If you're willing to spend a few hours in the kitchen, you can have 54 servings of tasty, low carb food stashed in the freezer, just minutes away from being ready to serve. We've provided a shopping list, an equipment list, and recipes with carb counts and serving tips. You make the time investment now...and you'll be enjoying quick, delicious meals for weeks to come.
                                                                          Brenda

MEAT: 8 1/2 pounds ground beef PRODUCE: 2 pounds onions 1 bunch celery 4 large red bell peppers 2 pounds zucchini 1 jar minced or finely chopped garlic CANNED GOODS: 4 cans (28 oz each) crushed tomatoes in      puree (no sugar added check ingredients) 2  8 oz cans no sugar added tomato sauce 3 cans Eden black soy beans 64 ounces chicken broth 3 cups of your favorite low carb brown gravy GROCERY: Pork rinds 1 package La Tortilla Factory      low carb whole wheat tortillas 1 tablespoon granulated Splenda Olive oil Red-wine vinegar Beef bullion granules

FREEZER: 1 bag (16 oz) frozen cut leaf spinach DAIRY: 10 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese 2 large eggs 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese SEASONINGS: Chili powder Ground cinnamon Salt EQUIPMENT LIST: Sharp knives Cutting board Large pots (8 quart or larger) 2 or 3 large bowls Colander or strainer Two 8 inch round baking dishes Two 11x 7 inch baking pans     or heavy duty foil pans Saucepan Measuring spoons and cups Freezer containers Heavy duty zip top food storage bags

Begin by chopping and cooking the Savory Low Carb Vegetables. These vegetables will be used to add flavor to each of the recipes.

Clean and chop 2 pounds onions (about 6 cups), 1 bunch of celery (about 6 cups), 4 red bell peppers (about 3 cups). Clean and slice 2 pounds (about 7 cups) zucchini. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in 8 qt. pot. Add vegetables and cook over medium high heat about 15 to 20 minutes. Stir occasionally until vegetables are almost tender. Transfer to large bowl.

Prepare Basic Low Carb Meat Sauce.

The meat sauce recipe will make about 22 cups of sauce, which will be divided and used three different ways.

                                       

Basic Low Carb Meat Sauce

3 pounds ground beef 1 tablespoon minced garlic 6 cups Savory Low Carb Vegetables Four 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes in puree Two 8 oz cans tomato sauce 2 teaspoons salt Put ground beef and garlic in large (8 qt) pot. Cook 7 to 10 minutes over medium high heat, stirring often to break up large lumps. When beef is no longer pink, add vegetables, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce and salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes to allow flavors to develop. Remove 7 cups of sauce to be used as meat sauce for low carb pasta, pizza, etc. Pour into zip top freezer bags or freezer containers in individual portions, or whatever portions meet your family's needs and freeze for up to 4 months. Or the sauce can be refrigerated for up to 5 days in airtight containers. Each 1 cup serving will have 11 g carbohydrate, 4g dietary fiber. Remove 8 cups of sauce to be used for the Low Carb Picadillo Casseroles, place in large bowl and reserve for later use. The 7 cups of sauce that remain in the pot will be used to make Zesty Low Carb Chili.

                                       

Zesty Low Carb Chili

Delicious on its own, this chili can also be served over hot dogs and hamburgers with a little shredded Cheddar cheese.

7 cups Basic Low Carb Meat Sauce 3 cans Eden Black Soy Beans 2 tablespoons chili powder (more or less to taste) Drain black soy beans in colander and rinse. Stir beans into 7 cups Basic Low Carb Meat Sauce, still simmering in large pot. Stir in chili powder. Cool chili and pack into freezer containers for up to 4 months. Or refrigerate in airtight containers for up to 5 days. To prepare, reheat in covered saucepan or microwave safe dish. Top with shredded Cheddar cheese and/or sour cream and chopped onion. This recipe makes about 7 servings. Each serving (not including garnish) will have 22 g carbohydrate, 13g dietary fiber.

                                       

Low Carb Picadillo Casseroles

Don't let the unusual seasonings fool you, these sweet, slightly spicy casseroles will quickly become a family favorite. Serve with a tossed salad on the side. Perfect! 8 cups Basic Low Carb Meat Sauce 1 tablespoon granulated Splenda 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 10 La Tortilla Factory low carb whole wheat tortillas 10 oz shredded Cheddar cheese Lightly grease two 8" round shallow baking dishes with nonstick spray. In a large bowl, mix 8 cups Basic Low Carb Meat Sauce, Splenda, red wine vinegar, chili powder and ground cinnamon. Spread 2/3 cup sauce in bottom of each baking dish. Cover each with a tortilla, spread each tortilla with 2/3 cup sauce and sprinkle with 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese. Top with another tortilla, 2/3 cup sauce and 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat these layers three more times, ending with a layer of cheese. Cover each casserole with heavy duty foil, then slide into large zip top freezer bag. Freeze for up to 4 months. To reheat, remove from freezer bag and bake frozen casserole in 350 degree oven for 1 hour, 45 minutes. If you choose not to freeze the casserole, it will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 375 degrees, or until bubbly. This recipe makes 2 casseroles, 6 servings each. Each serving will have 19g carbohydrate, 10 g dietary fiber. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and prepare the Low Carb Salisbury Steaks with Vegetable Gravy.

