lil carb Buffalo Wings

Watch me make these wings!

Jason and I LOVE wings!  I'm a wing girl and he's a drum guy- it's like we were meant to be or something... hehe.
When we started our low carb lifestyle I was pleasantly surprised to find that buffalo wings were low carb and if you pick the right blue cheese or ranch, that's low carb too. In honor of the Dayton 500 today I decided to make my lil carb buffalo wings. The method that I use to cook the wings is a great starting point for any sauce that you want to toss the wings in.  We prefer our wings extra crispy and today I made a spicy buffalo sauce to toss them in.

*Watch me whip up Homemade lil carb Blue Cheese Dressing*

I started out with about 1 and 1/4 lbs of wings. 

Already trimmed and ready to go.

I place them on a baking rack that I sprayed with cooking spray and laid that on top of a tin foil lined baking sheet. This step really helps keep my wings crispy. 

I also gave the wings a quick spray with cooking spray then I put them in the oven.

Then I prepped my sauce. I used a combination of Xtra Hot and Buffalo.

If you want mild wings just use all Buffalo.

I just warmed butter and those sauces in a pan until it was hot and the butter was melted.

And the sauce is done!

These are the crispy wings themselves! Ready for the sauce!

Then I poured the sauce into a large bowl and tossed all the wings. 

I let the wings sit in the sauce for a minute or so to really soak in the flavor.

For the blue cheese I did not have all of the ingredients to make my own but I did have store bought blue cheese.  To make it my own I added in a pinch of black pepper and some extra blue cheese crumbles. 

I plated the wings with some celery and chowed down with Jason!

lil carb Extra Crispy- Hot Buffalo Wings - Serves 2 - 

1- 1 1/2 lbs of Wings

1/2 Stick Butter

1/4 Cup Buffalo Sauce - Franks Brand

1/2 Cup Xtra Hot Sauce - Franks Brand

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Cover baking sheet with tin foil. Place baking rack on top of foil (optional). 

Spray baking rack with cooking spray.

Lay all the wings on the rack spreading the wings out so they have room to cook evenly.

Spray the wings lightly with cooking spray and bake for 30 minutes on the center rack of your oven. 

Flip the wings over, increase the oven temperature to 420 degrees and bake an additional 10 minutes. 

Flip them over again and move them up one rack so they are closer to the broiler. Broil the wings for 4 minutes. Watch them closely to decide how crispy you want them. For the sauce, in a medium saucepan melt the butter and stir in the buffalo sauces until warm and combined. Remove the wings from the oven and toss them in the sauce allowing them to sit in the sauce for about a minute then serve up with celery and blue cheese or ranch!

For my homemade lil carb Blue Cheese Dressing go HERE!

Sausage Stuffed Peppers & Balsamic Marinated Tomatoes

This just might be my most favorite low carb dinner!

I am constantly in search of flavorful recipes that don't have a million and one ingredients. The dinner I made last night fits the bill. The ingredient list is short but the flavors do not give that away. This is healthy, low carb and the flavors really went well together. 

On a side note: if you think you don't like goat cheese, give it another try- this dish might just change your mind. One last thing- hehe- the stuffed pepper mixture is so versatile! I recently made it as a party appetizer stuffed into mushrooms! 

Sausage Stuffed Peppers- Serves 2

2 Bell Peppers- any color

1/2 Onion, chopped

2 Cloves Garlic, chopped

1 16 Oz Package of Ground Sausage- mild, sweet, spicy- whatever you prefer -OR- 5 sausage links with the casing removed.

6 Oz Goat Cheese

Salt, Pepper, Crushed Red Pepper

1/2 Container Vita Blend Mixed Greens, 2.5 oz (see below) or you can use fresh kale or spinach!

Shredded Mozzarella Cheese to top

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cut peppers in half cutting right through the stem and take out the seeds and extra ribs and cut off stems.  Set them aside on a baking sheet lined with tin foil.

In a skillet over medium high heat sauté onion, garlic, and sausage. Break up sausage and cook until it is cooked through. Season with salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper to your liking.  Then add in the mixed greens and stir until they are wilted and combined. Next, add in the goat cheese. Stir until goat cheese is all melted into the sausage mixture. Check for seasoning.  Then spoon the mixture into the pepper halves. Top with the shredded cheese and bake for about 5-8 minutes or until the cheese is melted. 

