Back in the saddle

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: Back in the saddle

Oops--forgot to mention .... DO share your cheesecake results and recipe!

[EverLosing]

Re: Back in the saddle

Everlosing, I'm not sure how Carole does her flax seed cookie, but here's how I make mine.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in the microwave. Stir in 2 T ground flaxseed and 2 T water. Add 1/4 - 1/2 t. cinnamon and 3 drops liquid splenda. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and gummy.

Spray a plate with cooking oil spray. Spread the dough out into a cookie shape.

Microwave just until the butter stops bubbling.

Remove from the plate immediately with a spatula because it WILL stick.

If you want a savory cracker instead, just use seasoning salt and a sprinkling of sesame or poppy seeds instead of the cinnamon and splenda.

When I get some more dishes done, I'm going to make this!! I wonder what baking powder would do or if it even needs it?? Where do you get your liquid splenda? I've never found it anywhere except online. Have you ever seen it at WallyWorld?

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: Back in the saddle

Everlosing, you don't need baking powder. The bubbling of the butter while the flax seed is cooking makes it light and flaky.

I buy EZ-Sweetz online from netrition. I looked for liquid Splenda in the store and couldn't find it. Then I checked Splenda's website and it's not listed there, so they may not make it any more.

Netrition also has a liquid sucralose with fiber, but I prefer the EZ-Sweetz drops.

More and more I'm switching to stevia, though.

[EverLosing]

Re: Back in the saddle

Well, the cheesecake is cooling in the oven with the door open. Then more cooling on the counter. When it gets to room temperature, my mom said it needs to season in the fridge for at least one day. I know when we use our sugar substitutes everything often tastes better...later! The breadless pudding I make is that way, too!

So, just to entertain you... I bought a ton of cream cheese when I restarted Atkins. I want you to know I actually had to throw away 3 old boxes last week. I haven't used any cream cheese at all since I've restarted until I made the cheesecake tonight!! I'm not a cheese girl. It's something I've had to force myself to be adventurous about in adulthood. Anywho, I was very angry at myself for missing out on a sale last week that had every box of Philly cream cheese priced at $1!! I went to the grocery and walked right by it, forgetting to toss it in the cart!! I am interested in making something sweet with it now and then but straight cream cheese grosses me out. For all of the celery I've eaten in the past several months, not one stalk had cream cheese on it!!

I need your expertise now. I bought a springform pan to bake the cheesecake. Do I just cover it with plastic wrap for its day in the fridge? Leave it in or take it out of the springform? I imagine it would have to stay in until completely set and chilled, yes?

Thanks in advance for your advice!!

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: Back in the saddle

Everlosing, I'm sorry, but I have never made a cheesecake, so I don't know the answer to your question. I'm afraid to even take a guess in case I tell you wrong!

I have desperately wanted to try the Atkins cheesecake recipes, but I am one of those who WILL eat half of one if it is in my refrigerator. I keep looking for a single serving cheesecake recipe! The only ones I've tried are the mock cheesecakes you make in the microwave, and they are kind of eggy.

I don't like cream cheese plain. I mix it up with chives and seasoning salt to use on celery or pork rinds. And sometimes I mix it with sugar=free syrups for a dessert.

$1.00 a box!!! WOW! What a sale!

The last time I was at Sam's, I bought a bag of 50 individual servings of cream cheese. I like it better than the boxes since I don't use a lot.

Maybe if put your question about the cheesecake in another forum, someone will see it who can answer you.

Good luck!

[imagood1]

Re: Back in the saddle

I make my flax cookie a little differently from Sunny but not much. I only make 1 cookie at a time now because I think using 2 Tbsp of flax was too much for my system.

2 pats of butter
1 Tbsp flaxseed
microwave for 30 seconds - take out and stir the flax into the butter -- I make sure every seed is coated in butter

1/8 tsp of cinnamon
1/16 tsp of ground cloves (1 just shake the jar 1 good shake)
1/16 tsp ground ginger (1 just shake the jar 1 good shake)
stir the spices into the flax and butter mixture

add 1 Tbsp of water and stir again --
add 1 pkt of splenda and stir -- let set about 30-45 seconds then:

put the mixture on parchment paper and with the back of a spoon make the mixture as thin as possible without leaving holes in the cookie. Microwave 2 minutes. I leave the cookie on the parchment paper a minute or two after it's done to let the butter soak back into the cookie. The parchment paper makes it so the cookie doesn't stick - I LICK the extra butter off the paper when I'm done eating the cookie...LOL!!!

