - Keto

This is one of my Keto Hacks.  I keep this for when I need a bit of a crunch.

Ingredients:

1 14 oz bag broccoli slaw

1 c mayonnaise - I use avocado oil mayo.  

2 T. heavy cream

1 t. mustard

1 t. garlic salt

1 t. celery seed

1 t. black pepper

Mix together the mayo, cream, mustard, garlic salt, celery seed and pepper.  Pour over broccoli slaw and mix.  Refrigerate.

Classic Beef Tacos

Classic Beef Tacos

This is a staple in our house.  This is very Keto-friendly.  Instead of taco shells, put over lettuce for a taco salad.  Having taco meat in the fridge is one of my Keto Hacks.  When we need a quick meal, just heat it up and add your favorite toppings.

Ingredients:

2 lbs ground beef

3 Tbs. Penzey's Taco Seasoning

1 Tbs. Penzey's Fajita Seasoning

2/3 cup water

Taco shells

Shredded Colby-Jack cheese

Sour Cream

Salsa

Brown ground beef in large skillet over med-high heat.  Drain.  Reduce heat to medium and add taco and fajita seasonings and water.  Simmer for 10 minutes.  Heat taco shells according to package directions.  Serve with sour cream, cheese and salsa.  

Tips:

I make my taco meat in the microwave in my RockCrok Everyday Pan.  Not only is it faster, I get more grease when I drain it.  Cook on high for 4 minutes.  Stir/crumble with Mix'n Chop by Pampered Chef.  Cook additional 2 minutes.  Stir/crumble.  Cook additional 2 minutes if needed.  Drain.  Put ground beef back in the RockCrok and add seasonings and water.  Cook on high for 2 minutes. 

The Rockcrok pan can go in the microwave, oven, under the broiler, on the grill, in the freezer, fridge ~of course~ and even in the dishwasher.   

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Easy Microwave Chicken

You will need a Deep Covered Baker from Pampered Chef for this recipe.

Chicken breast halves
Olive oil
Roasted garlic seasoning ~or your favorite seasoning for chicken~
½ pkg of frozen Pepper and Onion blend

Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning ~on both sides. ~ Place chicken in Deep Covered Baker. Depending on how many chicken breasts you use, you may have to layer them. Cover with frozen veggies. Cover and cook in microwave for about 8 minutes if you have 1 layer of chicken or 12 minutes if you have 2 layers of chicken.

You will not believe that this was made in the microwave. It’s moist and delicious. It’s great on a salad or by itself. Enjoy!

This is a great recipe for keto.