Keto Recipe Test: Fat Head Pizza


Being a New Yorker one of my favorite indulgences or cheat meals was a nice slice of pizza from my neighborhood pizza shop. As soon as I started keto I knew I had to find a low carb version of pizza and found the cauliflower crust one. While it was ok it didn't taste exactly like pizza. Then I made the Fat Head Pizza and I knew that I found a winner!


Step 1: Take a medium sized bowl and add 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese. I always shred my own cheese because I don't like the added starches and ingredients in pre-shredded cheese. Take two tablespoons of cream cheese and cut into little pieces. Sprinkle on top of the mozzarella cheese.

Step 2: Microwave for 30 seconds and then mix to incorporate the melted cream cheese. Microwave for another 30 seconds and mix again. The mixture should be melted and gooey. Add the almond flour and mix with a spatula. Add the egg and continue to mix. When you feel like it won't mix anymore use your hands to mix. Knead the "dough" by folding it over itself until all of the ingredients are fully incorporated.

Step 3: I place the "dough" in between two silicone baking mats and roll until it is about 1/4" inch thick. Poke all over the top with a fork to prevent bubbles from forming when baking. Place in a 375 degree oven for 8 minutes.


Step 4: Add a 1/2 cup of  low carb spaghetti sauce and all of the toppings you like. I use the Simply Enjoy pasta sauce that I find at Stop n Shop because it is only 4 total carbs per 1/2 cup. I then add about 4 ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese, sliced mushrooms and turkey pepperoni. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until melted and bubbly.



What is your favorite pizza topping? 

Weight Loss Charm Bracelet How To



I have been on this current weight loss journey for almost 6 months and have lost a total of 54.2 pounds. This is the first time in a weight loss journey that it is coming easy to me so I am excited! I want to celebrate my successes so I decided to reward myself with a weight loss charm bracelet.


The weight loss charm bracelet will help motivate me to reach my goals and to hold me accountable. I am planning on giving myself a new charm for every 10 pounds that I lose. I will also add charms for big milestones like 50 pound lost, 75 pounds, etc. If for any reason I gain 5 pounds or more I will remove a charm. I think that by wearing and looking at the charm bracelet it will help keep me on track. There is no way I am going to want to remove a hard earned charm. I want each charm to mean something so that it makes me feel more accomplished.


Since I have lost over 50 pounds I have earned five charms:
10 Pounds: Number 10 for my first 10 pounds lost.
20 Pounds: A mom charm because I am doing this for my daughter.
30 Pounds: A sneaker because I am enjoying mommy and daughter walks.
40 Pounds: A heart because I am loving this way of eating.
50 Pounds: Number 50 for a milestones of 50 pounds lost.


Supplies:
  • Sterling Silver Charm Bracelet
  • Sterling Silver Charms
  • Jump Rings
  • 2 pliers
1. Take the 2 pliers and grab onto a jump ring on its ends. You want to pull the jump ring apart by twisting it. You want one end to go towards you and one end to go away from you. You never want to just pull the jump ring apart because you don't want to distort the shape.


2. Place one end of the jump ring onto the charm bracelet. Place the charm on the other end of the jump ring.

3. Carefully twist the jump ring to close it with the pliers.

4. Repeat for each charm.


Every time I add a new charm I will be posting it to Instagram and Facebook, so make sure you follow me on those channels. Next Charm Planned: Woman exercising for being successful with the FeFit Exercise Program.


If you had a weight loss charm bracelet what kind of charms would be on it? 

What I Ate Wednesday: Week 25




Breakfast: I had four slices of uncured bacon that I buy at Aldi's supermarket. When I first started keto I used to buy regular bacon and right after eating it I wouldn't feel so good. I think it was too salty and the nitrates were giving me headaches. Since I discovered the uncured variety I am able to eat as much bacon as I like. With the bacon I had two fried eggs that I fried in some of the bacon grease and a low carb biscuit. These biscuits are made of mostly egg whites and almond flour. They are really fluffy and moist and kind of remind me of cornbread.


Lunch: My big breakfast kept me full all day long so I skipped lunch. At about 5pm I was getting a little hungry so I decided to have a cup of bone broth. I made a huge batch of bone broth in my pressure cooker the weekend before from mostly turkey bones and some chicken bones. I added a few stalks of celery, some bay leaves and Braggs apple cider vinegar to bring out the minerals in the bones. I put some in mason jars for cooking and then froze the rest in silicone muffin cups for drinking. I pop three in a big mug and heat up until hot. I then sprinkle on some Himalayan Pink Sea Salt and fresh cracked black pepper.


