For Blake Bakes, I shared a really good chocolate chip cookie recipe that I never even tried! I made them for Operation Baking Gals (see 2 posts down) and for Carlo's co-workers. Carlo's co-workers really liked them and I have gotten requests to make more. So check out the post here and let me know what you think.
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Blake Bakes: Canadian Living's Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies
For Blake Bakes, I shared a really good chocolate chip cookie recipe that I never even tried! I made them for Operation Baking Gals (see 2 posts down) and for Carlo's co-workers. Carlo's co-workers really liked them and I have gotten requests to make more. So check out the post here and let me know what you think.
Low-Carb Panna Cotta (YUM!)
Well, as some of you may know, Carlo and I started eating low-carb as of 7/21/08 and we're still going strong. Between the support we have for each other and from others online, we've been able to stick to it without cheating. There have been a lot of positive changes in overall health, and not just our waistlines.
So what about food? Do we miss bread? Well actually we don't miss bread. We've come across many great variations and substitutions that there's been no need to eat it.
One of those has come in the form of a panna cotta. I found a very easy and tasty recipe for it which allows you to adjust the flavors however you want. The recipe comes from a website called Linda's Low-Carb Recipes. Members of an online support group for low-carb dieters following Atkins really back her site and found it to be really helpful.
Back to the Panna Cotta. The prep time for this is so quick, because you heat the cream with some flavored syrup in the microwave while the gelatin sets with some more syrup. Then all you have to do is stir the gelatin into the hot cream mixture, before pouring it all into serving dishes or ramekins.
When using the syrups, I like to do a combination of them. For instance, I first made this with 3 tablespoons of French Vanilla sugar-free syrup and 1/2 cup of Coconut sugar-free syrup. Just the other day, I used 3 tablespoons of Coconut with 1/2 cup of German Chocolate Cake-flavored sugar-free syrup. My next try will be with Strawberry and Chocolate. I cannot wait, because so far it's been so good!
Side note: DaVinci is a very good brand of sugar-free syrup. They have an amazing variety and also sell sauces too. Check out their website at http://www.davincigourmet.com/
Another plus about this recipe is that it's about 2.5g per serving. Now, this stuff can be addictive. So be warned to keep your will and portion control in check. Otherwise, you'd eat the entire batch in one sitting, though this is something I have not done (GO ME!)
So here's the recipe. Try it. You'll like it!
PANNA COTTA VARIATION
Source: Linda's Low-Carb Recipes
INGREDIENTS:
So what about food? Do we miss bread? Well actually we don't miss bread. We've come across many great variations and substitutions that there's been no need to eat it.
One of those has come in the form of a panna cotta. I found a very easy and tasty recipe for it which allows you to adjust the flavors however you want. The recipe comes from a website called Linda's Low-Carb Recipes. Members of an online support group for low-carb dieters following Atkins really back her site and found it to be really helpful.
Back to the Panna Cotta. The prep time for this is so quick, because you heat the cream with some flavored syrup in the microwave while the gelatin sets with some more syrup. Then all you have to do is stir the gelatin into the hot cream mixture, before pouring it all into serving dishes or ramekins.
When using the syrups, I like to do a combination of them. For instance, I first made this with 3 tablespoons of French Vanilla sugar-free syrup and 1/2 cup of Coconut sugar-free syrup. Just the other day, I used 3 tablespoons of Coconut with 1/2 cup of German Chocolate Cake-flavored sugar-free syrup. My next try will be with Strawberry and Chocolate. I cannot wait, because so far it's been so good!
Side note: DaVinci is a very good brand of sugar-free syrup. They have an amazing variety and also sell sauces too. Check out their website at http://www.davincigourmet.com/
Another plus about this recipe is that it's about 2.5g per serving. Now, this stuff can be addictive. So be warned to keep your will and portion control in check. Otherwise, you'd eat the entire batch in one sitting, though this is something I have not done (GO ME!)
So here's the recipe. Try it. You'll like it!
PANNA COTTA VARIATION
Source: Linda's Low-Carb Recipes
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
- 3 tablespoons sugar free syrup, such as Da Vinci or Torani, any flavor
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sugar free syrup, such as Da Vinci or Torani, any flavor
- In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over 3 tablespoons syrup; let stand 5 minutes to soften.
- Bring the cream and 1/2 cup syrup to a boil on medium heat or microwave on HIGH for about 6 minutes or so, watching closely.
- Remove from the heat; add the gelatin mixture; stir until the gelatin is completely melted.
- Pour into 6 individual dessert cups or medium bowl.
- Cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent skin from forming, if desired.
- Chill at least 3 hours or until set.
Monday, August 25, 2025
Operation Baking Gals: Our Care Package to Daryl
If you haven't heard of or read about Operation Baking Gals, well you just need to get in the know!
