Low-Carb Earthquake Cake

For at least 2 decades, friends counted on me to bake my rich, sugary Earthquake Cake for special gatherings. It was a hit and I usually returned home with an empty cake pan. I figured that my low-carb lifestyle would put the kibosh on that tradition. Certainly, any low-carb version would be an inferior substitute—or so I thought.

I happened upon the All Day I Dream About Food blog and found a promising LCHF replacement. The revised recipe uses almond flour, whey protein, eggs, butter, Swerve, cream cheese, pecans, cold coffee, cocoa, and unsweetened coconut. It is high in fat and protein, low in carbs, and it even supplies healthy fiber.

An average sized piece was perfect for me. Having eliminated sugar, the sweetness of the stevia was not overpowering. I favored the sections where the embedded cream cheese frosting was plentiful. Was it exactly like the original? No. Nevertheless, my husband and teenage son (neither is a low-carber) raved about it!

Click HERE for the recipe.

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Bite-Seeing

Meat Lover's Omelette with Bacon | The Griddle

My husband finds it amusing to watch me photograph a meal. I explain that once I get the food framed in my lens, I see all of the things that do not belong. You know, the soiled napkin, the straw's paper wrapper, lipstick on my coffee cup, spills, and so on. Sometimes, when the cook converts a burger to a wrap, the presentation needs some TLC. Then there are the dishes that require no primping at all.

Ultimate Porker Unwich | Jimmy John's

My go-to fast food eatery is Jimmy John's. I often ask for extra lettuce (which is shredded) and more mayonnaise. I am full faster.

Tri-Tip Elk, Bacon and Veggies

I am not shy when it comes to leftovers. We had a guest last weekend. We had bacon and eggs breakfast. We served tri-tip elk steaks and vegetable kebabs for dinner. I created this goulash using tri-tip elk and bacon pieces; sauteed zucchini, onion, bell pepper, and riced cauliflower; Coconut Aminos, Bragg Nutritional Yeast Seasoning, and Bragg Organic Sprinkle. My son and I devoured it. There were no leftovers.

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[Click on the photos to enlarge.]

Yes, I Eat Carbs

COMMON SCENARIO

PERSON: Oh, that's right. You don't eat carbs.

ME: Of course, I do. They just look like vegetables.

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Christopher & Banks

Christopher & Banks

Fall is my favorite season and I finally have them here in Idaho. For some reason, falling leaves inspire me. They make me want to purge! As Halloween stores are preparing to open, I become goal-ish, not ghoulish.

I put my family on alert regarding purging the garage in 2 weeks. Silly me, but I would actually like to park my car in our garage this winter. Anyone not present to help or defend their stuff will forfeit the task to me.

Just as important are my low-carb goals. I began this lifestyle on September 1st of 2015. As my anniversary approaches, I am even more motivated to get rid of some excess.

I visited the Karcher Mall in Nampa tonight. The mall itself has seen better days. Many stores are gated up. Yet, there are some big names like Big 5 Sporting Goods, Ross Dress for Less, and Burlington Coat Factory. I never venture past those stores, but I was distracted by a clothing display. Not expecting much, I decided to get a look-see. 

Hello, Christopher & Banks! I was previously unaware of this women's line of clothing. Immediately, I was attracted to the apparel and accessories. The lovely assistant manager informed me that I could model in their fall fashion show and receive substantial discounts. My interest was sparked.

I NEED new clothes. I just want to lose additional weight before I invest. Shedding 40 pounds enabled me to arrive at 193. My next goal is to leap the hurdle of 190 and head south to 180. This will definitely place me in a smaller size of clothing.

I became excited and motivated. I signed up for Christopher & Banks' mailing list and received my reward card.

I do a lot of online shopping, but I do not want to see clothing stores disappear. Even at my thinnest, I needed to try on clothes. I have a long torso and average limbs, so I spend a lot of time in fitting rooms.

Please share your own weight loss victories and goals with me. 

Let us inspire one another.

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Join Me!

Here in Idaho, leaves began changing in early August. It was subtle . . . almost unnoticeable. Yet, branches will soon be wearing shades of autumn. Warm breezes, here on the high desert, will cause dry leaves to scrape and escape. Having grown up in Southern California without much of a fall, I love it!

Ah, but I digress... I want to invite you to join me on my other social media platforms. All of these accounts are bridges to this blog and will keep you in the know.

FACEBOOK | @EverlovinLowCarb

INSTAGRAM | @everlovinlowcarb

TWITTER | @EverlovinLCHF

Thanks for spending time with me,

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Thriving, Not Just Surviving

Thrive Market Order

I am concluding one of the best summers of my life! It began with an incredible cruise to the Bahamas—a gracious gift. I enjoyed weeks of field trips (to places on my neglected To-Do list) while working with amazing children at the Boise Rescue Mission. We visited our daughter, son-in-love, and grand-kids in Oregon and found time to explore Idaho.

