A Very THM Valentines! - S

    Valentine's Day is a very unique holiday. Some people only celebrate with their sweetheart. Some people think it should be celebrated with all the Ladies in their life. Some think all the single ladies should have a special day together. And still others think it's a day to show love to EVERYBODY they know. Due to this, Valentine's day is sort of a free for all, tradition-wise.

So.... I'm just going to throw out random ideas/recipes and ya'll can put them together however you like!

Breakfast Ideas

                            Strawberry Stuffed French Toast

or you could consider something a little different and have

Stuffed French Toast Omelettes

  If you're looking for something a little more traditional you could try a low carb pancake option like this one from Gwen's Nest and top it with Whipped Cream and Strawberries/Raspberries

Low Carb Pancakes

(If you're talented, you could make them in a heart shape! I've never done this, I don't think I'm that talented)




Appetizer Ideas

You could make this plan approved Bruschetta recipe

Fresh Bruschetta   Instead of using bread, make Joseph's Crackers and use a cookie cutter to shape them into (hearts! How Cute!

You could also make this dip...

Special Occasion Salmon Stackers

 * you could also use ham, bacon, or chicken, if you're so inclined*

Mix desired amount of cream cheese with herbs of choice

(some ideas- rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, italian seasoning, liquid aminos)

Spread cream cheese on Joseph's Crackers (these could also be hearts as described above)

Layer sliced tomato on top of cream cheese mixture.

Layer sliced onion on top of tomatoes.(optional)

Layer smoked salmon on top of onion.

*Alternately, you could finely chop the tomatoes and onion, use canned salmon, and 

mix all ingredients with the cream cheese, then spread on crackers. Not as fancy, but easier*

If you're so inclined... you could take shrimp and arrange them in hearts and put a little homemade cocktail* sauce in the center *so cute*

*For the cocktail sauce you can use THIS basic recipe. 

Substitute the ketchup with THIS THM approved recipe.

Soup

 You could make the Just Like Campbell's Tomato soup from the Trim Healthy Mama Book. It's Red!

Entree

Salmon is pink! If you 're not in the mood for steak - which is a little pink in the center ;), try salmon! There are quite a few salmon recipes in the above mentioned book! If you don't have the book, do an internet search. I'm sure there are a few good one out there! (If you're not opposed to pork, ham is also pink!) 

Now, the most important part of the Valentine's Dinner (for me, at least)

Dessert!

You could try the traditional

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

*some of them I rolled in the Coconut Caramel Crunch from Gwen's Nest*

Or you could try

No Bake Cheesecake

 *I made it in individual cups and topped with berries for a nicer presentation*

For a lighter chocolate dessert try 

Chocolate Mousse

8 oz Heavy Whipping Cream

6 Tbsp of Cocoa Powder

1 Tbsp of Vanilla

4 Tbsp of Xylitol

Whip all ingredients until it's a light, whipped consistency. 

Top with sliced berries, if desired. 

However you choose to celebrate, We here at The Trim Recipe Blog wish you a Very Happy Valentine's Day!

Stuffed French Toast Omelettes - S

This interesting little recipe started from one I came across on lowcarbfriends.com. I THMified it and followed the rest of the instructions. They were surprisingly good! Then I had an idea...Success!

Remember... this recipe is not just for breakfast. It would also make a nice quick snack or dessert!

Stuffed French Toast Omelettes -S

2 large eggs
1 Tbsp of Truvia
2 Tbsp of heavy cream
2 tsp cinnamon 
1/2 tsp maple extract 

(I used Frontier Brand) 
Butter, for frying

Whisk all ingredients (except butter) in a bowl. 

Pour into a hot pan as if you were making an omelette
(which you are).

Instead of filling with savory ingredients, 

spread some Cream Cheese or Whipped Cream and Strawberry Topping on half and flip the other side of the egg on top (omelette style).

A Very THM Christmas Morning Brunch - S

    It's officially the Christmas Season! Yay!

Christmas is my favorite time of the year, and this year, I intend to celebrate in THM Style!

    This is a post with ideas to help you get started planning your THM Christmas morning brunch.

We also intend to do a post next week about Christmas Candies and after that a post featuring Christmas Cookies! So Excited! 

    We will not, however, be doing a post for Christmas Dinner because it would basically be a copy and paste job from our Thanksgiving Dinner Post. In our family, we basically eat the same meal for Christmas and Thanksgiving. In case you missed the Thanksgiving Post, click the link below to be directed to it.