Dinner: We went food shopping after my husband got out of work so I didn't eat dinner until about 9PM. The broth kept me full until then so I wasn't hungry at all. I took four ounces of beef, formed into patties and sprinkled on some Goya Adobo seasoning. I put my cooked burgers on oopsie rolls with cheddar cheese, sandwich pickles and a squirt of reduced sugar Heinz ketchup.


What is your favorite way to eat a burger? 

Weight Loss Journey: Week 25


I gained 0.8 pounds for an adjusted total of 54.2 pounds. A little disappointed by the gain but all I can do is continue. I am going to wait to see my results for next week to see if I have to adjust what I am doing.

I stayed on plan almost the entire week except for one day. I went out with my husband for a belated Valentine's Day date and didn't track before I got to the restaurant. I ate things that were part of my plan but I ate too much vegetables and too much cheese and that made my carb count go up to 32 grams. My plan is to stay under 20 grams of total carbs so going over by 12 grams isn't terrible but I wish I would have planned a little better. It was a good dinner and I did enjoy the company with my husband so I am not stressing about going over. I ran out of bone broth and didn't have a chance to make some so I was missing the extra boost of energy I would get from it in the middle of the day. I made a new coconut bread recipe that I found on YouTube and have been enjoying it as my "bread" for my breakfast sandwiches. 



Since I knew my sister would be here this week while my niece and nephew were on Winter break, I made sure to exercise on my days off.  I wanted to make sure that I had enough time to just enjoy the visits with them. I am really committed to completing the FeFit 90 Day Exercise program so I don't want to miss a workout. On Friday my in-laws came a little earlier than I expected while I was in the middle of a workout. I just excused myself,  took my FeFit DVD, popped it in my laptop and continued the workout in my bed room. The plan is going back around to the workouts we did in the first week so it was nice to see how much better I can do the exercises. 



  • Take vitamins and probiotics.
  • Get in 7000 daily steps. 
  • FeFit Exercise Program 4 times a week
  • One walk of at least 10,000 steps
  • Start the Plank Challenge

Keto Chicken Pot Pie


It's been really cold these couple of weeks with a few snow days in between. When it's cold outside I like to have a nice comfy casserole type dish for dinner. I rather eat something hearty and warm in place of your typical hot and steamy soup. I have been craving chicken pot pie for a while now so I decided to go into the kitchen to experiment with some keto ingredients.




Keto Chicken Pot Pie 

Crust:
  • 3/4 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese 
  • 1 tblsp cream cheese
  • 6 tblsp almond flour
  • 1/2 egg
  • 1/2 tsp thyme 
Filling
  • 1 tblsp butter
  • 4 medium radishes, diced
  • 4 medium baby bella mushrooms
  • 3 cups roasted chicken, diced
  • 2 cups spinach (or 1 cup frozen, thawed and liquid squeezed out)
  • 1 cup bone broth (or chicken stock)
  • 4 ounces cream cheese 
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tsp Better than Boullion chicken base
  • 2 tsp onion flakes
  • 3/4 tsp Himilayan pink sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
Step 1: Turn on oven to 350 degrees. To make the dough, place mozzarella cheese and cream cheese into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 45 seconds. Mix and then microwave for 30 more seconds. Add the almond flour, thyme and egg and mix well until a dough forms. 

Step 2: Place dough in between two baking sheets or parchment paper and roll out to an 8" square that is 1/8-1/4" thick. Use a fork to poke the dough all over and place in the oven for 10 minutes. 

Step 3: To make the filling add the butter into a large pan to melt. Add the celery and cook until the celery has softened a little bit. Add the mushrooms and cook for about 4 minutes. Add the bone broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape all the bits on the bottom of the pan. Add the cream cheese and mix until it is melted. Add the cream, chicken base and spices and mix well. 

Step 4: Add the spinach and stir around until it is completed wilted. Carefully fold in the chicken and mix to combine all of the ingredients. 

Step 5: Place the filling into a 8" by 8" square baking pan and cook for 20 minutes. Place the crust on top of the filling and bake for 10 more minutes. 

Serves 4.




