RECIPE: Caprese Steak

Caprese salad is delicious. So is steak. Let's combine them. They are 2 fancy (read: pricy) summer staples in our house.

Let's face it, keto can get EXPENSIVE.

All of this stuff can be acquired at Aldi's (although the basil at our Aldi's was pretty rough, so I used Trader Joe's this time), and it cost me around $11 total for 4 servings.

I'll admit it. I'm not a steak snob. If you are, you may want to pick a different steak and just know that the ratio of meat to cheese won't be the same.

These fresh mozzarella balls are a keto GODSEND. 14g fat, 4g protein, 2g carbs, 1g fiber in each serving (about 2 balls). Plus it is infused with garlic and spices and is just so yummy.

What you need:

--Aldi Fresh Mozzarella in Marinade

--Basil

--Vine-Ripened tomatoes

--Cube Steak 4-pack (10g fat, 21g protein)

--Salt&Pepper to taste

--OPTIONAL: balsamic vinegar. This does add some carbs, and I usually omit it bc it doesnt need it!

The marinade in the mozzarella is your steak cooking oil. I used 1 tsp per steak.

1. In an ovenproof skillet, add 1 tsp of mozzarella marinade per steak, and cook steaks about 2/3s of the way to preferred.

2. Turn off the stove.

3. Place 2 mozzarella balls on each steak. (For more cheesy goodness, add 4 per steak)

4. Put skillet in oven and set to high broil. (By not preheating, it will allow some re-absorption of delicious steak juices)

5. Remove carefully when the mozz is melted.

6. Top with tomato slices and basil leaves. Drizzle with balsamic if desired.


Note: I did *NOT* attempt to guesstimate what the macros of the 1 tsp of oil is. Same with the tomatoes, bc I didn't weigh my slices.

Just the steak and mozz is: 24g fat, 25g protein, 2g carbs, 1g fiber.

**Again, don't @ me with your "yea but grass fed" stuff. I can't eat grass fed and there are a lot of places where grass fed beef and butter are either not available or financially impossible.**

Day 4: Because It Was Too Cold To Blog Yesterday

This polar vortex can bite my butt.

Anyway.

Cuddled up with dogs and yarn and Netflix.

Speaking of dogs, my beloved pointer mix, Alfred, signals me for my blood sugar based on how I smell. In doing so, he gets rewarded with jerky (the only time he gets it). Well, he signalled all afternoon yesterday but I wasn't shaky, so ketosis has begun!

(I'm waiting for the metallic taste before I stab my finger)

Yesterday was pretty good. Made an amazing Caprese steak dinner (next post will be recipe), stayed full all night, feeling pretty good. It was just so freaking cold that I didn't do much but knit and cuddle. Mentally wanted to eat a can of frosting.

Today was a rollercoaster. Woke up late and it threw my whole morning off. Had a heavy cream cafe au lait at Sbux (lacking in the coconut oil I usually have, but grabbed a Blackberry Cheesecake Fat Bomb on the way out), then a dotor's appointment--a rheumatology follow up.

Good news: I don't have any underlying, untreated autoimmune condition that would lead my chronic pain/weakness/spasms to be caused by inflammation (lupus, MS, vasculitis, etc)

Bad news: Have to *still* wait on the geneticist and because the pain/weakness/spasm isn't caused by inflammation, there really isn't any way to treat it at the moment.

A mixed bag.

Oh, and it was so cold that despite warming the truck up for 10 minutes, it still stalled backing down the driveway. I was briefly at the helm of a 3-ton+ electric blue projectile at the mercy of gravity.

Decided to investigate this Swerve cup-for-cup sweetener, so as better to present delish keto bakes. The brown sugar is almost perfect. The granulated sugar hits a bit high on the palate but doesnt have the usual erythritol aftertaste. The powdered sugar was the least like its "real" counterpart, but I think will be fine once incorporated into swiss buttercream. Further reviews to follow!

Let's Clear Some Stuff Up

Hiii y'all.

Well, I certainly did *NOT* expect such a passionate response from people yesterday, both publically and via private message. But let's dive into clearing up some misconceptions:

1. I'm a grown up. Some of y'all acted like I was about to pull a coked-out Pam Poovey---seriously, I'm ok. I act like a child, but nah, I'm 32.

2. The Keto Diet itself: This isn't a weight loss thing. Seriously. Studies have shown that a low-carb diet, capped protein is less effective in the long term for weight loss than a high-carb, adequate protein diet.

There is *NO* reason to subject yourself to ketosis if you don't need to for medical reasons, at least in my opinion as a food lover.

There are some serious side effects, including hypoglycemia, bone demineralization, dismenorrhea (for the uterus-having), and kidney stones. For me, that is *LESS* crippling than my current quality of life. Plus, no long term studies on health effects!

The Keto Diet fad schtick has popped up a LOT since Atkins got a bad rap, and simply because you are low carb does not mean you are on a ketogenic diet. The term you are looking for is low-carb diet, which comes with its own health risks for healthy and chronically ill people alike. The ketogenic diet has a very specific ratio of macros to hit.

3. This isn't something you can cheat on. 

For your body to achieve ketosis, it has to use up all the glucose (formed by carbs) and your body then uses ketones as a replacement for glucose. In a nutshell.

That means you basically go through carb withdrawal. And every time you come out of ketosis and want to go back in, you gotta do the whole withdrawal thing again. Physical AND psychological. It can take up to 2 weeks and feels like the flu, hence the name "keto flu."

4. You need to measure your blood level ketones to check if you are actually in ketosis. Yes, there are some urine strips to check, but know that how hydrated you are affects your urine and will not accurately conve blood ketone levels.

That means I, a non-diabetic, am willingly sticking myself to test my blood ketone level, which is not something I ever thought I would be willing to do.

5. Thank you to all my supporters, most of you know what a rollercoaster the past almost-decade has been with my health and yet we are still friends <3.

6. Cue keto friendly baking in 3...2...1...

Day 1: The Very First Day

Today is Day 1.

Physically: I'm good. No difference. Just remember to drink water. Man, this is more food than I usually eat.

Mentally: "WHY DOES THIS COFFEE TASTE WRONG?? WTF?!?! HAVE WE NOT BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH?????"

This may be worse than quitting corn syrup.

Note: I'm not doing keto for weight loss and can't speak to the effectiveness of a low carb diet. I'm specifically doing keto for a better quality of life to avoid my condition progressing. Please don't @ me with your weight loss suggestions, kthx.

Why?

So why would anyone want to give up the edible seduction of carbohydrates?

Well, ideally, I wouldn't. Ideally, I wouldn't have Celiac, food allergies, sensory processing disorder, hypermobility, chronic pain, mucle fasciculations and cramps, blood sugar problems, balance issues, migraines, endocrine issues, or hormonal problems. Ideally, I'd live a perfectly routine life.

But alas, that isn't this timeline.

My dad, who has several of the same issues I do, went keto last year. He feels fantastic. And I'm really, *really* tired of feeling shitty with no recourse or options.

So let's try this. I'm fully prepared to feel like crap for 2 weeks (it has been 8 years, what is 2 more weeks) but dreading the psychological addiction to sugar, which is 110%. I love sugar, candy, fruit, starches, pastries, confections, all of it, all the time. It is a source of comfort, a burst of joy wrapped in a sweet sensory experience.

It isn't for forever, and if it doesn't make any difference in 8 weeks, by April 1st, I'll stop.

This will be my written record, accountability, and journal. I'll be tracking macros and also using a blood ketone monitor.