Earth Day

We've Gone Green!

Here at the Low Carb Connoisseur we're showing that we care about the environment by using recycled boxes and packing peanuts in our shipping process. Don't be alarmed if you see your package arrive in a strange looking box or the packing peanuts are mismatched colors. Just know that we're doing what we can to lessen our impact on the environment and we encourage our customers to do the same by reusing our packing material or by dropping them off at your local recycling center.

Cool Down in this Hot Weather With Vanilla-Coconut Ice Cream

The coconut flavor really shines through in this ice cream. Pair it with sugar-free chocolate syrup mixed with a drizzle of rum for a tropical summer treat.

6 egg yolks
14 packets sugar substitute
2 cups heavy cream
1 can (13.5 ounces) Thai Kitchen Coconut Milk
2 teaspoons coconut extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup shredded NOW Foods Medium Shred Unsweetened Coconut

1. In a medium bowl whisk yolks and sugar substitute to combine. In a medium pot, bring heavy cream to a simmer over medium-low heat.
2. Slowly pour one cup cream into yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Pour yolk mixture back into pot. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat. Stir in coconut milk, coconut and vanilla extracts. Chill 4 hours.
3. Pour ice cream mix into ice cream maker. Process according to manufacturer's directions. About 5 minutes before ice cream is finished, add the toasted coconut.

To toast coconut, spread on a baking sheet and bake at 350º F for 5 minutes.
Servings: 8
Prep time: 5 minutes
Bake/Cook time: 5 minutes
Chill time: 4 hours

Carbohydrates: 6 grams, Net Carbs: 4.5 grams, Fiber: 1.5 grams, Protein: 4 grams, Fat: 32 grams, Calories: 326

Square Foot Garden

It's that time again at the Connoisseur to fix up our square foot garden. We originally embarked on this journey early last spring with the help of Mr. Mel Bartholomew's wonderful gardening book. We were all filled with the hope of fresh vegetables from our own backyard, but sadly we started too late and it didn't turn out as well as planned. We did manage to get some very delicious, but small, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, onions and potatoes. This time we're more prepared and ready to buckle down and take care of our garden. We'll also be sure to upload photos and keep you updated with how our garden is doing.

What the Connoisseur Recommends:

All New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space!

This book by Mel Bartholomew is fantastic! His square foot gardens are perfect with any sized yard, large or small. This book saved us a lot of grief over our garden and gave us some great money-saving tips

9 Piece Gardening Tool Kit with Foldaway Stool with Backrest and Detachable Tote

This tool kit is the coolest thing! It has all you need to garden with, like a trowel, transplanter, and a rake, but then it has a neat collapsable stool with a backrest. So after planting all of your new flowers in your flower bed in the hot sun, you can just conveniently relax and take a break with back support. Can it get any better?

Love Catherine

Amazing Low Carb Pasta!

"The man who sticks to his plan will become what he used to want to be" - James Richardson

A very simple but true quote that I feel applies to me as I embark on my low carb diet. As long as I stick to my plan and try hard, I can become the person that I envision. Even though it's easy to stray from my plan, I've found some things to help keep me on track.

A few nights ago, I was so hungry and dreading dinner because I thought "There's not going to be anything other than meat and cheese, same as any other night". I walked into the kitchen and I saw my mom cooking pasta (which is definitely against the rules as any good low carb dieter knows). Turns out it was Dreamfield's Angel Pasta and it tasted exactly like the real thing!

I'm so glad there's alternatives that you can eat while doing a low carb diet because I don't feel deprived at all! I can still eat chicken alfredo for dinner and even have a bagel for breakfast when I want, all while losing weight!

Dreamfield's Pasta - True to it's name, it's like a dream to anyone who hasn't had any good pasta in a really long time.

Carb Krunchers Bagels - These were so great that I totally forgot that they were low carb products.

Sugar Free Mexican Hot Chocolate

It's February and it's freezing outside, so why not warm up with a cup of yummy sugar free hot chocolate?

Chocolate and cinnamon mixed with warmed milk then frothed with a molinillo. A Mexican Molinillo is the Mexican chocolate "whisk" or "stirrer". It is made of "turned" wood and it is used to froth warm drinks such as hot chocolate, Atole, and Champurrado. A normal wire whisk works too. It's great for people who are enjoying a low carb lifestyle!

Ingredients

2 cups Blue Diamond Almond milk or WestSoy Soy Milk

3 Tablespoons Ghiradelli Unsweetened cocoa

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

4 tablespoons low calorie sweetener

1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

Instructions

Warm the milk, cocoa, cinnamon and sweetener in a saucepan. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and add the seeds and bean to the milk. Stir with a molinillo or whisk until the cocoa is disolved and the mixture begins to boil. Remove from the heat and froth the chocolate with the molinillo or the whisk. Serve immediately in ample sized mugs and ENJOY!

New Erythritol Sweetened Dark Baking Chips!

New Low Carb Specialties ChocoPerfection Dark Baking Chips are finally in stock!! These low carb chocolate chips are made with Erythritol and perfect for snacking or any low carb baking needs. They're all natural and completely sugar free. Here's a great low carb recipe that incorporates these delicious baking chips! Even though you're low carbing, you can show your family how much you love them when you pull a pan of warm, melt in your mouth chocolate chip cookies out of the oven.

Ingredients:
-2 1/4 cups Carbquik (note, start with 2 cups and add additional as needed to form a nice cookie dough)
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-2 cups (12-ounce package) Low Carb Specialties ChocoPerfection Dark Baking Chips
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1 cup (2 sticks, 1/2 pound) unsalted butter, softened
-3/4 Splenda 3/4 cup packed brown sugar twin
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
-2 eggs
-1 cup chopped nuts

Directions:
-Combine Carbquik, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, Splenda, brown sugar twin and vanilla in large mixer bowl till butter is well creamed.
-Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; gradually beat in Carbquik mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts.
-Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
-Bake in preheated 375ºF oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Valentine's Day is Almost Here!

Have you thought about what are you're doing for Valentine's Day yet? How about cooking a romantic dinner for you and your valentine? The Connoisseur Recommends is here to help with a delicious four course meal that shows your valentine you really care! Start off with Pomegranate Champagne Cocktails and Baked Brie with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and finish with Strawberry Cheesecake Crepes.

For all the recipes of a perfect Valentine's Day Dinner check out our web page.

Valentine's Day Gift Baskets


Show your love with a Low Carb Russell Stover Valentine's Day Gift Basket! You'll get Chocolate Marshmallow Hearts, Conversation hearts, Russell Stover Private Reserve Chocolates and other assorted Russell Stover candies. It's a great gift for anyone who likes to eat chocolate and candy but is still doing a low carb diet. As low as $29.99!

New Low Carb Pizza Meatloaf Recipe!
Miss the taste of pizza but not the carbs?
Try this tasty low carb recipe for dinner to satisfy your cravings!


Ingredients:
1 envelope of onion soup mix
2 pounds ground beef
1 1/2 cups Dixie Diner Carb Counters Bread Crumb Mix
2 eggs
1 small green bell pepper, chopped (optional)
1/4 cup water
1 cup Colavita Garden Style Pasta Sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine all ingredients except 1/2 cup Pasta Sauce and 1/2 cup cheese in large bowl.
2.Shape into loaf in 1 B3 x 9-inch baking or roasting pan. Top with remaining 1/2 cup Sauce.ake 50 minutes. Sprinkle top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until done. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.