I bought 3 dozen donuts for the BRM kids on my last day of summer work. I did not partake. This pretty much describes my behavior for the last 3 months. I had ample opportunity to walk and climb stairs. I stayed hydrated. There were eating hurdles to jump and I cleared them. I did not lose weight, nor did I gain. I just maintained.

I am not disappointed in myself, but, after losing 40 pounds, it is time to conquer the rest of my excess weight. I became a subscriber to Thrive Market in order to pay less for healthier options. The yearly membership fee of $59.95 is similar to Costco. It breaks down to about $5.00 per month. Orders over $49.00 receive free shipping. I am just finishing my 30-day free trial. I have already saved $142.42 on items I would normally need to pick up at pricey natural food stores.

I believe in thriving, not just surviving. This plays into my physical and spiritual life. So, aside from the tremendous benefits of being a Thrive Market member, even the name resonates.

Here is my lastest order (pictured above). The invoice included a personal, handwritten message that read "Enjoy". I saved $91.81 and received 12 items for $78.45!

LIST OF ITEMS
- Nutritional Yeast Seasoning
- Organic Creamy Almond Butter
- Fermented Turmeric Booster Powder
- Nutritional Yeast Powder
- Organic Turmeric Coconut Wraps
- Swerve Granular Sugar Replacement
- Salami Point Loma (Rosemary & Garlic)
- Caesar Avocado Oil Dressing & Marinade
- Organic Cacao Powder
- Chili Lime Elite Wild Tuna
- Tandoori Elite Wild Tuna
- Grass Fed White Truffle Salt Ghee

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Jicama

Jicama

Jicama [hee-kuh-muh, hik-uh-muh] is one of my favorite root vegetables. Not known for its beauty, jicama can be intimidating, hence, most shoppers bypass it. Yet, 1 medium jicama yields high amounts of vitamin C (221%), iron (22%), vitamin B-6 (15%), and magnesium (19%). It contains 4.7g of protein and a whopping 32g of fiber! 

It is referred to as a Mexican yam or a Mexican turnip. One medium jicama has 58g of carbohydrates along with 12g of sugar. An average serving will be about 1/4 or 1/5 of the jicama. The fiber helps to offset the carbs, but the addition of sauces and dips will make a small portion go a long way. 

jicama — noun 

1. the large, edible, tuberous root of a tropical American plant, Pachyrhizus erosus, of the legume family, eaten as a vegetable eitherraw or boiled.  (Dictionary.com)

I watched enough YouTube jicama videos to earn a girl scout badge! Videos demonstrate cutting techniques, food styling, and easy recipes. One gal began her vegetarian video by pronouncing jicama with an English "j" as in Joyce. In some cases, I knew more than the presenter.

Jicama is 86% to 90% water which makes it a great addition to one's diet. It contributes to healthy brain function, weight management, digestion, blood pressure and circulation, strong bones, and the immune system.

Typically, I julienne cut the jicama and pair it with a variety of dips. I have also stir fried it, made jicama fries, and used it in salads. 

A Mexican tradition is sprinkling cut jicama with lime juice, chili powder, and salt. This is simple to put together. Even easier is using Trader Joe's Chile Lime Seasoning Blend. This seasoning on top of chilled jicama is quite refreshing and provides an easy appetizer for entertaining guests.

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Coming Soon!

My 1-year Blog-iversary was on June, 26, 2017. September 1, 2017 marks my second year of practicing the low-carb/keto lifestyle. With almost 12,000 hits on my blog and over 100 posts, I have much to celebrate! Stay tuned!

Jubilantly,

Creamed Bai-Bai

It was 102° today in the Treasure Valley of Idaho. Happily, our temps will begin to descend into the mid-to-high 90's. I am not alone. Many of you are coping with harsh heat, along with humidity!

Refreshment is more than AC, an ocean, lake, or swimming pool. Icy beverages provide a speedy path to relief. Of course, water is a mainstay, but who wants to nix sweetness and flavor?

In years past, lemonade, sugared tea, Italian sodas, and Dr. Pepper were my summer go-to's. Now, I favor unsweetened Tejava; loose leaf refrigerator tea; iced coffee; Starbuck's iced unsweetened passion tea; and Bai Antioxidant Infusion. 

Costco carries this Bai® Sunrise Variety Pack™ which contains 15 18-fluid-ounce bottles of Antioxidant Infusions, with only 6g of carbs per 8-ounce serving! The sweetener is a blend of stevia and erythritol. It hits the spot and my family loves it!

I pour about an inch of heavy cream into a medium sized glass, followed by 8 ounces of a Bai flavor, and then add ice. It is a welcome imitation of an Italian soda—without the sugar and carbs.

Stay cool,

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