St. Patrick's Day Weight Loss Surgery Friendly Menu

Top of the Mornin' to ya! Last weekend, I was almost electrocuted hoping for better luck this weekend. Well, hmmm come to think of it almost electrocuted is pretty darn lucky ;) Hope everyone has the luck of the Irish this weekend.

I have felt lucky every day since having weight loss surgery for my second chance at a healthy life. Here's some of my favorite St. Patrick's Day Weight Loss Surgery friendly foods...

These will be my dinner...

Shelly's Corned Beef & Cabbage Bites

1/2 Yellow Onion, diced
1/2 cup Corned Beef, chopped fine
1/2 cup Cooked Cabbage, chopped fine
5 eggs
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
a few twists of Black Pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Saute onion till golden. Set aside to cool. When onions are cool mix all ingredients together. Spoon into a lightly greased (Pam works great) mini muffin tin. Bake for 30 minutes at 350. Makes 24. Deli corned beef slices can be used or these are great use for leftover corned beef and cabbage. 



More St. Patty's Day favorites:

Shelly's Nutty Leprechaun Yogurt Dip and Fruit Salad Rainbow
Shelly's Corned Beef Bites (version 1, more Reuben-ish)
Shelly's Pots o' Gold
Shelly's Rainbow 5 Minute Cakes
Shelly's Shamrock Shake


Shelly's Leprechaun Pancakes
Shelly's Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream Cakelettes
Shelly's Mini Pistachio Protein Muffins
Shelly's Pesto Deviled Eggs

Shelly's Margarita Mango Fluff Stuff
Shelly's Irish Cream Mochachinno
Shelly's Irish Cream Custard Crumble Cups
Shelly's Turkey Cabbage Casserole

Shelly's Potato-less Potato Pancakes
Shelly's Spinach Crustless Quiche
Shelly's Shepherd's Pie (potato-less)
Shelly's Irish Tortilla Pizza

"May the sun shine all day long, everything go right and nothing wrong. May those you love bring love back to you, and may all the wishes you wish come true!" ~Irish Blessing

Post Weight Loss Surgery Menus: A day in my pouch

A day in my pouch is a series of blog posts to show what a typical daily menu looks like in my post weight loss surgery world. Here's what I ate yesterday with an early nod to St. Patrick's Day.

Breakfast: Ricotta Pancakes are a go-to breakfast at my house. I love these things... especially because it makes the next day's breakfast so easy. I love the leftover pancakes, cold (surprisingly delicious) smeared with a little almond butter. This Pistachio version is a favorite...

More Eggface Breakfasts
More Eggface Pancakes

Lunch: It has been unseasonably warm here and this was perfect: Avocado Dip (I add cottage cheese but you would never know) which is basically my way of getting in a little protein with my guacamole and this time I added a little bacon for a touch of Irish. It takes guacamole to a whole new level. It would be a great healthy snack for a March Madness party. Make a double batch because it'll disappear.

Shelly's Irish Avocado Dip

1/2 ripe Avocado
1/4 cup Cottage Cheese
2 Tablespoons Bacon, crumbled bits
a few twists of Black Pepper
Salt to taste
1/4 cup Pico de Gallo or Fresh Salsa (refrigerated kind)

Whiz in a mini food processor everything except the pico de gallo. Mix that in. Top with a sprinkle more bacon. I served it with cucumber crackers. This makes plenty for 2-3 people snacks or less if you are eating it like lunch. Would also be great with cooked shrimp as dippers.

Cook's Note: You could use crumbled leftover cooked bacon I just used 2 Tablespoons of real bacon bits (Hormel or Oscar Mayer makes them, find them in the salad dressing aisle.)

Dinner: Can't have St. Patty's Day without a little corned beef and cabbage. I found the leanest and smallest. I really didn't want a ton of leftovers but if you have a bunch be sure to check out my St. Patrick's Day recipes for tasty ways to use them.

That's a little Horseradish Greek Yogurt Dip on the side just mix a dollop of fresh horseradish in plain Greek yogurt, as much or as little as your nasal passages can handle... it's pretty powerful stuff fresh horseradish... I like to feel the burn.

Snacks: As usual Coffee and I made another one of those Lucky Leprechaun Protein Shakes I posted the other day... soooo good seriously it tastes like Pistachio Ice Cream

Oh and I took a baggie of my Chai Protein Granola with me on my errands. I wanted to mail the latest Giveaway winner's prize right away. I see people in the checkout line at the store grab a Snickers bar or bag of chips, those on-the-fly calories add up... this is one way I save myself from going there.

