Leading Low Carb Guide, Carb Smart Magazine Makes SusieT a Contributing Writer

Hey y’all! Watch this!

Fluffy Chix watching this...

I believe Jeff Foxworthy described that command as, "The last words you most often hear comin’ out of a redneck’s mouth." (Ahem, you might be surprised to hear this, but Texas has our fair share of rednecks, and quite a few still perch on the limbs of my family tree…) 

In Texas, you hear those words a lot. I mean a lot. A LOT! In fact, you hear those words from Fluffy Chix Cook, a lot!

You also hear me say, “This is a true story.” Cuz right before a Texan is apt to tell a tall tale, he or she will preface it by informing you in solemn honesty, "This is a true story. I 'Caint' - Texan for 'can't' - MAKE this stuff up!"

But, it is.

A true story. Swearsies.

Hand to heart, I just up and wrote Dana Carpender one day! Yep, just up and wrote her. Turns out you increase your odds of success by asking. You should write that down. It’s important. (Oh, I’ll get to what I asked soon…be patient!)

Okra and Tomatoes a Southerner's Summer Love

A Song of The South...the sweet lure of gumbo and okra 'n' 'maters.

Okra and Tomatoes - a summer Southern Classic!

“Are you a complete idiot?”

“No!” I replied with reason.

“You must be!”

“Why do you say that? That’s harsh,” I continued.

“Because you must be a moron to drive your readers away like you are.”

I instructed, “You shouldn’t end a sentence with “are”. There are better sentence structures.”

“Ok, let me rephrase this for you,” the heckler continued. “Because you must be a moron to drive your readers away like you are, dumbass.”

Salmon Salad Niçoise – IS the Big Salad

Salmon Salad Niçoise embodies summer.

Salmon Niçoise Salad is a graceful and elegant
main course salad.

Ah yes, the “big salad” of Seinfeld fame. I can’t help but think of Elaine every time I build a salad – which is daily.

I have at least one “big salad” per day. I admit it. They take different flavors and I would rival any of my big salads against the ones featured at the Seinfeld diner.

I play favorites, too. My current favorite big salads are a chopped salad, which I make almost every evening as part of our supper, and the more artfully arranged, Queen of Composed Salads – the Niçoise Salad, that’s a meal in and of itself.

I call the Salad Niçoise a “destination salad” because you don’t just “happen” or back into this salad. You plan and take measures to arrive at the Salad Niçoise as your main course. And oh my, the scenery in the making is outstanding. It is a deliberate and proud salad.

Low Carb Knock Off of James Coney Island Chili

Baseball, Low Carb Coney Island Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and the 4th of July!

Nothing like a panic, right?

Low Carb Coney Island Chili Cheese Dogs with Dill
Relish, Onion and Mustard along with a side of
Oven Fried Green Tomatoes and Oven Fried Zucchini
makes for a patriotic 4th of July.

Seems I live life like that these days. You know, July 4th, falls on the same date each year. You can see it comin’ down the tracks like an old steam train. There’s no missing it. So how is it I forgot to give you a recipe that takes care of your 4th of July needs?

Panic ensued.

Mea culpa. I will now say 5 Our Fathers and 10 Hail Marys and I shall endeavor to keep that from happening in the future.

Because of the rush, I won’t even bother telling you a long drawn out story from my mis-spent youth, nor regail you with songs of the South. I will simply get straight to it.

Low Carb and Gluten Free - Turkey Meatloaf is Year-Round Comfort Food!

“Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double beatloaf. I hate meatloaf.”  - Randy from A Christmas Story

Low Carb Turkey Meatloaf is gluten free and paleo
and diabetic friendly!

Gosh I just love A Christmas Story and fall out laughing every time I see Randy sitting at the table, picking at his meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Oh my. It could be me all over again!

It's no secret in my family. I hated Mom’s meatloaf.

And I don’t even know why I hated it. It could be a texture thing. You know how funny kids are about textures. Or it could be because Mama thought she invented the use of the holy trinity and used it liberally in her meatloaf!

For those of you out of the loop, the holy

Why Do I Need To Know How Many Carbs My Body Can Handle?

We interrupt this post to bring you a breaking news item!!

Leave It To Beaver a classic 60's sitcom!
Image courtesy of IMDb

Fluffy Chix Cook Turkey Meatloaf will be delayed another day because I’m thinking we need to have a little talk bout ‘trition, Beaver. (That’s Nutrition to those of you who can’t read my colloquial prattle. And that’s Beaver, referencing Leave It To Beaver for those of you who are not children of the 60s and 70s. Poor you. You missed out on an awesome lot and a mostly happy era!) But good news! Apparently Leave It To Beaver, The Movie is coming to a theatre near you, soon!

