Cheesy Sausage Balls

The high carb version of this recipe has been a family favorite for years now.

Usually we get together the night before Thanksgiving or Christmas to cook for the holiday family dinner.  While we're putting Mom's Potato Salad together and making her fabulous Coconut Cream Pie, we stick a pan of Sausage Balls in the oven to snack on.  It's become a family tradition.

 

Having a little extra sausage on hand, I attempted a low carb version of this easy recipe.

 

They turned out fairly tasty, tho I think I can back off the onion powder next time or leave it out all together.

 

All you need is sausage, grated cheese, and something to bind it all together.  I've read where some use eggs and others use crushed pork skins.  I used a bit of Carbquik (similar to Bisquik and can be purchased at Netrition) and some parmesan cheese to make up the dry ingredients. 

 

It worked and they were quite tasty, although they didn't have the traditional sausage ball taste, because of the added spices, I think.  So in the future, I think I'll skip the spices and hope for that famous sausage ball flavor.

Other tasty low carb snacks and appetizers:

Deep Fried Cauliflower

Aussie Squash Fries

Bacon-wrapped Jalapeño Poppers



Cheesy Sausage Balls

1 lb. sausage
12 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup of your choice low carb baking mix, such as Carbquik and parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 375 º F.  Spray a baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray.  Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.   Mix well with your fingers. The mixture may very crumbly.  Form into 1 inch balls, squeezing the mixture so it holds together, then rolling it between the palms of your hands to form balls.  Place the balls on the baking sheet.  Bake for 16-18 minutes or until golden brown.  To prevent sticking, move the balls with a spatula halfway through cooking or use parchment paper to line your pan.  Remove from oven and serve warm.

Beefy Rotel Cheese Dip and Chips

Beefy Rotel Cheese Dip

1 lb Velveeta

1 can Rotel tomatoes and chilies

1/2 cup sour cream

1 cup prepared taco or chili flavored ground beef

In microwave safe bowl, add cheese and Rotel tomatoes.  Nuke until cheese is fully melted, stirring once or twice.  Remove from microwave and add sour cream.  Stir; then add the cooked ground beef.  Serve with your choice of chips or other dipper.

Chips shown in pic above: Fried low carb tortilla triangles.  Frying them instead of baking them made them crispier.  I cut the tortillas into chip size triangles as best as I could, then pan-fried in about a 1/2" of oil until golden brown.  As I drained them on paper towels, I sprinkled with a touch of salt.

Skillet Fried Cabbage with Bacon

I'm sick of things I can eat with my fingers! 

I needed something to eat with a fork.  I was wanting something green and yummy and fried cabbage with bacon came to mind.  This is one of my favorite vegetable dishes, with lots more flavor than just boiled cabbage which is more common here in the South.

Grab some sliced bacon, dice it and throw it in a skillet over medium heat.  As it cooks, cut a head of cabbage in half and chop it into nice size pieces.



After the bacon is crispy, remove it from the skillet and let it drain on a paper towel.  Reserve all but about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease.  Add the chopped cabbage and some diced onion into the skillet.  Cook for about 10-15 minutes or until the cabbage is done but still has a little crunch left.

Put into pretty dish and top with the crispy bacon pieces.  Eat all by itself or with the meat of your choice.  I chose a nice medium sized pork chop.  See my lowcarb page for the plated meal.  Enjoy!

Chiles Rellenos Casserole

I used Low Carb Chic's recipe, except I used diced chiles instead of whole.

Apple Dumplings: The Ultimate Fall Dessert

What other recipe speaks Harvest Time than an apple recipe flavored with sugar, butter, and cinnamon?

Pioneer Woman's Apple Dumplings with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  Go here for this easy yet decadant recipe and enjoy the season's bounty of  delicious apples.

Low Carb Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Okay, if you have a few carbs to spare you can enjoy this rich treat .

 

Jonathan’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip

Low Carb Cheesecake

 

 

Crust:

 

4 Voortman Sugar Free Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

5 Murray’s Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cookies

1 Cup Almond Flour

3 Tbsp Granulated Splenda

6 Tbsp Melted Butter

1 Oz. Un-Sweetened Baking Chocolate Bar

1 Tbsp Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips

 

Filling

 

24 Oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese

1 Cup Granulated Splenda

¼ Cup Splenda Brown Sugar Blend

4 Large Eggs

½ Cup Kroger Just Right Lower Sugar/Sodium Creamy Peanut Butter

1 Tbsp Pure Vanilla Extract

1 Cup Sour Cream

8 Reeses Sugar Free Miniatures

2 Oz. Un-Sweetened Baking Chocolate Bar

½ Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips

 

 

Directions:

 

1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees


2. In a food processor, pulse cookies until small crumbs.  Remove and place in bowl and mix in almond Flour and Splenda.  Stir with spoon until well mixed.  Add melted butter; mix well and press into bottom of spring form pan. 


3. Sprinkle shaved chocolate bar and mini chips on top of crust and put into refrigerator while mixing filling


4. Place softened cream cheese, Splenda, brown sugar Splenda, and eggs and mix together until smooth.  Add peanut butter and vanilla and mix until creamy.  Add sour cream and finish mixing.  With spoon, fold in 1 oz of chocolate bar, ¼ cup of mini chips, and 4 chopped Reeses miniatures.


5. Remove crust from refrigerator and pour filling into pan.  Sprinkle rest of chopped baking chocolate and mini chips on top and place in oven. 


6. Bake for 60-80 minutes.  Time will vary depending on oven.  Do not overcook, the middle should be almost set.  Insert a toothpick into center and you should have a small amount of filling on toothpick


7. Run knife around the edge and cool before removing the pan outer ring.  Sprinkle remaining chopped Reeses miniatures and refrigerate overnight.

 

20 small servings = 13 carbs per serving

 

Microwave Pork Rinds

Lowery's Bacon Curls in Original or Hot and Spicy

These are the absolute best!  I serve them along with some homemade dip and a big tall glass of Diet Pepsi. 

Amazon has a great price, too.  Check'm out!