Speaking of prizes... I think today I might have some fun on Instagram. Keep your eyes out if you follow me over there.

More St. Patrick's Day Eats
My St. Patrick's Day Pinterest Page
More Days in my Pouch

Eggface St. Patrick's Day Giveaway

Top of the morning to you my friends! Are you feeling lucky? ♧ If you are... you'll want to add your name to the hat for a chance to win this bag full of healthy, weight loss surgery friendly St. Patrick's Day goodies. I have felt lucky every day since having weight loss surgery. In celebration...

It's Giveaway Time!

The Prize: a super cool Black Nike Workout (or Carry-on) Bag filled with some of my post weight loss surgery healthy favorites with a little bit of a fun green St. Patrick's Day theme...

1 - 60 count bag of Celebrate Vitamins Caramel Calcium Soft Chews - 500 mg of calcium citrate and 500 IU of vitamin D3 (aka little pieces of yummy gold)
2 Celebrate Vitamins High Protein Meal Replacements - 27g. protein (Vanilla Bean)
3 Celebrate Vitamins ENS 4 in 1 - Multivitamin, Calcium, Fiber, & Protein Shake - 25g. protein (Vanilla Cake Batter)
1 box Sugar Free Lime Jello Mix (make some of my fun St. Patty's Day treats)
1 box Sugar Free Pistachio Jello Pudding Mix
6 Premier Protein 15g. Protein + 7 g. Fiber Bars (Chocolate Mint)
6 Premier Protein 30g. Protein Bars (Dark Chocolate Mint)
3 packets Blue Diamond Almonds (Lime n' Chili, Whole Natural, Wasabi & Soy)
1 coupon for a FREE Half Gallon Almond Breeze Almondmilk (any chilled)
1 - 28 oz. Green Blender Bottle Shaker
1 Green Water Tracker Bottle
and an Eggy's Mum original, knitted, Lucky Shamrock Keychain

How to Enter: 1.) LIKE The World According to Eggface Facebook Page 2.) COME BACK HERE and LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS BLOG POST (Be sure to include your name and some email address where I can contact you if you are the winner) Scroll down to # of comments below to enter. That's it, easy peasy.

For fun (optional): Name the luckiest thing that has every happened to you?

***Want extra chances to win?***

* Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (no need to let me know I'll see your tweet):

Enter the @Eggface St. Patrick's Day Giveaway http://tinyurl.com/qhym7pk

* Follow me on Pinterest (let me know in your comment below)

* Follow me on Instagram (let me know in your comment below)

Contest Period Ends: Sunday, March 15th, midnight (Pacific), sometime Monday, March 16th. I'll draw a name using a random number generator and announce the winner here on the blog! I will also email the winner at the address provided. You'll have one week (7 days) to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen. Remember winners MUST be a Facebook follower (aka have LIKED) of the The World According to Eggface. One comment entry per person. Blog comments are moderated so there may be a slight delay (up to a few hours, especially at night if I'm sleeping Zzzz) in seeing your comment/entry post. Giveaway is open to anyone in the contiguous United States, 48 contiguous only (sorry it's a legal issue: international laws govern giveaways and a money $ thing)

Good Luck!

WLS Friendly St. Patrick's Day

Top of the Mornin' to ya! Hope everyone has the luck of the Irish today. I have felt lucky every day since having weight loss surgery for my second chance. I'm celebrating this St. Patrick's Day with this Weight Loss Surgery Friendly menu.

Starting my day with Shelly's Shamrock Protein Shake...

and this is lunch...

Shelly's Corned Beef & Cabbage Bites

1/2 Yellow Onion, diced
1/2 cup Corned Beef leftovers, chopped fine
1/2 cup Cabbage leftovers, chopped fine
5 eggs
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
a few twists of Black Pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Saute onion till golden. Set aside to cool. When onions are cool mix all ingredients together. Spoon into a lightly greased (Pam works great) mini muffin tin.

Bake for 30 minutes at 350. Makes 24.

