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Here is another delicious shake by the Level company. So far they have really been knocking it out of the park wit their shakes. The Level Strawberry Crème Shake is no different. Creamy, smooth, and lots of flavor, it doesn't taste too sweet and has a real milk taste to it that really makes it stand out to me. The flavor isn't really anything new, but I think it has a much fresher taste than some of the other ones out there I have tried. 
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I was curious about the idea of some cookies that might be on the lower carb side. Something that might act as a treat and fill a void for people want to have a snack on occasion. I know I have written about the Zero Carb Cookies from the Jullain Bakery in CA, but I was hoping there was something that was a bit easier to find locally. I've never really seen anything that would fill that criteria but I am always looking. I came across these cookies not that long ago. Voortmans Sugar Free Oatmeal Cookies have a total of about 7 Net carbs per cookies, which is actually pretty good. The problem is that the cookies just aren't that great. They are kind of dry and tough and the flavor tastes a little bit grainy. They aren't awful by any means. They do taste sweet, but nothing about them feels fresh or even that high in quality. just kind of bland to the taste buds. I guess if you are a hard core cookie fanatic then these will do, but if you want something that fills the void of grandmas cookies without the guilt, I don't know that these will cut it in the flavor category. 
 When it comes to frozen fish, I can't really say that I have been too impressed. Most of the things I have had have been high in cost, and low on flavor. A lot of times the portion you get is extremely small too. So I am usally a bit skeptical when a frozen fish meal comes by.
All that to say, I am always willing to try something new that promises great taste if it's a low carb option. Sea Cuisines Cracked Peppercorn Tilapia was a good choice for us because tilapia is usally a milder fish and my wife won't eat anything that is to strong in the "fishy taste" category. The fish is presented as being a more of a prepared meal with seasoning and a finishing sauce with it. We both really like it. The lemon and white wine flavors really were prevalent in it and the fish was full of flavor and wasn't too overwhelming. A nice meal that we paired with some fresh veggies from our garden. The great thing was that sometimes meals like this seem to add carbs when a sauce comes with it. not this one. Also the fish seemed to be a pretty good size. One fillet was enough for the both of us. Its not the cheapest option, and again you can probably create your own sauce for a bit less cost, but it was quick and we thought it wasn't to bad for a frozen fish meal.  I know I posted about this before, but I thought its worth re-sharing because we love using this recipe. Pancakes and waffles are a big part of what we love to enjoy in our house and having something that works as a substitutes is awesome. Here's the recipe and it's just about 1-2 carbs per pancake. Ingredients: 1 cup almond meal 2 eggs 1/4 cup water (for puffier pancakes, you can use sparkling water) 2 T oil 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 T sweetener *I add about 1/4 teaspoon Baking powder to the mix to help make the puff up more also works great for a waffle mix. Preparation: Mix ingredients together and cook as you would other pancakes. I like to use a nonstick pan with a little oil. The only real difference is that they won't "bubble" on top the same way as regular pancakes. Flip them when the underside is brown. Recipe link. 
Ugh. Beanitos. My intentions were good. "Oh, here's a new healthy potatoes chip alternative that is a little bit healthier and might be a good option for those of us eating low carb and maintaining but still wanting that salty taste." I was wrong. 5 Reasons I Hate Beanitos. 1. The name is too punny. I prefer my snacks delicious. Not Punny. 2. Hardly any seasoning on mine. 3. It tasted like a burnt chip. Only twice as expensive. 4. Where is the salt? um, I get that's its a health snack, but really a little wont hurt. 5. The look like roof shingles. Just because you can make it into a chip doesn't mean you should. For the record, my wife liked these. So I may be off base. But I am sure that my wife would back me up when I say, she is usually wrong and I am usually right. Always. 
