Summer time LCHF ice-cream

It is that time of year and if you are like me and have a soft spot for ice-cream then these can fill the void.

I ADORE ice-cream

I would crawl over hot coals for the stuff and have been known to lie to my children about the existence of ice-cream in the freezer!

Sooooo, I have two recipes for you.

They are simple and don't use too many ingredients, which I really like.

I made the custard for this one in the bellini but it can be done stove top just as easy.  For the puritan banters this would be totally unacceptable but hey, you gotta live a little in summer. and. ice-cream!

Salted Caramel Ice-cream

Ingredients:

6 pitted fresh dates

400ml coconut cream

2 whole eggs

1tsp himalayan salt

1tsp vanilla essence

125ml pouring cream

1tbs yacon syrup

1tsp xantham gum powder

1tsp lucuma

Method:

Blend dates, vanilla, lucuma, xantham gum and eggs together.  

In a pan heat coconut cream to a simmer, stir in date mix and add yacon syrup (you can go without this or add a sweetener of your choice.  I use this as it is reasonably low in carbs and adds a nice flavour)

Bring to simmer and stir until mix starts to become thicker.  

Once it resembles a custard, add your salt and remove from heat and chill in fridge.

Once cool, whisk through the pouring cream and then place in sealed container in freezer.  

This is where you can use your ice-cream maker and follow usual method.

If you don't have an ice-cream maker then just remove every hour or so and give a whisk.  

You only need do this 2-3 times.

You will need to remove from freezer at least 30min before using, like most home made ice-cream it will go really hard.  Alternatively you can use ice-cream moulds that make it much easier to handle.

You can also eat it much sooner!

makes 15 serves.  2.3gr carbs per serve

My kids love this one, for me it is too much cream, however using cream makes it a great source of fat and really low carb

Traditional Vanilla Ice-cream

Incredients:

600ml pouring cream

2tbs vanilla essence

2 vanilla beans split and scraped (use it all)

pinch salt

1.5tbs great lakes gelatin

1/4c water

Method:

Dissolve the gelatin in the water and set aside.

In a saucepan heat cream with vanilla, beans and paste until you have a simmer.  let simmer for about 20 min until it has reduced and developed a really lovely vanilla flavour.

Remove beans and let cool slightly.

Whisk through gelatin, then transfer to a container and chill in fridge.

Once cool whisk again then follow same procedure as above for whisking/freezing or use your ice-cream maker or moulds.
makes 15serves, 1.1gr carb per serve

Tasmanian guide to buying LCHF friendly produce

One of the hardest things I have found with changing our lifestyle has been finding user friendly cafes and shops.  

There is a lot of footwork and internet stalking initially, to find what you want.  

The latter made even more difficult because, lets face it Tasmanian businesses just don't seem to get the internet thing.  They either don't have a website or the website they sent up in 2006 hasn't been touched since then.

So, to help other folk out I have come up with a document.  And, well, being a virgo this is what I do LOL

Because this WOE (way of eating) is relatively new to us Tasmanians the demand on businesses hasn't be high for the products we want.

However, I am not one to shy away from asking.  I figure the worst they can do is say no, and really that doesn't do them any favours does it!

I have been pleasantly surprised with most responses and am pleased to say that most places that I ask for a specific request either agree straight up or at the very least agree to consider my request. 

Only this week I put the challenge out to Conmurra Farm where I buy my meat to see if they would do some paleo sausages.  I asked that they be just meat, fat and seasoning with no filler at all.  They gladly took this on board and sent me a kilo of pork and a kilo of beef with my order to try out!  

And a great price of under $10 per kilo!

You can't get better service than that!

Also, if you are a first time buyer thru the link above you get a discount!

Obviously I can't buy all my food through Conmurra.  

Below is a run down of where I get most of my bits and bobs for the week:

Wholesome House - Mowbray

David and Lee are awesome!  They stock most of what I need and if they don't then they will do their utmost to source it and get it in for you.   

They stock all Ashgrove products, organic seasonal fruit/veg, MCT oil, coconut oil, ACV in bulk, bulk nuts/nutmeal/nut butter, herbs/spices loose, ghee, eggs, sauerkraut plus much more!  

They also have a great range of water filters, which is really important to keeping healthy.  I have a reverse osmosis filter that I bought from them and truly it is the best thing I have spent money on and has paid for itself in no time! 

If you don't filter your water I highly recommend researching the benefits and consider doing it. 

I also try and do my veg shopping at Harvest Market most Saturdays. There are two great stalls there that sell chemical free veg.  They are really reasonably priced and you are supporting local independent businesses at the same time.

I also buy my coffee at Harvest from Ritual Coffee.  Another local small business.  His coffee is great tasting and good quality so well worth the $$$

Steve & Grace's greengrocer out at Youngtown have avocados super cheap most of the time. I got some for 65c each this week!  And, the greengrocer in Mowbray often has cauliflower cheap too.

But to do the leg work for you

I have created a guide to buying LCHF/paleo.  

This is downloadable and printable for you to use.

Obviously it doesn't list every business in Tasmania.  It has many Launceston businesses who were contacted and a few in other areas around the state.

It also doesn't list every item.  I think most people know where to buy eggs or almond meal from.  The products included are the ones I see most people asking about on websites, forums and FB groups.  

If you have a product you find tricky to buy or you know of a business that stocks loads of good stuff then please leave a comment and I can add it to the list.  

I would love to be able to include more businesses out side of Launceston.

Launceston LCHF Buyers Guide

head down and bum up and back to work!

I am heading in for that last 15kg.  

I am hoping to stick with LCHF way of eating rather than doing another HCG round.  

I want to join a local gym that supports LCHF and build some lean muscle and increase by strength so I can't really do that if I am doing HCG.

I have come so far and I know there is never a finish as such, as this is a lifestyle change, not a quick fix diet that has an end date.  

But I know that I really only need to lose another 10-15kg to be within a healthy weight range and not obese.  

Did you know I have lost almost half my starting body weight.  

Not far off and that blows me away.  

I forget how big I was and it is funny because I feel like I am so teensy now, and compared to what I was I kind of am LOL

So, while I am feeling proud and bold I am going to share my current before and after.

I am nervous and a bit cringy doing this 

but 

I want all those people out there who think it is 

impossible, 

are overwhelmed, 

depressed 

and 

not confident 

that it can be done.