Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

So I decided to reconnect with a friend of mine (I have not seen her in over 2 years). She called me the other day to let me know that she is not eating any carbs and will just eat whatever vegetables and meat I serve. I was going to crockpot meatballs and sausage with pasta, but I guess that is a no go now.

Any ideas on what to make? I'd love to prep it ahead of time if possible so I'm not trying to cook and entertain her and calm down my 20 month old (who is in a stranger danger phase right now).

Re: Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

Would she just eat the meatballs and sausage and then maybe you can make a nice salad to go with it?

The only other thing I can think of for someone not eating any carbs would be like a big salad with grilled chicken in it, but it's not really grilling season right now

Re: Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

Spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles instead of pasta?

Re: Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

Oh Jesus One of those

There's no one on this earth more fanatical about fitness and health than my brother -- and he is in unbelievable shape -- like an Olympian but he never, ever makes it anyone else's issue. He never says anything and just takes whatever is healthiest, what he chooses. And, of course, works out like a nutcase. I had a friend like yours and we would go to restaurants and she would ask what OIL they cooked things in and what type of place the meat was stored in and she couldn't have this, and couldn't have that -- and certain things had to be "prepared" certain ways... meanwhile we are at like, Cheesecake Factory LMAO and the waitress just looks at her like, huh??

ANYWAY! Sorry - lol tangent but it cracks me up.

I would suggest, and I'm just like you -- even with the friend I described above, I would go out of my way to make something special... I would suggest THIS (see below) lasagna-type dish because, in it, instead of using the pasta, they use grilled eggplant. I have made this before and it is DELICOUS.

You may even want to choose to make it yourself one time - because it comes out really fantastic. It's super healthy but tastes great. And just buy a GOOD jar sauce -- don't make yourself crazy. Nowadays, they sell Mario Batali and Mama Lombardi's sauce right in the jar at the store! Easy!

And I always prep everything ahead of time and then just bake right before!! Meaning, I do the veggies, I layer them, I make the whole dish and then just leave it until before I want to serve and I bake it off and then serve it -- I make sure I golden-brown the top. It comes out great!

Ingredients

*Butter, for greasing
*Olive oil, for drizzling
*Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
*1 medium eggplant, cut into 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick slices
*2 medium fennel bulbs, trimmed and sliced into 1/4-inch thick pieces
*1 red bell pepper, cut into thirds
*1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thirds
*1 orange bell pepper, cut into thirds
*1 (26-ounce) jar marinara sauce
*3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
*1 cup grated Parmesan
*1 cup plain bread crumbs

Directions

Put a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish.

Drizzle the eggplant slices, fennel slices and peppers with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Grill the vegetables for 3 to 4 minutes each side until softened.

Spoon 3/4 cup of the marinara sauce over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange the eggplant slices on top. Sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Arrange the peppers in a single layer on top. Spoon 3/4 cup of marinara sauce over the peppers. Sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Arrange the fennel on top and cover with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Scatter the bread crumbs over the cheese and drizzle liberally with oil. Bake until the top is golden and forms a crust, about 30 to 35 minutes

Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Cook's Note: The vegetables can also be baked in a 375 degrees F oven for 15 to 20 minutes until softened.

Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

CLICK HERE TO SEE RECIPE AND VIDEO TUTORIAL

Message edited 1/12/2016 9:19:13 AM.

Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

Meatballs have latent carbs if you use breadcrumbs and I would love your sausage crockpot recipe. Everytime I put sausage in the CP it becomes inedible, just like crumbles and loses it's consistency, so please share!!!

How about chicken fajitas with lettuce wraps?
Taco's with lettuce wraps?
Taco salad
Buffalo chicken or BBQ chicken in lettuce wraps or over salad

You can roast some cauliflower or broccoli and sautee some chicken with italian seasoning or Shrimp - It's not a CP meal but still relatively quick and easy.

Or make a stirfry with chicken, shrimp, steak and/or veggies. Again not CP but a one pan meal that is prety quick and easy to make. They sell precut stir fry veggies in all the super markets.

Also London broil and veggies or a pot roast.

Message edited 1/12/2016 9:23:20 AM.

Re: Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

Ok I feel totally stupid.. but..



What's wrong with Steak with Broccoli and carrots?

