Sourdough sweet rolls

 1/4 cup starter

1/4 cup brown sugar 

3/4 cup milk

1 egg

2 1/2 cups flour

A splash of vanilla 

A sprinkle of salt

1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Knead with mixer for 5 minutes, then rest covered overnight. Roll into 8 balls, then rise again for two hours until doubled in size. Brush on egg wash. Bake 375 for 25 minutes. 

Chocolate muffins

 3/4 cup flour

2 tbsp cocoa powder 

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup sweetener (I used honey)

1 egg

3/8 cup plain yogurt 

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 

2 tbsp oil

Mix dry ingredients, then add wet ingredients and mix again. Pour into muffin tins until almost full. Bake 350 for 20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. 

Cauliflower au gratin

 1 head cauliflower, riced

8 oz smoked gouda, shredded 

1 cup cream

I used my kitchen aid shredder for both the cauliflower and the cheese directly into an 8x8 pyrex pan, then poured cream evenly over the top. Baked 350 degrees for 25 minutes. 

Baked egg bites

Blend 6 eggs, 1/4 cup ricotta, and cheese to taste (I used 5 slices of smoked Gouda, but play to your tastes) for one minute until frothy. Pour into well-greased muffin tins almost to the top (mine made 9). Top with crumbled bacon. 

Preheat oven to 300 degrees with a tray of water on the bottom shelf. Bake 30 minutes, then rest for 5 minutes before eating warm. 

Loaded roasted cauliflower

Break a head of cauliflower into florets and spread in an 8x8 pan. Roast 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Sprinkle generously with cheese and cooked, chopped bacon. Roast another 5 minutes, then broil until the cheese is starting to brown. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chopped green onion or chives. Drizzle ranch over all. 

Keto-ish chicken alfredo bake

1/2 spaghetti squash, cooked and shredded

1 large can chicken 

1/2 jar alfredo sauce

Fresh basil, to taste

8 oz ricotta

1 egg

A handful of spinach, chard, or kale

4 oz shredded mozzarella 

Spread half the spaghetti squash on the bottom of a loaf pan. In a separate bowl, mix chicken, Alfredo sauce, and basil. Spread half on top of squash. In a separate pan, wilt greens, then mix in ricotta and egg. Spread half on top of chicken. Sprinkle with mozzarella. Repeat all layers. Bake, covered for 30 minutes then broil until the cheese on top is nice and crisp. 

Alternately, use an 8x8 pan and do single layers of each filling. 

Fruit leather

Cook 2-3 cups of fruit for 30 minutes until soft. Blend. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 170 for six hours or until dry. I’ve so far tried this with apples and blueberries and my kids have liked both, but the possibilities are endless! Pro tip: splash water on baking sheet before putting down parchment and it will stick perfectly.