Contest Winner??????? Not....

Well, the contest is over and I'm sorry to say that there were not any entrees.
How very disappointing. Oh well, someone missed out on a very tasty prize..

CONTEST

I'm running a contest...Follow this link to my ebay shop
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Carolyns-Low-Carb-Creations
Take a look at my items.Send me a message thru ebay and tell me what you think about my items. The person that looks at the most items and emails me the most in one week will win a low carb item...shipping included. USA only...(sorry) Read my feedback and quote one in the email and that counts as two.
Doesn't hurt to look: )

Sorry-Still on Chocolate

Can Chocolate Actually Brighten Your Mood?

By Lauren Dzubow

Willy Wonka, meet the Dalai Lama: The latest ingredient to infuse dark chocolate is the goodwill of meditating monks, which is said to lift one's mood above and beyond the usual bliss. O staffers were more than happy to put it to the test.

Intentional chocolate, a Los Angeles–based company, uses an electronic device that supposedly "records" the good intentions of meditating Buddhist monks and broadcasts them into a room where its confections are stored. According to a 2007 pilot study, coauthored by company founder Jim Walsh and published in the journal Explore, eating one ounce of the candy per day boosted positive mood and energy levels by an average of 67 percent after three days (as gauged by a psychological questionnaire). Skeptical? We were, too.

So we set out to mimic the study's design as closely as possible, enlisting the expertise of Dean Radin, PhD, senior scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences in Petaluma, California, who led the Explore study. The company graciously sent us two batches of dark chocolate, one infused with the monks' intentions and one not. (Important to note: We were double-blind—i.e., clueless—as to which was which.) Twenty-two of our staffers were divided into two groups—"intentional" and "control"—and filled out a mood questionnaire while eating their chocolate for three days.

The results? It was actually the control group who showed a positive trend of increased well-being—although the intentional group did have the biggest mood surge on the first day of chocolate eating. Still, we're inclined to believe Walsh when he says, "There's more to food than simply what's sitting on our table." For centuries, the religious have blessed water, bread, and wine. And who would argue that a meal cooked with love by a friend or spouse isn't more satisfying than takeout?


(Article taken from Oprah.com)

