Keto - Low Carb Croque Madame

A year ago this week, we were staying in Paris. I've been missing Paris quite a bit and already plotting when I can return. One thing I miss quite a bit are croque monsieur and croque madames, These are essentially toasted open face ham and cheese sandwiches (topped with an egg makes it a madame), Unfortunately, these are not the lowest carb foods. At least they weren't until I figured out to make them low carb.  I had a couple of ideas in mind and will probably give each a try but the key to this croque madame is a lower carb bread that I recently discovered, Sara Lee Delightful with a net 13 carbs for 2 slices.  My quick instructions to assemble below.

Low Carb Croque Madame 

2 slices of Sara Lee Delightful bread
1 Tbs. butter melted
2 slices Gruyere cheese
2 slices of nice ham (I used Boar's Head)
2 eggs, prepared over easy


I buttered 2 slices of bread on one side and placed them on a baking sheet, butter side down for 4 min. Once the bread had started to toast I pulled out and topped with ham and cheese.  I put the slices back in the oven under broil until the cheese was nice and bubbly.  Once done, I topped each slice with an over easy egg.

Perfection.

KETO (Low Carb) Cheese French Souffle

Despite the temptation, I have managed to stay strict to Keto the entire month of January. Getting back on the wagon has been tougher this go around following the splurge of the holidays and traveling, it has felt like learning good behaviors all over again.  Last night I was grouchy because I couldn't eat all the things that I was craving and I was so tired of the foods I routinely eat.  I hadn't been to the grocery store as I was supposed to be in Minneapolis this last week but plane mechanical issues and a blizzard that crossed the Midwest kept me in Wichita.  Needless to say, I felt inspired to be creative with what I had on hand and my love of french food.  I had heard that a souffle could be made low-carb but had never attempted it on my own.  I'm actually really happy with the results and am definitely adding to my repertoire.  And of course contemplating why I haven't been making souffles for years?  Next time I'll have to give a chocolate souffle a try.

KETO (Low-Carb) Cheese French Souffle

Ingredients:
2 Tbs. real butter (I use Kerrygold)
2 Tbs. Almond Flour
1 Tsp. Nutmeg.
1 C. Heavy Whipping Cream
4 eggs, separated
3/4 C. Grated nice cheese of your choosing (Gruyere, Parmesan, Vermont cheddar, etc.)


Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a skillet heat butter till melted.  Add 1 Tbs. Almond Flour and mix with butter.  Lower heat and add heavy whipping cream.  Mix together and then add the other tbs. of almond flour and nutmeg allowing to slightly thicken.  Remove from heat.  In a medium size bowl mix together egg yolks and cheese.  Add grated cheese.   In another mixing bowl using a hand mixer, mix the egg whites with electric mixer until egg whites form stiff peaks.  Add the skillet mixture once mostly cooled into the yolk mixture and mix together.  Next fold in the egg whites.  Be careful not to over mix causing the the egg white mixture to loose it's airiness.  Place the mixture in ramekins (3) or a medium size round souffle dish.  Bake for 25 minutes at 375 degrees.  Do not open the oven for the first 20 minutes or it will cause the souffle to fall.

Souffles will rise quite a bit above the top of the ramekin or dish.  This is expected.  Mine were quite a bit higher but then fell a bit after cooling on the counter.

Poulet a la Moutarde and Julia Child

It has been a month since I was in Paris.  And I have this strong desire to be there again, like I was meant to be there even belong there.  I have always been a bit obsessed with the French and apparently my visit to Paris has reignited that obsession.  

When talking about France, one can hardly dismiss the food.  Unfortunately the food isn't low carb and that has definitely hindered my weight loss over the last month.  That isn't to say that I haven't been back on keto for days at a time but then I come across a nice cheese and baguette at the store and I cave.  I so wish bread wasn't a carb...  

I have managed to make one fairly low carb french meal that I thought I would share with you. Poulet a la moutarde otherwise known as chicken in mustard sauce.  I am a big fan of chicken dishes with mustard so when I came across this recipe from Mon Petit Four I decided to give it a shot.  To be honest, I don't cook with wine often and was a bit concerned that my family would even like it.  The dish did not disappoint.  In fact, I didn't even have leftovers!  The flavors are rich yet mild and the the dish was simple to make.  A good dijon mustard like Maille is key to getting a good sauce flavor.  My local grocery store Dillons sells Maille so I was in luck.  Unfortuntately, there aren't many options for shopping for European groceries in Wichita or at least that I am aware of.  I am kicking myself for stocking up on some French essentials while I was there.  I am on the hunt for my next french recipe that I wish to try.  I've been thinking about getting the mother of all French cookbooks, Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, just to give it a whirl.  There are actually plenty of meat and vegetable dishes which are low-carb, they just require me to step outside my obsession with pastries, crepes, and croque monsieurs (which I have also learned to make, yum!).  I am currently reading the autobiography of Julia Child, My Life in France.  I am loving it but then again I love France and I love Julia Child.  I've also seen/own the movie Julie and Julia which is a true celebration of French cuisine and Julia Child. 

This weekend I will be celebrating my 40th birthday.  My family and I will be heading to one of the only French restaurants we have in Wichita, Georges French Bistro.  I have been a fan of Georges since they opened and I can't wait to go back.  

I apologize for lack of photos this post, I did take some great photos of the chicken dish but lost them in transitioning to my new phone.  I'll try to grab some next time... and believe me, there will be a next time.