How YouTube Can Help You Lose Weight


When I started on my weight loss journey I took the time and did my research. Every time I wanted to look something up, YouTube was always one of the top search hits. I stopped using the middleman and started searching on the YouTube search bar itself. This is how I use YouTube to Lose Weight for free!

Diet Information: I originally wanted to start a low carb diet. When I started doing my research Keto always popped up. I saw tons of different videos and upon hearing all of the information and all of the ailments it could cure I got on board. There was so much information from doctors, experts, nutritionists, people who have been doing it for a while and newbies like me. I started binge watching these videos and writing notes. I am sure you can find videos for any kind of diet you are interested in doing.



Recipes: I have been using YouTube more and more and Pinterest less often now. I have found so many great recipes and it's nice to see the recipe being made step by step. I love to see the recipe get tested and real opinions stated on the taste. I have made so many keto recipes from YouTube including pizza, tacos, pies, biscuits and so much more all on plan and all delicious.



Exercise Videos: Did you know that you can see full exercise workouts for free? There is everyone from Jillian Michaels, to Billy Blanks, to Leslie Sansone. All full length workouts that you can do for free in your home whenever you want. I have a chromecast so it's easy to just cast it onto my TV and get busy working out.



Motivation: One of my favorite types of videos to watch on YouTube are of those doing a keto diet like me. It motivates me to see their weekly progress videos and see them losing. It helps me to see what they eat and to get tips on what is working and what is not working for them.


Do you use YouTube to aide in a healthy lifestyle? 


Wordless Wednesday: Valentine Preschool Math


Weight Loss Journey: Week 24


I lost 2.6 pounds for a total weight loss of 55 pounds. I am happy to see the scale moving a little better these past couple of weeks. `


On Sunday I did oopsie rolls, low carb biscuits and pizza puffs to last for the week. It made my job a whole lot easier the rest of the week because I got to cook less. My husband loves my cauliflower mash and could eat it everyday if I let him so I also made a big batch to last him a few days. My appetite is lessening which is a good thing because it means my body is keto-adapted. I have worked my way up to one tablespoon of MCT oil in my bulletproof coffee so it has been giving me a ton of energy. I did three days of Intermittent fasting with bulletproof coffee after a 16-18 hour fast and then a cup of bone broth 4 hours later. Then I had a big dinner which was my last meal of the day. When I eat a big dinner I don't get hungry for a long time after I wake up the next day, so my eating window is getting smaller. 



I don't know if it was the super cold weather or snow, but I wasn't as enthusiastic to exercise this week. I woke up wanting to stay under my warm blanket. After having my late lunches I would then get the energy to get up and do my workouts. I continued with the FeFit Exercise program and got through each day. The exercises are getting easier to do and I could feel my core muscles getting stronger. On my walk day I did another Leslie Sansone Walk YouTube video since I didn't want to go out in the cold. 



  • Take vitamins and probiotics.
  • Get in 7000 daily steps. 
  • FeFit Exercise Program 4 times a week
  • One walk of at least 10,000 steps
  • Bulk cooking by making "breads" and bone broth for the week. 

Keto & Low Carb Fish n' Chips


So I am loving the "breading" I created for my Keto Chicken Tenders and decided to experiment. I added some bay seasoning, lemon zest and parsley flakes to make the perfect coating for some fish sticks. I also served them with a homemade tartar sauce and some Parmesan Crisps to make the chip part of "Fish n Chips"


Keto Fish and Chips 
  • Tartar Sauce: 
    • 1/2 cup mayo
    • 2 tblsp sugar-free sweet relish 
    • 1 tsp dried dill
    • 2 tblsp lemon juice 
  • 1 pound of fish fillet (I used flounder)
  • 3/4 cup almond flour
  • 1/4 cup oat fiber (you can substitute with more almond flour)
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese (the grated green container is best) 
  • 1/2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
  • zest of half of a lemon
  • 1/2 tsp dried dill
  • egg
  • avocado oil, to fry (you can use any other oil you have on hand) 
1: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a baking pan with aluminum foil. Add a baking rack on top. (If you don't have a baking rack you can skip it but you will have to turn your fish sticks over half way through the baking process. Using a rack makes the fish sticks crunchy and flaky all around.)

2: Pat dry the fish really well and cut into stick pieces. Set aside and prepare your breading. 

3: Mix together the almond flour, parmesan cheese and seasonings into a medium bowl. In a small bowl whip your egg. 

