Caramel Apple Crepes

Today I made crepes. This was my first time and I was a little scared about it. I know when you hear the word crepes you think difficult but they were really easy. I think they turned out all right.  To make sweet crepes you will need:

• 2 eggs, plus an extra yolk
• 1  cup flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup water

Apple Filling:

• 5 medium apples, peeled, cored & diced
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

Topping:

• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 jar (14 oz.) caramel sauce
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• powdered sugar (optional)

To make the batter, add the 2 eggs, the yolk, flour, milk, melted butter, sugar, and vanilla to a blender. If you prefer, you can use a hand mixer and a bowl.

When the batter is smooth add the water. The batter will look a little runny but it's fine. If using the blender, pour the batter into to a bowl and put it in the fridge for about 30 minutes so that it can thicken.

  

While the batter is setting, core, peel, and dice the 5 medium apples. Put the diced apples in a nonstick pan with some butter so the apples caramelize (I actually used coconut oil instead of butter). Cook the apples until tender.

Add brown sugar and cinnamon then cook until sugar is melted and apples are coated. When there is about 2 minutes left for the batter to set, start making the caramel sauce.

      

In a small saucepan, warm the milk but do not let boil over. When the milk is warm, add the caramel sauce and stir until combined. Then keep on low until ready to use.

When the thirty minutes are up, take out the batter and a crepe pan. Put the pan on medium-high heat and let sit for a little while until hot. When the pan is hot add some butter or coconut oil to the pan and swirl it around. Use a ladle to pour about 1/4 cup of the batter on the side of the pan. Then move the pan around so that the whole bottom is covered. The first side of the crepe should take about 25 seconds to cook. You'll know when to turn when the edges start to brown slightly.

Then take a spatula, (I used an omelette spatula) and flip the crepe over. The other side should take 15-17 seconds. If the crepe is crumpled when it turns over lightly take your spatula and unravel it. Continue this with the rest of your batter. It should make about 8 crepes.

Use parchment paper to separate your crepes to prevent them from sticking together.

I made the crepes two ways. The first way is called the triangle. When the crepes are done, take one at a time, spread out your first one put a little bit of apple on one side.

Flip the side that does not have the apples over the side with the apple. Then take a spoon and pour caramel sauce over the crepe (Not too much because you are going to put more on).

Then take one of the corners and flip it on top of the opposite end. Top with walnuts and powdered sugar and serve immediately.

       

The second way to make the crepe is called the cigarette. You spread the apples evenly over the entire crepe.

Do the same with the caramel sauce and walnuts. Then roll the crepe until it looks like a long cylinder.

Pour some more caramel sauce over the top and add the powdered sugar.

 Serve immediately!  We had these for breakfast but this also makes a great dessert crepe served with ice cream.

                                                                             Enjoy :) 

      

Vegetarian "Corned Beef Hash"

Today for breakfast I had vegetarian corned beef hash. I got a little skillet and put a tablespoon of oil in it. Then after the oil was hot I put choppd onions and diced potatoes in the skillet to sautee. When the onions were transparent and the potatoes were soft, I added the tofu crumbles. While that cooked, I made a fried egg so the yolk was liquid in the middle. I poured the corned beef hash in a bowl and put the egg on top. Cut into the egg and spread the yolk all over the corned beef hash. Don't forget to add a little salt and pepper to your corned beef hash.

Enjoy!

Green Salmon Wrap

Today for lunch I had what I call a "Green Salmon Wrap".  It is low in carbs, quick to make and tastes wonderful.

Here's what you need to assemble your sandwich:

Low carb wraps
Canned salmon (boneless and skinless)
Green Goddess salad dressing
Lettuce
Cheese (any kind that you like)

Drain the salmon and warm in the microwave for about 30 seconds.  While it is warming, assemble your bread and cheese on a plate.

When the salmon is warm, mix in your desired amount of Green Goddess dressing.  The amount you add will depend solely on how you like the consistency of your sandwiches.

Once mixed, spread the salad onto the wrap.  I added an additional squeeze of dressing to mine.

Add lettuce, sliced tomato and any additional topping as you prefer, but keep in mind, you're going to have to wrap it! :)  I added some lettuce and a few shavings of Parmesan cheese.

Carefully roll your wrap being sure to fold in one side for easier eating.

A side salad or cup of tomato soup would make a great complement to this awesome warm wrap.

Enjoy! :)

Mushroom Soup

Today I made fresh, homemade mushroom soup. 

