Tag Archives: apple

Breakfast & Brunch, Desserts, Recipes

Oh, Wow! Is this an apple fritter?

Photo: Apple Fritter Pancakes

If you love apple fritters, you’re gonna love these pancakes. I found this recipe at AllRecipes.com and it’s one from Chef John. I always find his recipes to be the bomb and this one is soooo good.

The only changes I made to it were to make it low carb, so you can enjoy without feeling guilty. I admit, I might have overcooked the one pancake a little bit, but it took a bit to get the stove to the right cooking level. It needs to cook at medium high so it gets done without getting too brown. My old gas stove is a little tricky, but once I locked in the right heat, they worked beautifully. I used a Fuji apple, but any firm apple will work.

Recipe by Chef John

Adapted to Low Carb by me

Apple Fritter Pancakes

1 large egg
1 tablespoon granulated Sugar Substitute
⅛ teaspoon ground Cinnamon, or to taste
1 pinch ground Ginger
1 pinch ground Nutmeg
¼ teaspoon Salt
⅛ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Apple , medium
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
½ cup low carb All-Purpose Flour*
¼ teaspoon Baking Powder
⅛ teaspoon Baking Soda
2 tablespoons melted Butter

* I used Carb Counters All Purpose Flour but DCC Baking Mix, Carbquick, Almond Flour and Coconut Flour will also work. If using the latter two, mix with one of the other flour options for a sturdier pancake.

Peel, core, and grate the apple and set aside.

In a medium-sized bowl, add egg, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, kosher salt, and vanilla extract and whisk together until lightly foamy. Add the shredded apple and lemon juice and use a spatula to fold it into the sugar mixture until evenly combined.

In a small bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and baking soda to combine. Add flour to the egg mixture and stir until the flour is incorporated. The batter will be thick but can be spooned easily.

Heat the skillet over medium heat, then add the butter and let it melt. Use a tablespoon to pour the apple batter in the melted butter and let cook about 3 minutes. Check the bottom to see if it is browned. If so, use a spatula to flip the pancakes. Cook about another 3 minutes and press the top of the pancake. If it springs back, it is done. Check that it is browned on the bottom side. Cook a little longer if it is still pale.

Serve. You can sprinkle a little sugar-free confectioner’s sugar over the top or use a sugar-free syrup with them if you wish. Makes about 6 3-inch pancakes.

Nutrition Information

Note: Nutrition information is based on the ingredients I used in this recipe and my measurements. They are a close calculation and may be slightly higher or lower. Ingredient substitutions may affect the carb count. Different brands of flour have different carb counts.

Hope you’ll try this recipe. Let me know what you think.

Seafood, Vegetables & Salads

Changing Web Hosts & a Recipe

Avocado and Tuna Salad

Greetings everyone and Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

I just changed web hosts and finally moved Skinny Girl Bistro to its own domain name instead of bumming off my basic one. So the new place to find Skinny Girl Bistro is www.skinnygirlbistro.online. Could that be easier? I don’t think so. Please change your bookmarks to this new address.

Since the temperature is beginning to climb in various parts of the world, I thought a tasty salad recipe would be welcome about now. This one uses avocado along with apples, onions, celery, nuts and a tuna to make a delicious combination. You can also use chopped or shredded chicken in place of the tuna.

Tuna Salad with Avocado

1 ripe Haas Avocado
2 (5 ounce) cans or packets of flaked Light Tuna
½ medium Red Apple, chopped
½ cup chopped Red Onion
½ cup chopped Celery
¼ cup chopped toasted Walnuts or Pecans (optional)
2 tablespoons Mayonnaise
1 tablespoon sugar-free Sweet Pickle Juice
1 teaspoon dried Dill Weed (optional)
½ teaspoon Dijon Mustard
¼ teaspoon ground Cumin
Salt and Pepper to taste

Cut the avocado in half and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh into a large bowl. Mash the avocado with the back of a fork.

Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Adjust the salt and pepper to your own taste. Put in the refrigerator to chill for at least an hour to three hours. The longer it sits, the more the flavors will merge and increase the flavor.

Use a big scoop on top of lettuce for a tuna salad or put it on a low carb sandwich roll.

Makes about 6 servings.

Nutrition Information Avocado Tuna Salad

Recipes

For variety, try a curried chicken and pumpkin pizza!

Continuing my celebration of Fall and the delicious foods that reflect the season, I decided to expand on my pizza-making skills and create a pizza that combines Asian flavor in curried pumpkin and chicken with a delicious crust to create an Asian style pizza. Don’t scoff! It’s really good. I used mozzarella cheese on top, but I think other light white cheeses might be equally good with it.

