Thai Sesame Lime Zoodle Haystack Salad

This was my contribution to my second potluck cookout of the day. Granted, I took the lazy way out and brought cheese to the first. But the second brought out a tad bit more effort today. After the weekend I have had, that is a big deal. Graduation week at school is a whirlwind of activity!

This salad is gorgeous. Put it into a trifle bowl, and you have a showstopper. It is light and flavorful too. And the secret is that I didn't even make the dressing from scratch. Just tried out the Aldi salad dressing. Like all things Aldi, you never know how long it is going to be around...but for now, I really like this. The sesame is not overbearing and the lime is just the right amount of citrus. It really brings out the flavors of the fresh veggies, but it is more interesting than the normal vinaigrette.

The recipe is more of a method. Just go with what you like! This is enough for a crowd, so you may want to half it for a family. This pretty much filled my trifle bowl. The idea of the haystack is the little pile of veggies you make on the plate. Go for a  mound like a haystack and have fun finding the little treasures of pepper, onion and tomatoes inside the zoodle strings.  It is fun to eat. I saw some friends swirling the noodle like spaghetti. I did bring leftovers home, but we had at least half a dozen terrific salads to choose from...plus burgers, chips and desserts.

Thai Sesame Lime Zoodle Haystack Salad

3 large zucchini squash
1 red or orange bell pepper
1/2 pint yellow or red cherry tomatoes
1/2 red onion
6 oz Aldi Specially Selected Thai Sesame Lime Dressing

Spiral cut the zucchini. Use kitchen shears to cut some of the strands so the salad will be easier to eat and serve. Dice pepper. Cut tomatoes in halves. Finely dice onion. Toss all vegetables with the dressing and chill for several hours. Stir again before serving.

Serves 12:   100 calories  4 net g carb (7)

If I had time today, I would have added some diced fresh cilantro and a few toasted sesame seeds to the salad. Truth is this morning, I couldn't decide whether to use this dressing or another Aldi offering--Roasted Bell Pepper Dressing. I didn't have time in my schedule to toast the seeds, and I hadn't purchased cilantro. Go ahead and plan to add them if you make this salad. Both dressings were good, so if you don't like tahini, go the pepper dressing route. If you don't have an Aldi nearby, just go with any favorite salad dressing. The veggies will love anything!


I recently ordered these cool bowl and plate toppers on Amazon.

Bizanzzio Top On Stretchy Silicone Lids

They are so helpful when you want to cover a plate or serving bowl. I hate putting everything in ugly plasticware when I go to social events. These fit the bill. With so many sizes, there will be one to fit every dish, from dessert cups up to dinner plates. I love using them for my salads I take to school. No spills no mess and no plastic wrap coming undone. Order them from this link and I will make a little extra cash.  And if you don't have a spiral slicer, check this one out.

This would be excellent for a Memorial Day get together. No mayo to be worried about. I will have some other great ideas coming out soon too. This June Newsletter is going to be awesome!

Get more great recipes at the Low Carbing Among Friends Facebook Page:               https://www.facebook.com/LowCarbingAmongFriends

 Order any of our great cookbooks at  http://amongfriends.us/24-7-LCD.php

Order my original e-book or the latest version for couples and singles,  A Table for Two here

Love your kitchen appliances!

I love my small appliances. They make my time in the kitchen more efficient and more fun. This month, I am featuring recipes that take advantage of these great accessories.  I find that I am using my electric pressure cooker/multi cooker several times a week. I love that it can be used for fast cooking or for all my favorite crock pot recipes. With a keep warm function and a delayed start button, it does more than my slow cookers. Many models are well over a hundred dollars. Worth it, but the model I purchased is just around $83. Check it out!

I also love my fun little cake pop maker. I use it for both sweet and savory treats. It is fast and fun. Great non stick, unlike my traditional pans. I also use my doughnut maker and waffle stick maker often. If you don't have these, check out my Amazon store. Every little bit I earn helps out, especially since my hubby is still unemployed.

Every cook loves a good blender. I just got a new, more powerful blender. I have recipes for nut butters, but it is also great for specialty drinks, batters and soups.

Microwaves are workhorses than can do so much more than reheat your coffee or warm up leftovers. We low carbers love the endless variations of Minute Muffins and Mug cakes. I also have some savory ideas for the microwave.

Here is a peek of what is in this month's Diner News:

Chicken Cacciatore in the Pressure Cooker

Pressure Cooker Strawberry Cheesecake

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

Feta Cheese Poppers

Strawberry Cake Bites

No Tell Rotel Soup

Parmesan  Chicken Pops with Marinara

Healthy Hazelnut Frozen Coffee

Broccoli Cloud Soup

Jack's Spicy Cheese Puppies

Home made Sunbutter

Pizza in a Bowl

Sunbutter Cinnamon Muffins

Pork Lorenzo

These are really great recipes, and this month's Diner News has even more inside. 8 full pages, delivered to your email every month for just $6 a year. What a deal.

http://www.247lowcarbdiner.com/html/newsletter.html

Get more great recipes at the Low Carbing Among Friends Facebook Page:               https://www.facebook.com/LowCarbingAmongFriends

 Order any of our great cookbooks at  http://amongfriends.us/24-7-LCD.php

Order my original e-book or the latest version for couples and singles,  A Table for Two here.

