Fat is Back and it's Epic!

If you have never tried a sweet potato—flash-fried in duck fat—it is time to explore. Fat translates mundane into FUN-dane! It nurtures our brains and bodies back to how they were meant to function! (There's that "fun" word again.) Fat is fuel to burn and flavor to love!

I cannot imagine returning to a blasé, low-fat diet. Can you? Healthy fat is the key ingredient to low-carb satiety, pleasure, and weight loss success! After consuming enough healthy fat, I can go for hours without being hungry!

I just ordered this fatty trio from Amazon. Epic's Animal Cooking Oils Variety Pack (featuring 1 Beef Tallow, 1 Pork Lard, 1 Duck Fat) takes delicious to a new level! It is perfect for baked goods, roasted or sautéed veggies, and fabulously flaky pie crusts. Check it out HERE.

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The Pros of Low-Carb

Smiles,

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I stopped dieting...

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Pili Nuts | Low-Carb Perfection!

Once upon a time, I was a sugar burner. After going low-carb, my body fell headfirst in love with FAT! In fact, my body burns fat for fuel. I can happily indulge in plenty of high quality fat and feel full faster. So, it behooves me to search for fatty foods that will satisfy me in ways a low-fat diet never could.

Nuts have always been a favorite snack of mine. Granted, I was first enamored with peanut butter which is actually a legume. It was an introduction nonetheless. I went on to appreciate the entire nut family.

I never knew about pili nuts until I heard Jimmy Moore feature them on Livin' La Vida Low-Carb. I was curious, so I ordered a 5 oz. bag of this nutrient-dense supernut. Jason at Hunter Gatherer discovered pili nuts in the Philippines and his company is the first in America to offer them.

The smooth buttery taste is addicting! Yet, by eating them slowly, I need very little. The high fat combined with coconut oil quickly satisfies.

The Hunter Gatherer website lists the following attributes...

• Perfect Ketogenic Snack 
• Paleo 
• Vegan 
• Raw 
• Highest Magnesium of any nut 
• Naturally Gluten Free 
• Sprouted 
• Highest Oil/Fat Content of any nut 
• Sustainable 
• Hand Shucked 
• High In Manganese 
• Excellent Source of Vitamin B1 
• Non GMO 
• Lowest Carbs of any nut 
• Hand Harvested 
• Wild Harvested 
• Good Source of Phosphorus and Copper

You can purchase pili nuts directly from Hunter Gatherer HERE. You will get 10% off of your first order if you use Jimmy's Promo Code: LLVLC.

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5 Tips to Make Low-Carb Tick!

Sadly, my mom has Type 2 Diabetes and macular degeneration. This was the impetus for my switching to a low-carb lifestyle. What's written in the genes could become own my reality; and being overweight exacerbates a predisposition. In sports the offensive team is in control of the ball. I intend to stay on the offensive.

I have adapted keto, low-carb habits. This appears to be working. My goal is to keep my carbs low enough to ensure that my liver produces ketones for energy. This places me in a state of ketosis.

I have yet to invest in ketone measurement tools. This is mostly due to the expense. Fortunately, I have no major health issues that require consistent monitoring, but I recognize the value of stats.

• Acetoacetate (Ketones in Urine): These are test strips that work until one becomes fat adapted. 
• Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (Ketone in the Blood): Blood testing is considered the gold standard of ketone measurement.
• Acetone (Ketones in Breath): I would rather do this than draw blood. Soon, I will be purchasing a Ketonix Ketone Breath Analyzer. 

For now, I pay close attention to my body. I am continuously tweaking the balance of my nutritional intake. Keep in mind that everyone is different. It was once believed that a low-carb diet is a one-size-fits-all. This is simply not true. 

HERE IS WHAT I WATCH FOR . . .

If I experience bloating . . .

. . . I review my meals to see if there were hidden ingredients—such as sugar, grains, and starches.

If I am gaining weight or weight loss is stalled . . .

. . . I evaluate my carb and protein intake. Am I including too many high carb vegetables? Is my meat consumption excessive?

I love potatoes, but they hit the bell in carb counts. Still, as a rare treat, I indulge in a small batch of French cut potatoes cooked in duck fat or I Spiralize™ root vegetables. In small doses, this is reasonable. If I lose my brakes, my body scolds me.

I was on the Dr. Atkins diet in 1973, which encouraged liberal meat consumption. The consensus now is that too much protein causes gluconeogenesis. This process turns proteins into glucose (simple sugar) and prevents ketosis. I avoid lean meats and include plenty of fatty meat, often adding butter.

When I have eaten low-carb meals and still feel hungry . . .

. . . I increase my fat intake. Fat causes satiety.

If any of the above is occurring . . .

. . . I engage in intermittent fasting. I generally eat within an 8-hour window and fast for the remaining 16-hours. This gives my body a chance to heal and recharge. Fasting for longer periods is not only beneficial, but satiation makes it a breeze.

When I can go for hours without hunger . . .

. . . this is usually a good sign that my carb, protein, and fat intake levels are working. I experienced this today. I contently fasted for hours. Usually, I will be rewarded when I weigh myself in the morning.

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Fat Sat | Grocery Outlet

Fat Sat will be a weekly Everlovin' Low-Carb feature. The post title is short for Fat Saturday and will feature LCHF (low-carb-high-fat) news, tips, and inspiration.

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I now have a Grocery Outlet in my neighborhood. Being unfamiliar with the store, I immediately pictured heavily processed food. I was curious though, so I attended the Grocery Outlet Grand Opening. I was delighted to discover their NOSH merchandise (natural-organic-specialty-healthy), which includes many low-carb essentials.