You can figure out if the spices are too much for you but this is the way I like it -- and I crave this little cookie everyday!!! It's best hot -- but I have eaten them later after they have cooled or the next day and they are just as good.

Someone told me they made the cookie the way I did then took 1 ounce of cream cheese and melted it with vanilla extract - put it in the fridge to firm it up then spread it on top of the cookie - put it back in the fridge to firm up the whole thing and ate it -- it is good but by the time I make the cookie I don't want to wait to put it back in the fridge...LOL!!!

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: Back in the saddle

Everlosing, how did your cheesecake turn out?

Carole, I read about making the topping for the cookie, too... but there's no way I could wait that long, either!

[EverLosing]

Re: Back in the saddle

Well, it can't be all bad. I can safely say there should still be more of it in the pan than there is! I never ever thought I could create something like that!! It's rich and delish but supposedly it tastes best after 2-3 days of "seasoning". I am looking forward to tasting it Tuesday.

Unfortunately, most of my carbs probably came from cheesecake today!! I rarely consume dairy so weight results will be interesting. It was thick, rich, slightly browned on top and didn't crack!! Apparently, those are all the baking goals for a cheesecake. I don't have any strawberries right now but maybe that's a blessing!! I think it can be frozen in single servings though and that should help with portion control. I haven't eaten enough real food today and have neglected to get to the store for so many reasons, er, I mean excuses.

My son is sick and I'm trying to be more sympathetic. I swear I want to stuff a wash cloth in his mouth. If I hear another cough, I'll beat my head against the wall! I'd like to hold him and make him feel better but being a single mom, I can't miss work because he's sick. Thus, I don't get too close to him!! I've just been serving up his spaghetti and leaving it on the counter for him!

I quit smoking on a whim today too! It's horrible. I feel awful. I want a cigarette. I posted more about that in my journal. I don't think I can type it again without driving to town and picking up a pack. I've made it hard on myself all day to not be "going out" ready so I wouldn't drive down to the gas station and pick up a pack of poison. Didn't put on a bra after my shower, no makeup, workout clothes, i.e. shorts and didn't shave my legs. LOL! I'm trying hard to stay put and not cave and that's while I'm wearing a nicotine patch!! So, the stop smoking thing should explain some of the disappearing cheesecake!

[EverLosing]

Re: Back in the saddle

Hey Sunny_One. I sent a PM to bikiniby2010 asking her to check the thread. Hopefully, we'll see her again tonight. Have you ever seen the location of food scales at WalMart?? I'm horribly limited to guessing my portion sizes for fitday because I can't find the scales or an associate, for that matter.

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: Back in the saddle

Everlosing, so glad the cake turned out good. Maybe I will try one next weekend and hope hubby will do his part in getting rid of it.

I can't say I blame you for eating half of it.... with a sick child and quitting smoking. I'd have eaten the whole thing and gone looking for more! I am old enough that I can't imagine how hard it would be to be a single mother. I think young women today are almost superhuman sometimes with all they are responsible for. I had it a lot easier.

True confessions here... I have cut WAY back on my smoking, but have not quit. So you have my extreme empathy.

I think the diet scales are with the kitchen gadgets. I use my postal scale as it's a lot more accurate. The postal scales are in the office supply section. I think mine was $29.00.

Good luck with quitting smoking. I hope you make it.

[imagood1]

Re: Back in the saddle

Didn't put on a bra after my shower, no makeup, workout clothes, i.e. shorts and didn't shave my legs. LOL! I'm trying hard to stay put and not cave and that's while I'm wearing a nicotine patch!! So, the stop smoking thing should explain some of the disappearing cheesecake!

I hate to tell you this but I'm going to....I smoked while on the nicotine patch (I took the patch off and smoked - put it back on) because they didn't do a da&m thing for me....the only thing that worked were the commit losenges -- and after the first day I was done with them also. (what I mean is that I didn't use them any longer because I didn't need them)

Maybe you can find some sort of mint to put in your mouth -- it can't be any worse than excessive cheesecake...LOL!!! Sorry about your child being sick -- if I could I'd take care of him to keep you from getting sick...I know, it doesn't help -- but I do mean it!!

