Holidays & Seasons

As the days get shorter and the nights grow colder, it seems we have less motivation to stay the course with our low carb plans - especially around Halloween. The copious amounts of junk food we are presented with can be overwhelming. How do we break this vicious cycle of the norm? Misty Humphrey gives you some great ways to keep the family - and the neighborhood - healthy.

The number one rule of great steak is “Start with great meat.” What defines great meat? Is it grass‑fed, is it local, is it natural, is it grain finished? Yes. But, let your pocket‑book and monthly food budget answer that question. And even disregarding the 3 USDA meat grades: prime (prime‑aged), choice, and select, I maintain great meat (aka great steak) is available across all grades and in all budgets.

Summer party beverages are different than winter party beverages. Eggnog and other heavy, creamy drinks seem cloying now. And when you're playing in the sun, it's best to have a drink of modest potency, with a high water content. In other words, you want your beverages to refresh as well as relax.

Everyone loves barbecue! And at first glance, a rack of ribs or some barbecued chicken seems ideal for us low carb types. But there's a problem with virtually all commercial barbecue: the sauce. It's sugary. Often you'll get as much as 12 grams of sugar in a two-tablespoon serving - and who stops at two tablespoons? So it behooves us to learn how to turn out fabulous barbecue at home. I've always been a good cook, but until I learned the difference between grilling and barbecuing, I would try to grill ribs, and cremated them. Then I learned how to slow-smoke food. Now my ribs, chicken, even turkey, turn out succulent, smoky, and delicious every time.

Fresh spinach, low sugar Mandarin oranges and raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing combine for a low carb salad for Easter or any time.

Here's a Dana Carpender Low-Carb Smoked Turkey Legs recipe with so much flavor, it needs no finishing sauce!

This is Barbo Gold's main dish for Seder. She's been making this Low Carb Brisket Recipe since Aunt Sadie taught her over 60 years ago!

A friend of CarbSmart who keeps kosher points out that because this recipe contains dairy it cannot be eaten at a meat meal–like brisket. To make this recipe pareve (neutral), substitute margarine for the butter, and make coconut sour cream.

Charoset is a mandatory, traditional part of the seder meal, representing the mortar the Hebrews used to set bricks during their captivity in Egypt. It is impossible for me to make the classic charoset without using some apple.