THM- S Inspired- Taco Night

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/345580971379588677/

INGREDIENTS:

2 Pounds of Ground Beef

1 Finely Chopped Onion

1.5 tsp Onion Powder

1.5 tsp Garlic Powder

1.5 tsp Sea Salt

1.5 tsp Cumin

1.5 tsp Chili Powder

1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Brown and season your ground beef.

Layer this over salad, or cooked cabbage, or wrap it up in a low carb tortilla.

Top it off with grated cheese, salsa and sour cream and stay in "S" territory! If you like a little extra "kick", throw on some jalapenos! Ole!

Served here with Organic Beanitos (found at Costco), 10 of these chips has only 10g net carbs, which allows you to keep this meal in "S" zone for THM. 

THM-(E MEAL) Oven "Fried Chicken"

THM-S MEAL: Pizza in a Bowl

PIZZA IN A BOWL

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/345580971378703356/

Ingredients-

Plenty of sliced Italian Sausage (or you could use regular, smoked and you could also simply use ground Italian Sausage)

Plenty of thinly sliced Onion

Plenty of thinly sliced Red Bell Pepper (you could also add green for variety and extra color)

Plenty of Black Olives (Sliced or whole)

Plenty of Sliced Mushrooms (if you like them)

Pretty much, whatever else you would like on a pizza!

1/2 Head of thinly sliced Green Cabbage (boiled and drained)

1-2 Cans of Diced Tomatoes

Desired amount (I use about a tsp of each) Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Sea Salt, Pepper

1-2 TBSP Dried Basil

1/4 cup Aged Parmesan (green can)

1/2-1 cup (or more if you like) grated Mozzarella Cheese

Directions-Set your cabbage on to boil. Stir all ingredients (except cheeses) into the large skillet, and heat/stir while cooking at Medium/High heat. When cabbage is cooked to a soft, but not mushy, texture, drain and add it to the skillet with other ingredients. When everything looks soft/done, but not mushy, go ahead and turn off the heat and add the cheeses. Stir it well, and serve. This makes a TON, obviously, but you see, I prefer not to have to cook for our family, too often. This will be nice and easy, to just pull it out and enjoy, throughout the week, without added trouble. 



(THM E MEAL)- 30 Minute Chili

30 MINUTE CHILI

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/345580971378681421/

Ingredients-

3 Cans Black Beans, or throw in some canned Great Northern Beans

2 Cans Diced Tomatoes

1 Can Tomato Sauce

About 15 oz. Organic Chicken Broth (0 Fat)

1.5-2 lb. Very Lean Ground Turkey (when I say lean, I mean 97% Fat Free) In a big hurry? Use 3-4 cans of cooked chicken breast instead!! It's so good!

Salt (to taste)

Pepper (to taste)

1 TBSP Garlic Powder

1 TBSP Onion Powder

2 tsp. Cumin

1-2 tsp. Chili Powder

One shake Truvia (if you like a hint of sweet to balance out the tangy tomato)

Directions-

Brown the turkey on Med/High, in skillet, stirring and breaking it apart. If you are using the faster method, with canned chicken breast, just go ahead and open all cans and put it all right into a large sauce pan together~ Add 3 cans of black beans, but drain and rinse two of them. Add the other cans of ingredients, and broth, then season as desired. Turn heat to Low/Med. and simmer for 30 minutes before serving.

Tastes like you worked all day on it!





(THM-E SNACK) Apple Cinnamon Oat Muffins

APPLE CINNAMON OAT MUFFINS

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/345580971378674175/



Ingredients:

2 Cups Oats

1/4 Cup Oat Fiber

1/4 Cup Coconut Flour

1 TBSP Baking Powder

1 TBSP Cinnamon

1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

1 tsp. Xanthan Gum

5 Doonks Stevia Powder

1/4 Cup Erythritol (Or desired sweetener to your taste/liking)

2 TBSP Melted Refined Coconut Oil (this can be omitted and the recipe still works great, but if you skip it, be sure to add 5g fat to your E food, like a bit of butter on your muffins)

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk

1.5 Cup Egg White ( from the carton) (I've revised this from 1 Cup, to make up for the less applesauce)

3/4 Cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce (I've revised this from the original 1.5 C, to lower sugar)

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare your muffin tin with non-stick spray. Put your sweetener into processor and powder it. If you desire a sweeter taste (go ahead, check the batter to see if you like it, then decide), then add more, up to double the sweetener. Just be sure to powder it first.

Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Now, add the wet ingredients and mix well. Scoop equal amounts of this thick mixture, into a prepared/sprayed muffin tin and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes. 

These are super moist and make a great snack or meal. I enjoy two of these, with a wedge of Laughing Cow Light Swiss spread over the top. Sometimes, I'll just have them alone, or with a half cup of low fat cottage cheese. Great snack on the run! This mix yields 24 muffins if you fill to half capacity or go ahead and fill the tin to the top and you'll have 24 huge muffins!

These are a favorite around here!





(THM-S SNACK/TREAT) Skinny Chocolate w/Salted Caramel Top

SKINNY CHOCOLATE W/SALTED CARAMEL TOP (You could use this same method for Peppermint Top)

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/345580971378667896/







 Ingredients:
Caramel Flavored Top-
4 TBSP melted Refined Coconut Oil ( I melt in microwave for about 25 seconds
Pinch Sea Salt
1/4 tsp. Caramel Extract
2 Shakes Stevia Powder
2 tsp. Erythritol (or simply use sweetener of your choice, to desired taste)
Directions: Sprinkle a tiny bit of Sea Salt into each silicone candy mold. Mix melted coconut oil with sweetener and caramel extract. Pour about a tsp. of the flavored coconut oil into each candy mold. This made about 16 candies. Place the candy mold into the freezer for about 10 minutes, while you mix up the chocolaty mix. I use a cookie sheet to keep it all need and easy to move about.

Chocolate Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
1/4 tsp. Sea Salt
1 Scoop (plan approved-I use Swanson) Protein Powder
4 shakes Stevia Powder
3 TBSP Erythritol ( or simply use sweetener of your choice, to desired taste)
1/4 Cup melted Refined Coconut Oil ( I melt in microwave for about 25 seconds)
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Directions-Put the Sea Salt, Protein Powder and Sweetener into the "shake" maker/blender and blend to form a fine powder. Adding the protein powder to this mix just gives you that extra nutrition in every bite!
Pour this mix into the Cocoa Powder and add the melted Coconut Oil and Vanilla Extract. Mix together very well, and pour the chocolaty mix, evenly, into the candy molds, over the solidified caramel/coconut oil. Now, place this back into the freezer for another 15 minutes. Remove from freezer and remove candies from the mold, onto a plate. Store in the refrigerator. Try to hide these from the kids! Everyone loves these!

You can use this same idea for Peppermint Tops! Simply replace the Caramel Extract with a few drops of Peppermint Extract. I'd have done it tonight, but I dropped my bottle of Peppermint Extract last night, and spent the next 15 minutes soaking up the liquid and wiping up all of the glass shards on my counter top! Such a pretty treat!

Of course, you could use just about any flavoring in the "top" of this candy, by adding the desired "extract" into the melted coconut oil, and pouring this mix into the mold to freeze first. I would enjoy Orange, Lemon, Peppermint. These colors would all keep the oil "white" for the top of the candy, which is just SO pretty!

(THM-S SNACK) Very Chocolate Muffins w/Chocolate-Coconut Frosting

VERY CHOCOLATE MUFFINS with CHOCOLATE-COCONUT FROSTING

This one has become one of my favorite "go-to" snacks. I enjoy two of these muffins for breakfast or a snack with coffee. Quite filling and fast! I make up a big batch of these over the weekend, in no time FLAT, for a smoother week, filled with easy "Grab N Go" foods!

Very Chocolate Muffins w/Coconut Frosting

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/345580971378653652/

Recipe-

Ingredients: 1 Cup Almond Flour

1/2 Cup Coconut Flour

1 TBSP Cinnamon

1/2 Cup Flax Meal

1-2 Scoop Protein Powder ( I use Swanson, as it is THM approved, and the reason that I say 1-2, is because it really doesn't change the consistency, but using more, will add to the nutritional value, as well as add a few more calories per muffin)

1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder

2 tsp. Baking Powder

Sweetener ( No sugar! I use a mix of Stevia Powder and Erythritol, but you could simply use your own Truvia to desired sweetness. I have realized that I use less and less sweetener, as I've moved farther away from refined sugar, so I used about 4 shakes of Stevia and 3 TBSP Erythritol in this recipe for muffins)

1.5 tsp. Xanthan (or Guar) Gum

1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1/4 Cup  Coconut Oil ( gently melted-I use the microwave for this-20 seconds)

2 Cups Unsweetened Almond Milk

1 Cup Egg White (from carton)

1/2 Cup Water (For a lighter muffin, you could add a little more water. These are pretty dense.)

