Category Archives: Poultry

Main Dish, Poultry, Recipes, Vegetables & Salads

Too Hot to Cook? A Cool Turkey Salad Helps

With a few thunderstorms in the area this past week, it’s really been too hot and muggy to do much cooking in the kitchen after the lunch hour.  But it’s a great time for no-cook options or meals that you can prepare in the morning and eat cold or reheat in the microwave.  I went back to an old favorite chicken salad made as a spread for sandwiches and updated to turkey to put on top of a salad.  By adding a few beets and cooling cucumber, it makes a wonderful and filling evening meal.

If you want additional salad dressing, other than what is in the turkey, you can use a low carb French dressing or a Ranch Dressing (most are around 2 net carbs for 2 tablespoons) or you can make your own French from the recipe after the salad recipe.

Turkey Salad With Beets

10 oz. can White Turkey Meat or 1 cup cooked Turkey, chopped
1/4 cup Mayonnaise
1 large Egg, hard boiled
4 to 5 sugar free Sweet Pickles or 2 tablespoons sugar free Sweet Pickle Relish
1/2 teaspoon Mrs. Dash Tomato, Basil and Garlic Seasoning

6 cups lettuce, torn or chopped (I used Romaine and Bibb)
1 cup Baby Spinach, chopped or torn
1 Golden Beet, cooked and cut into cubes or small pieces
1 cucumber, sliced
1 cup diced tomato

Drain the turkey meat if you are using canned meat. Put the turkey in a bowl. Cut the hard boiled egg into quarters to make it easier to mash and add it to the bowl. . Using a fork, mash the egg and the turkey together. If you are using whole pickles, chop them finely or put them in a food processor and pulse a few times to chop. Add them to the bowl. Add the mayonnaise and use the fork to mix them all together. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

When ready to serve, mix the lettuce and spinach together and put into individual large salad bowls. Put 1/4 of the turkey mixture in the middle of the lettuce in each bowl. Arrange 6 slices of cucumbers and 6 cubes of golden beets around the edge of each bowl. Put 2 tablespoons of diced tomato on top.

Drizzle Low Carb French Dressing, if desired, onto the salad and serve.

Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition Info per serving:
Calories: 216 Fat: 13 g Net Carbs: 6.9 g Protein: 16.2 g

Low Carb French Dressing

2 tablespoons Ketchup
3 tablespoons sugar substitute
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
Two tablespoons onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon White Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon dry Mustard

Put all ingredients into a food processor or blender and pulse until it is liquefied. Pour into a clean jar or dressing cruet and chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours. Shake before serving.

Makes 6 servings.

Nutrition Info per serving:
Calories: 48 Fat: 0.7 g Net Carbs: 1.5 g Protein: 0.0 g

TIP: Save a couple of your salad dressing bottles for putting your “from scratch” dressings in. Just be sure to sterilize them before using them. A trip through the dishwasher should do the trick.

Breakfast & Brunch, Main Dish, Pork, Poultry, Recipes, Vegetables & Salads, Vegetarian

Summer Fresh Mixed Vegetable with Sausage Dinner

Or lunch!  I used to go to a restaurant here in Reno that served a wonderful mixed vegetable dish with a cheese sauce for brunch and I just loved it.  Add bacon and it was all you could want for breakfast or lunch.    Following a visit to the local Farmer’s Market, I came home with fresh zucchini and scalloped summer squash and I kept thinking about that great steamed vegetable dish.  So I decided to try a low carb version of it and add sausage to it.

A bratwurst, either pork or chicken, would work well with this recipe.  Just be sure to check the carb count on the links to try to get around 1 net carb for a link.   We are talking the 4 or 5 links to a pound variety, not the little breakfast sausages.  Some of the fancier sausages are wonderful and have great additions to them but run the carbs up to 4 or 5 nc per sausage and unless you have a lot to spend on this meal, it could be more than you want.  An alternative is to buy bulk sausage with no added ingredients and make mini-sausage balls to add to the dish or fry up some bacon and add that.

For a nice vegetarian dish, simply omit the sausages.

Mixed Vegetables with Sausage Au Gratin

1 cup Broccoli, fresh
1 cup Cauliflower, fresh
1 cup Summer Squash
1 cup Zucchini, sliced
6 Brussels sprouts, fresh, cut in half
1 cup kohlrabi, diced
3/4 cup Turnips, about 1 medium
2 tablespoons Carbquick or other low carb flour
3/4 cup Heavy Whipping Cream or Unsweetened Almond Milk
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons Butter
1 /2 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1 oz. Dubliner Irish Cheese
1 tablespoon Dried Parsley
1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1 teaspoon Seasoning Salt
2 links Chicken or Pork Sausages, sliced (look for 0 or 1 carb per serving)

Trim and cut vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Steam kohlrabi and turnips in a steamer until almost fork tender or in the microwave, covered, for about 5 minutes. Steam the rest of the vegetables for about four minutes, then combine with the kohlrabi and turnips and steam (microwave) another three minutes. Test that they are fork tender. If not, steam a little longer.