I found plenty of products labeled gluten free, but nothing specifically identified as low-carb. Gluten free products usually replace the culprits with other carbs, so I read a lot of Nutrition Facts. I ended up scoring some quality goods at serious savings!

The only drawback of any outlet is the limited availability of products. Yet, I have seen many favorites reappear.

Here are some of the low-carb items that I have picked up at Grocery Outlet...

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Asian Goulash

My dad had a tradition of making Matheny Goulash—named for our family. I clearly recall the aroma and anticipation. He used whatever he found in the pantry and fridge, and created a simmering pot of goodness! Rice, beef, and tomatoes were staples in the meal, but no 2 goulashes were the same.

I am not eating rice these days, but riced cauliflower provides a perfect base for anything! This dish has a decidedly Asian flavor! I used only what I had on hand. All measurements are approximate because I cooked instinctively. I also used my Pampered Chef Food Chopper to achieve texture.

ASIAN GOULASH

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1 pound of ground beef—not lean
• ½ cup chopped onion
• ½ cup chopped raw zucchini
• ½ cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
• 1-2 tablespoons of grated fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 package (about 3 cups) of Trader Joe's Organic Riced Cauliflower—thawed
• Coconut aminos
• Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat the butter up in a wok and add the ground beef. Add salt and pepper. Cook just until the pink disappears.
2. Add the onion, zucchini, red bell pepper, garlic, and fresh ginger. Allow the small pieces to become tender.
3. Stir in the toasted sesame oil.
4. Introduce the cauliflower. Drizzle an ample amount of coconut aminos over the top of the goulash and stir.
5. Cook long enough for the flavors to marry.

Serves 4

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Hot Garlic Sauce | Mojo criollo para viandas y carnes

Most sauces, marinades, and dressings are naturally low-carb as long as they are sugarless and grainless. Of course, cooking from scratch gives us complete control over carbs. Think of sauces, marinades, and dressings as wardrobe and accessories. (That is, after all, the real reason I enjoyed my childhood Barbie.) Any dish can undergo a dramatic quick-change with little fuss.

Chef George Geary wrote a cookbook called 500 Best Sauces, Salad Dressings, Marinades & More. Seriously! We could eat chicken breasts for 16 months straight and never duplicate a flavor profile!

Here is a versatile Cuban sauce. It is borrowed from In a Cuban Kitchen by Alex Garcia, published in September of 2004. Although carbs are central in Cuban cuisine, I have not met a carb that cannot be tweaked. Garcia's dishes are irresistible and use the freshest ingredients!

HOT GARLIC SAUCE | MOJO CRIOLLO PARA VIANDAS Y CARNES

From: In a Cuban Kitchen

By: Alex Garcia

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 medium white onion, chopped fine
• 6 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/2 bunch fresh parsley, stems removed and chopped fine
• 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, stems removed and chopped fine
• Juice of 3 limes
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and cook until fragrant.
2. Remove from the heat and let sit for 2 minutes. Add the parsley, cilantro, lime juice and salt.
3. Serve hot over vegetables or meat dishes.

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Curry Cauli-Rice Salad

A well-stocked fridge, freezer, and pantry can spark some amazing dishes! Since I hate to be wasteful, I frequently improvise with what I have. This can sometimes sacrifice color, but never flavor. 

Hint: Do not hesitate to tweak leftovers if you feel that the original can still be enhanced. Some of our favorite meals were toyed with before I was satisfied.

CURRY CAULI-RICE SALAD

• 2 packages of Trader Joe's frozen Organic Riced Cauliflower (yields 6 cups)
• 2 heaping tablespoons of Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Mayo
• 1 tablespoon of natural stone ground mustard
• 2 nitrite/nitrate free hot dog weiners, sliced
• ½ of a large onion, diced
• 1½ cups of mixed small red and yellow tomatoes, sliced in halves or quarters depending on size
• 1 heaping tablespoon of curry (I used Muchi curry)
• Italian seasoning to taste and a little for garnish
• Maldon salt to taste (I rub it between my fingers while sprinkling)

1. Follow the directions on the riced cauliflower to defrost in the microwave.
2. Allow the riced cauliflower to cool. 
3. Add the remainder of the ingredients. Stir well and refrigerate to allow flavors to marry.

Again, I used what I had. I plan on adding red and green bell peppers along with some fresh herbs next time. The mayo and mustard dressing makes a wonderful base, not to mention the healthful benefits of avocado oil.

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Pollo Con Crema

Pollo Con Crema at Lima Limon | Kuna, Idaho

As I sit here typing and eating fried eggs topped with melted cream cheese, I marvel at how satisfied I am. I take inventory of the horrid, tasteless diets that always left me hungry and eager to jump ship! I will be celebrating my FIRST LOW-CARB ANNIVERSARY on September 1, 2016. I have never been bored, nor have I been tempted to stop.

Dining out is also an adventure! Yesterday, I visited the Kuna Historical Society, located about 30 minutes southeast of my Ida-home. Lima Limon, a Peruvian-Mexican restaurant is 2 buildings west of this museum. How could I possibly pass that up? I knew that my LCHF lifestyle would require adjustments to the way I approached Peruvian food. Yet, to my surprise, I was not interested in the empanadas, plantains, rice, and tortillas that would normally have me giddy. I chose, instead, to order Pollo Con Crema, without the rice and flour tortillas. Chef Deysi brought me this beautifully orchestrated dish with brightly colored, steamed vegetables; and Pollo Con Crema consisting of chicken and sautéed mushrooms in a sour cream sauce. I showed great restraint in not licking my plate!

Pollo Con Crema at Lima Limon | Kuna, Idaho

Adventurously Yours,

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