MIX-Dry ingredients together. Add the wet ingredients. Mix well. Pour about 1/4 cup of the batter into prepared/sprayed muffin tins. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, or until firm/done. I stick a knife in the center to see that it is done, when it is dry as I pull it out. Now, let these cool, before frosting them.

FROSTING-Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Coconut Oil (The less expensive option would be the Unrefined, and this would also give you a more flavorful frosting! Be sure to melt this in the microwave for about 20 seconds)

1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Pinch Sea Salt

1 Cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut

Sweetener to desired taste (I use 3-4 shakes Stevia Powder and 1/4 cup Erythritol. You could use about 1/4 cup Truvia)

Note-You could back off by "half" of the Coconut and, instead, use 4 oz. of Cream Cheese. I've done it and it's great!

Mix it all together well. It's going to be very thick. Add just about 1/4 Cup of Hot Water and continue to mix it well, so it is ready to spread.

Note-This "Frosting" is very much like the THM "Skinny Chocolate"! Very good for you!!

This entire mix YIELDS about 28-32 muffins. Store in the refrigerator. 

(THM-S MEALS) Italian Meatloaf

ITALIAN MEATLOAF-

Recipe-Blend together, 2.5 lb. lean ground beef, with 2 eggs, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, 1/2 cup tomato sauce( I used leftover Tomato Soup). Top with just a drizzle of the tomato sauce and bake at 375 for about 60-90 minutes. Great paired with salads. You could even crush up the left overs and place it on top of your pizzas. Another idea for leftovers, would be to make a "Pizza Omelet" with eggs, black olives, and Mozzarella cheese! Yum!! Now, I can't wait 'till breakfast. ;) PIN IT!

(THM-E MEALS) Creamy Cilantro-Lime Chicken w/BlackBeans&Rice

CREAMY CILANTRO-LIME CHICKEN W/BLACK BEANS&RICE

Season the boneless, skinless chicken breast, with garlic, lime juice, onion powder, plenty of dried cilantro and plenty of salt. Bake at 375, uncovered, for about an hour for all 6-7 breasts. Meanwhile, heat 3 cans of organic black beans, seasoned with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, cumin and you may add a little more water. The cucumber salad, is simply peeled, sliced cukes, soaked in water-enough to cover to cukes, and 2 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar, with thinly sliced red onions. The longer this soaks, the better it gets! The "sauce" is about 1/2 cup Non Fat Greek Yogurt, seasoned with salt, a pinch of Truvia, a whole squeezed lime, a little cumin, lots of dried cilantro, a little onion powder and garlic powder. The brown rice, shown here, is simply cooked in the microwave, using my rice cooker, seasoned only with salt.PIN IT!

(THM-FP TREAT) Creamy Brownie Delight

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/345580971378485870/

CREAMY BROWNIE DELIGHT

This will take you a few extra minutes in the kitchen, but it's worth it! One thing that I missed, when I was on a "diet", was the creativity that I love in my kitchen! Grab a cup of tea, and pull out your ingredients!

Creamy Fuel Pull Brownie Delight (Credit to Alicia Raulerson for naming this yumminess!)

INGREDIENTS-

2 TBSP Cocoa Powder
Pinch Sea Salt
2 TBSP Sweetener (on plan)
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
2 TBSP Oat Fiber
2 TBSP Canned Black Beans (mashed together with a fork)
2 TBSP Creme (from the recipe below)
1/4 Cup Egg White
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 tsp Caramel Extract


First, pulverize our sweetener and salt in your Ninja or Bullet, to a powdered consistency.
Then, Place the sweetener and all of the dry ingredients into your mixing bowl. Mix well.

Pause here, and whip up the Creme. Scroll down for that recipe~

Now, add all of your wet ingredients, including the 2 TBSP of creme, Mix well.

