Low Carb Waffles

Here's a recipe for low carb, gluten-free waffles. When trying to eat low carb I find the hardest part for me is breakfast. I found a recipe on Pinterest and tweaked it a little. 

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs
• 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (may need to add more to get a pancake consistency) 
• 1/2 tsp liquid stevia ( I used organic Now brand)
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/3 cup coconut flower
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 4 TBLS softened butter

Add all the ingredients in a mixer or blender and combine. Preheat waffle maker and spray with cooking spray. Divide batter into 4 servings. 

Top with butter, or whipped cream or just eat plain. I think they make a great treat or delicious breakfast. 

Vegan Sweet Potato Lasagna

This tastes so much better than it may sound! It's an awesome Vegan recipe! You won't miss the cheese or meat. This recipe is based from the Engine 2 Diet but I changed it up a bit.

Ingredients:

1 Onion, chopped

4 Cloves Garlic, chopped

8 ounces Mushrooms, sliced

4-5 cups steamed Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots

1 teaspoon Oregano 

1 teaspoon Basil

1 teaspoon Parsley

2 jars Pasta Sauce or make your own, (2 jars if your use uncooked pasta, only one if using cooked pasta)

1 pound Whole Wheat Lasagna Noodles, uncooked or cooked it's up to you

1 cup Frozen Spinach, thawed and drained ( I tried to squeeze out as much water as possible)

3 Large Sweet Potatoes, baked and mashed

6-8 Roma Tomatoes, sliced thin

-Start by baking your sweet potatoes first. Scoop out and mash by hand or mixer. You can do this ahead of time or use left overs that what I did. 

- Steam your Broccoli, Cauliflower and Carrots. I used left over vegetables. 

- In a large pan I put a little water with Oregano, Basil and Parsley and added the sliced Mushrooms and Onions. Just keep adding a little water as needed. Then add the steamed vegetables and mix with the mushroom and onions. 

-Cover the bottom of your pan with your pasta sauce. 

- Add a layer of noodles and sauce. Use a lot of sauce if uncooked. 

-Next put all the steamed veggie, mushroom, onion mixture on top. I put all of it on this layer

-Add another layer of noodles and more sauce, just remember add a lot of sauce if using uncooked pasta

-Evenly distribute the spinach next.

-Now add the mashed sweet potatoes, all of them

- On top the sweet potatoes add sauce, noodles and more sauce

- The last topping - add your thinly sliced Roma Tomatoes

Cover and Bake for about an hour in a preheated over to 400 degrees. The last 15 minutes of baking time take the foil off. Let it rest about 15 minutes before cutting and serving. I used a baking pan that is a little larger than an 9x12. 

Featured Ingredient - Coconut Oil

 Coconut Oil

Origin

Coconut is a member of the palm family. The term is derived from 16^th century Poruguese and Spanish coco, meaning “head” or skull”

Coconuts are a great super food. Every part of a coconut can be used. Coconuts can be used from cooking to cleaning to cosmetics.

Cooking with coconut has many benefits. Coconut oil actually lowers cholesterol. Recent studies have shown that coconut oil helps our body metabolize cholesterol faster. If that’s not enough to convince you to switch to coconut oil in your diet, it helps with weight loss! Coconut oil helps improve thyroid function. A thyroid that isn't working properly is one of the main causes of obesity. Cultures that use coconut oil for cooking have a lower rate of obesity. Coconut oil contains healthy saturated fats that prevent foods from becoming incompletely digested.

Now, why do we use coconut oil in our soaps and body products? It’s simple really. Coconut oil is like the fountain of youth. Your skin benefits from the natural ability in coconut oil to fight free radicals. Coconut oil helps prevent wrinkles and sagging skin.  It provides our skin with a natural moisturizer and softens dry skin. The use of coconut oil in our soaps helps produce natural suds so no synthetic foaming agent in needed.

Most local grocery stores carry coconut oil. Get some and try your own homemade recipes for cooking or cosmetics. You can mix baking soda and coconut oil for toothpaste. Rub some on poison ivy to help relieve the itching. Heat a little and use as a makeup remover. Just get it a little warm rub on your finger tips and gently massage away makeup.