Why do Atkins?

This is one of the reasons I write a blog:

Susan Stover is one of my Atkins Buds!!

she wrote this today:

This is my first time doing Atkins,
so i really can't relate to the falling off the wagon.
As for myself, i love this WOE (way of eating),
i would feel so guilty sticking non atkins food in my mouth
and hope i always feel this way. My mind is set to, this ...
is my lifestyle now, to reach my goal.
Too feeling better physically and mentally about myself.
But it can't stop there, to maintain i can't ever go back
to eating the way i used too, or i'd be back to where i started
and i do not want to be there again.
Plus i'd have to fess up to all you guys.
And Joan's NO CHEATING keeps me in line.
As to telling someone else who has, it's just not worth it.
Sorry, didn't mean to write a book:))

Tomato, Okra & Cabbage Soup recipe

This recipe started out as:
http://fatsecret.com/recipes/cabbage-and-tomato-soup/Default.aspx

but has evolved into my own recipe!
As usual for me, I like to tweak recipes.
Frank's Hot Sauce makes everything better.

In a large pot:

1-2 tablespoons bacon grease
1/2 cup each:
onion, celery, bell pepper chopped
1/4 cabbage or 2-4 cups chopped
Cook the above till wilted and kinda soft.

then add:
2 cans diced tomatoes
2 cups frozen sliced okra
1 can green beans
2 chicken boulion cubes
2 cans of water
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
2 Tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons Splenda
Salt & Pepper and red pepper flakes to taste.

bring to a boil, stirring. cover turn heat down to low,
simmer for 1 hour.

If cabbage messes you up, you should leave it out or cut back on the amount.
I bet I could even put my "blender on a stick" in this and make it
creamed soup. then add some heavy cream and butter at the end,
like in your bowl! yummy.
I remember someone made it and didn't like the taste (and tossed it out),
to me, that's an inexperienced cook,
add stuff to make it good to you!!
like, I added red pepper flakes,
some vinegar (2 Tablespoons) and 2 Tab. of Splenda also.
Make it your own recipe. you could add meat, chicken or beef also!!
When I serve this in my bowl,
I add some Franks Hot Sauce
to the top and maybe some cheese.
email me any time, if you want:
bungej@bellsouth.net
Love to all my low carb buddies.
Hope you all have a wonderful day.
Don't cheat! Eat healthy today.
Plan ahead for great results.

Zucchini Boats low carb PIZZA or Sausage recipe

http://www.convertunits.com/dates/

to check and see how long you have been eating right!
I've been on Atkins 146 days as of today, July 25th, 2011.
love this way of eating!
More energy, great food,
great friends on facebook doing it with me,
diabetes is much better, loosing weight too!
All this makes me a happy camper these days.
Now, If we could just sell our house!!
made the best food yesterday:
zucchini boats.
I'll find the recipe and add it here and a picture too.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Mushroom-Stuffed-Zucchini/Detail.aspx?ms=1&prop25=63109499&prop26=DailyDish&prop27=2011-07-13&prop28=RecipeOption&prop29=FullRecipe&me=1

Ingredients in original recipe

(I took out the flour,
and added sausage and a few more spices)

• 3 zucchini, trimmed
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
• 1/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed dried oregano
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the zucchini whole until they start to become tender, about 10 minutes. Drain the zucchini, and set aside to cool. Once cool, slice the zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the center flesh, leaving a 1/4-inch thick shell around the entire zucchini. Chop the scooped-out zucchini flesh.
2. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir the mushrooms and sweet red pepper until tender and the mushrooms release their juice, about 5 minutes. Stir in the flour and oregano, then stir in the reserved chopped zucchini flesh and Monterey Jack cheese. Heat the mixture until the cheese is melted and the filling is hot. Stuff the filling into the hollowed-out zucchini; sprinkle each with about 3/4 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese.
3. Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source.
4. Broil the zucchini until the filling is bubbling and the cheese is browned, 3 to 5 minutes.

New Pizza zucchini boats:
After boiling the zucchini as above,
scoop out innards,
put about
1 tablespoon of Great Value (Wal-Mart brand) pizza sauce inside.
top with grated cheese
top that with pepperoni slices
and grated Parmesan cheese.
Bake about 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees.
I cooked these longer than the top ones because the inside were cooked already in other ones, these I wanted the sauce to get hot and cook into all the other ingredients as well.
These are now my new Pizza favorite food!

High Protein Shakes for low carb diets

These 2 brands above are just 2 of the ones I've tried.
I really like the flavor of the shorter container, bought at Wal-Mart!
The Unjury brand is one that I found while doing research.
It is used a lot for patients who have had stomach by pass surgery.
So I thought it would really be good. It was more costly,
I had to buy it on line and I really didn't like the flavor much.
But by adding vanilla flavoring and cocoa powder , plus other ingredients,
it can be made to be pretty good.

To make shakes with these,
you can concoct your own recipes.
See bottom for more ideas for flavors!!!
Yesterday I did this.

In the blender, put this:

1/3 cup heavy cream
2 scoops of vanilla protein powder
1 teaspoon Splenda w/fiber
8-10 ice cubes
and about 1 half can of diet cola

Cover and hold your hand on the lid at all times.
Blend on high for 2-4 minutes
until smooth.
Taste it now, so if you need more Splenda or more ice,
now is the time to add it.
Blend again and pour into a tall glass.
I use this for my breakfast, lunch or a late night snack sometimes.
I do not do it every day, maybe once a week for a change.
My protein powder was 3 g carb for 2 scoops and 110 cal .
then no carbs for the added heavy cream or diet soda pop.


OK, another one I love it instead of the Cola, I add
Diet Orange Soda to it.
It taste like an orange cycle.

I have made these using cold coffee left over from breakfast,
that's yummy!!

And of course cocoa powder added to the coffee is good too,
but you need to add more Splenda.

I also used the same as the recipe, but used root beer in it instead of cola.

The shake results are endless only to your imagination!!
Have fun,
and let me know how you made yours!!
email me or facebook me anytime
(Joan Bunge)

bungej@bellsouth.net

A Refreshing Drink Recipe low carb

Daily Dish from "South Beach Diet"

A Refreshing Drink Recipe

There’s no better way to cool off on a hot summer day than with a flavorful, refreshing drink. This cooling beverage features a delicious blend of hibiscus tea and sugar-free lime-flavored seltzer water, which will keep you hydrated without the empty calories usually found in store-bought soft drinks.

Hibiscus Tea Spritzers With Lime (Phase 1)

Description
Hibiscus is a tropical flower that is often used to make delicious herbal teas. Its fruity, lightly floral taste and stunning red color are reminiscent of cranberries. Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, hibiscus has also been found to be a natural relaxant. In this recipe, you can use 100% hibiscus tea or one of the many herbal blends containing hibiscus.

Makes 4 servings

Prep time: 5 minutes
Steep time: 6 minutes
Chill time: 10 minutes

Ingredients
2 cups water
4 hibiscus tea bags
Ice cubes
1 1/2 cups chilled sugar-free lime seltzer water
Granular sugar substitute to taste (optional)
1 small lime, sliced

Instructions
In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Remove the saucepan from the heat, add tea bags, and steep for 6 minutes. Stir in 1 cup ice cubes and refrigerate until cooled, about 10 minutes.

Fill 4 (10-ounce) glasses with ice. Pour tea over ice, top with seltzer, add sugar substitute, if using, and stir gently. Garnish with lime slices and serve.

Nutritional information
Per (1-cup) serving:
0 calories
0 g fat (0 g sat)
0 g carbohydrate
0 g protein
0 g fiber
0 mg sodium