The first few days are the worst -- stay with it -- it's like Atkins -- once you get through the "fire" it's not bad at all. Keep yourself busy to keep from thinking about it --

[EverLosing]

Re: Back in the saddle

Okay, imagood1 and Sunny_One...I must tell you about my shopping trip to WallyH*ll tonight.

I want you both to know I did everything I could to pretend you were there shopping with me. I tried to branch out and spend money on veggies I've never even tasted. I'm very boring about veggies...broccoli, green beans, pumpkin, celery and cucumbers mostly. Salads consist of spinach leaves. But as I said, you guys would hate my selection, BORING! So, I bought 2 avocados and spaghetti squash. Oh my goodness, I bought squash!! I really have no idea what to do with them though! I know the avocado is limited to 1/2 per day, not sure why though. I know how to cut it but have no idea how it tastes or how to season it or if it needs it! I read a label on the squash that recommended softening it in the microwave, then cutting it open and cooking it in the oven, then scooping out the guts (noodles?). Can you tell I don't know what I'm doing??

SUNNY!!! I have to tell you I was on the hunt for sugar free syrup and I FINALLY FOUND IT!! I can't tell you the ridiculous feeling of happiness that overcame me!! I wasn't moving on that aisle for anyone!! We have a Super WalMart and it's located on the coffee aisle on the top shelf on the right side of the coffee grinding machine. The brand they have is Torani. I was beside myself. Caramel, vanilla, raspberry, hazelnut, maybe more. I picked caramel thinking it was a pretty good flavor for anything that needs syrup. I ditched the vanilla flavored one at the checkout for fear of the $$$. Thank goodness, I can't get out of there without spending $200. I don't go often. Hate food shopping. However, I feel so free tonight knowing the kitchen is full of delicousness and more importantly, LEGAL foods. Too often I wait too long to go to the store....to the point where it's go NOW or I'll have nothing legal in the fridge. It's never kicked my butt though!

I think I'm going to have to nominate you two to help me learn how to truly enjoy varied foods with this WOL. Perhaps a few cooking lessons are in order. I was such a wonderful carby cook. I just have to learn how to prepare things differently now. I bought some chicken broth and was thinking about throwing that in the slow cooker with some chicken breasts and celery. I haven't had anything like chicken soup in 5 or 6 months and thought that would be really tasty. I've never really mastered the slow cooker which is funny since it's supposed to be so simple!!

As soon as I walked into WalMart, I cruised quickly over to the video game area. BOOM!! A fresh load of Wii Fit games were just received and I got one after looking for something like 5 months. I'm excited about it but I might wait until tomorrow to use it for a workout because my son isn't here tonight and I plan on having him set it up!

What did you two eat for the dairy rung? I have rarely added much dairy because I can't have a horse trough of milk with cereal in it! LOL!! I rarely eat sour cream, cottage cheese (only in dessert recipes), heavy whipping cream and obviously cream cheese now in a cheesecake! BTW, I lost a pound on the scale this morning but I'm holding out to make sure it's gone for good!! Who eats that much cheesecake and loses weight? Shhh! I looked for an acceptable yogurt tonight. No such luck. I looked for some kind of milk. Nope. It's not terribly important to me. I take more than enough calcium supplements but I was trying to branch out there too.

Okay, I'll stop rambling now. Just wanted to let you know you went shopping with me tonight even if you didn't know it!! Glad we have each other!

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: Back in the saddle

Everlosing, what fun to go shopping with you and Carole!

I am DELIGHTED that you found the sugar free syrup! We have a new supermarket in town that carries all the gourmet and exotic goodies, so maybe I can find it there. Will look tomorrow while I'm out.

Avocados are an acquired taste. To some people they taste like soap. To me, they taste like heaven. If you aren't used to them, you might prefer to make guacamole and use it as a dip or on taco salad.

BTW, if you haven't made Linda's taco salad, you are in for a real treat! DH and I are wild about it. She even has a recipe for taco seasoning! Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes

To make guacamole, all you do is mash the avocado with lime juice. It doesn't have to be smooth... lumps are fine. The lime juice flavors it and keeps it from turning brown. Then add a little grated onion or garlic to taste. You can add a little bit of finely diced tomatoes -- or a tablespoon or two of salsa, along with some cilantro, if you like it. Salt to taste. It tastes better if it sets a while to let the flavors blend.

