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Saturday, August 10, 2013

BREAKFAST LONG JOHN

I called this a Long John, because, well, it reminded me of a Long John that I used to eat fresh from the bakery.  I guess it's more of an "Oblong John" or a "Half circle John" since I make it in my GT Xpress and that's the shape it makes.  But whatever shape you make it in, it makes a great breakfast treat, without the grains, without the carbs, without the excess calories; and you can have it for your breakfast because it is nutritious, with protein and fiber, to start your day, instead of a huge dose of transfats, empty calories, and carbs that you have to try to recover from the rest of your day.
This is really versatile.  You can make it in the oven or in the microwave, or in your GT Xpress if you are so fortunate to have one.  I'm really loving mine for little treats like this.
But this little treat makes a full breakfast for me, for breakfast.  Some mornings I do add a couple strips of bacon.  I mean, everything is better with bacon, right?  There are also many variations you can do with this.  I've made a lemon bun with it.  Just do lemon juice in place of the liquid, and add 1/2 tsp lemon flavoring. If you really like it lemony, add some lemon juice to the coconut oil, for the topping.  You can make it a filled roll, which then would make it a "Bismark."  I used to love those too. You can make a chocolate ganache for the topping, or for the filling.  You can make a custard filling if you like and top it with a chocolate ganache.  Mind you, I haven't tried all these yet, but I have endless thoughts of the possibilities for this!  It's sort of an off-shoot of my "Donut Bun" recipe, only this is a bit different with almond flour and psyllium powder, instead of coconut flour.

                      

BREAKFAST LONG JOHN
                          
2 tablespoons  Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon  almond flour -- (Honeyville is what I prefer)
1/4 teaspoon  baking powder
1 egg
1 tablespoon  buttermilk -- OR kefir, whey, yogurt, or club soda
1/4 cup  sweetener of your choice -- or equivalent (I use 1/4 tsp EZ Sweetz Stevia and Monk Fruit)
1 teaspoon  vanilla
Topping
1 teaspoon  coconut oil -- or butter
1/2 tbsp of your favorite powdered sweetener, such as Swerve or Truvia (I powder them in the coffee grinder)

Preheat GT Xpress oven adding 1/2 tsp coconut oil to the side using. (Or preheat oven at 350F and grease small oven proof bowl). In small bowl combine Parmesan cheese, almond flour, psyllium seed husk powder, and baking powder.  Wisk with wire wisk until blended well.

Add egg, buttermilk (OR substitutes), sweetener, and vanilla.  Mix until smooth. Pour into one side of GT Xpress, close, and bake for 12 minutes, (if using the oven, bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until it is well risen and tests done, lightly browned on top. If using microwave, cook on high for approximately 1 min. 40 sec. depending on your microwave).  Watch close and test!

Remove from GT Xpress and spread coconut oil over the top.  Sprinkle powdered Truvia over it and spread over with a knife.  

Optional: You can add cinnamon and nutmeg to the batter as well if desired to give it a doughnut like flavor.  

Other options for the topping: Some people do not like the taste of Truvia and get an aftertaste.  I don't get that and to me it tastes as close to sugar as you get, but if you don't care for it you can use xylitol or erythritol or Swerve, and powder them in a coffee grinder. Or glaze with your favorite low carb glaze or frosting.  Another option is to mix xylitol and cinnamon for a cinnamon-sugar topping. You could also make a chocolate ganache by heating some cream and sweetener and then melting chocolate in it, stirring until thickened and pour over.

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1 Serving/Per Serving: 233 Calories; 16g Fat (63.4% calories from fat); 12g Protein; 9g Carbohydrate; 5g Dietary Fiber (4g. net carbs)


32 comments:

  1. This is fascinating, might have to try it and glad I found your blog/facebook page!

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  2. Replies
    1. Thanks Jennifer. They have a new one out that is better than mine now, but I got this at a thrift store for only $5 and I see them there all the time. Very handy gadget to have for quick low carb meals.

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  3. This sounds good, I wonder how an oopsie would do in the GT express? Will have to see.....:)

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  4. What a wonderful recipe! I made it in my GT express. But then later wanted it to "go farther" so I tripled the batch and put it into my whoopee pie pan. It made 12 small "donuts". My kids will love this for breakfast in the morning! I think I will make more and freeze them for easy kid-friendly meals! Thanks again....I am a huge fan!!!

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    1. what a great idea to do it in the whoopee pie pan to make more! I'll have to do that. I have one of those too. :) Thanks, you made my day. :)

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  5. Was the 1/4 cup of sweetner correct? It seems like a lot given the amounts of other ingredients. Thanks.

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    1. Yes, according to what I use... Stevia and monk fruit, which is 1/4 tsp=1/4 cup. I have not tried another sweetener but according to the bottle that is the equal amount to sugar sweetness. If you aren't sure, try a smaller amount, taste the batter, and add to taste.

