Easy Low Carb Meals for One (Steak with Bearnaise and Mashed Loaded Cauliflower)

I've been trying to eat healthier and I joined the gym. Thanks to all my hard work of 5x a week, I have gained a whopping 4 lbs in 4 weeks AND my clothes feel tighter. I'm just going to keep on doing the right thing, and hope things turn around. I mean I was doing nothing and now I'm walking at least 8 miles a week and doing weights 4x a week. Urgh.

I also did a fitness assessment with a personal trainer. I never thought I was in that bad of shape and I'm in my government BMI range as normal. But yet, I scored below average or poor in every category for my age of 49. Well, I think the system is flawed. I know that I sure didn't want to do a fitness assessment at my age, but curiosity got the best of me. I think the numbers are skewed because the only people who agree to do assessments at 49 are those who do marathons and triathlons, which makes the somewhat normal people look really bad.

So I love Bearnaise sauce, but with my old recipe, there was a lot going on to make it including a reduction. Well, I found a much easier way for the lazy empty nester.

Microwave Bearnaise Sauce
Ingredients:

• Egg yolk
• Onion 1 tsp chopped
• White wine vinegar
• Tarragon
• Butter

Instructions

1. Plop some white wine vinegar into a microwave bowl with some butter and chopped onion. Heat it up a little to soften the butter and onion.
2. Add the egg yolk and tarragon. Stir it up and reheat.
3. DONE!

Steak

Having a grill is ideal, but since I moved to an apartment recently, I use the cast iron skillet method. Put steak on med-high for 4-5 minutes on each side so it is still a little bloody, but has quit mooing. Oh, and this sets off my fire alarm every single time. Drives me batty.

Mashed Loaded Cauliflower

Ingredients:

• Cauliflower
• Butter
• Coconut or Olive Oil
• Bacon bits 
• Cheese
• Chives

Instructions:

1. Chop up cauliflower in small pieces. (I only used about 1/4 of a head...cooking for one and still had leftovers.)
2. Boil for about 30-40 minutes until the cauliflower is easily pierced with a fork.
3. Drain water and add some butter, and a dab of oil.
4. Use a mixer to beat the cauliflower until smooth.
5. Serve and top with bacon bits, cheese, and chives.