*If you prefer softer peppers, preheat oven to 375 and cook for 15-18 minutes. If you like a crispy but warm pepper bake as stated above. 

This sausage mixture is begging to be stuffed into some peppers!

Stuffed!!! Red and yellow peppers tonight! Ready for the oven!

Balsamic Marinated Tomatoes- Serves 2 -

2 Large Tomatoes, sliced thick into 4 slices (end slices sprinkle with salt and pepper for a snack)

3 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

Other 1/2 onion, chopped

1 Clove Garlic, chopped

Other 1/2 Vita Blend Mixed Greens, 2.5 oz (see below)

2 oz Shredded Cheese- you can use Provolone, Parmesan, Mozzarella, whatever you have/prefer 

(I used provolone because I had a wedge in my fridge)

Salt & Pepper

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

Slice tomatoes thick and place in a shallow dish. Pour balsamic over tomatoes, turning tomatoes to coat and set aside. Let them marinate for at least 10 minutes. 

Take tomatoes out of the marinade and place on a baking sheet- reserve balsamic marinade.

In a skillet over medium heat sauté onions and garlic for 3-4 minutes in 1 tbsp olive oil. Add in the greens and stir until wilted then pour reserved balsamic marinade over greens and stir until most of the balsamic cooks off about one minute. Top each tomato with even amounts of the warm mixed greens mixture. Then top with grated cheese of your choice. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and broil until the cheese is melted. 

I absolutely love these mixed greens!  

They carry it at all of the stores in my area.

If you can't find it just substitute spinach or kale.

The moment before I topped the tomatoes!

lil carb Cheeseburger Casserole

When I was little I used to love having Hamburger Helper. It was the epitomy of a 'treat dinner'.  However, now I realize that a meal out of a box is not the most healthy dinner option. But we are in luck!  I have a recipe that tastes a thousand times better than the old favorite from my childhood, it comes together almost just as fast, and it is low carb!  It might not look gorgeous piled high in my bowl but let me tell you- it tastes SO flavorful and it reheats very well too!

unbaked

lil Carb Cheeseburger Casserole - Serves 3 - 

1 Lb Ground Beef

1/2 Medium Onion, chopped

2 Garlic Cloves, minced

8 oz Pack Button Mushrooms, chopped to desired size.

3 Cups Broccoli Florets, cut bite size

Salt and Pepper

6 oz Cheddar Cheese- white or yellow - plus 2oz to top with

2 Slices American Cheese

3/4 Cup Half and Half

3/4 Cup Mayonnaise

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Steam broccoli florets for 4 minutes and set aside. 

Brown beef, onions, garlic and mushrooms over medium high heat until beef is cooked through.  Drain. Season with salt and pepper.  Add in steamed broccoli and toss together. Remove from the heat. 

In a medium sauce pan add in the half and half and the mayonnaise. Bring to a bubble. It should be pretty thick already. Season with salt and pepper and add in the american cheese slices. Whisk until cheese is melted then add in 3 oz of the cheddar, whisk until melted then add in the remaining 3 oz cheddar.  Whisk until thick and bubbly only about a minute. Taste for seasoning and add in more salt and pepper if needed.

Add ground meat into a casserole dish and pour cheese sauce over and mix together until cheese sauce coats the ground meat mixture. 

Top with last 2 oz of cheddar. 

Bake at 375 for 20-23 minutes. 

After it is done baking let sit for about 4 minutes to let the casserole rest - and cool off!-. 

Then dig in!!

lil carb Blue Cheese Dressing

Since today is Super Bowl Sunday I figured it was my duty to share my go-to blue cheese dressing.  The ingredients are most definitely inside of your fridge as we speak so really the only thing you might need is the blue cheese crumbles!  

Use this as a salad dressing or dip your wings into it! That is what I am going to do! 

lil carb Blue Cheese Dressing:

1/2 Cup Mayo

1/4 Cup Half & Half

1/4 Cup Sour Cream

1 Tsp Worchestershire Sauce

1/2 Cup Blue Cheese Crumbles

1/2 Tsp Pepper

Salt To Taste

Whisk first 4 ingredients together until well combined then add in salt, pepper and blue cheese crumbles.  Fold together until well mixed. Cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge so flavors can develop for about 1 hour then serve with dip, on a salad, or with your favorite wings!

For my lil Carb Buffalo Wing recipe click HERE!!!