In a sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat and add the low carb flour, stirring to make a paste. Add the cream and seasonings and cook while stirring until the mixture begins to thicken. Add the cheese and continue stirring until the cheese is completely melted. If the mixture gets to thick, add a little water to thin. Remove from heat.

In a small skillet, sauté the sausages until they are completely warmed and browned s bit.

Spoon a 1/4 of the vegetable mix into a bowl or on a plate, add 1/4 of the sausages and top with about 1/2 cup of cheese sauce. Sprinkle with a little pepper and serve.

Nutrition Info: 1 serving made with cream
Calories: 490 Fat: 39.6 g Net Carbs: 9.5 g Protein: 22.8 g

Nutrition Info: 1 serving made with Unsweetened Almond Milk
Calories: 348 Fat: 23.8 g Net Carbs: 8.7 g Protein: 22.5 g

Main Dish, Poultry, Recipes

Two Ways to Low Carb “Fried” Chicken

Pan fried chicken, baked to cook it through.

Every now and then I get a yearning for Mom Kelly’s fried chicken, which was a lot like my grandmother’s fried chicken.  Frankly, I have never been good at doing it, but add in trying to keep the carbs down and it’s even more of a challenge.  So, I’ve adapted the recipe to cook the chicken that still gives it that fried flavor and a nice crispy crust.  A great side dish for this is the Texas-Style Turnip-Cauliflower Salad that is like potato salad.

Stove Top Fried Chicken

This is mostly the traditional way to fry chicken.  I finish it off in the oven to make sure the chicken is cooked all the way though.  If you have big plump breasts cut them into smaller pieces so they aren’t so thick.  They will cook through easier without burning the crust.

I use CarbQuick to coat the chicken, but you can also use coconut flour, which has a very fine texture, although it’s a little higher in carbs.

1/2 cup Carbquick or Coconut Flour
1/4 cup Buttermilk, lowfat
4 to 6 chicken Chicken Thighs or 2 chicken breasts cut into 4 four pieces
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, about 1 inch deep in a heavy medium-sized skillet
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Seasoning Salt of your choice
1/2 teaspoon Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Paprika

Preheat oven to 385 degrees.

Begin heating the oil in the skillet. Heat to very hot, then reduce the heat to medium high.

Mix the flour and seasonings in a large plastic bag or a shallow pan, like a cake pan or pie pan.

Put the buttermilk in a shallow pan and put the chicken in, turning it over to completely coat. Put the chicken pieces, one by one, in the plastic bag and shake to coat or roll them in the flour pan to coat.
Fry about four pieces of chicken at a time until golden brown on the bottom, then turn over to brown the other side. Remove to a paper towel covered plate and brown any other chicken pieces.

Spray a baking pan with cooking spray and put the browned chicken in it and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Check the chicken by poking with a fork. Any juices that run out should be clear.

Oven baked “fried” chicken

Oven Fried Chicken

This version is basically the same ingredients, but you skip the skillet frying and let the oven do the work by cooking the chicken in a very hot oven.

1/2 cup Carbquick or Coconut Flour
1/4 cup Buttermilk, lowfat
4 to 6 chicken Chicken Thighs or 2 chicken breasts cut into 4 four pieces
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Seasoning Salt of your choice
1/2 teaspoon Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Paprika
2 tablespoons Olive Oil

 Preheat oven to 425 degrees (F).

Mix the flour and seasonings in a large plastic bag or a shallow pan, like a cake pan or pie pan.

Put the buttermilk in a shallow pan and put the chicken in, turning it over to completely coat. Put the chicken pieces, one by one, in the plastic bag and shake to coat or roll them in the flour pan to coat.

Spread the oil over a small baking dish and arrange the chicken, skin side down (or top side down if you are using skinless chicken). Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, then turn the chicken over and cook another 12 to 15 minutes. Low carb flours brown a little faster than regular ones, so keep an eye on the chicken to ensure it doesn’t get too dark.

Makes 2-4 servings depending on your appetite.

Nutrition Info per serving (4 servings)
Calories: 236.5 Fat: 13.2 g Net Carbs: 2.7 g

Main Dish, Poultry, Recipes

Chicken Kohlrabi Curry Is A Spicy Blend of Flavor

Curry is another one of those great foods that I love. When I think of curry, I generally picture the thick Indian style dish that is like a wonderfully flavorful stew. Indian or Thai food at a restaurant is just too high in carbs to enjoy other than on a special occasion – and being fully prepared to see some weight gain from this indulgence.

