Stuffed Cucumber with Cream Cheese & Sun Dried Tomatoes

LowCarb / Vegetarian

This is a great recipe for a light lunch or appetizer.  Make it as spicy as you'd like by allowing the guests to add as much Sriracha Sauce as they would like

Ingredients

1 medium sized Cucumber, peeled

1 - 8 ounce block of cream cheese

1 - 4.25 ounce can of chopped black olives

1/4 cup of marinated sun dried tomatoes

1 tsp. crushed garlic

1 tsp of garlic Salt

2 tsp of Sriracha Sauce

coarse ground Sea Salt

Instructions

Peel Cucmber and cut in half (not lengthwise)

using a apple corer and knife remove seeds from cucumber.

Place all other ingredients (except sea salt) in a food processor and blend until a smooth paste has been formed.

Scrape ingredients form food processor and put it into a zip lock baggie.

snip end of ziploc bag and insert into the whole that you have created in the cucumber.

Squeeze to fill and scrape of any extra from top of cucumber

slice into 1/2 thick rounds

Hearts of Palm & Artichoke Salad (low carb / vegetarian)

Vegetarian

7 grams of carbs

This very tangy salad is packed with flavor and fiber

Ingredients

1 - 14.5 ounce can of Hearts of Palm

1 - 14 ounce can of Artichoke Hearts

1 - 3.8 ounce can of black olives

1 medium tomato chopped

4 Tablespoons of Bernstein's Cheese and Garlic Italian Dressing

2 Tablespoons of Capers

Shaved Parmesan cheese (garnish)

Baco bits (garnish)

Instructions

Drain liquid from Hearts of Palm, Artichoke Hearts and Black Olives.

Chop Tomato 

In a medium Bowl combine all ingredients except Cheese and Baco Bits.

Toss to coat

Plate salad and garnish with parmesan cheese and Baco Bits

Mock German Potato Salad (Vegan / Low Carb)

Ingredients

4 slices of Vegetarian Bacon 

Meatless Smart Bacon

1/4 red onion; chopped

1/2 cup apple cider Vinegar

1 tsp. Coconut Oil

1 Packet of Truvia

1 14.5 oz container of hearts of palm; sliced

Directions

Cook Smart Bacon as directed on package

Drain Hearts of Palm and slice to bite size pieces

Chop Onions and Saute in Coconut Oil

When Onions Wilt (appx 3 minutes) add the hearts of palm and continue to saute for 3 more minutes

Add Truvia (or Stevia) and Apple Cider Vinegar and cook over medium high until tossing frequently until cider has been reduced

Serve Warm

Shaved Brussels Sprouts (Vegetarian / Low Carb)

Vegetarian / Low Carb

Ingredients

1 pound of fresh Brussels Sprouts, washed with outer leaves removed

2 Tablespoons of Salted Butter

3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

1 Red Onion Thinly Sliced

6 Garlic Cloves, Thinly Sliced

4 Tablespoons of  Bac'Uns  (Vegetarian Bacon Bits)

2 Tablespoons of Fresh Lemon Juice

Instructions

You can either use a food processor with a slicing blade or a mandolin.  I actually enjoy the mandoline so that is what I chose to use.  If you don't have one, this is a very affordable and handy tool to have in the kitchen.

Swissmar Borner Slicer Plus Mandoline

Slice Brussels Sprouts, garlic and onions thinly.

In a large skillet melt butter with olive oil over medium heat.

Add the onions and saute 3 minutes

Add Garlic and saute 1 minute

Add Brussels Sprouts and saute until tender about 8 - 10 minutes.

Stir in Fresh Lemon juice and Season with Salt and Pepper

Transfer to Serving Bowl and Sprinkle with a few Tablespoons of Bac'un Bits

Cauliflower "Rice" (low carb / vegetarian)

Instructions

Start with a very firm fresh head of cauliflower

Remove green stems and leaves and cut to a workable size

Wash well and drain

Place dried cauliflower in a food processor and pulse until it is the same consistency as rice

Cook in a Microwavable dish with a tight fitting lid and two tablespoons of water or broth

I like to use the microwave steamer

Serve in Place of Rice

Sunomono - Japanese Cucumber Salad (low carb)

Ingredients

1 Large Cucmber - peeled and sliced, seeds removed

1 teaspoon of salt

2 Tablespoons of Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar

1 Tablespoon of Stevia

1 teaspoon of Soy Sauce or Bragg Liquid Aminos

Sesame Seeds

Instructions

Peel cucumber and slice in half long wise

Scoop out seeds with a spoon and then thinly slice each half using a mandoline or knife

Sprinkle with salt and let stand 5 minutes

Squeeze out excess moisture

Combine Vinegar, sugar and soy in a bowl and mix well

Pour Vinegar mixture over the cucumber slices and toss

Sprinkle with Sesame Seeds and Serve