Chocolate Facts

	America Loves Chocolate We send and receive chocolate during the holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. We eat chocolate at parties and celebrations. And, no matter how full we are, we always make room for chocolate after dinner. When we want to indulge, or “take a break,” we have a piece of chocolate. Chocolate seems to have a way of suddenly making us feel better. Certainly, there are no magical powers in chocolate, but the feeling we get when we consume even the smallest morsel is like no other. Because chocolate is so delicious, many of us may feel guilt instead of enjoyment when consuming it. Why would we feel guilt when eating chocolate? Where does this guilt come? Much of what we know about chocolate comes from hearsay, and is often times untrue. Have you ever heard chocolate labeled as a "guilty pleasure?" Do you know where that label comes from? Contrary to popular belief, chocolate is considered a "guilty pleasure" because of the good feeling we get when we eat it, and has nothing to do with the nutritional contents. Before you deny yourself of the food you truly enjoy, take some time to read and uncover some common myths about chocolate. MYTH: CHOCOLATE IS FATTENING Chocolate contains no more calories than yogurt. Chocolate contains no salt or cholesterol. MYTH: CHOCOLATE CAUSES CAVITIES Tooth decay happens when carbohydrates (both complex and simple) mix with natural bacteria in the mouth. Chocolate, which contains carbohydrates is no more or less responsible for tooth decay than other carbohydrate-containing foods like bread, raisins, crackers, and fruit. Chocolate actually contains a protein that blocks plaque. In fact, chocolate clears the mouth relatively quickly, reducing the time it spends in contact with the teeth. MYTH: CHOCOLATE IS ADDICTIVE Although you may love the taste of chocolate, you are not “addicted” to it. The truth is, chocolate is not an addictive food. The desire for sweet tasting foods is a strong biological drive that can be satisfied with any naturally sweet food or product made with sugar. MYTH: THE SUGAR IN CHOCOLATE CAUSES HYPERACTIVITY IN CHILDREN Contrary to popular belief, sugar does not cause hyperactivity in children. Recent studies conducted at Vanderbilt University and the University of Iowa College of Medicine found no evidence that sugar has an adverse effect on children’s behavior. MYTH: CHOCOLATE CONTAINS A LOT OF CAFFEINE Chocolate contains very little caffeine. A one-ounce piece of milk chocolate contains about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of decaffeinated coffee. There is an average of 6 mg. of caffeine in both an ounce of milk chocolate and a cup of decaf, while a cup of regular coffee contains between 65 - 150 mg. of caffeine. Fun facts about chocolate • Traced back to ancient Mayan and Aztec civilizations, chocolate was first consumed as a spicy drink made from ground cocoa beans • Christopher Columbus was said to have brought the first cocoa beans back to Europe in the early 1500’s • During the 1600’s and 1700’s, chocolate grew in popularity and economic importance • Solid chocolate was created in Europe in the mid-1800’s, then in the 1870’s, Swiss manufacturers added milk, creating the first milk chocolate • A 1.65 oz. bar of chocolate contains only 12 mg. of cholesterol. A 1 oz. piece of cheddar cheese contains over 30 mg of cholesterol-more than double the amount! • Chocolate helps keep the arteries clean-it may even be more beneficial than red wine • An eight-week study found that eating a few ounces of chocolate a day lowered LDL cholesterol levels by 4% A final word on chocolate There are so many reasons to enjoy this mouth-watering treat. With its creamy texture, chocolate literally melts in our mouths, liquefying just above room temperature. Over the years, chocolate has come to symbolize love, affection, comfort, and joy. It is a delicious treat that we love to give and receive. Chocolate has been part of our culture for many years, and we are sure that tradition will continue for many years to come. Enjoy! *Information and research taken from, “The Sweet Truth About Candy,” Chocolate Manufacturers Association and National Confectioners Association.

Tid-Bits

great weekend. good food. angela and i canned homemade bruschetta. buddy and michael planted crepe myrtle down the lane.took grandkids for 4-wheeler ride...FYI..DON'T let a 4 year old push the gas...yee-haw......went to the lake.....sister weekend in wichita coming up.

Miss Au Gratin Potatoes On The LC Diet?

This is a recipe I found on Cooks.com I substituted cream for the milk and used Cheddar Cheese ( That's all I had in the fridge) And sliced the onion. Pretty yummy. My husband thought it was potatoes and that we were celebrating something. BUTTERNUT SQUASH AU GRATIN

2 lbs. butternut squash 1 med. onion, finely chopped (about 1 c.) 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 2 tbsp. butter, melted 2 eggs 3/4 c. milk 3/4 c. finely shredded Swiss cheese Peel outer skin of squash with peeler or knife. Discard skin. Halve squash lengthwise and cut into thin slices. Place slices in bowl with onion, salt, pepper and melted butter. Toss well. Spoon mixture into buttered 9-inch baking dish. Bake, covered, at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, beat eggs, milk and cheese. Remove cover from baking dish and pour cheese mixture evenly over squash. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Makes 6 servings.

Work I'm proud of : )

As I said before the garden is overflowing...I actually caught our geese eating the tomatoes today and told them to have at it. I have been canning...Looking pretty on the pantry shelf is...Salsa...Pickled Jalapenos with garlic...Jalapeno Jelly...Strawberry Jalapeno Jelly (yum)...Pickle relish...HOT pickle relish ( made with jalapenos )...Several quarts and pints of tomatoes for the winter....Grape jelly...Strawberry jam...apples...applesauce....apple butter....pickles......in the freezer are green peppers , squash , chili's. I can remember growing up and watching my mother can and can and can....I remember her saying as she filled up our pantry..." Aren't they pretty? " I never understood what she meant until I could take pride in the work myself....As I show my kids and grand kids I hear myself saying... "Aren't they pretty? "

Summer fun

The farmers market has been so much fun this summer. Made lots of new friends and customers. The local produce is really looking good. Our garden is full of squash,tomatoes, peppers, chilli's, cantaloupe,watermelon and the pumpkins are beautiful. Will have the grand kids over to pick their pumpkins from the pumpkin patch.....There is one that looks like it will be "The Great Pumpkin"

Why..oh Why....

