Keto Tomato Pie

Tomato Pie
by Keto Chef Melissa

I love tomatoes in every form.  I love them cooked, or raw, in soup, in sauce and even in a can. I like them big, I like them small, doesn't matter I'll eat em all. But of all the tomatoes the Summer Vine ripened tomato has to be the King. I don't know if there is anything better than a fresh tomato sandwich.  Am I the only one who was brought up eating these?

The first time I had this was at a family party. My cousin’s father-in-law brought a full carb, amazingly delicious version which left me longing for another slice. Well we have been living the Keto life for quite a while now and I thought it was gone forever then I had some amazing low carb biscuits and thought I could possibly make a half decent version. Well this did not disappoint in the least. It had all the fresh flavors of summer that I remembered with only 4 net carbs per serving. 

The recipe I use from Simply so healthy  is my favorite Keto biscuit that I have come across. These are so good smothered in sausage gravy or dunked in hot soup. So I thought why not try to use it as my crust.  It held up nicely without getting soggy and gave a nice nutty flavor.

This makes a great side dish beside a nice piece of meat or do it like they do down south and eat it as part of breakfast. I think fried eggs and pork sausage would throw this over from awesome to amazing. No matter how you cut it this is a keeper. 

Keto Tomato Pie 🍅 

9 servings 4 net carbs per serving

3 large ripe tomatoes 

1/2 green pepper diced

1/2 onion diced 

1 tsp olive oil

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tsp garlic powder divided 

1/4 t salt

1 tsp oregano or Italian seasoning

1/2 c grated Parmesan 

1 c mayo

2 c shredded cheddar 

 1 batch of biscuit dough can be made ahead and refrigerated 

⭐️ A couple hours ahead of time I sliced the tomatoes into 1/4 inch slices and layer them on a cookie sheet covered in paper towels and salted them. I let them hang out for a few hours to let some of the moisture out. 

Preheat oven 350 

1. In an 8x8 baking dish press the biscuit dough to cover bottom. Place in preheated oven and par bake for 10 minutes. 

2. In a skillet on medium add the oil and sautè the peppers and onions for 3 minutes. Add the chili, 1/2 the garlic powder and the Italian seasoning.  Cook an additional minute then turn off heat. 

3. Pull the baking dish from the oven and add pepper mixture over the hot crust. Sprinkle Parmesan on top.

4. Place tomatoes in rows overlapping slightly. You will have a few slices left over.

5. In a bowl mix cheese, mayo and the remaining garlic powder.

6. Spread evenly over tomatoes. It’s OK if it doesn’t cover ever spot. 

 Bake uncovered 25-35 minutes or until golden brown. This Tomato pie is good hot, cold and reheats well.

Refrigerate left overs and use within a couple days.

What do you use to clean your home?

It is no secret that traditional cleaning products are full of nasty chemicals.  I personally try to keep chemicals out of our home as much as possible and it can become very difficult to find cleaners that are safe and yet actually work.  

I have used everything on the market.  I have even made my own homemade cleaners and they work good enough but I don't always have the time to make cleaners. 

Have you ever heard of Norwex? I have heard of it for years...a company that has all natural cleaning products.  Microfiber cloths where you can clean with just water. Sounds great right? So I decided to have an in home demonstration to see what all the hubbub was about.

Here is what I learned... 3 things sets Norwex Microfiber apart from others

1. In order to be called microfiber it has to have fibers 1/6 the size of a human hair. Norwex is an astonishing 1/200th.  It attracts dirt into those itty bitty spaces.  

2. It is super dense. If you unravel an Envirocloth the strand would reach from Canada to the gulf of mexico.  And that is in each cloth. Wow!

3. The have a Baclock. It is micro silver that helps to inhibit the growth of mold, fungi and bacterial odor when used and laundered as directed.  Silver is a natural antimicrobial.

These cloths are amazing.  I could talk all day about the million uses I have found for them. You can clean your house top to bottom. Here is a list of some of the uses of the Envirocloth.

Norwex has many other items and I have found many many favorites like:

Body cloths- Wash cloths with Baclock that clean amazingly.  They have helped many people with their acne and you can use them with just water.  They have make up removal cloths too!!

Hair turban- I have thick long hair and if I don't blow dry it can take over 24 hours to dry.  The hair turban is thick and absorbent and works great.  Has Baclock as well so I barely every have to wash it. Also available is body towels which I also use and adore.

Window Cloth - Do you love cleaning windows? Yeah me neither but with this cloth and a little water even the dirtiest windows are spotless in seconds.  Also good for chrome, mirrors and anything else you want to shine.

Dusting mitt- I hate to dust.  It has to be the worst...am I right?  With this little amazing invention you can just quickly go through the house with ease.  Used wet or dry it is simple. 

