Sugar Free Meringue Cookies

     What if I could offer you a sugar free, practically calorie free, crispy sweet fun little meringue cookie...would you like that!?  #thoughtso  And, did I mention the extra benefit of a delightful craft project!?  Perfect for special occasions, and no one will know they are good for you...and no need to share all your secrets!  (It's good for a girl to remain a little mysterious if you know what I mean)  So, whip these up today and I can't wait to hear what you think of my Sugar Free Meringue Cookies!  :)

Ingredients~
6 Tablespoons Aquafaba (1/2 the drained juice from a can of Chickpea's)
1/3 cup Swerve Confectioners Erythritol
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1/2 teaspoon Cream of Tartar

     Add all the ingredients to the small bowl of your Kitchen Aid, stir to incorporate and then set bowl into place, start to whip  on medium high with the whisk attachment and set the timer for 10 minutes.  Then drop by the spoonful or add batter to piping bag with a star tip and pipe onto Silpat lined cookie sheet.  Bake in a 200 degree pre-heated oven for 2 hours and then turn off the oven, DO NOT OPEN DOOR til the oven has cooled completely,  I suggest 6-8 hours or just be safe and leave over night.  Voila!  Enjoy  :)

Pumpkin Pie

     Pumpkin Pie is to Thanksgiving as stretchy pants are to Thanksgiving Dinner, not required but an enjoyable tradition.  To further spread the joy, each of the 6 servings are only 79 calories, 4.4g net carbs and 7.4g protein.  Since it's a Holiday, go wild and have 2 pieces...with macros like these, seconds are not to be feared, but revered.  :)

Ingredients for 6 servings
15oz can Pumpkin
2 jumbo Eggs
1/2 cup Lakanto Classic Monk Fruit~use code Paige20 for discount at checkout (sub with Sugar or half Sugar and half Erythritol)
1 scoop Quest Salted Caramel Protein Powder
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
Dash Vanilla
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Nutmeg
Dash Ginger (can sub Nutmeg and Ginger for Pumpkin Pie Spice)
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Sugar Free Whipped Aquafaba for topping, if desired~http://foodfitnessbypaige.blogspot.com/2016/11/sugar-free-whipped-aquafaba.html

     Line Pie Pan bottom with Parchment Paper or spray pan with non stick spray.  Mix all ingredients together til well combined and pour into Pie Pan, bake at 400 for 15 minutes, reduced heat to 325 and bake for 20 minutes.  Remove, cool and top with Sugar Free Whipped Aquafaba if desired.  Enjoy  :)

Taco Pizza

     When Thin Slim Foods (thinslimfoods.com) sends you a Pizza Crust to try, what choice do I have but create a Taco Pizza.  Their high protein low carb breads and pastas knock my socks off, the entire Pizza Crust is only 400 calories, 8g net carbs and 64g protein.  And the Pastas are outta this world delish.  Try my recipe or get creative and you do you boo, and let your imagination be your guide.  Voila  :)

Ingredients for 6 servings~
1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 medium Onion, diced
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh Garlic
Dash Cayenne Pepper
1 pound ground lean Beef, Chicken, or Turkey
1/2 packet Taco Seasoning
1 Thin Slim Foods Pizza Crust (thinslimfoods.com)
1 cup fat free Refried Beans
1/4 cup reduced fat shredded Cheddar
1/2 sliced small Avocado
1 diced Roma Tomato
1/2 cup My Brothers Salsa House Medium
Cilantro, as desired
Light Sour Cream, as desired
Sliced Purple Onion for garnish, as desired

     Heat EVOO in skillet, add Onion, Garlic and Cayenne til golden brown.  Add meat til cooked thru, drain fat.  Stir in Taco Seasoning til well incorporated.  Spread Beans on Pizza Crust, top with meat mixture, sprinkle with Cheese, top with Avocado, Tomato, Salsa, Cilantro, Sour Cream and Cilantro.  Enjoy  :)

Vegan Peanut Butter Brownies

     I am learning more about the world of Vegans.  That being said, I was interested in trying my hand at creating a Vegan friendly Brownie that would delight my senses, I think I could get used to this!  These turned out magnificent and may be my new go to dessert.  Each of these 9 decadent pieces are only 104 calories, 5g net carbs and 5g protein (does not include Sugar Free Whipped Aquafaba topping, which is also Vegan and practically calorie free, type that in the search bar for recipe).  Take a walk on the wild side and try your hand with a Vegan recipe and see what you think, you may be like me and want to start exploring more.  Nothing to lose, everything to gain  :)