Why do family and friends make you cakes, buy you maple bars and 4 pounds of malted milk balls for your birthday, when they know you are low carbing it???????
They are supposed to love me........not tempt me.

Website Woes : (

My products are selling well on ebay. So Due to the low volume of sales from my online shop and the ever increasing cost of Prostores to host this site, My Low Carb Products will only be available by calling 620-795-2876 -emailing ctom@wavewls.com - OR on ebay at http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Carolyns-Low-Carb-Creations__W0QQ_armrsZ1 - or by doing a search on ebay by user name thecompleteshop or a search for low carb cookies.
Thanks to everyone who ordered from thelowcarbshop.com

Interesting Yahoo News Article

Heart attack survivors who eat chocolate two or more times per week cut their risk of dying from heart disease about threefold compared to those who never touch the stuff, scientists have reported.

Smaller quantities confer less protection, but are still better than none, according to the study, which appears in the September issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine.

Earlier research had established a strong link between cocoa-based confections and lowered blood pressure or improvement in blood flow.

It had also shown that chocolate cuts the rate of heart-related mortality in healthy older men, along with post-menopausal women.

But the new study, led by Imre Janszky of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, is the first to demonstrate that consuming chocolate can help ward off the grim reaper if one has suffered acute myocardial infarction -- otherwise known as a heart attack.

"It was specific to chocolate -- we found no benefit to sweets in general," said Kenneth Mukamal, a researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and a co-author of the study.

"It seems that antioxidants in cocoa are a likely candidate" for explaining the live-saving properties, he told AFP in an exchange of e-mails.

Antioxidants are compounds that protect against so-called free radicals, molecules which accumulate in the body over time that can damage cells and are thought to play a role in heart disease, cancer and the aging process.

In the study, Janszky and colleagues tracked 1,169 non-diabetic men and women, 45-to-70 years old, in Stockholm County during the early 1990s from the time they were hospitalised with their first-ever heart attack.

The participants were queried before leaving hospital on their food consumption habits over the previous year, including how much chocolate they ate on a regular basis.

They underwent a health examination three months after discharge, and were monitored for eight years after that. The incidence of fatal heart attacks correlated inversely with the amount of chocolate consumed.

"Our findings support increasing evidence that chocolate is a rich source of beneficial bioactive compounds," the researchers concluded.

The results held true for men and women, and across all the age groups included in the study.

Other factors that might have affected the outcome -- alcohol consumption, obesity, smoking -- were also taken into account.

So should we all be loading up on cocoa-rich sweets?

"To be frank, I'm pretty cautious about chocolate because we're working on weight problems with so many individuals," said Mukamal, who is also a practising physician.

"However, I do encourage those who are looking for healthier desserts to consider chocolate in small quantities," he said.

"For individuals with no weight issues who have been able to eat chocolate in moderation and remain slim, I do not limit it," he added.

The researchers caution that clinical trials are needed to back up the findings of their study.

In the meantime, however, a bit of chocolate may not be amiss, they suggest.

Not A Gourmet Cook?Can't afford Gourmet Ingredients? Simplify It.

Low carb isn't hard. And doesn't have to be costly, like a lot of people say it is. I'm a "simple chef" plain meats, eggs,veggie's, salads, cheese. it doesn't have to be gourmet to be good. cook as you always did. just low carb it. leave out the potatoes, pasta and breads.it's summer, grill your meat, there's nothing better, put a chicken or a roast or ribs or pork chops in the crock pot before you go to work,with salt, pepper or garlic. ready--- when you get home, add a veggie and a salad. (make a big bowl of salad and keep it in the fridge, ready- when you are. cover it with bacon bits, cheese,olives, mushrooms) you'll be full. have a sweet tooth like me? i love sugar free pudding made with cream or half and half instead of milk. or try some of my goodies at Carolyn's Creations www.thelowcarbshop.com

I'm back

Sorry i've been away so long. Took a trip to California, but was sick two days in Palm Springs. But i lost 5 pounds. Before I left I had the pleasure of dealing with a flooded kitchen (water pipe leak ) what a mess. The contractors took 2 weeks to dry it and put in a new floor. But it looks great and I'm back in business.



well, i have decided to join the farmers market this summer. besides my low carb goodies, i'll have fresh flowers & veggie's from the garden. i think it will be lots of fun.

