I’ve spent most of my nursing career in the Emergency Room. Not only did I need to receive report from the previous shift’s patients but I always needed to be prepared. It was never known what would come through those ER doors. It could have been a relatively simple laceration, abdominal pain, motor vehicle accident or cardiac arrest. Each situation needed a different set of skills and supplies (and the doctor, of course)
Cooking can be thought of in the same way too. Do you need to boil, saute, steam or bake? And what pots, pans or dishes do you need to cook in? But most importantly….what are the ingredients? The recipe lets you know what kind of “operation” you are going to be doing, and the grocery list is important for the main ingredients you will be using (like the meats and fresh or frozen vegetables). It’s the seasonings that always make cooking different things a bit more frustrating. There is nothing worse than starting a recipe and realizing that you don’t have that ONE herb or spice that you need for that specific recipe. At this point you can either save the recipe for another day or go out and but that ONE seasoning.
When I first started to cook low carb, I kept it simple using only the seasonings I already had in the house. This soon became quite boring. I started to google different herbs and spices and what they were use for and at present I know that I can look at just about any new recipe and happily say that I have the seasonings available.
If any new recipe you decide to try has a seasoning that you are not familiar with, buy it as inexpensively as you can. That way if the recipe is not what you expected due to that seasoning, you can either give it away or trash it. I usually try to buy any new seasoning at a Dollar Store. I have even called my friend to see if she has it so I can use some of hers without investing in it right away. If the recipe is a success, I continue to use the product until I need a refill then I look around and buy one that is better quality, if necessary.
My basic list of seasonings is, of course, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, dill weed, Italian seasoning, chili powder, salt, pepper, oregano and your choice of sweetener (I use Monk Fruit and Spenda). My more extended list includes: ginger, cloves (crushed as well), basil, bay leaves, corriander, cayenne pepper, sage, and many other specialty seasonings that I buy at stores like HEB and Walmart for recipes with salmon and other fish.
PLEASE, don’ be afraid to experiment with different recipes. Most times you will be pleasantly surprised at the results. If not, then you can alter the recipe to make it more taste friendly to you. The more success you have, the more you will enjoy searching for recipes that will help you and your family live a healthier lifestyle. Low carb is definatly not just meat and vegetables. It is recipes with meats and vegetables made in a way to make your taste buds sing.
Go ahead, make the taste buds of your family and friends SING.
Carb Controlled Cuisine 