The first thing I did was get a large sauce pan and melt half a stick of butter.  Then I added a large diced yellow onion and some chopped garlic. I cooked them on medium until tender (about 15 minutes).  Then I added 1 pound of diced, fresh mushrooms and an 8 oz. can of canned mushrooms along with their liquid and cooked them until tender as well.

After the  mushrooms, onions and garlic were tender, I added about 3 tablespoons of cornstarch to the soup to thicken it up slightly (you can use flour if you prefer a thicker soup but cornstarch does a decent job without all the carbs).

After all the cornstarch was mixed in, I added 2 1/2 cups of broth. I used vegetable but you can use chicken or any other kind if you want.

After adding the broth, I added 2/3 cup of half and half. I used half and half because it's healthier than heavy cream (lower in fat) and lower in carbs than milk but, of course, cream works as well if you prefer.

When the half and half was in the soup, I let it come to a rolling boil, stirring occasionally.  Then I brought it down to low and let it simmer.  Be sure to taste it occasionally and add salt and pepper as needed.  I added a few dashes but found that I really didn't need much.

While the soup simmered, I cooked a couple strips of vegetarian bacon.  Feel free to use the real thing if you are a meat eater.  :) 

Mmmm... buttery!

When the bacon's done and cooled a bit, break it into crumbles.  Mix your soup well (the butter may have risen to the top) and serve with a dollop of sour cream, crumbled bacon and some of the warm Parmesan crisps that I wrote about in an earlier post.

Enjoy! :)

Summer jobs

This summer I volunteered at a school for special needs kids. It was the best thing I ever did. I had so much fun helping and watching them learn about the digestive system, bones, nutrition, and the origins of the fourth of July.

Also during the ESY (extended school year) they have a store for the students where they can purchase items from pencils to computer games. The store is called the Sunshine Store.
Now I'm going to tell you about some of the kids in the class.

Traci: She LOVES Justin Bieber with a fiery passion. She is also a perfectionist.
Vivian:She loves all the Disney characters and flowers.You will always see Vivian with pink on also. Besides that she is a great friend and doesn't like being lied to (just like everyone else!)
Sammie: The skinniest guy you would ever meet but once you get him started on food, he will talk your ear off. Probably when he gets to college he will probably be a chef.
Brian S.: He is very curious and can spell almost anything. He loves reading and writing and exploring new things.
Brian V.: He loves to draw and color. His favorite colors are light blue and light green. He loves to be the cashier at the Sunshine Store because it involoves money and counting.
Robert: He is super tall and looks like he could be mean but he is actually the nicest and funniest guy you could ever meet besides the height difference.
Vani: She is also a perfectionist and loves to get work done.
Andrew: He is the comedian of the class. He can make you laugh when you are down.
Zahmeen: Like Brian V. Zahmeen also loves to color and explore new things. He has amazing handwriting and loves writing.

 The ESY program ended Monday 8/8/11. The days lasted from 8:30 to 12:00 Monday to Friday. I can't wait to go back next year and see all the kids I met this year again.

Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

Today I made homemade Broccoli and Cheddar Soup and fresh Parmesan crisps. It is low in carbs and makes a delicious vegetarian meal.

The first thing I did was wash and cut the broccoli into small pieces and put them in a soup pot. Then I covered the broccoli with water and brought to a boil.

Once the broccoli was tender, I added diced basil, salt and pepper, and about a tablespoon of vegetable base. (If you are not vegetarian you can always start with chicken broth or use chicken base.)

Once the seasonings were added, I used a hand blender to blend the flavors together and pureed them until they were at a consistency that I liked.

Be sure to taste seasonings and adjust as needed. I added the cheese when I liked how my soup looked and tasted. I used a cup of triple cheddar and a cup of Mexican four cheese but feel free to use whichever kind of cheese you like.

When I finished adding the cheese, I added about a 1/2 cup of half and half (or you can use heavy cream if you prefer) and warmed through. 

While that was warming I made my Parmesan crisps. All you need is shredded Parmesan and a hot flat pan, lightly oiled. (Non-stick works best). Drop small handfuls of cheese onto the hot pan in separate piles.

Once the edges turn golden brown, flip carefully with a small spatula. These can also be done in the oven at 300˚ for 5 minutes.

Once they are golden on both sides, put on a plate to cool. Plate soup and add a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of paprika (or any other toppings you like.)

 

Enjoy! :)

Welcome to Lala Eats!

Welcome to my blog. It will be about me and my journey through making my life better. Throughout the blog, I will be featuring foods that are low-carb, low-fat, vegetarian, fish based, and lots and lots of desserts. Welcome to my adventure.

                  Enjoy! :)