Mint Chocolate Chip Shake

I am cooking up a storm here! Speaking of storms, it is been a weird week. We had some severe weather--spring in Oklahoma. Tornado in the next town over. Lots of power outages, so school attendance was down. We had no problems at my house, thankfully. We have been there and done that! The basement at school took some water...but life is back to normal now.

The cooking storm is all the new recipes I have been creating for the next Diner News. Man Food. Oh my goodness, my hubby loves me lately. Every one has been a winner! Just you wait until the first of April when that comes out. Until then, I did promise you more with those chocolate chips I have been making. How about a thick, creamy vanilla, mint and chocolate chip shake? Oh yeah! Add a little protein and it is all good. Very good. Husband liked his too, and it is not even in the newsletter as a guy favorite. I got the idea from Julieanne at Joy for Our Journey.

This is tasty as a plain chocolate chip flavor if you don't care for the mint. I love the little bursts of chocolate that travel up the straw and surprise your tastebuds with the wonderful flavor you love! When making it, you have some wiggle room with the thickeners. My glucomannan seems to need a little more than many recipes call for, so start with the smaller amount and add more if necessary. It should help make the shake thick but not slick. (play around enough with glucomannan and xanthan gum and you know what I mean, right) Once you know your supply's thickening power, you can adjust recipe amounts up or down.

We are loving the cashew milk these days. It is a little lower in calories than almond milk, and it seems to be thicker too. All the better for a thick shake. The cottage cheese helps there too, but I promise you won't know it is there. John is an avowed cottage cheese hater, and he loved this. It can be a filling breakfast or just the thing to ward off the evening munchies. Yes, Sonic has started the half price shakes after 8 promotion. Not good advertising for my diabetic husband or my late night urges to eat.

If you need to make your own chocolate chips, the recipe is here.

Lisa's Mint Chocolate Chip Shake for 2

1 1/2 cups cashew milk or almond milk
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 scoop whey protein isolate, vanilla or unflavored
3 tbsp sugarfree chocolate chips (divided use)
3 tbsp erythritol/stevia blend
2 tbsp heavy cream (optional for creaminess)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp mint extract
1/4 - 1/2 tsp glucomannan or xanthan gum
6-8 ice cubes

Combine cashew milk, water, cottage cheese, whey powder, 2 tbsp of chocolate chips, sweetener, cream if using, vanilla and mint extracts, and thickener of choice. Start by adding the lower amount of glucomannan or xanthan gum and add more if the shake is too thin. Process until the chocolate chips are in smaller pieces. Add ice and process again until ice is well blended. Add the remaining tablespoon of chocolate chips, processing just until they are broken well enough to fit through a straw. Pour into 2 glasses and serve.

Per serving: approx.    200 calories      4 net g carbs (protein powders will vary)

Now that the cold weather seems to be behind us, it will be time for more cool shakes like this one. Since Sonic has so many flavors, maybe it is time for me to get a little more creative. What is your favorite flavor?

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Peanut Butter Shake

I finally found something the hubby likes made with the PB2 powdered peanut butter. The standard low carb protein shake is great with a couple of tablespoons of this powder added. Very rich. It tastes just like the peanut butter milkshakes we used to order at the little hamburger/malt shop near my home. I never could get through an entire malt in those days. My sweet tooth is not so strong. In fact, having just finished my shake, I need to run get something savory. I am just weird like that.

These are very filling. The PB2 adds 53 calories and about 3 net carbs to the shake. It is worth the extra carb for the flavor; as the DaVinci peanut butter flavored syrup I had tried before is just too disappointing. To me, that tastes like chemicals. This is good.

Here's my recipe:

Peanut Butter Shake

1 cup water
1/2 cup crushed ice
2 Tablespoon heavy cream
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I found a good deal on the GNC brand, and I like it)
1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum
2 Tablespoons PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter
sweetener to taste

Put all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.

I added some of the peanut butter powder to my home made yogurt. I really liked it, but hubby said he got tired of it too quickly. I will be trying more recipes with it soon. I think it is a really cool product. My niece who counts calories and fat may really like this one.

Breakfast Our Way

A dear friend and newbie to the LC lifestyle asked for some help with breakfast ideas--something easy and yummy while the kids are still getting pancakes.

The best way to explain how we do it is just to give you an example from my menu this week.

This morning we had orange Jello muffins baked over the weekend. I made a quick precooked sausage patty to go with the muffin. We will have these again on Wednesday morning.

Tuesday out our house is a multiply meals brunch. I have some Three Little Pigs casserole frozen in individual servings in the freezer. That is one of our favorites.

Thursday is an easy fix meal. I have planned bacon omelets. To make these super quick, I use the precooked bacon crumbles. A little goes a long way. I have even found these at the dollar store and Big Lots--name brand! Scrambles--eggs with bits of leftover meats and cheeses tossed in--make great quick breakfasts too. They can even be microwaved.

Friday, I'm on the run for co-op, so it is Pepper Jacks, those delicious cups of egg and green chilis. These are prepped in advance too, and can be held in the hand while I am driving.

Saturday will be made to order protein shakes. We usually have them once a week. I use the low carb Body Fortress powder from Walmart. My standard recipe is:

1 scoop protein powder
3/4 cup water
1/8 cup cream
1 ounce cream cheese
5-6 ice cubes
sweetener to taste, or combo of DaVinci syrup or other flavorings
1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum

I whirl it all up with my hand blender and drink from the same plastic cup. Sometimes, I make two in a larger cup, then pour the thick shake into goblets for a pretty presentation. It is up to you if you want beautiful food or fewer dishes to wash. I always start with vanilla as a base and add to it. Our favorites are strawberry cheesecake, caramel, coffee, pumpkin pie and chocolate almond.

This week, we are trying out the DaVinci peanut butter flavoring, so I think Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup shakes are on the menu.

Sunday, we can pack up those last muffins and enjoy them with a hot coffee or tea at church. That way we can skip the doughnuts.

In other weeks, I have frozen low carb waffles, breakfast meatballs, or custards on the menu. Lots of people like leftovers from the night before. I'm not a great cook in the morning, so all my planning is a huge pay-off. The 24/7 system calls for a brunch and muffin dish to be made on prep day. That way, weekday mornings are effortless.