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream from the Blender

It is unseasonably warm here. I have a new blender. The two go together. How? Ice cream! Of course, you were thinking that. Look at that lovely bowl of pink goodness in the photo above. How wonderful that we were indulging in that here in February...and not shivering one bit.

The March Diner News is featuring appliance helpers in the kitchen. I will have two pages devoted to blender recipes. This one is so delicious, I can barely contain myself. The cream cheese makes it so creamy, yet the bit of lemon makes it just slightly tart. So GOOD! And it is quick and easy in the blender. No ice cream maker needed, and no waiting. Just a good soft serve ready when you are. Of course, you have frozen strawberries, right?

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream from the Blender

1/2 cup cashew milk

3 oz cream cheese

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup erythritol / stevia blend equal to sugar

3 cups frozen strawberries

1 cup ice cubes

Add ingredients to the blender in the order listed. Turn blender on, gradually turning up to high speed. Use the tamper to push down sides. When blender changes sounds, stop. Over processing will make a thinner ice cream. Serve immediately or freeze for a firm texture.

Serves 4:  116 calories    7.5  net g carb

I really should have garnished this ice cream for the photo. Granted, it is pretty enough to stand alone. Truth is, I ran to get photos before it melted. The flavor is so fantastic, it doesn't need a drizzle of chocolate or a sprinkle of coconut. Wonderful just as it is--unadorned beauty.

It has been a busy day. We set my oh so talented son. Pearson, up with a booth at the local antique and craft mall. He is offering his art for sale. I am so proud of his abilities! Just look at this sample. Some people thought it was my portrait. "I'm Sorry" to say that it is not me. I love it anyway. Very cool technique he uses. What a great guy he is.

Get more great recipes at the Low Carbing Among Friends Facebook Page:               https://www.facebook.com/LowCarbingAmongFriends

 Order any of our great cookbooks at  http://amongfriends.us/24-7-LCD.php

Order my original e-book or the latest version for couples and singles,  A Table for Two here.

Broccoli Bites

I was grabbing a recipe today from Low Carbing Among Friends Volume 2. Sometimes we food bloggers get so wrapped up in trying to think up new recipes, we forget about some of our favorites from years past. This is one of those. I love my cake pop appliance. This is one recipe I need to make again. Broccoli Bites are so fun to make and eat. This machine does not have to make cake, I promise!

Even though this fun treat was good enough to put in the book, it was among the recipes I published in the Diner News rather than here on the blog. Afterall, if we share everything we make on our blogs, would you still buy our books? I dunno. But, because I just put these on my menu for the week, I decided to share this fun one with all of you...especially those I have convinced to buy a cake pop machine. But don't worry, you can make them as mini muffins too. Just not quite as fun. If you happen to be looking for creative lunch box items, give these a try. I love having something fun in my lunchbox.

Broccoli Bites

1 cup broccoli, chopped 

¹/₃  cup Parmesan cheese 

¹/₄ cup water 

2 eggs

2 tbsp coconut flour

2 tbsp olive oil 

¹/₂ tsp baking powder 

¹/₄ tsp salt 

¹/₂ cup shredded Cheddar cheese 

4 oz Cheddar cheese cubes (1 per bite) 

In food processor, chop broccoli. Remove from food processor and measure 1 cup  broccoli. Add Parmesan cheese, water, eggs, coconut flour, olive oil, baking powder and salt. Process until mixture is blended. Stir in shredded cheese and chopped broccoli by hand.

Place a scant tbsp of batter in the cavity of a cake pop machine or mini muffin tin. Press a cheese cube into the batter. Add additional batter over the top of the cheese cube, making sure to seal the cube entirely with the batter. Bake until golden on the outside. Cake pops bake in about 7 to 8 minutes. Mini muffin bites bake in a 350°F  oven for about 15 minutes.

Helpful Hint: I cut up Cheddar snack sticks for the centers. String cheese would also work well.

Makes about 22 pops. 2 per serving:  70 calories     1 net g carb

These Broccoli Bites are listed in the cookbook as appetizers, but they are great as a side dish, picnic food or lunchbox treat. What a fun way to eat your veggies.

Speaking of lunchbox fun, I am really happy to have a teaching assignment starting after Labor Day. I love teenagers...especially the ones who need a little extra understanding. I am only promised 9 weeks at part time at this alternative school, but I hope things will go well and I can continue. After closing my own school, I was in such a funk. I think this will be a good thing. With teaching part time and blogging, recipe developing and working with the diabetics group, I think I will have full time hours again! Giving up control has always been tough for me. I am trying desperately to go where God leads. So far, he seems to be sending opportunities to do a lot of good for a lot of different people. That makes me happier.

Get more great  low carb recipes at Low Carbing Among Friends.

 https://www.facebook.com/LowCarbingAmongFriends

 Order any of our great cookbooks at  http://amongfriends.us/24-7-LCD.php

Order my original e-book 

or the latest version for couples and singles, A Table for Two here.