There are a million recipes for it, but that's an easy, basic, low carb one.

Spaghetti squash.... the way I cook it is to cut it in half and scoop the seeds out. Wrap and save one half in the refrigerator. The put the other half upside down in the microwave and zap it for 15 minutes. (We have a 900 watt microwave. If you have a more powerful one, you might try 10-12 minutes.)

Then, take it out of the microwave and hold it with a pot holder (it will be HOT) and scoop out the flesh with a fork. It will come out in strands, like spaghetti.

I like it best with an alfredo sauce with chopped up chicken or shrimp. Here's a recipe for alfredo sauce. Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes I never make a full recipe for DH and myself.

If you are going to make chicken soup from chicken broth, you don't need to use the slow cooker unless you want to. Just bring the broth to a boil, add some chopped celery and green onion and cook it until the celery is the desired doneness. Then chop your chicken breast up small and add it -- and cook it just until the meat is white and done. That way it will stay nice and tender. I usually add a pinch of various herbs and spices, but that isn't necessary.

My girlfriend in NY has been trying to get me to buy WiiFit, but right now I'm budgeting for a new AC/heat unit as ours died, so that will be a while.

I skipped the dairy rung. I'm not a milk drinker and yogurt and cottage cheese are not important to me. I get all the dairy I want in the induction levels. I'd much rather have nuts and berries!

[imagood1]

Re: Back in the saddle

I must say, I am as proud of you as I would be of a child.....Sharon, our little girl is growing up so quickly....ROFLMAO!!!!!

Like Sharon, I cut the spaghetti squash in half and scoop out the seeds but I put the spaghetti squash in the oven and cook it in a pan with a little water (sea salt & pepper) until I can stick the fork in it and it goes through like butter. I scoop it out and put a little tomato sauce with italian seasoning in it and maybe a meatball or just the sauce. I've also eaten it plain with just butter, sea salt & pepper on it -- it's good that way too.

We'll get you making homemade soup before you know it. I start by cutting up colored peppers (red peppers look like carrots when they cook), onion, radishes (they look like red skinned potatoes when they cook), julienne zucchini (my noodles) or if I don't want that I put cabbage or bok choy - I cook all these veggies in a little oil (maybe 1 Tbsp), a couple bay leaves, sea salt, pepper and any other spices I think of -- when the veggies are tender I add a can of chicken broth and either cooked chicken or raw chicken and cook it until everything is done. If you take the skin off the zucchini it looks like noodles -- if you don't it looks like thin pieces of zucchini--LOL!!

I agree with Sunny about the taco salads -- I love 'em!!!!

Avocado's are delicious....I cut them and put sea salt & pepper on top and eat them plain, OR I put them in salad - I heard from a doctor on TV Sunday morning that if you eat them with salad you actually absorb more of the nutrients from the salad (don't ask how I don't know that's what he said and he's been around forever)....I use to take thin slices and put them on bread & butter, added salt & pepper and had a sandwich.....I could drool right now!!! If you don't like it to begin with don't give up - eat another ..... put lemon juice on the portion you don't eat, wrap in saran wrap thightly and put in the fridge until you can eat another half. Don't eat the black areas if it is black -- that's not good.....

I have the Torani vanillla syrup and I have DaVinci maple syrup that I had the other morning with the cream cheese pancakes (yummie!!).

I added 1/2 cup Breakstone cottage cheese for my dairy to begin with and occassionly I have Dannon LowCarb Diabetic Yogurt -- it has 3 carbs per serving and is made with Splenda but it's probably not the best choice because there is corn syrup in it (pretty far down on the ingredients, but it's there). It comes in vanilla and strawberry -- I'm going to have a vanilla tomorrow because I'm still on the dairy rung this week and last week I had cottage cheese 3 times.

Ok dearies .... time for this pumpkin to get to bed - the latest cats-astro-fee (catastrophe) is over here (mom's blood sugar spiked to 195 tonight for no reason....it's down to 103 now!!! YEA)....I swear to God i could use a drink!! BUT I will have a cup of decaf tea instead.

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: Back in the saddle

Oh, my!!! I sure am glad our little girl is all grown up now, cause I don't think I could handle raising another one from scratch!

I swear to God i could use a drink!! BUT I will have a cup of decaf tea instead.

I am very familiar with that feeling!