Thursday, November 26, 2015

A ketogenic Advent Calendar

Through this whole ketogenic diet process, we've struggled to find "normalcy." There are just things we don't do anymore; we don't eat fast food on vacations, we don't have cinnamon rolls for breakfast on holidays, and last year, we didn't do advent calendars...much to the dismay of my two non-keto children. We were just a month on the diet and I was struggling to create meals that Eamon would eat, let alone creating chocolates that were "special enough" and  recalculating meals to account for the calories. The two non-keto-ers didn't really care; they wanted their calendars, their tradition, but how could I keep it keto?

Even Eamon was bummed he couldn't have an advent calendar, and that is the reason for this blog. It took me a long time on this diet to realize that its success and our happiness for these two years, is dependent on how included he feels.

So here it is...Eamon's Ketogenic Advent Calendar. Behold, for it is a Christmas Miracle!

The store bought Advent Calendar. I bought mine from Trader Joe's 


Carefully, take out the whole tray and remove chocolates. I tossed mine, but the husband gave me grief...
I suggest you save yours ;-) 

Measure the butter and chocolate chips in a bowl. Measure the Oreos. I measured mine and then pulsed in a food processor, but I think you should crumb them and then measure (I had to measure twice...oh, the humanity!). 

Add Oreos to the melted butter and chocolate chips. Don't forget the vanilla and stevia! 
Spoon the chocolate into the molds. I had tried using a syringe, but the spoon was pretty easy with little mess.

Here is the finished product after freezing! Cute little keto chocolate bear. 


Here's the deal
3:1 ratio/2g of chocolate is 13.5 calories (460 in whole batch).
*Check the grams in the serving size of your advent calendar to know how many grams each little mold will hold. I was left with 10g of chocolate. I created a bigger chocolate for Eamon on Christmas morning and will deduct 135 calories from his breakfast that day.
4:1 ratio? Increase butter to 53g, reduce chocolate chips to 7g, and Oreos to 9g. It runs 465 calories (which is within allotted caloric requirements).

INGREDIENTS
49g (forty nine) of butter
11g Nestle mini chocolate chips
10g mini Oreo cookies
3 drops of liquid stevia (may add more to taste)
1 drop of vanilla (optional)

3:1 ratio/13.5 calories per chocolate

DIRECTIONS
Measure all ingredients. Add butter and chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl. Melt on medium power, being careful not to burn the chocolate. Meanwhile, pulse Oreos in a food processor or blender until crumbs form. Remeasure or pulse cookies before measuring. Add Oreos and stevia to bowl and mix well. Using a spoon or syringe, fill candy mold. Discard unused or put into another mold, keeping in mind that every two grams is 13.5 calories. Let chocolates sit in molds until butter and chocolate come back to room temperature. Place in freezer until completely firm. Put chocolates back in Advent Calendar box, being sure the candies are facing up, so they are ready when you open the little windows. Keep in fridge or freezer until use on your countdown to Christmas! Watch your keto kiddo smile as they feel like one of the other kids (and it tastes amazing, too)!