                                       

Low Carb Salisbury Steaks with Vegetable Gravy

Serve with a helping of your favorite mashed fauxtato recipe and some sauted green peppers and you've got a low carb Blue Plate Special! Delicious! 4 pounds ground beef 2 cups finely crushed pork rinds 2 tablespoons beef bullion granules 2 large eggs 1/2 cup water 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 cups Savory Low Carb Vegetables (divided) 3 cups of your favorite low carb brown gravy In a large bowl, put ground beef, crushed pork rinds, bullion granules, eggs, water, minced garlic and 1/2 cup Savory Low Carb Vegetables and mix until blended. Pack mixture into two ungreased 11 x 7 inch baking pans. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until firm to the touch and no longer pink in center. Cool. Meanwhile in a medium saucepan, mix remaining Savory Low Carb Vegetables with about 3 cups of your favorite low carb brown gravy (the brand I used had 3g of carbohydrate per 1/4 cup serving) thinned slightly with some additional water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes for flavors to blend. Cool, then pour into two freezer containers. Wrap the uncut Low Carb Salisbury Steak (in pans) with plastic wrap, then heavy duty foil and freeze. To prepare, unwrap, cover with foil and reheat at 350 for 35 to 45 minutes until heated through. Or the pans can be refrigerated, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to 3 days. To prepare, reheat, covered, 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Cut into 8 portions before serving and top with vegetable gravy. This recipe makes 2 pans, 8 servings each. Each serving (without gravy) will have only a trace of carbohydrate and trace amounts of dietary fiber. While the Low Carb Salisbury Steaks are baking, you can being preparing the Low Carb Vegetable Soup with Meatballs.

                                       

Low Carb Vegetable Soup with Meatballs

Excellent for a quick lunch or a light dinner. The low carb count makes it an excellent choice for those still on Induction! 8 cups chicken broth 8 cups water 16 ounce bag frozen cut-leaf spinach 1 1/2 pounds ground beef 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon minced garlic 3 cups Savory Low Carb Vegetables Bring 8 cups chicken broth and 8 cups water to a boil in a 6 qt (or larger) pot. Add 16 ounce bag of frozen cut-leaf spinach. Simmer 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in large bowl, mix the ground beef, Parmesan cheese and minced garlic until blended. Form rounded teaspoonfuls of meat mixture into tiny meatballs and stir into soup. Simmer 5 to 7 minutes or until meat is no longer pink in center. Stir in Savory Low Carb Vegetables and heat through. Cool soup, pack into freezer containers or zip top freezer bags and freeze for up to 4 months. Or refrigerate in airtight containers for up to 4 days. To prepare, reheat in a covered saucepan over medium heat or heat in a microwave safe bowl. This recipe makes 12 servings. Each serving will have 2 g of carbohydrate and 1g of dietary fiber.

Pleasantville Cookies at Your Local Store! That's right! We are now making our line of yummy low carb cookies, bake mixes and more available through stores across the USA. Many of you will recognize our name - we've had the honor of being featured in Low Carb Luxury's "Meet the Merchant" series (click here to read the article), as well as having received some very nice reviews here on the site. If you're a retailer and would like to offer these sugar-free, gluten free treats for resale, visit this page where you can get some details and fill out a quick form for access to Pleasantville's wholesale ordering website. If you're one of the many fans of Mama Wisa's products, and your local health food, specialty food or grocery store is not yet carrying them, visit this "Tell-A-Retailer" page where you can get a printable flyer to give to the local shopkeeper, introducing him or her to Mama's products and explaining how they can get more information. And, if you fill out a form with the retailer's address and phone number, we'll send you a $5.00 coupon when they order from us within 30 days! And finally, if you haven't yet tried our new "Shake & Pour Pancake Mix", we'd like to tell you about it! With only 8g of carbohydrate for three delicious pancakes, there's no reason to deprive yourself of pancakes at breakfast any longer! Just open the top, pour in about 2/3 cup of cold water, tighten, shake, and pour right on the griddle. Our Sweet Cinnamon flavor is so tasty many folks tell us they don't even need any sugar free syrup! Click here to find out more, and learn about our Buy 2 Get 1 Free SPECIAL!. Pleasantville Cookie Company Not All Low Carb Products Are Alike!