I could literally go on and on about the amazing products.  Google Norwex Chicken test and be amazed.  So back to the story.... I have this in home demo and I earned tons of free products and am more than happy with everything that I have used so far.  I loved it so much that I actually decided to become a consultant.  I just want to share the opportunity to have a safe haven home with everyone I meet.  

So have you tried Norwex?  Leave me a comment below

Coconut and Squash, How could you go wrong?

I love squash.  Butternut, kabocha, kuri, spaghetti, pumpkin and even summer squash.  I have yet to meet one that I do not have an affinity for.   When it comes to cooking the options of endless.  You can bake, saute, make into sauce or even noodles but for me when a winter squash comes across my table I want it in the form of a warming squash soup.

So before I get to the recipe lets look at some of the health benefits of squash.  The deep orange color is a good indicator of the high amount of beta carotene which is good for eye and bone health.  It is also full of vitamin A, C, E and K.

It is a great source of magnesium and potassium which is vital for our bodies.  Including helping regulate blood pressure and triglycerides. 

The seeds are a great source of protein and iron and have been shown to help intestinal parasites in humans and animals alike. 

And it is low in calories, a mere 75  per cup, which makes it a great option when trying to eat better.  

I hope this recipe helps you see squash in another light. Not just the mashed boring squash at thanksgiving but as a start to a beautiful meal.  

Coconut Curry Roasted Squash Soup

serves 4

For the Roasted squash  425°F 30-40 minutes

1 large butternut squash peeled and cubed

1/2 onion peeled and diced

1 tablespoons melted coconut oil

salt and pepper to taste

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup 

mix all ingredients together and place onto a cookie sheet or shallow baking pan and bake until tender

To assemble soup

1 can light coconut milk
1 tablespoon tumeric
1 tablespoon ginger
1-2 tablespoon curry powder
1 tablespoon garam masala
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon of hot pepper flakes if you like heat i use aleppo

In a blender mix roasted squash, coconut milk and spices until smooth
Pour into a pot and heat thoroughly stirring often.  If it is too thick you can add some broth or water. I like it really thick. Serve hot!
optional: sprinkle on some pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

Hint: I like to taste before serving and adjust the spices and seasoning.

Enlightened Taco Salad

When you think of taco salad what comes to mind?  Do you think shredded lettuce with taco flavored meat and gobs of sour cream and salsa? Maybe you have only had one in a greasy shell that was barely edible.  If you have never loved a taco salad or you can not get enough of them, may I suggest you give my Enlightened Taco Salad a chance.

I started with your basic green salad.  Then added grass fed ground beef that was cooked up with my own spice blend.  Next I added some sauteed veggies and topped it off with salsa.  You can get creative here and add whatever you like.  Maybe you love beans, then by all means add some,  or perhaps guacamole or some slices of avocado.  Whatever it may be that pleases you, go ahead and toss it in.  

My picky 6 year old ate a big plate of this when I served it up so,  I would say it is a hit with the whole family. And before you think this may be too hard to pull off,   I would let you know we made this while camping in a tent.  

Enlightened Taco Salad

Serves 4

6 cups chopped romaine lettuce

1 cup grape tomatoes cut in half

1 cucumber quartered and cut into pieces

1 zucchini chopped 

2-3 red, orange or yellow peppers chopped 

1 clove garlic minced

1-2 T olive oil

1/2 t sea salt

1 lb ground grass fed beef

1T olive oil

2 cloves garlic minced

2-4 T taco seasoning (recipe below)

1 t sea salt 

1/2 c water

Salsa 

Guacamole 

On a platter arrange lettuce, halved tomatoes and cucumber pieces.

In a pan add 2 T olive oil and heat on medium until warm.  Add peppers and zucchini and saute until tender and beginning to brown. Add 1 clove minced garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir and cook until garlic is well combined and fragrant.  About 3 minutes.  Pour veggies out onto salad.

Add remaining 1 T oil to pan and add beef.  Over medium heat cook until no pink remains. Drain beef if needed.  Add seasoning, garlic, salt and water.  Stir and cook for additional 5 minutes.  Pour on top of salad.

Finish your salad off with salsa and guacamole.  Enjoy!

Taco Seasoning 

2 T cumin powder

1 T chili powder

1 T garlic powder

1 T onion powder

1 T dried oregano

1 T sea salt

1/2 t cayenne powder (optional)

store in an airtight container 

oh Honey!

i

Honey is a magical thing yet I think people really do not realize how marvelous this natural wonder is.  Honey kept raw and stored properly has no expiration date.  It has been used for thousands of years in all sorts of applications including eating. 