We are big fans of Rick Bayless in our house. Since we discovered his cooking show on PBS "Mexico: One Plate at a Time" we were fans. We love Mexican food so seeing how he really tries to capture the authentic nature of Mexican culture in the food he cooks is what pulls us in. Seems like every dish he makes is filled with care and love. We even got the chance to eat at his restaurant in Chicago. Sooo good. All that to say, when Rick Bayless came out with his Fontera line of products we had to give them a shot. We love the enchilada sauce, but the Fajita sauce is pretty awesome. full of smoky flavor and spice it really makes your fajita dish taste wonderful. With some fresh veggies and low carb tortillas you are on your way to flavor town. Super yummy. And the best part is that it doesn't take much time at all. Anyone else use these products? 
The picture on the box really got me. I'm not going to lie. I feel like the images of chocolate was a real trick to my brain and taste buds. I say that really because the Level Chocolatey Crisp Bars just were not as sweet as I expected them to be. Granted I know they are energy bars and are not candy bars, but they have a vey bland texture with a real artificial taste to me. I expected something else from them for being called "Chocolatey". I can eat these, but overall they give me a real sense of dissatisfaction. I expected more and it didn't deliver. It was pretty disappointing. These bars aren't bad. but they certainly don't bring anything new to the table. When Atkins has so many flavors what would bring me to you Level? Why not try something new and get fruit in the mix with your bars. That's something that we don't see a lot of other bars doing in community. Anyway, The level bars still have won me over yet. I will continue to try, but not there yet. 
 Sometimes I find myself in a grocery store without a plan. And sometimes I find myself in a grocery story without a plan and hungry for dinner. In these cases I will gravitate towards the deli cases and areas where they have prepared meals. Things that you can throw in the Microwave quick for a meal and maybe even use to accompany another part of your meal. In one of these instances I stood before the packages dinners in all of their glory and as they did not judge my laziness I found that my hands reached out and grabbed what looked like the prettiest of packages at the time. Hormels Herb roasted Italian Style Beef Roast. The image on the cover looked so wonderful and home cooked that I couldn't pass it up. I will say that what came out didn't look as pretty as the image on the cover, but it still tasted pretty good. It's an easy enough thing to make too. You stick it in the microwave for a couple minutes and it's ready to go. In our meal we ate the meat with some freshly cut tomatoes and olive oil over a small batch of low carb noodles(yes I know they don't really exists). The meat added great flavor and the broth it came it was very well seasoned. I think that this is a great choice for people needing something to finish a meal. This would be delicious on a salad, severed up with some fresh veggies, or even with a little fresh tomato sauce on the side.. I cant say that its not as easy to simply put a roast in a crock pot and let it go for hours, but when you are needing something quick to enhance your meal, this might do the trick, 
My wife and I were in need of a quick meal several days ago and there wasn't much in the house for groceries. I found a can of chicken in the cupboard and whipped up this simple idea.
1 Can Chicken Low Carb Tortillas Franks Red Hot Sauce Tomatoes Lettuce Blue Cheese Shredded cheese. Take the chicken and drain the water from the can. Then place the chicken in a bowl and shred it up. Add some Franks Red Hot Sauce. Enough to make it tasty but you can judge your own spice meter. Just don't be a wimp. Add some shredded cheese and mix together. If you had a little cream cheese that works well too. Heat it up in the microwave for just a few. Take a couple spoonful's of your chicken mix and add them to a tortilla. Add some slices of tomatoes and lettuce on top. If Blue cheese is your thing then add some of that. Pretty simple. And pretty low carb. Depending on your tortilla its a meal that could be under 7 carbs easily. Give it a whirl. Do you have any additions to the recipe that you make? 
Holy cow this is yummy. The Level Rich Caramel Shake tastes like the real thing. Super tasty and lots of flavor. I really liked it. The Carmel taste is nice and strong and it has such a creamy taste to it that it tastes like its real milk I am drinking. Personally it may work better for a treat then for a breakfast snack, but why not treat yourself in the morning. Certainly a better choice than a sugary Starbucks drink. The Level Shakes are where its at for me. Right now I prefer these over the big name brands. Keep the flavors coming Level. :) 
| Low Carb Food Ideas. 
 
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