A Very THM Thanksgiving

And now on to our brunch!

We'll start out with some quick overnight casseroles that you can just pop into the oven while preparing the rest of the feast.

Sausage and Onion Fritatta

This recipe can be customized for your family's taste buds. You could also add some green and red peppers for a festive flair.

Salmon Breakfast Casserole

This recipe includes spinach so you would only have to add some red (tomatoes, peppers) for that much sought after festive flair.

If neither of those really appeal to you, you can very easily and quickly make

Scrambled Eggs with Salsa and Cheese

All you have to do is scramble desired amount of egg in a pan with desired amount of salsa. When eggs are cooked transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with the desired amount of shredded cheese. The salsa already gives it it's colorful flair. Add a side of 

Breakfast Meat of Choice

A very simple side of bacon, turkey bacon, sausage, turkey sausage, etc. Whatever your family likes!

Perhaps you're not feeling the egg thing. Maybe this is the day to finally try the

Strawberry Stuffed French Toast

If you don't want anything fancy, just some good home cooking you could make

Low Carb Pancakes from Gwens Nest.

For some sides you could add your favorite low carb muffin recipe such as 

Easy Peazy Flax Muffins or Light White Muffins

Simply toss in your favorite flavorings and/or additives (cranberry nut would be a fun option)

Anytime someone say the word brunch, my brain automatically thinks cinnamon rolls and cheese danish. I can't have a brunch without those items. What's a girl to do? I'll tell you what to do. Make....

Cinnamon Roll Muffins

I loved these things from first taste. So Good!

AND

Cream Cheese Danish

When I made these, I used the optional almond extract and sprinkled some frozen raspberries on top before baking. I don't think I baked these long enough, but they were still VERY good.

Check out this very cool recipe I found for 

Maple Donut Holes

When I made these, they came out flat not round. I did not care, they were still good. I do think they might be better with an extra tablespoon of almond though. I'm going to try that next batch I make.

For the children, you might want to include a fruit option. You may want to stick to 

Berries with Whipped Cream

And finally for your juice option I would recommend  

The Singing Canary

The first time I made this I thought it tasted a bit like a traditional brunch drink we had when I was growing up called Orangeade. If you omit about 1/2 qt of water it should make a pretty good substitute.

Absolutely feel free to have 

Coffee with Cream or Hot Tea 

If that's what you heart desires. For the children (or me, ahem..) go ahead and make Serene and Pearl's

Hot Chocolate Trimaccino

    Come back next week when I will try to have my THM Christmas Candy Recipes posted!

   

   However you choose to celebrate the Christmas Season, we here at The Trim Recipe Box wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas!!!

Breakfast Pizza - S

    I wanted to do something a little different for breakfast this morning. I had been wanting to try my hand at coming up with a low carb breakfast recipe and I realized I happened to have all the ingredients I would probably want for this available!


    Bear in mind, once again, this is one of those recipes where if you don't necessarily care for a particular ingredient, you can simply omit!
 

Breakfast Pizza - S

1 Low Carb Tortilla Wrap

(you could also use 1/2 of a Joseph's Lavish)

1-2 Tbsp of Cream Cheese

2 Scrambled Eggs

Mixture of Sauteed Veggies

(I used Onions, Green Peppers, and Mushrooms)

Small sprinkle of Cooked, Crumbled Bacon

a few pieces of Cooked, Dice Chicken Breast

A small sprinkle of Shredded Mozzarella

(you can use whatever cheese you'd like)

Assemble ingredients in order given. (Spread Cream Cheese on wrap before adding

other ingredients). Broil for 2-3 minutes keeping a close eye on it. It is considered done when

the cheese has melted to your satisfaction.

Transfer to a plate and Enjoy!

(I used a fork to eat this. This is not a pizza you pick up by the slice)

Sausage and Onion Frittata - S

    This is a good meal to make for Sunday breakfast. I make it the night before and just bake it in the morning while I'm getting ready for church. No fuss, no muss. No grouchy, hungry people.

    It would also work well for a brunch. Make it the night before and while you're preparing the other food, just bake this and you won't have the mess of making it while preparing your other food!

    I found this recipe on Low Carb Friends and have been meaning to try it for a while. I finally was able to and we really liked it! The original recipe said to bake it in a round glass bowl but I had trouble getting the center to cook right. I now recommend using an 8x8 glass cake pan.