4: Dip the fish sticks into the egg and then into the breading. You want to lightly coat the fish and shake all of the excess breading off. Repeat with each piece of fish. 

5: Heat your oil on high heat. Fry each fish stick on both sides until they are golden brown. You want to do this quickly because the fish will continue to cook in the oven. 

6: Place the browned fish sticks on top of the baking rack and place in the oven. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes or until the fish is cooked through.

7: While the fish is baking, mix all of the ingredients for the tartar sauce. Let rest in the refrigerator.

**I used the Cello Parmesan Wisps as my chips. You can make them yourself following these steps.



Keto & Low Carb Sandwich and Coleslaw


One of the perks of being a New Yorker is having some amazing Deli's right in my neighborhood. I used to love to go early in the morning for some fresh sesame seed covered bread and cold cuts. I would slather the bread with mayo and pile on the meats and cheese.

Now that I am doing a ketogenic diet bread is a no-go so I started rolling the meat and cheese together and eating it that way. I got kind of tired of eating it this way and craved some bread. The oopsie rolls came to the rescue again when I decided to make some sandwiches with them. First I make the coleslaw and let it sit in the refrigerator. Then I make the oopsie rolls and let them cool. Spread some mayo onto two of the oopsie rolls and assemble my sandwich. This time I used hard salami and lacey swiss cheese.


Coleslaw (Serves 2)
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped cabbage 
  • 1 tblsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tblsp avocado oil (you can substitute any oil you like) 
  • 1 tblsp apple cider vinegar (I love the Organic Braggs brand)
  • 2 drops liquid stevia
  • salt and pepper to taste
  1. Whisk together all of the ingredients except for the cabbage until completely combined and creamy. 
  2. Toss the cabbage with the dressing. Make sure all of the cabbage is evenly coated. 
  3. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. It tastes better when you let it sit in the fridge overnight. 

Oopsie Rolls (Makes 12 halves or 6 sandwich rolls)
  • 4 eggs, separated
  • 4 ounces of cream cheese 
  • 1 tsp cream of tartar 
  • sesame seeds
  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. 
  2. In a large bowl add the egg whites and cream of tartar. Beat together until stiff peaks form. 
  3. In a medium bowl add the egg yolks and cream cheese. Beat together until it looks like cake batter. 
  4. Spoon some of the egg yolk mixture on top of the egg white mixture and carefully fold together. Continue to add the egg yolk mixture until it is completely mixed, being careful not to lose volume. 
  5. To make the rolls round and uniform I use two whoppie pie pans. Carefully spoon into the two pans. Sprinkle on the sesame seeds.
  6. Bake for 15 minutes and then alternate the pans and bake for another 15 minutes. 
  7. Let cool and then store in a ziplock bag in the refrigerator. 

What's your favorite sandwich?

What I Ate Wednesday: Week 23



Breakfast: My favorite thing in the world to eat for breakfast is a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. I keto-fied it by substituting the bread for oopsie rolls. My husband and I made a huge batch of oopsie rolls for the week while we were snowed in. I cooked two slices of uncured bacon until golden and crispy. Then I fried the egg in the bacon grease and melted half an ounce of sharp cheddar cheese on top. I put it all in between two oopsie rolls and squirted a little bit of reduced sugar ketchup on top. I had some cold brewed Starbucks coffee with some heavy cream, stevia drops and DaVinci amaretto syrup.


Lunch: I ate my breakfast a little after 12pm so I didn't get hungry for lunch until 3:30pm. One of the easiest things to eat for lunch is canned tuna with a good helping of mayo. I took a whole can of tuna and mixed it with 1 1/2 tablespoons of mayo. I will usually add finely diced celery and onion but didn't this time because I wanted to save my carbs. I cut a leftover cheese taco shell into chip sized pieces to eat with the tuna.


Dinner: I had my dinner at 7:30pm with is a little later than I usually do. I made these delicious pizza puffs with pepperoni. They taste like little mini pizza flavored quiches. I had a simple salad of romaine and shaved parmesan cheese and some caesar dressing to go along with the puffs.


Snacks: I had planned to eat a chocolate brownie mug cake with some whipped cream on top. By the time 9:30pm came around I was still super full from dinner. I try to make it a point to not eat after 9pm so I decided to drink the rest of my 64 ounces of water and call it a night.