Other Eggface St. Patty's Day favorites:

Shelly's Corned Beef Bites (version 1, more Reuben-ish)
Shelly's Pots o' Gold
Shelly's Rainbow 5 Minute Cakes
Shelly's Leprechaun Pancakes
Shelly's Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream Cakelettes
Shelly's Mini Pistachio Protein Muffins
Shelly's Pesto Deviled Eggs
Shelly's Margarita Mango Fluff Stuff
Shelly's Irish Cream Mochachinno
Shelly's Irish Cream Custard Crumble Cups
Shelly's Turkey Cabbage Casserole
Shelly's Spinach Crustless Quiche
Shelly's Potato-less Potato Pancakes
Shelly's Shepherd's Pie (potato-less)
Shelly's Irish Tortilla Pizza

"May the sunshine all day long, everything go right and nothing wrong. May those you love bring love back to you, and may all the wishes you wish come true!" ~Irish Blessing

♧ Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Healthy Ideas for St. Patrick's Day Pinterest Page

Looking for healthy St. Patrick's Day recipes and fun and festive ideas? Be sure to check out my St. Patrick's Day Pinterest Page. Tons of high protein, no sugar added, weight loss and family-friendly recipes and ideas all the Leprechauns in your life will love...

Including...

Shelly's Corned Beef & Cabbage Bites
Shelly's Nutty Leprechaun Yogurt Dip and Fruit Salad Rainbow 
Shelly's Leprechaun Pancakes
Shelly's Shamrock Shake
and many more.

Eggface Healthy St. Patrick's Day Giveaway

Are you feeling lucky? ♧ If you are... you'll want to add your name to the hat for a chance to win these healthy, weight loss surgery friendly St. Patrick's Day goodies. It's Giveaway time!

The Prize: A tub of Chike Nutrition's brand new Mocha flavor High Protein Iced Coffee (2 Espresso Shots, 20 grams of Whey Protein, 23 Vitamins and Minerals and only 1.5 grams of Sugar, it's not available for purchase yet in this flavor, win it before you can buy it!)

60 ct. bag of Celebrate Vitamins Sugar Free Calcium Citrate Caramel (golden squares of deliciousness) Soft Chews (250 mg of calcium citrate and 250 IU of vitamin D3 in each chew)

375 ml. bottle of Sugar Free Torani Irish Cream Syrup (add a Tablespoon to your Chike Mocha High Protein Iced Coffee for a Healthier Irish Coffee!)

Power Crunch Chocolate Mint Protein Bar and a Premier Nutrition Chocolate Mint Protein Bar

20 oz. Leprechaun Green Blender Bottle Shaker

an Obesity Action Coalition "Your Weight Matters" Bracelet

an Eggface "Remember Why You Started" Bracelet

and a homemade, knitted, Lucky Shamrock Pin with a wish from me to you for good health, good luck and happiness.

How to Enter: 1.) LIKE The World According to Eggface Facebook Page  2.) COME BACK HERE and LEAVE A COMMENT on this blog posting (include a name and some email address where I can contact you if you are the winner) Scroll down to # of comments below to leave yours. That's it, easy peasy.

***Want an extra chance to win?***

* Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway: Hey everyone enter the @Eggface Healthy St. Patrick's Day Giveaway http://tinyurl.com/n7vokns

and/or

* Follow me on Pinterest and pin any Eggface recipe.

Contest Period Ends: Sunday, March 16th, midnight (pacific), sometime Monday, March 17th. I'll draw a name using a random number generator and announce the winner here on the blog! I will also email the winner at the address provided. You'll have one week (7 days) to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen. Remember winners MUST be a Facebook follower (aka have LIKED) the The World According to Eggface One ENTRY per person. Blog comments are moderated so there may be a slight delay (up to a few hours) in seeing your comment/entry post. Giveaway is open to anyone in the contiguous United States (48 contiguous only, sorry it's a legal and $ thing.)

Post Weight Loss Surgery Menus: A day in my pouch

A day in my pouch is a series of blog posts to show what a typical daily menu looks like in my post weight loss surgery world. Yesterday's healthy and delicious menu...

Breakfast: Cottage Cheese & Spiced Chai Protein Granola. I had an very early AM phone meeting and after I took a walk to the park with my breakfast. The Obesity Action Coalition (I serve on the Board of Directors) offices are on east coast time and since I wake up super early it makes sense for me to schedule meetings early... it's already mid morning there.

Have you checked out the Your Weight Matters National Convention agenda yet? The lineup this year is especially cool. I'm a fangirl of a few of them Scott Kahan and Brian Wansink and Merrill Littleberry has a special hands-on session. I love the theme this year too... "Inspiring Health" because inspired is what I always come away feeling after this event. It's a few days of the year where I recharge my commitment to living the healthiest life I can. I gain inspiration from the education and the support from the other attendees. We become a family of friends and support system by the end of the weekend and those connections and the tools I take away from the sessions and speakers carry me the rest of the year. I highly recommend it.

