Scrumptious Green Beans

I was looking for a quick side to make today and saw I had a bunch of green beans sitting in the fridge.  It was kismet.  I threw some butter, garlic and olive oil in a pan and created this easy tasty  green bean recipe. 

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 lb green beans 
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil 
• 2 teaspoons of minced garlic 
• Salt and pepper to taste 

Instructions: 

Wash the green beans and cut the tips. 

Place the green beans in a boiling pot of water and cook until tender, around 5 minutes. While the green beans are boiling, put butter and olive oil in a pan.  When the butter melts add the minced garlic.  Cook garlic until lightly browned. When the green beans have boiled add them to  the pan.  Stir to evenly distribute the garlic and remove from the heat.  Enjoy.  

Carbs: 7g per 1/2 cup

Flourless Chocolate Cake

This is a great alternative to chocolate cake for those who are gluten-sensitive or just watching their carbs.  This is specifically for chocolate lovers because it is super chocolatey and has the consistency of a brownie more than a cake. I use Truvia baking blend in mine sometimes to lower the carb content but I'm posting the sugar version as well for those of you who want the taste of pure sugar.  

Ingredients: 

• 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate (Bakers and Hershey Brands are gluten-free)
• 1/2 cup butter 
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa  
• 3 eggs, beaten 
• 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons Truvia baking blend (or 3/4 cup of sugar) 

Instructions:

Preheat over to 300°. Melt chocolate and butter. Mix well. Add cocoa, sugar, and beaten eggs. Mix until fully incorporated.  Place batter in greased 8 inch pan dusted with cocoa powder (I also place parchment paper in the pan to ensure easy removal).  Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Be sure not to over bake as this dries out the cake.