Ingredients for 9 servings~
3 Tablespoons melted Nutiva Organic Buttery Coconut Oil
6 Tablespoons Aquafaba (drained juice from canned Garbanzo Beans)
1/2 cup 30 cal/cup Almond Milk
1/2 cup Black Cocoa (can sub with regular Cocoa)
1/2 cup Swerve Granular Erythritol
2 Tablespoons Nutiva Coconut Flour
1 scoop Nutiva Organic Chocolate Plant Protein
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Vanilla
2 Tablespoons Vegan Chocolate Chips
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2 Tablespoons Betterbody Foods Peanut Butter or Chocolate Peanut Butter Powder PB Fit
1 Tablespoons 30 cal/cup Almond Milk (or amount for desired consistency)
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Sugar Free Whipped Aquafaba ~ http://foodfitnessbypaige.blogspot.com/2016/11/sugar-free-whipped-aquafaba.html

     Mix wet ingredients in first set, mix dry ingredients in first set except for Chocolate Chips, blend together and pour into 8X8 parchment lined pan and sprinkle with Chocolate Chips.  Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until lightly firm to touch, remove and cool.  Meanwhile, stir together PB Fit and Almond milk from second set of ingredients, may need more to achieve desired consistency.  Add topping to baggie, snip corner and drizzle over cooled Brownies.  Top with Sugar Free Whipped Aquafaba if desired, not included in macros.  Enjoy  :)

Sugar Free Whipped Aquafaba

     The Aquafaba Gods were smiling upon me today when I experimented with a few tweaks to the standard Aquafaba Whipped Cream recipe.  I hate making such a big batch with the standard recipe because I can never use it all before it deflates after about 6 hours, AND I wanted to try a sugar free variety making it even healthier...and it turned out sooooo sweet and DELICIOUS.  You will simply die when I tell you this entire voluminous batch is only 18 calories, 2.4g carbs and 1.2g protein....hardly even worth counting!  HA  So, if you want to try a smaller batch with less left overs, I suggest giving this a whirl.  Since you only use half the brine from one can, use the other half to make my Vegan Brownies!  You know what they say, less is more!  :)

Ingredients~
6 Tablespoons Aquafaba (1/2 the drained juice from a can of Chickpea's)
1/3 cup Lakanto Confectioners Monk Fruit~use code Paige20 for discount at checkout
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1/2 teaspoon Cream of Tartar

     Add all the ingredients to the small bowl of your Kitchen Aid, stir to incorporate and then set bowl into place, start to whip  on medium high with the whisk attachment and set the timer for 10 minutes.  Viola  :)

Cream Cheese Chicken

     It's good to have friends, especially those that are as interested in nutritious food and healthy cooking as I am.  My friend, Joyce, told me about her version of the most extreme moist crock pot Chicken that I have ever tasted.  You won't believe how easy this is and how delicious it is plain or decked out burrito style... choose your poison!  Or let creativity be your guide, make your own twist and create something completely outrageous.  Time to get your Chicken on!

Ingredients~
2.5 pounds skinless boneless Chicken Breasts (I used 3 large Breasts)
1 packet of dry Ranch seasoning
4oz 1/3 reduced fat Cream Cheese
1 jar Banana Peppers

     Line Crock Pot with disposable liner and add Chicken Breasts, sprinkle with packet of dry Ranch mix, break Cream Cheese into 3 equal portions and rest on top of each Breast.  Pour rine of Banana Peppers jar over Chicken, using as much as desired (I used about 2-4 Tablespoons), then add as many Banana Peppers as desired on top of Chicken.  Add lid and cook on low for 8 hours, shred Chicken in Crock Pot and stir all together til well combined.  Use as a main dish, or create a Burrito using a low carb tortilla, refried beans, Spinach leaves, Cream Cheese Chicken, Tomato, Salsa, Green Onions, Avocado and Cilantro.  Let your imagination be your guide.  Enjoy  :)

Safe Catch Tuna

     Safe Catch Tuna is traceable from catch to can and they only buy from captains whose fish come from managed and sustainable tuna stocks.  Using their proprietary technology, they are able to test every single fish for its mercury content.  If it doesn't meet their purity standards they don't buy it.  It still may be a good tuna, but it's not a Safe Catch tuna.
     Most canned Tuna loses flavor and the majority of Omega 3s due to machine processing.  They hand pack pure, raw tuna steaks to retain all nutrients and then slow cook them to perfection.  The majority of canned tuna companies precook their tuna and use additives and fillers to put flavor back into the fish.  At Safe Catch, they don't add any filler or additives.  In fact, besides salt where noted, they don't add anything at all!  Just pure tuna.  Safe Catch tuna is Non-GMO verified and BPA free.  You will love the amazing, pure flavor of Safe Catch tuna.  Just as nature intended.  Visit www.safecatch.com to learn more and find a store near you!