Pumpkin is variable in the recipe. I actually used Butternut squash although you can also use Kobacha, acorn squash, Hubbard, or any other orange winter squash in it. They are all in the same family as pumpkin. In fact, the Kobacha is the squash usually used in Asian cooking when they refer to pumpkin. My preferred curry mix is S&B Golden Curry in cake form because it seems to impart the most flavor to my cooking and it thickens easily. You can mix your own curry together or use a curry powder from the store.

Curried Chicken and Pumpkin Pizza

1 cup cooked Chicken, chopped or shredded
1/2 cup Sweet Pumpkin or Butternut Squash, cubed
1/4 cup Onions, chopped or sliced
2 tablespoons Pico de Gallo or chopped onions, tomatoes, green chili and cilantro
1 cake S&B Golden Curry Sauce Mix (1/5 pkg)
1 cup Chicken Broth or Chicken Bullion
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese
1/4 Apple, cut into pieces (optional)
1/2 large Pizza Crust or 1 small 8″ crust

Preheat oven to 425 degrees (F.)

Cook the cubed pumpkin or squash in a microwave safe bowl for about 2 minutes to soften to fork-tender. You can also parboil them until a fork penetrates easily. This may vary with the size of the cubes, so the smaller they are, the faster they will cook.

In a medium pan, add chicken broth, onion, and curry mix, Add additional curry powder if you like a stronger curry. Cook until the sauce begins to thicken. Add chicken and pico de gallo. Stir and cook for about five minutes. You want it fairly thick so that it spreads easily and stays put on the crust.

Pizza with all toppings except apples and cheese.

Put foil over the bottom of a baking pan or use a pizza stone. Spray the foil with cooking spray and put the pizza crust on top. Spread the chicken curry mixture over the top evenly. Top with pumpkin cubes and apple pieces. Spread mozzarella cheese over the top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is lightly browned. Let cool for 5 minutes, then cut and serve.

Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition Information for topping only (including apple) per serving:
Calories: 202.7 Fat: 8.9 g Net Carbs: 6.8 g Protein: 21.7 g

Depending on the type of pizza crust you use, it can vary from 1 net carb per slice to 2 net carbs. LC Foods Pizza Crusts are about 2 net carbs for one slice while the homemade one that makes 4 servings is about 1.5 net carbs. Cauliflower and other vegetable crusts vary in carbs, but if you figure on 2 net carbs, you’ll be safe with most low carb crusts.

LC Foods Pizza Crust

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Chicken Pizza Crust

Flax Meal Pizza Crust

Desserts, Recipes

Low Carb Fruit Mini-pies are possible

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Ever wished for a little mini-pie to satisfy your sweet tooth, then looked at the carb count on the package of one of those pre-made ones?  Yikes!  One of the them can run around 70 net carbs for an apple one.

But you can make a low carb one at home fairly easily.  How, you may ask? Using low carb flours and sugar substitute really brings the carb count down.  Apples are a high carb fruit, but you can make a low carb apple mini-pie (or turnover) for under 10 net carbs.  I definitely don’t recommend this for anyone who is still losing weight and on phases 1-3 of the Atkins plan.  But for those who are on maintenance or have a high daily net carb count, this recipe will give you a great little pie. Just don’t make a habit of it.

You can use the same recipe for other fruit pies, such as peach, cranberry, raspberry, blueberry and blackberry.  Of these options, raspberry is the lowest carb count, coming in around 4 net carbs per pie. I broke open the crust in the photo so you could see how flaky the crust is and how good the fruit looks.

Low Carb Fruit Mini-Pies

1 Gala or other semi-tart Apple or 1 cup of other fruit
2 tablespoons chopped Pecans or Walnuts
2 tablespoon Butter
1 tablespoon Diet Cranberry Juice
1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground Cloves
2 tablespoon Brown Sugar Substitute

1/2 cup Low Carb Baking Mix
1/4 cup Coconut Flour
2 tablespoon Vanilla Whey Protein Powder
3 tablespoons Shortening
2 to 3 tablespoons Cold Water

Make the pie crust by mixing the flours together in a small and cutting in the shortening until it resembles crumbs. Add enough water to pull the flour mix together into a ball. Wrap in wax paper and put in the refrigerator to chill for about an hour.

While the dough is chilling, make the filling. Peel the apple, if you wish, and cut into thin slices or chop it, whichever you prefer. Melt butter in a skillet and add the apples, nuts, cranberry juice, brown sugar and seasonings and stir together, continuing to cook and stir for about five minutes. Turn off the heat and let the filling cool until the dough is done.