Splenda With Fiber Info.

Thanks to "Low Carber" for getting me to look the Nutritional Facts of the New Splenda With Fiber. Here they are.
I had not looked at a package of the Splenda with fiber. I had just seen it on TV. thanks for getting me to look it up. It's a no go for me.. It has 9 calories per serving, 2 carbs ---1 g fiber, so you would be getting 1 carb plus 9 calories. I guess it would be ok if you wanted to get more fiber. Thanks.

Splenda With Fiber....Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 packet
Amount per Serving

* Calories 9
Calories from Fat 0

% Daily Value *

* Total Fat 0g 0%
* Saturated Fat 0g 0%
* Monounsaturated Fat 0g
* Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
* Trans Fat 0g
* Cholesterol 0mg 0%
* Sodium 0mg 0%
* Potassium 0mg 0%
* Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
* Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
* Sugars 0g
* Protein 0g 0%

Est. Percent of Calories from:
Fat 0.0% Carbs 88.9%
Protein 0.0%

I have a question?

Has anyone been using the Splenda with the fiber in it???? Help me out here. Does that mean, if you use the splenda with fiber, can you subtract the fiber from the carbs in the recipe? Does that make any sense? Don't want to mess up my carb count for the day.

Did You Make It Through Valentine's Day???

Well, I did pretty well. Husband did good. Flowers,and no candy this year. Went out to eat at our Favorite place. He had fish, salad, veggie's and wine. I had a Steak, that melted in my mouth, salad, mushrooms and asparagus. I thought to myself, this is good. But driving home, we pasted another one of our places and I said "They have the best fried cream cheese dessert" He said "Do you want to stop and just order dessert?' I said " Yes" ---- Mistake---- They were out of the cream cheese,so we looked at each other and ordered a double brownie fudge sundae. It was good, and I told myself it was OK. Because I ate mostly the whipped cream and whole walnuts. Does anyone cheat now and then?????

Breakfast Ideas ?????

I'm tired of eggs. Need something low carb I can grab and eat. Don't want to cook it or do dishes.
Give me some ideas..Please????

Low Carb Chocolate Cookies....Again.

Well, baked and shipped more orders for the Low Carb Chocolate Cookies. Again, there are a few left over...Ate 2. (just 2 carbs)
I am determined to save the rest for my husband.
Who thinks i can do it?

Have more orders going out tomorrow. Wow...getting up at 4:00 am is hard.
"It's Time To Make The Doughnuts"

I Mean
" It's Time To Make The Cookies"
"It's Time To Make The Cookies"

Written In My Response To An Email About Low Carb Not Being A Healthy Choice.

I am aware that people have different Low Carb Diet ideas, plans and beliefs. This is what works for me.

You can low carb in a healthy way. You reduce your carb intake at first by cutting out the sugars and the white bleached flours, the starchy carbs.Which is healthy in itself. You also cut out Caffeine.You naturally lose weight,

To maintain your weight loss.You still eat all your food groups. You just make wiser choices.
Go here to see The Weight Loss Pyramid
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9b/Weightloss_pyramid.JPG

Low carb follows this also, we just learn the amount of carbs in our choices and pick low carb veggie's - fruits -breads ( like whole wheat and brown rice)

Take a look at the Food Pyramid here.
http://www.valdosta.edu/~rpmathis/food_guide_pyramid.jpg

We limit our sweets, Some actually cut out sugar completely. ( That's a good thing)

Still eat the 2-3 serving in the dairy, just aware of the carb count

2-3 servings in the Meat group, staying away from breaded,fried choices(more baked & broiled)

3-5 servings in the Vegetable group ( probably more ) but choose low carb veggie's.

