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Merry Christmas!

CURE FOR INDECISION

Christmas is 9 days away. We are leaving for La Pine, Oregon on Christmas Day, so I am unsure of how much decorating I want to do. I needed inspiration. So, I poured a large mug of French press coffee, added some raw cream, a few drops of Cinnamon Vanilla stevia, and VOILA!

FRESH BATCH OF BONE BROTH

I just finished a slow cooker batch of beef bone broth. First, I poured the finished broth through a mesh strainer to remove bones and seasoning. The broth was then refrigerated in order to easily remove the top layer of fat. Soon the broth will be stored in mason jars and the fat will be used in my cooking. My weight loss is so much more successful when bone broth is included.

LIBERATED LUNCH

Whether you eat lunch at home or pack it for work, I have a resource that offers 50 ideas that will make your midday more exciting. Check it out at LOWCARB LAB.

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Za-atar: A Middle Eastern Condiment

Za'atar | The Spice House

I am returning to normalcy after this crazy election season. It is a delightful day in Idaho. The clouds appear to be raked like leaves. The sky, a soft hue-of-blue, surrounds a sun that is so brilliant I can hardly look in its direction.

I have chicken breasts (skin-on) in the slow cooker. I applied a rub of za'atar to the chicken. Za'atar is also amazing on roasted chicken (skin-on) with a drizzle of olive oil.

Za-atar is a Middle Eastern condiment that, like curry, will be different depending on what region it comes from. It is known for enhancing mental acuity and it adds zest to meals. I am more familiar with the Lebanese version since I first tasted it on something called mana-ish, a global flatbread. The bread was covered with olive oil and za-atar, then baked in a special oven.

Since I am not consuming bread these days (unless it is low-carb), I like to use za'atar to season meat, fish, and vegetables. I mix it with sour cream to make dips. It is awesome on kebabs, meatballs, popcorn, salads, and sprinkled on hummus or yogurt.

I have included a simple recipe for homemade za-atar below. It comes from Alton Brown via the Food Network.

ZA-ATAR

Ingredients

• 3 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon powdered sumac
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

1. Watch how to make this recipe HERE.
2. Put all of the ingredients into a spice grinder and pulse until a powder is formed, about 30 to 45 seconds. 
3. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

NOTE: Za-atar can also be purchased from Middle Eastern stores and online. The photo features za'atar from the The Spice House.

Recipe courtesy of Alton Brown | Food Network - 2010

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