Before you take the dough out, preheat the oven to 265 degrees (F.). Prepare four muffin wells by spraying with baking spray.

Separate dough into five balls. Dough should not be sticky. Place a piece of waxed paper on a bread board and put a little low carb flour on it. Press the dough into a small round, then put another sheet of waxed paper over the top and roll until you have about a three-inch in diameter crust. Press into a well of the muffin tin. Repeat with three more balls of dough. Use a fork to poke a few vents in the bottom of the crust.

Spoon 1/4 of the filling into each of the muffin wells and top with 1 teaspoon of butter. Now, take the fifth ball of dough and split it into four smaller balls. Roll each one into a round that is large enough for the top of the muffin tin. Place the top dough on each pie in the tin and seal the edges. Poke a couple of holes in the top with the fork or a knife.

Bake for 20 minutes or until the crust is a golden brown. Remove and let cool about 10 minutes. Serve with a scoop of low carb ice cream or a tablespoon of whipped cream topping.

Makes four mini-pies.

Nutrition Information per Apple pie:
Calories: 320.5 Fat:23.3 Net Carbs: 9.6 g Protein: 11.5 g

Nutrition Information per Peach pie:
Calories: 307.2 Fat:23.3 g Net Carbs: 6.6 g Protein: 11.6 g

Nutrition Information Raspberry pie:
Calories: 276.4 Fat:22.7 g Net Carbs: 4.0 g Protein: 11.9 g

Appetizers, Condiments and Sauces, Recipes

Cranberry and Peppers Salsa Perks Up a Party

Here’s a simple and delicious salsa made with cranberries and Serrano peppers. I’ve adapted a recipe my roomie found on the web to a low carb version. We’ve increased the number of peppers and it still doesn’t have a really spicy kick to it. I think if it sits on the shelf for a month or so, it might get stronger, but when it’s fresh, it’s only a smoky hint of fire. If you want more kick in it, then add some of the seeds from the peppers, but be cautious. If you can’t find sugar-free honey, then omit it.

This is a great treat to take to a Holiday party along with crackers and softened cream cheese to spread it on.  Pictured above with Flackers crackers.  For my review of these, go here.

Cranberry and Peppers Salsa

Low Carb Ingredients:

6 cups Cranberries (two 12-oz bags), chopped
3 cups Red Onions, chopped
1 Apple, peeled and chopped
6 large Serrano Peppers, chopped
2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon Cider Vinegar
2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon Water
3 tablespoons Sugar-Free Honey
2/3 cup Sugar Substitute
1/2 tablespoon Canning Salt

Canning Recipe

In a deep, large pot, put four one-pint canning jars and lids and seals, placed independently of the jars, in with water to cover the tops and bring to a boil.

Chop cranberries, onions, apple and peppers. A food processor really speeds this process up. Be sure to use gloves unless you like pepper juice in your skin.

In a large pot, mix all ingredients except the cranberries and bring to a boil while stirring. Reduce the heat to a high simmer, add the cranberries and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

About 10 minutes before done, remove the jars and drain.

Spoon or use a funnel to fill jars to about 1 to 1/2″ from the top. Take lid and sealing ring from hot water and seal each jar. Places jars back in the hot water, making sure the water covers the top. Boil for 25 minutes.

Remove the jars and wait for the lids to pop, which indicates they are sealed. This can take several hours. The lid will appear dented down a little when they are properly sealed. Once sealed, this can store for up to one year on the shelf.

If you are going to eat within two weeks, you can skip the hot water seal and just store in the closed jars in the refrigerator.

Makes 4 jars with about 15 tablespoons in each jar.

Nutrition Information per tablespoon:
Calories:10.2 g Fat:0.1 g Net Carbs:1.9 g Protein: 0.2 g

Closer view of the cranberry pepper salsa.

Regular Ingredients

6 cups Cranberries (two 12-oz bags), chopped
3 cups Red Onions, chopped
1 Apple, peeled and chopped
6 large Serrano Peppers, chopped
2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon Cider Vinegar
2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon Water
3 tablespoons Honey
2/3 cup Sugar
1/2 tablespoon Canning Salt

Cooking instructions are identical to the low carb ones.

Makes 4 jars with about 15 tablespoons in each jar.

Nutrition Information per tablespoon:
Calories:21.8 g Fat:0.1 g Net Carbs: 5.0 g Protein: 0.2 g