Operation Baking Gals is a great group founded by Susan of She's Becoming DoughMessTic. The purpose of the group is to spread goodwill through baking. Each round has a series of hosts, heading teams to send care packages of homemade goodies and comforts of "home" to U.S. troops overseas, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm so glad to have joined. It really is a fulfilling experience, and I know Carlo feels the same.
I missed out on participating in Round One of OBG, but definitely made sure to be a part of Round Two. I joined up with Team Hungry Fox led by Debbie of At the Table with the Hungry Fox. Her son-in-law Daryl is a Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force who is currently serving in Iraq. Maybe it was the Carolina connection that made me join her team, but I'm glad I did.
This weekend, Carlo and I put together our little care package for Daryl to thank him for all he is doing to support our country during a rough time in history. We made him two kinds of cookies: Dorie Greenspan's Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chipsters (see my post about these next week for TWD) and Canadian Living's Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies (I'll be posting a blog entry on Blake Bakes soon). We also threw in a few boxes of candy as well, along with a letter of well wishes.
Just a quick side note: We had a few folks, Carlo's co-workers, taste test the cookies to give their seal of approval. They devoured them. So I guess that means they liked them, eh? Well I hope Daryl and his airmen enjoy them too.
Packing up the box and taking it to the post office made The Food Duo feel quite good. When you do something nice for someone else, even when you don't know him, it really can touch you and show you what kind of person you are.
We personally do not know anyone who is in Iraq or Afghanistan. Being a part of Operation Baking Gals really gives more of a personal connection, a face to know of someone who is sacrificing themselves for millions of others. This was really a positive experience. Carlo and I are both looking forward to doing this again the next round!
Well, it's late. I just finished watching Michelle Obama speak at the DNC. It's time to hit the hay. So I'm out.
- Carmella
P.S. Tomorrow is Daryl's 28th birthday. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY to him. We hope he comes home soon and safe.
P.P.S. Guess what?!?! Neither Carlo or myself tried the cookie dough! YAY for beating the cravings. Then again, you can't beat cravings if you don't have them, right?
Operation Baking Gals is a great group founded by Susan of She's Becoming DoughMessTic. The purpose of the group is to spread goodwill through baking. Each round has a series of hosts, heading teams to send care packages of homemade goodies and comforts of "home" to U.S. troops overseas, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm so glad to have joined. It really is a fulfilling experience, and I know Carlo feels the same.
I missed out on participating in Round One of OBG, but definitely made sure to be a part of Round Two. I joined up with Team Hungry Fox led by Debbie of At the Table with the Hungry Fox. Her son-in-law Daryl is a Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force who is currently serving in Iraq. Maybe it was the Carolina connection that made me join her team, but I'm glad I did.
This weekend, Carlo and I put together our little care package for Daryl to thank him for all he is doing to support our country during a rough time in history. We made him two kinds of cookies: Dorie Greenspan's Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chipsters (see my post about these next week for TWD) and Canadian Living's Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies (I'll be posting a blog entry on Blake Bakes soon). We also threw in a few boxes of candy as well, along with a letter of well wishes.
Just a quick side note: We had a few folks, Carlo's co-workers, taste test the cookies to give their seal of approval. They devoured them. So I guess that means they liked them, eh? Well I hope Daryl and his airmen enjoy them too.
Packing up the box and taking it to the post office made The Food Duo feel quite good. When you do something nice for someone else, even when you don't know him, it really can touch you and show you what kind of person you are.
We personally do not know anyone who is in Iraq or Afghanistan. Being a part of Operation Baking Gals really gives more of a personal connection, a face to know of someone who is sacrificing themselves for millions of others. This was really a positive experience. Carlo and I are both looking forward to doing this again the next round!
Well, it's late. I just finished watching Michelle Obama speak at the DNC. It's time to hit the hay. So I'm out.
- Carmella
P.S. Tomorrow is Daryl's 28th birthday. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY to him. We hope he comes home soon and safe.
P.P.S. Guess what?!?! Neither Carlo or myself tried the cookie dough! YAY for beating the cravings. Then again, you can't beat cravings if you don't have them, right?
Sunday, August 17, 2025
It's Been a Long Time
We haven't posted in a while. We're sorry!!
We're gathering up recipes we put together ourselves and some we have tried ourselves. We'll post them at the end of the month. So look out for a BIG update from us.
BTW, Carlo's lost over 10lbs. Carm's lost about 5-6, but has gained a ton of muscle. YAY US!
Enjoy the rest of August
- C+C: The Food Duo
We're gathering up recipes we put together ourselves and some we have tried ourselves. We'll post them at the end of the month. So look out for a BIG update from us.
BTW, Carlo's lost over 10lbs. Carm's lost about 5-6, but has gained a ton of muscle. YAY US!
Enjoy the rest of August
- C+C: The Food Duo
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