Bunless Bacon Burger - Food Transformation

Often, when people try to eat healthier, they eliminate their favorite foods. This only ends in frustration and sometimes leading to overeating. Rather than looking at what you should not eat, look at how you can make a new version by transforming you favorite foods into a healthier and still tasty meal. I find burgers to be one of those 'junk foods' that can be transformed by just eliminating the bun and adding veggies, etc.

Bunless Bacon Cheeseburger

Season ground beef with spices, salt and pepper. Make patties. Cook in a pan (or the grill) for 2-3 minutes, flip place cheese on top, cover with foil or lid, and continue cooking until desired doneness is reached. Place burger on a bed of lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, top with some fresh cooked bacon .. and oh yeah, you got yourself a fantastic meal!

Chiles Rellenos Casserole

This Chiles Rellenos Casserole (sometimes called chili relleno) is very easy to prepare and is loaded with flavor. Chile peppers are stuffed with cheese and then topped with beef, pork, or chicken, enchilada sauce or salsa, and then more cheese. It's an easy weeknight dinner, great for company, or to bring to a potluck.

This recipe was adapted from this chili relleno breakfast casserole. I modified the recipe to make it low carb by omitting the flour, and substituting heavy cream for the milk. A low carb friend kicked it up a notch by adding shredded pork and salsa to this recipe. So my thinking was beef and enchilada sauce would also be awesome.

Chiles Rellenos Casserole made with Beef and Enchilada Sauce (made by me, Debbie)

Chiles Rellenos Casserole made with Pork and Salsa (made by Sandy)

Chiles Rellenos Casserole

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef *

2 7-ounce cans whole mild green chile peppers

8 oz monterey jack cheese (whole brick), cut into 1/2 inch cubes

8 oz cheddar colby cheese shredded (can use cheddar)

5 large eggs

1 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup enchilada sauce or salsa

Cooking Spray

*You can use pork, or chicken in place of the ground beef.

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef in a medium skillet over medium/high heat. Season with salt and pepper. Drain and set aside.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a large rectangular glass baking dish (9×13) with cooking spray.

3. Open and drain each can of chiles. Stuff each chile with cubed pieces of monetary jack cheese. Arrange the stuffed chiles in the bottom of the baking dish.

4. Spread the cooked ground beef (pork or chicken) evenly over the stuffed chili peppers.

5. Sprinkle shredded cheddar colby jack cheese over the ground beef and chiles.

6. In a separate medium sized bowl combine eggs, heavy cream and salt and whisk.

7. Pour egg mixture over chiles.

8. Top with enchilada sauce or salsa. I added a few slices of jalapeno peppers to the top as well.

Bake uncovered for 40 -45 minutes or until firm. Remove from oven and let set 5 or 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

Best Low Carb Meatballs

These meatballs are my family's favorite. This recipe stems from my mom's meatballs from when I was growing up. I've modified the recipe to be low carb, by replacing regular bread crumbs with almond flour. Nobody has ever questioned the taste or texture so I'm thinking they don't even know they are low carb and keto friendly.

I use this basic recipe to make my homemade red (spaghetti) sauce and meatballs, Hot Buffalo Meatballs, and Simple Swedish Meatballs.

Best Low Carb Meatballs

Best Low Carb Meatballs

Ingredients:

1 lb Ground beef

1/2 lb Ground Pork

1/2 lb Ground Veal

2 Eggs, large

1/4 cup Almond Flour

1 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated

1 1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Pepper

1/2 tsp Italian Spice Mix / Italian Seasonings

To Make meatballs:

Mix thoroughly all ingredients be careful to over mix the ingredients. Form mixture into meatballs and brown in skillet or broil on a broiler rack in a 400 degree oven just until brown. Add meatballs to your favorite sauce and simmer, on your stove top or in a crock-pot / slow cooker, until cooked through (approx 1 -2 hours). If you would like to eat the meatballs plain (like me), cook meatballs all the way through (the cooking time depends on the size of the meatballs. Generally it will take 8-10 minutes in the oven)