Divide the batter in half and microwave each “brownie” in a small, lightly oil-sprayed dish with a lip for about 40 seconds each. I used a small square dish by Pampered Chef. Loosen and drop each brownie out onto the plate, filling the layer between them, with Crème of choice, and then top with same, just before drizzling with Chocolate Syrup! (Recipe below)

Crème Recipe-Mix together, in Ninja or Bullet, ½ Cup Non Fat Greek Yogurt, ½ tsp Vanilla Extract, 2 TBSP Low Fat Cottage Cheese, ½-1 TBSP Truvia, 2-4 drops Butter Extract

Optional for Caramel Crème-add 2 to 3 drops of Caramel Extract This crème is a great topper for pancakes or cake of any kind!

Chocolate Syrup Recipe-In a bowl, mix together 1 TBSP Cocoa Powder, ½- 1 TBSP Truvia, ¼ tsp. Vanilla Extract, 1.5 TBSP Water, until smooth and ready to “drizzle” atop your favorite dessert!

(THM-S SNACK/TREAT) Skinny Chocolate Pecan Praline Drops

Missing caramel, while determined to live "sugar-free"? Me too!! Try this!
Two steps here. First, mix up your batch of Skinny Chocolate. My versions of SK is this-1/4 Cup Refined Coconut Oil (melted in the microwave), 1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder, 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract. Now, use your blender/Bullet, to make a soft "powder" out of 1 scoop of Swanson Whey Protein Powder, 3 TBSP Truvia and a pinch of Sea Salt, then add this to your chocolate mix. Stir it well, until everything is dissolved! Last-Add 1 TBSP of WARM (maybe 15 seconds in microwave) Heavy Whipping Cream. You're going to think you've ruined the batch, but believe me, it's going to work! Now mix well, and it looks like a grainy gel! Quickly drop these "oval shapes", about one tsp each, onto a sheet of parchment paper (for easy removal later). Top each chocolate drop, with a half pecan, or you may choose to add the pecan last, just because it is pretty. Set these aside and make your caramel. It's easy!! In a saucepan on medium heat, mix together, 3 TBSP Heavy Whipping Cream, 2 TBSP Butter, 1/4 tsp Caramel Extract, 1 TBSP Truvia. Stir this CONSTANTY. You'll know it's ready, when it becomes glossy/shiny and "ribbon-like" (sticky/streaming). Now, use a spoon to drizzle just a small amount on each of the chocolates. This recipe yields 25-28 drops. Enjoy! PIN IT!

(THM-S SNACK/TREAT) Original-Mock Starbucks Lemon Cake-THM Inspired (MIM)

Original THM Inspired Mock Starbucks Lemon Cake (MIM)

                                 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/345580971378433597/

This was one of my very first recipes, after learning a bit about how to get around my kitchen the THM way! It was a big hit around here, with my family, and it was a big hit with many Trim Healthy Mama's!! One of the bloggers offered to put it up on her blog to share with everyone, as I was not pinning or blogging at the time. I've posted it here, for your convenience. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do!

I had seen a picture, going around on FB, shortly after starting my THM journey, of a delightful looking Starbucks Lemon Cake! I suspected that I could make this cake the Trim Healthy Mama way, and I DID! I've learned from THM, that I can enjoy good food and still not blow my goal, in striving to stay healthy and trim.

Here's the recipe for the cake:
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 Tbsp. Coconut Flour
1 Tbsp. Almond Flour
A tiny shake of Sea Salt
Plan approved sweetener to taste. Start with 1 TBSP ( I always put mine in the Ninja to powder it, for easy mixing)
1/3 of a large lemon, squeezed into the mix (If I'd had Lemon Extract, I'd have added 1/4 tsp, instead.)
1 Tbsp. melted Refined Coconut Oil
1 Tbsp. Warm Water
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
 3 Tbsp Egg Whites OR One egg (using one egg, makes it richer and taller, plus gives it a lovely yellow color)

In a mug or bowl (aprox. 10 oz.) Mix all dry ingredients well. Add melted, refined coconut oil and the warm water. Stir well. Now, add remaining ingredients and stir well. Cook in microwave (same bowl) for about one minute.

Recipe-Frosting:
1 Tbsp. Cream Cheese
1/2 tsp. Refined Coconut Oil
Good Squeeze of Lemon or a few drops of Lemon Extract
Plan approved sweetener to taste/ Start with 1 tsp ( I always put mine in the Ninja to powder it, for easy mixing)
Few drops Vanilla Extract
Mix well and spread over cake while it is still warm
I sprinkled a bit of fresh lemon zest on top for extra yumminess and color!