Sausage and Onion

Frittata - S

 

1 lb of sausage

1 medium onion

2 Tbsp of butter

2 Tbsp of minced garlic

10 eggs

1 cup of shredded cheese

2/3 cup of parmesan cheese

2 cans of mushrooms (6.5 oz each)

3 Tbsp of tomato paste

Salt and Pepper

Hot Sauce, optional

 

Sautee onion and garlic with butter on low/medium heat.

Meanwhile, brown sausage. When almost cooked, add

mushrooms, paste, salt and pepper, and hot sauce.

Sautee 5-10 more minutes.

Mix onions with meat, pat down into an 8x8 baking dish and spread evenly.

Combine eggs and cheeses, pour over top of meat.

Poke "holes" in meat to get a little egg down there.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream, if desired

 

 

To make hotter, use spicy sausage

Strawberry Stuffed French Toast - S

    Yes, you read that right! There is now a way to enjoy Stuffed French Toast on the Trim Healthy Mama plan [Hallelujah Chorus]!

    I have eaten at IHOP exactly one time. I ordered the Stuffed French Toast and was a little dissapointed. I was certain I could make it better. I researched online and created a recipe that was, in fact, better than IHOP's. I received rave reviews whenever I made it.

    When I started THM, I was just a little bit sad that I shouldn't ever eat Stuffed French Toast again. I was kinda proud of my recipe and enjoyed making it [and eating it;)].

    AND THEN.... I had a revelation. Using this French Toast recipe, I could THMifiy (I just made that up) my original recipe.

    In the interest of fairness, I will disclose that the healthified (I might have just made that word up, too) version is not as good. It is however, still very good. When my dad tried this for the first time, he said, "Are you sure this is low carb?" He loved it!! (You might have figured out by now, Dad is my number one guinea pig)

    The last time I made this recipe, I was surprised at how quickly I made it. Under half and hour start to finish! If you make the cream cheese filling and the strawberry sauce ahead of time, it should be even faster (I don't recommend making the french toast batter ahead of time, it will get too thick).

    If you're looking for a fancy brunch recipe, I highly recommend this one! Because it is so dense, I do not recommend eating it too often, as it might slow down your weight loss. Every once in a while should be fine.

Strawberry Stuffed

French Toast - S

Serves 2

STEP ONE

Make French Toast recipe as directed

STEP TWO

 In a mixing bowl, beat together and

 spread between pieces of 'french toast' (like a sandwich): 

3 oz of cream cheese

3 Tbsp of butter

plan approved sweetener

(I used 3 Tbsp of  SJC)

1/2 tsp of vanilla extract

STEP THREE

Put

1 Cup of Frozen Strawberries

 in a small saucepan on simmer.

When it has started to 'juice' add

1/4 tsp of glucomannan

1 1/2 Tbsp of SJC

Whisk well. When it reaches desired thickness,

pour over top over your French Toast 'sandwiches'.

OPTIONS

If you'd like, you can powder xylitol and sprinkle on top.

You could also put a small squirt of Reddi-Whip on top

(or your own whipped cream).

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

   



Cheesy Spicy Eggs - S

 

 I have finally found a 'new' way to make eggs. My dad is a low-carber and typically gets eggs every morning. I wanted something different for him besides the same old omelet, fried egg routine. I was on Low Carb Friends and found this recipe. I have tweaked it a bit to make it suit us better.

   I made them for both my parents. My dad loved them. My mom did not appreciate the hot sauce so early in the morning. I fixed that for her and now she likes them as well.

    They look a little weird, but they taste great!

 

Cheesy Spicy Eggs - S

 

3 Tbsp of Water

3 Tbsp of Heavy Cream

3 dashes of Tabasco Sauce*

3 eggs

1 slice of American Cheese

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Braggs Liquid Aminos, to taste -optional

In a non-stick pan, saute first three ingredients over medium heat.
Cook until it starts to thicken.
Carefully break the 3 eggs to form a triangle in the pan.
Salt and Pepper.
Cover with lid and steam for 2 minutes.
Remove lid and put cheese on egg whites.
Cover with lid for 30 seconds or until cheese is melted.
Transfer to a plate.
If desired, drizzle Liquid Aminos on top.

* If you don't like hot sauce/spicy things, simply omit the hot sauce.