2-4 servings in the Fruit group ( maybe smaller portions, but choose low carb fruits)

6-11 in the bread group ( not this many, but try to stay with whole wheat)

And you gets LOTS of Fiber on this diet ( Which we all need)
Lots of Water ( Which is good)
And I personally drink oolong and green tea ( no sugar added) Which is full of antioxidants.

You can still have a very healthy, balanced diet On The Low Carb Plan
And even Enjoy sweets, if you can't drop the habit.
That's why I started baking and selling my low carb sweets.
For those of us that need a goody now and then.
See them at www.thelowcarbshop.com

We've all heard in the recent past, that Wine,Eggs, Nuts and Chocolate Are Good For You Now. Just use common sense and eat them in moderation.

Stuffed Mushrooms

We love this Mushroom Recipe.
For easy clean up, line a baking dish with foil. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Select larger white mushrooms, clean, and remove stems. For 2 servings, I usually use 8 to 10 mushrooms, depending on their size.

Place mushrooms-- TOP side down to expose the cavity,for easy filling.
In a small bowl mix together-

Cream Cheese ( you judge the amount that you will need, by number of mushrooms to fill )

Crumbled, Cooked Bacon or Bacon Bits. ( 1 piece for 8 mushrooms is usually enough )

Fill the mushroom cavities with this mixture.

Top with a little mound a grated cheese - Cheddar or Jack work well.

Slice half a stick of real butter and lay in the bottom of the pan, around the mushrooms.

Top butter with just a LITTLE-- TINY pinch of garlic powder,salt or fresh ( whatever you have)

Bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven.

Place a teaspoon or two of the melted butter on a small plate or bowl.

Set your mushrooms on top of the butter. And Enjoy.

Quick method. Casserole Style.

Grease your baking dish with spray, oil or butter.

Cut up your mushrooms and place in baking dish.

Add cream cheese,bacon, butter and garlic.

Cook in microwave or oven until cream cheese and butter are melted.

Stir it all together, Top with Cheese and bake in oven 15 minutes.

I make this quick style totally in the microwave, only reduce your cooking time. It just takes minutes. Give it a final stir. Add the grated cheese and cook another minute, until melted.

How Long Did The Chocolate Cookie Last????

In my previous post, I was saving the last cookie for after supper...........Ha-Ha- Dream On.
Didn't last till 4:00 or so....oh, well, it was only 1 carb.
3 cookies---3 carbs....not bad

Chocolate Cookies

Just shipped an order of my Low Carb Chocolate Cookies to a customer in Georgia. Had a few left over. So.......... yes, I ate them...just two. But they were so satisfying to me. These were made with almonds. So it satisfied the crunch that I needed...the sweet that I needed, and the chocolate that I needed. I felt totally full. Each Cookie has 1 Carb and 60 Calories. So NO guilt. And I've had my fix for the day. There is one left..........maybe after supper tonight : )

Goodie Movie-Some Low Carb-Some Not...

I NEED IDEAS FOR MUSIC OR COMMENTARY FOR THIS VIDEO. USE THE COMMENT SECTION TO POST IDEAS.
THANKS-Carolyn

How It All Started.

I started my husband out on this low carb diet. I would eat a maple frosted doughnut and wash it down with a pepsi while I checked out of the store with his low carb food. Hide crackers and candy and eat them while he was at work. BUT...he started losing pounds and I gained them. I was at 155. He was at 265. Then he was at 195 and I was still at 155. I started the diet and didn't lose as fast as him ( the woman thing, I guess ) I didn't think I could do it. Then one morning I stepped on the scale and it said 152. I looked in the mirror and smiled at myself. Something I rarely did. The next time the scale said 145. I went and bought a new outfit, and had fun doing it. It wasn't long until I was 135. That's what I weighed in 1974, when I graduated High School. My son said " Gosh Mom, you're skinny. " I can't even explain how that made me feel. I could go buy clothes without even trying them on. I struggled and won. So I know low carb works. If I can do it after 50 years of bad eating habits. Anyone can. Don't think about yesterday or tomorrow. Just have the will power to get through today. And be proud that you did.A day at a time. Slow and steady wins the race. Then look at yourself in the mirror and SMILE : )

Brrrrrrrrr....