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  6. Oh my gosh. Heavenly! I am so glad I found a way to use my GT express. Thanks for all you do for us!

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  7. I wonder how this would work in a waffle iron or sandwich maker?

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    1. I've never used a waffle maker. Worth a try! A sandwich maker is probably close to the GT express.

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  8. Does the parmesan taste come through?

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    1. No not at all. It just adds to the texture of it.

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  9. In the directions, you say "Add egg, buttermilk, OIL..." but there is no oil listed in the ingredients (other than as a topping). What kind of oil and how much should be used in mix?

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    1. Thank you for pointing that out! I used to add 1 tbsp of oil (any oil) to it but found out I like it better if I skip the oil altogether. I just changed the instructions now. Sorry for the confusion! With almond flour you really don't need oil, as it has enough in it already. I found the added oil only made it too much liquid and it is a much better outcome without it.

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  10. Pretty good stuff. Used 1T greek yogurt instead of buttermilk and cooked in the microwave for 1 min 30 secs. Will definitely do again.

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    1. Thanks for letting us know how it turns out in the microwave! I haven't done it that way so it's nice to know. Glad you liked it!

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  11. Just made these, and while the concept and texture are good, the flavor was overwhelming of parmesan cheese. Is it possible that the amounts for almond flour and parm were scrambled? Was it supposed to take more parm than any thing else? I love the idea, so I'm trying to see if I did it wrong, or if the amount was off, or if my parm is really strong, or what lol. Alternately, these would make a nice savory bun, without sweetener and vanilla, maybe adding herbs along with the parmesan.

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    1. Wow, I eat this every morning and never taste a hint of Parmesan cheese in it. I guess our taste buds are just different. :) Could be you did not sweeten enough or add vanilla? I don't know. It just tastes like a sweet roll to me!

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    2. I did add vanilla, as well as cinnamon and nutmeg, and it was plenty sweet. But after reading other reviews, I'm wondering if its my parm! This kind was not my norm, it was a generic brand and I'm thinking it really may be overwhelming. I want to try again with a different parm and see if I can't get to that sweet roll taste! ;) Meanwhile, I'm also going to make another batch with this (apparently strong) parm, without sweetener, add herbs and bake in my whoopie pie pan to use as sandwich rolls.

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    3. Yes I do make a savory version of this as well for sandwiches! It's very good. Also good toasted.

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  12. I recently bought a large bag of Stevia in the raw and it doesn't have as strong a sweet, artificial taste as Truvia. Tastes much more like regular sugar I think.

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    1. Stevia in the raw I believe has maltodextrin in it.. I think? That would add some carbs as well. some people seem to get an aftertaste with Truvia and some don't. I love it. To me it tastes like sugar, and I don't get the aftertaste. I'm glad there are a variety of choices out there!

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  13. Hi Ginny! I had to try this tonight, and was hesitant when I saw the latest commenter say that she tasted the parm cheese. I use a really good peccorino romano cheese and was worried that the same might happen to me. Surprise, no parm cheese taste whatsoever! I made mine in the microwave at 1 min and 30 sec, but it could have gone another 5 seconds. I also added 1/2 tsp cinnamon and grated some nutmeg into the batter. It's pretty good! I might try tripling the batter and making it in the oven in a doughnut pan (or the whoopie pan). I spread some sugar free grape jelly on top, and it was good. I think a glaze would taste better. I do have 2 doughnut pans, so that would be my first choice. Thanks Ginny for sharing this on Facebook!

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    1. Thank you Sandi! I've never had anyone else say they tasted the Parmesan either, and I never have tasted it at all, so I appreciate that. Thanks for sharing! Good to know how long it worked for you to microwave it also! :)

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  14. Any replacement forvthe cheese? Can't have casein...also can egg beaters work instead of egg?

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    1. Well, you could just replace the cheese with more almond flour. You want a consistency of pancake batter. And egg beaters would work instead of eggs, but I don't know why you'd want to use them. You miss all the wonderful health benefits and nutrition of the whole egg!

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  15. The picture sold me as a recipe I want to try! Just curious....what is a GT express?

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    1. Hi Patty, Here is the GT Xpress, https://www.amazon.com/Gtxpress-GT-Xpress-Countertop-Grill/dp/B00076MZMS
      But before you buy one online, look at thrift stores because I almost always find them there really cheap. I've seen them from $3 to $5, and that's how I buy mine. I've gotten 3 of them now. If you don't want to buy one you can bake this in the oven as well, in a ramekin for about 12 to 16 minutes at 350F. But if you microwave it, it will come out differently, though it will still be good. The texture is just much better in the GT Xpress.

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