Before I get into the benefits I need to repeat you need to make sure you have RAW honey.  There are many reputable places you can find them This is the honey I love the most.  The closer to home you can get your honey the more benefits it will have.



Lets start with a big one.  Seasonal Allergies affect so many people but if you get local wild flower honey and take a teaspoon in the morning and afternoon you will see a dramatic difference.

Honey is  wonderful moisturizer for body, face and hair. ( Recipes bottom)

Honey makes a perfect healing medicine for you or your child's cough and sore throat.   I add a teaspoon of raw honey with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and mix in water.  I tell my son its honey lemonade and it helps his sick.

Its a natural antiseptic.  Honey bandages are used in hospitals even.  You can dab it on a cleaned cut for quicker healing.  Some people even use it to pull out and prevent infections in most skin ailments.

Since honey is a athletic performance enhancer and can be used before bed for relaxation.

Honey is a great sugar replacement in baking and cooking.  I use it in my coffee and tea too.

Honey is an amazing natural product that is worth trying.


Coconut honey hair conditioner mask:

1t coconut oil
1t raw honey
2T apple cider vinegar
5-7 drops essential oil *optional*

mix together and rub into hair.  Leave on for 5-10 minutes depending on how dry your hair is. 
Shampoo your hair with a good natural shampoo and rinse

Honey face moisturizer:

take 1t honey, warm it in your hands and rub it on your face. Leave it on for 5 minutes and rinse.  You can use a mixture of water and ACV (apple cider vinegar) as a toner for after your done.
 
Acne mask: 

1t honey
2t lemon juice

mix together and put on skin. Leave for 10 minutes and rinse.  Use ACV toner. You may also use this to brighten darker spots.

Honey body scrub:

1/2 c raw sugar
1/4 c honey
1/8 c olive oil, almond oil or coconut oil
1/4 c Castile soap  * i love peppermint or use 20 drops of your favorite essential oil*

mix ingredients together and use in the shower after you soap. 

ps I dad a little on my lips when they are dry too.

Wondrous Watermelon

When the days start to get longer and the summer heat is upon us I know its time for my favorite fruit, WATERMELON!!  The bright pink flesh that is as sweet as candy.  I have fond memories of my grandpa giving me big pieces, going out to the porch and eating it, all the time juice running down to my elbows.


Even though it is available year round, it is the best in the summer.  If you have the room I would encourage you to try and grow them yourself.  If you cant then pick some up at the farm or the market. Watermelons are picked when they are ripe and do not ripen more once they are picked so what you get is what you get.  It should be heavy and smooth with bright green skin and stripes of white/yellow.

Watermelon is a great source of vitamin c.  Vitamin C is important for our immune health. Got a cold coming on run to this vitamin to get better quicker.

It has Arganine, an amino acid, that helps lower blood pressure.

Its rich in Lycopene which helps fight cancer cells.

B vitamins which help mood.

The natural sugars calm cravings and give energy.

And there is nothing like watermelon to help hydrate you since its made up of  mostly water.

I know most people already like watermelon and know its good for you but now you know why.  So instead of picking up an ice cream to cool you down and make you feel better, reach for a slice of watermelon and feel instantly better.

Say bye bye to bugs

 

Its summer time and those little buggers are out for blood.... literally.  Mosquitoes can be such pests and are known to carry diseases like west nile.  There are plenty of chemically laden sprays out there to keep you protected but my family takes a more natural approach. 

Everyone has heard of citronella.  There are many a night when we had those candles glowing on our table out back. But did you know citronella is actually a grass. If you plant it around your yard it can actually help repel mosquitoes.

There are many plants that repel insects including mosquitoes like: Mint, Lavender, Lemongrass and Catnip.  How beautiful and affective to have some of these planted or in pots around you yard.  Not only are the esthetically pleasing, they smell amazing to humans and you can use mint, lavender and lemongrass to cook with as well as make teas.

 

 

You can also take advantage of these plants repellent properties by using the essential oils.  Each essential oil has many uses so it is worth picking a few up.  Lavender is one of my favorites.  You can use it to calm down your children, in the bath, in cookies, as a massage oil, in lemonade, to take the itch away from a bug bite as well as a bug repellent.

Lemongrass is good for skin care, aromatherapy and deodorizer.

Mint is good for body products, it invigorates, deodorizes, makes a great back massage oil and can be put into food.
(please make sure you have food grade oil before consuming it)

Here are a couple of recipes for homemade bug spray

Where to find essential oils       Mountain Rose Herbs     Amazon

Just a reminder... Mosquitoes breed in water so get rid of any standing water in your yard.  Wear protective clothes when out at dusk or in the woods and make sure whatever kind of spray you use that you spray your children and yourselves liberally.