Low carb chocolate cheese cake with a coconut flour crust

My family and I spent Labor day weekend at one of my very best friends' house. He started doing the low carb diet a couple of months ago and has lost almost 50 lbs. I was so excited to spend the weekend making a bunch of low carb meals together. He came up with this amazing cheesecake recipe and its definitely worth sharing. 

Ingredients:

For the crust:

1 cup coconut flour

1 stick of butter (8 tablespoons) 

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

1/2 tablespoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon Stevia (or sweetener of your choice)

1 pinch salt

For the cheesecake filling:

16 oz cream cheese softened

3/4 cup Stevia (or sweetener of your choice)

2 eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

3 oz unsweetened bakers chocolate

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 pinch salt

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F 

2. To make the crust melt 1 stick of butter and combine with coconut flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon and Stevia. Mix well (If its still too powdery add more butter to form a dough like texture) 

3. Press the crust dough into a 9 inch spring form pan and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes or until the crust is solid and darker 

4. While the crust is baking begin making the cheesecake filling. First beat cream cheese and Stevia with an electric mixer until smooth 

5. Add in sour cream, vanilla extract, salt and 2 eggs. Mix until creamy

6. Melt the unsweetened bakers chocolate in a double boiler or just in a small pan on low heat, stirring constantly. 

7. Pour the chocolate and 1 tablespoon cocoa powder into the cream cheese mixture. Stir with a spoon or rubber spatula to combine chocolate and cream cheese mixture. 

8. Pour cheesecake mixture into the spring form pan on top of the coconut crust.

9. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the top of the cheesecake is set and darker but jiggly underneath 

10. Let the cheesecake cool to room temperature then refrigerate for a few hours (overnight is even better). Serve with whipped cream and enjoy :)

White Wine Mushroom Cream Sauce

Recipe adapted from thecookiewriter.com

I first found this recipe off of Pinterest from The Cookie Writer. She is amazing. If you haven't already go check out her blog and follow her on Instagram! This is by far one of my favorite recipes ever and I feel like I could live off of it. My recipe here is a short cut (or more lazy) version of her's. Here's how I make mine:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

16 oz fresh mushrooms

1/4 cup diced onions

3 cloves garlic

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup white wine

1 cup chicken or vegetable broth

1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes

1/4 teaspoon ground thyme 

salt and pepper to taste

1  heavy whipping cream

Preparation:

1. Heat frying pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil and place over medium heat, Add mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes. Then add the onions and garlic and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes or until everything is nicely caramelized.

2. Add balsamic vinegar, white wine. Stir and cook for a couple minutes. 

3.Stir in the chicken broth, red chili flakes, thyme and salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer.  

4. Pour in the heavy cream and cook until heated through. Pour over zoodles and serve with chicken or steak. Enjoy! :) 

  

Cheese shell tacos

 Recipe from misschriscreations.com

I cannot even begin to describe how much I love these. Tacos are definitely one of my favorite foods so when I started this low carb lifestyle I was searching for different options for low carb taco shells. You can buy low carb tortillas but these cheese shells are almost zero carb and taste amazing. 

Ingredients:

Sliced provolone cheese (2 slices per shell) & your favorite taco meat and toppings! That's it! 

Preparation:

1. Place 2 slices of cheese on a piece of parchment paper. Overlap the 2 pieces slightly in the middle so they melt together. 

2. Microwave on high for about 1 minute and 10 seconds (microwave times my vary)  You want the middle of your cheese where you overlapped it to be melted and not still solid. The edges will start to crisp up and turn brown, but don't worry, this will make for an even crispier taco shell :)

3. Remove the parchment paper (with the cheese still on it) from the microwave

4. Immediately hold your parchment paper up and fold the paper to where the cheese forms a taco shell shape. Hold it there for a few seconds while the shell cools and hardens. 

5. Poof! You have yourself a taco shell, ready to stuff with amazing-ness. 

Low carb cream cheese waffles

Ingredients: 

4 oz cream cheese

4 large eggs

2 teaspoons Stevia 

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Preparation: 

1. Mix all ingredients together in a blender or magic bullet. Pour into hot greased waffle iron and cook just like regular waffles :) 

 2. Serve with Kerrygold (or your favorite butter) and sugar free syrup. 

Cream cheese pancakes (low carb and gluten free)

Recipe adapted from ibreatheimhungry.com

yields four 6" pancakes

Ingredients:

• 2 oz cream cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp Stevia or any granulated sugar substitute 
• ½ tsp cinnamon

Preparation:

1. Put all ingredients in a blender or magic bullet. Blend until smooth. Let rest for 2 minutes so the bubbles can settle.
2. Pour ¼ of the batter into a hot greased pan. Cook for 2 minutes until golden, flip and cook 1 minute on the other side. Repeat with the rest of the batter.
3. Serve with sugar free syrup (or any syrup of your choice) and fresh berries.

* For a more thick, fluffier pancake see preparation below:

1. Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. 

2. Place egg whites in a mixer and mix on high until stiff peaks form (this will take a few minutes)

3. Blend the egg yolks, cream cheese, stevia, and cinnamon in a blender or magic bullet

4. Gently fold in the egg yolk mixture with the egg whites. Then cook on hot greased pan like directions above. 

 

Cloud Bread (Oopsie bread)

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1/8 tsp cream of tartar or baking powder

2 tbs cream cheese (I've also substituded the cream cheese with sour cream or mayo) 

dash of salt

Preparation:

 Preheat oven to 300 degrees

1. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and cooking spray.
2. Separate egg yolks and egg whites. Place in two separate bowls. Mix together egg whites and cream of tart until a stiff peak forms. 
3. In a separate bowl blend together egg yolks and cream cheese until creamy smooth. Fold the egg yolk in with the egg whites. (Do not blend, just fold in gently) 
4. Spoon out your mixture on the prepared baking sheet in circles.
5. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.

Low carb shake

Ingredients:

1 cup crushed ice

1/2 cup water

1 packet crystal light (flavor of your choice)

1/4 cup heavy cream

Preparation:

Blend all ingredients together in a blender and serve