Chicken in Garlic/Rosemary lemon ?
We marinate ours in olive oil, lemons, garlic and rosemary overnight and pour the whole bag into a 13x9 dish and bake it. Served with carrots that have had a little of that same olive oil added to the water we use to boil them.

Or Salmon with lemon pepper seasoning and asparagus ?

Pork Ribeye (much more tender) with veggies

Or even Tuna steak

A mix of grilled veggies, eggplant, carrots, squash, zucchini and a salad with any steak, pork, chicken, fish properly prepared would be good, right?

I eat white rice with every single dinner but other than that, all of our meals are listed above. That's our weekly eats. I can't handle breaded items very well. I adore veggies, but he must always have a 'meat' for dinner. So our middle ground is a savory 'meat' while I get my flavorful veggies and our veggie is our 'bread' LOL

Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

Our Chicken Receipe:
For each breast of chicken:
One clove a garlic, minced.
One quarter of an onion
One tablespoon of thyme
Two Tablespoons of rosemary
One teaspoon of pepper
1 cup of olive oil and one fresh squeezed halved lemons.

For kicks, if you have any potatoes to throw in the marinade with the chicken, I highly suggest you use some as well. ? Two or three small potatoes sliced in big quarters. Also we’ve tossed in cherry tomatoes. Obviously carb sensitive, no potatoes!

So for two, use double of what is listed.

For any sides like veggies, before throwing the entire thing in a baking pan, use some of the marinade in some water to boil up some baby carrots.

Marinate the chicken for a day and bake the whole bag of contents (just pour it into the dish) at 425 in a baking pan for 25-30 minutes depending on how big your chicken breasts are. I recommend to baste at least two times with the oil, once 10 minutes into the baking and then again in another 10 mins.

Message edited 1/12/2016 11:09:05 AM.

Re: Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

How about a chili? You can still crock pot it

Re: Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

This slow cooker balsamic brown sugar pork loin is super easy and really good. I've made it for company before. You can serve with any veggie really, maybe prep a bunch of veggies to today in the oven so it's stress free. It would also be great with a cauliflower puree which you could make ahead and just reheat.

recipe

Re: Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

Re: Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

spaghetti squash as a sub for pasta w/ slices of grilled chicken in a chunky tomato sauce.. yum!

Message edited 1/12/2016 2:59:11 PM.

Re: Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by MrsT809

This slow cooker balsamic brown sugar pork loin is super easy and really good. I've made it for company before. You can serve with any veggie really, maybe prep a bunch of veggies to today in the oven so it's stress free. It would also be great with a cauliflower puree which you could make ahead and just reheat.

recipe

Brown Sugar!!! CARBS!!!!!

Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

I'd make a london broil. Season it with montreal steak seasoning and olive oil and make in the grill pan or under the broiler. Make a salad and you're good to go. You can prep the salad ahead of time. The steak shouldn't take very long under the broiler.

Re: Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

Vegetables have "carbs", too.... but we'll ignore that for now ...

There are tons of vegetarian/no carb recipes out there. I would love a slab of meat and some veggies, and I'm not on a no-carb diet....
I would keep it as simple as possible.

Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

Make a roast chicken with veggies and onions

Re: Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

Message edited 1/12/2016 6:56:44 PM.

Re: Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

I would roast some veggies and then grill or stovetop some simple meat. This is basically how I normally eat.

You can do veggies in advance.

Veggies - sheet pan, little olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, any combo of:
Asparagus
Red peppers
Butternut squash or acorn squash
Brussels sprouts
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Carrots
Portobello mushrooms
Kale (serve freshly roasted)

Simple meat
Steak
Chicken breast - marinate or top with sauce
Boneless pork chops

Add a salad and you are set

Re: Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

This is all I can think of...

Re: Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

I'm assuming when you say no carbs, you simple mean no bread or starch products. That said, here are some suggestions...
Roast chicken and veggies.
A shrimp/chicken stir fry with lots of veggies. If you want to be really ambitious you could make cauliflower "rice" to go with it
Zucchini boats stuffed with ground chicken/turkey sauce and cheese
Steak with a big salad
Shrimp scampi over zoodles
Chicken breast chili with toppings
Turkey tacos with lettuce wraps instead of shells

Re: Making Dinner for Someone Who is Currently Not Eating Carbs...

Why don't you make sausage and peppers instead of what you planned