So I was very excited to come up with this low carb alternative. Over the years, my stomach has taken offense to the very spicy versions, so this might seem a little tame to you. Add more of the curry powder or chile powder to bring the taste to your preferred level. I often find that the cubed blocks of curry are more flavorful and stronger than the powder is, so the next time I try it, I will use some of that.

Spicy Chicken Kohlrabi Curry

2 cups Kohlrabi, diced (about 2)
1 cup Turnips, diced (1 medium)
1/2 cup Onions, raw, chopped
1 cup Broccoli, frozen or partly cooked, chopped
1 cup Green Beans
1/2 cup Kohlrabi leaves, chopped
2 Chicken Breasts (1 full breast), cubed
1 tablespoon Ginger & Garlic Paste
1 cup diced Tomatoes, canned with juice
1/4 cup sweet Peppers, chopped
1.5 tablespoons Curry powder
1/2 tablespoon Red Chile Powder

Put kohlrabi and turnips in a microwave safe bowl and cook for about 5 minutes until they are just tender. Or put in boiling water and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes until they are fork tender. Drain.

In a deep skillet, heat oil a few minutes over medium heat Add ginger-garlic paste and onions and cook until the onions begin to turn translucent. Remove onions to a bowl. Add chicken to the skillet with a tablespoon oil and cook until chicken turns white. Add broccoli, beans, onions and spices to the chicken. Stir until vegetables are cooked, adding a little water if it gets too dry. Then add tomatoes, kohlrabi and turnips. Cook over low heat to blend the flavors, about 10 minutes. Add kohlrobi greens and stir in, let cook until they just go limp.

Serve with a green salad.

Makes 6 servings

Nutrition Info: Calories: 93.6 Net Carbs: 6.9 g Protein: 9.7 g

Note: You can use all kohlrabi if you don’t like turnips.

TIP: You can make your own ginger-garlic paste by combining equal amounts of peeled fresh ginger and peeled garlic cloves in a food processor. Add a little olive oil or coconut oil to make a smooth paste. Store in a jar in the refrigerator or freeze in small packets for future use. You could also freeze in tablespoon batches in an ice cube tray, then put the cubes in a plastic freezer bag.

Posted on 2/4/2013

Main Dish, Mexican/Spanish Recipes, Poultry, Recipes

Rene’s Chicken Chile Rellano Casserole

First Published on my LiveJournal blog on July 13, 2012

Maybe a bit oddly, this 4th of July I went for some comfort food from my formative years. Not your ordinary comfort food, but the kind of food that I relate to home and family. In this case, it is a Mexican dish, with my own twist, that brings back many fond memories from my childhood. I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, and Mexican food was as common as steak and potatoes in my family. (Both of my mother’s parents had been Texas ranchers.) At least once a month, and often more than that, the whole family would go out to dinner at one of the local Mexican restaurants. My grandfather’s favorite dish, and the one he ordered all the time, was chile rellanos. I didn’t develop a taste for them until I was in my teen years, but the memories of my grandfather are always associated with this dish. And that, to me, is comfort food.

This recipe is my one I have developed over the years and can be made with Anaheim chiles, fresh or canned. Keep in mind the bulk of the hot spice is in the seeds and discard them if you want the flavor without the burn. If you use fresh, you will need to roast or blister the peppers and peel them. I add chicken or turkey to the stuffing then bake them in a casserole rather than frying them. They can be made without the meat, if you prefer a meatless dish.

Rene’s Chicken Chile Rellano Casserole

1 – 16 oz can Fire-Roasted Whole Green Chiles (approx. 8)
1 cup Fire-roasted Diced Tomatoes, Mexican style or add onions and peppers, if desired
8 ounces Chicken Breast, diced or shredded
8 sliced sticks of Sharp Cheddar Cheese, about ½” x ½ inch and long enough to fill the chile
4 oz Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup Shredded Mexican Four Cheese blend or Cheddar and Jack Cheese
4 Eggs
1/2 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
1/4 cup Water
1/4 cup Sweet Peppers, sliced (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Split the chiles open and stuff each with chicken and 1 tablespoon of cheese.

Whisk together the eggs, cream cheese, and cream with 1/4 cup water in a bowl, add salt and pepper, a bit of garlic powder and 1/4 teaspoon of red chile powder (if desired). Pour the mixture over the chiles and cheese. Top with sliced sweet peppers and remaining cheese.

Bake in the preheated oven until set, about 40 minutes. Remove casserole and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.


While the casserole continues to set, heat diced tomatoes in a saucepan. Add chopped onions and peppers, if desired. To serve, carefully cut along the chiles to try to remove them as a whole chile rather than just cutting the dish into squares.

Each serving is one chile topped with diced tomatoes.
About 270 calories and 5 net carbs per serving.