Earl Cooks Cassava Cookies - AGAIN

Cassava Cookies SECOND TRY!

As anyone knows who has read my posts here, I am NOT a baker. I consider baking the SCIENCE of cooking...all the measuring and weighing - UGH! But while shopping st Sprouts I saw something that I wanted to try - CASSAVA FLOUR. In my quest to cut carbs, I have read EVERY label on EVERY food product. I had no idea what cassava flour was and in fact, I had never heard of it. The package made it sound good because it had a recipe, so I bought a package. I have since researched it and discovered that it is the root from which we get TAPIOCA! I also learned that must be processed correctly to remove the CYANIDE it contains naturally! But the package had a simple recipe for chocolate chip cookies and I have not had any lately.

First Attempt: Chocolate chip dough domes!

My first attempt at these cookies, and in fact baking cookies,  looked much different than a cookie. This looks like perfect balls of dough, but it is, in fact, COOKED! Yes these are the BAKED cookies! They tasted fine to me, though my wife did not care for the texture. I altered the recipe a bit to accommodate the ingredients I had on hand.
I substituted Monk Fruit Sweetener for Coconut Sugar, which is why they are very light in color. I fixed that in the next try (see top photo) and found that coconut sugar is much like brown sugar in both color and sweetness, and not too bad price wise.

Second attempt: Tastes good but low-carb?
Not so much!

My second attempt was very chocolate chip cookie-like, and I even got an offer to buy some! My wife still didn't care for the flavor, so on my 3rd attempt I will use MILK chocolate chips (even though they have a few more carbs), which I will account for by using Almond Flour. I discovered that Cassava flour is okay for those on a gluten free diet, but has a bunch of carbs. I live and learn!

Is the THIRD time the charm...NOPE! As mentioned, I substituted Almond Flour for Cassava Flour and guess what? My wife thinks I needed more. flour. There is not a 1:1 ratio! The plus side was that they tasted GREAT! In fact my daughter said they didn't taste like LOW CARB and I totally agree. My wife is still not convinced, but she makes terrific cookies and is a great baker so I am not really trying for that level, just something I can eat and I found it! Since these didn't look like cookies, I cut them into small squares, like min-brownies! Let's hope the fourth time is the charm! 
 

Earl Cooks Breakfasts on My Low Carb Quest

Breakfast has always been my favorite meal and according to studies, it may be yours too! I have always loved preparing breakfast for others, especially my grandboys, but for myself I have often been lazy. I would keep on hand cold cereal or instant oatmeal for when I didn't want to ACTUALLY cook for just one.

NOW, however, I am on a carb restricted diet due to a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, and my plan is to find as many of the low-carb eats I can without sacrificing flavor or too many of the foods I love.

Fortunately for me, my favorite meal is also MOSTLY low-carb! Eggs, bacon, sausage, ham...but alas, pancakes, waffles, toast, tortillas are mostly too loaded with carbs (I still sneak a slice of bread for toast now and then)!

The photo above  reflects just 6 of the many breakfasts I have undertaken recently in my low carb cooking. 

• Top left: A steamed egg on cauliflower risotto with a dollop of Hollandaise.
• Top right: "Baked In Belgium" Waffles from Trader Joe's, topped with fresh berries, sugar free maple syrup and a bit of whipped cream.
• Center left: Eggs, bacon and sausage with a slice of "Dave's Killer Bread" (buttered with real butter of course).
• Center right: Captain "Len's Smoked Sausage" with 3 perfectly cooked extra large eggs and of course, black pepper.
• Bottom left: Loaded scrambled eggs with sweet cherry tomatoes on the side.
• Bottom right: Omelette Scramble - not a true omelette, just loaded with goodness like one.

Not all of these are as low carb as some may want, but all of them are under 30gm of carbs and are tasty and filling.

I have a way to go before I am satisfied. I want to feel like I am eating food as good tasting as it is good for me...and YOU TOO!