Boy o Boy. It's Cold today. 16 degrees right now and snowing. It was ice yesterday. The town is quite. Everyone is home staying safe and warm. School is out, as well. Baked some Low carb Chocolate Cookies and Making Low Carb Chicken Noodle Soup. Can't beat a night like this. Snuggled up in a blanket eating hot soup and cookies, watching a classic old movie. Sometimes I Love winter. But can't wait until spring. Always have a big garden and beds and beds of every flower you can imagine.

The Low Carb Shop Special

Until February 1st
$1.00 Off All Orders - Use Coupon Code "cookie"
During Checkout- If you forget...
Send me an email...And I'll refund your $1.00
Check It Out At Carolyn's Creations"The Low Carb Shop"

A Special "Thank You" To All My Customers.
I Appreciate All Of You !

Peanut Butter Scare

NOTICE_ MY Peanut Butter Items Are Safe. I have been following the peanut butter recall very carefully. I would like to inform you, that I use JIF peanut butter in all my products. I do not buy in bulk. I purchase my Jif Peanut Butter, off the shelf at the local grocer. You can check for yourself, by going to www.jif.com and reading their updates. Jif is made by Smuckers and does not buy products from peanut corp.
www.thelowcarbshop.com

A Few Low Carb Tips

The Low Carb diet really worked for my husband a I. We went to no caffeine, sugar, potatoes , bread, pasta for the first 2 weeks, Only eating 21 carbs per day. The pounds started falling off. We ate non-breaded meats, cheese, mushrooms,squash, (roasted in the oven with a little olive oil ) salads (watching the dressing for carbs). Eggs and omelet's filled with meat and cheese. Lots of roasted Nuts, and To replace the chips we missed we will fry grated cheese in a non-stick skillet until melted and cooled and eat pork rinds ( 0 carbs )
When we lost the weight we wanted, we only added carbs by wheat bread, found low carb tortillas for wraps loaded with cream cheese, ham and lettuce, and the low carb pasta I sell on my site. Half-Caff coffee, and diet drinks.The sweet tooth is the biggest difficulty we ran in to. I started making my husband Sugar free instant pudding with cream instead of milk and adding the whipped cream in the spray can ( no Carbs). Russell Stover has some excellent low carb candies that helped us until I developed my cookies. My recipes for the Low Carb Chocolate Cookie is my best seller and our personal favorite. Each cookie only has 1 carb, but big chocolate taste. I have found that reading labels takes a long time while shopping. But after a while you kind of know what has carbs and what doesn't. Be warned, that if a product says sugar-free or low-fat ....it doesn't always mean low carb. Read, Read, Read the labels. You can see my products and testimonials at www.thelowcarbshop.com I have all kinds of sweets, breakfast items, pasta, salsa, and soup. And Shopping for clothes in smaller sizes is SO much fun. Take my word for it, You don't have to go hungry on the low carb diet. It's worth it to look in the mirror and like what you see.

Lose Those Extra Pounds, It's Easy

The Low Carb Lifestyle. All I can say is....It Works. My Husband has lost 70 pounds and I have lost 20. We are eating healthier than we ever have. We eat veggie's - salads - broiled and baked foods. Whole grains. Off the caffeine and Sugar. It's easier than I thought. But we still Love Our Sweets. I now make our sweets from scratch. And this is one reason we have succeeded. Everyone needs a treat now and then. Why not get a treat and stay on the diet. It's a perfect solution. . I've started sharing my treats . I can help you stay on that diet, Even if it's Not Low Carb. What Have You Got To Lose, but those extra pounds. For more information email me at ct4367356@yahoo.com