I’m kinda guilty of tending away from talking about all things Nutrition Nerdville these days. Lately, Fluffy Chix mainly squawk about yummy recipes and silliness. Maybe it’s because of the cancer recovery? Maybe I’ve gotten lazy? Maybe I’m just tired of trying to convince people that this way of eating helps us and in my opinion, should be a preferential method of eating for most people. I’m talking of course, about low carb/controlled carb and paleo nutrition.

I’ve kinda left it up to the professionals and brainiacs in our nutritional world to take care of the education for all humanity on greater Earth. The brainiacs and metabolic

Oven Fried Green Tomatoes a Low Carb Summer Sensation

Tomatoes Make June Heat Waves in Texas Totally Worth It!

Low Carb and Paleo Friendly to many, Oven Fried Green
Tomatoes make a great side for Barbequed Pulled Pork and
Coleslaw!

Summertime and the livin’ is easy! Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high.

June in Texas is more than Gershwin tunes and tall cotton! June means triple digit thermometer readings. On the Gulf Coast, June means the hurricane watch begins and will continue into September. But June, means something else in Texas.

June means tomato season busts wide open and between now and about mid-July, it isn’t rainin’ men (thank you to The Weather Girls for helping me continue my musical theme), heck, it isn’t rainin’ much of anything. Texas is in a drought, you know!

Nah, I think this song best describes the affinity I feel towards homegrown tomatoes. Wish I could embed the video but maybe you'll go listen to the link. Apparently there are others who feel as I do! :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-QzLIjL1u4 (Homegrown Tomatoes by Guy Clark).

Six Simple Golden Rules to Great Grilled Steak

Six Golden Rules to Great Steak - a Timeless Classic from our Daddy to Yours

Grilled Ribeye, Asparagus in Browned Butter and
Chopped Salad with Blue Cheese and House Vinaigrette.

Steak was a delicacy in our house. Not only was it expensive, but we had to make a special trip to the grocery and it seemed like Daddy had to talk to the butcher for hours in order to procure it. I would twiddle my thumbs, run up and down isles and touch every package of meat in the case, while Daddy talked shop with his butcher pal.

Our dad hunted and between him and the boys, plus Nanny and myself, we managed to put most of the meat on our table from the wild: venison, pig, dove, ducks, geese, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, fish, crab, shrimp and heck, even the odd armadillo – it is Texas after all. So we didn’t see the butcher very often. We even made our own ground meat, chili meat and sausage.

Life's a Load - A Load of Loaded Broccoli

Sometimes it’s hard to find balance, especially when life is loaded with traps and pitfalls!

Loaded Broccoli - low carb, paleo friendly, diabetic
friendly, and sock monkey approved works
great as a side dish with anything - especially steak!

Because I want to share my journey with each of you, I tend toward TMI (too much information) and often, I fear it’s off-putting.

This is primarily a food and recipe blog and if I share too much personal “schtuff”, will it make you go, “Eww. Ick. I prolly wouldn’t a said that one, buddy…” a la Lewis Grizzard – a well-known, now-dead, southern humorist?

Will it put the male readers permanently “off” women or anything remotely involving the Secret Gynocracy, to which all women belong and of whom DSFW’s (Delicate Flowers of Southern Womanhood) hold many of the seats on the SG Board of Directors?

So I’m gonna take a leap of faith and jump in deep and wide. But beware! This post is loaded! And with much more than the delicious and healthy Loaded Broccoli!

Men, you may want to pull your bottom lips up over your head now and just skip forward to the recipe below, singing smurfily, "La la la la la lah, la la la la lahhh!" It is quite the recipe. Steeped in difficulty and mystique!

Kent Altena's Jamaican Jerk Chicken is Awesomeful of Awesomeness

Sometimes Jerki-ness is good - when it's Caribbean Jerk, mon!

Kent's Jamaican Jerk Chicken and Pork makes
ya feel like dancin' to reggae mon!

My buddy Kent Altena and his missus attended the Low Carb Cruise to Jamaica not long ago. They returned, inspired by visions of Jamaican Jerk and reggae in the night. Kent came back a craivin’ kind of guy. Inspired by the abundance of excellent low carb cooks on board, great food and inspiration and visions of Caribbean dancing in his head, it didn’t take him long to dream up a cure for the modern Jerk jones.

Please take the time to visit Kent’s site, Atkin’s Diet Geek and read his terrific recipe – then don’t forget to mark a reminder on your calendar to make it! He has a very good video tutorial on YouTube where he demos the recipe. Don’t forget to take notes on his grilling technique! Grilling bone in chicken pieces is not an easy feat, my friend, but Kent de-mystifies the process! Way to go, Kent!

I have to admit, I don’t have much experience with Caribbean cuisine. Prior to test driving this baby, I’m ashamed to admit my only run in with jerks was