Shelly's Spiced Chai Protein Granola Crumble

1/4 cup Oatmeal, dry
1/4 cup Big Train Fit Frappe Spiced Chai Protein Powder
1/4 cup chopped Nuts (I used Pecans & Almonds)
1 Tablespoon Almond Butter
1 Tablespoon Butter
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup (Torani, Davinci)

Squeeze together with your hands till clumps form. You need to use your hands for this one. Place on a Pam sprayed, foil lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Cool. Crumble. Store in an airtight container. Great on cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, protein ice cream, on it's own as a snack on a walk or hike. 

More Eggface Grab & Go Breakfasts

Lunch: I made a variation of my Chicken Supreme Pizza Saute the other night for dinner. I did everything the same as the original recipe but added some sauteed zucchini (needed using up) put everything in a Pyrex baking dish and baked it for 25 minutes at 350 till the cheese was golden and bubbly. The leftovers were delicious for lunch today.

More Eggface Healthy Italian Recipes

Dinner: Speaking of leftovers I made corned beef and cabbage a few days early. I have a lot on my calendar tomorrow and it just made sense. Today I took the leftover corned beef (about a 1 cup chopped) and made some Egg Bites (mini crustless quiches).

Shelly's Irish Bites

1 cup Cooked Corned Beef, chopped
2 cups Coleslaw Mix (will yield about 1 1/2 cups when cooked)
2-3 Green Onions, chopped fine
1 Tablespoon Mustard, prepared/wet kind
5 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
a few twists of Black Pepper
2-3 oz. Irish Cheddar, cubed

Preheat oven to 350. Saute coleslaw mix till slightly golden. Set aside to cool. When cool mix all ingredients except cheese) together.

Spoon into a lightly greased (Pam works great) mini muffin tin. Place a small cube of cheese in each bite. Bake for 30 minutes at 350. Makes 24.

Deli corned beef slices can be used or this is a great use for repurposing leftover corned beef from St. Patrick's Day dinner.

More Eggface St. Patrick's Day Recipes

Snacks: Too much coffee and I'm starting to go through all the samples I picked up at the Expo West Convention I went to this past weekend. I had a couple of bites of bars I picked up. I'll let you know a few of my favorites in the coming weeks... maybe I'd do a couple of Friday Five posts and put a few up each time.

I was grateful for the opportunity to check out the event as a member of the press. I was my first time attended and OMG it was HUGE. I was told it was but nothing prepares you for the sheer quantity of exhibits. It takes up 2 hotels and the Anaheim Convention Center. Over 70,000 exhibits... the booths are literally set up like mini stores. I made a real college try at seeing it all. I conserved calories the day before to try and make up for all the samples and tastes. I was pretty choosy... well sort of... I did sample protein bars made out of crickets!?!

My Fitbit buzzed 10,000 steps at about the 1/4 of the day mark. My calves are still screaming and my shoulder is bruised from the bag of samples that got heavier and heavier as the day went on. As if I didn't get enough steps in I also took a turn on the Stonyfield Smoothie Bike.

More Eggface Days in My Pouch

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I wanted the traditional flavors of St. Patty's Day but didn't want to cook a big hunk of corned beef brisket that we'd have to eat for days. These were perfect and super yummy. I used deli sliced corned beef but it would be a great use for your leftover corned beef too.


Shelly's Corned Beef Bites

1 Yellow Onion, diced
3 Green Onions, diced
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1/4 lb (about 4 slices) Corned Beef, diced (deli slices or sub diced leftovers)
1/2 cup Swiss Cheese, grated
5 eggs
a few twists of Black Pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Saute onions till golden. Add garlic cook 1 minute more. Set aside to cool. When onions are cool mix all ingredients together.

Spoon into lightly greased (Pam works great) mini muffin tins.

Bake for 30 minutes at 350. Makes 24.

I served them for lunch with cabbage (boiled and then sauteed lightly)


and we're having a KILLER dessert later tonight but... I'll post that manana.

LOL. That was so Ryan Seacrest on American Idol "...and you'll find out after the break."

Our St. Patty's Day table...


May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light. May good luck pursue you each morning and night. ~an Irish blessing.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Listening to: U2, of course, my favorite Irishmen. "Where The Streets Have No Name"

Corned Beef & Cabbage Casserole

Oh this might just become the St. Patrick's Day tradition at my house each year. It was soooo good. I mean corned beef and cabbage is great but top it with gooey melted Irish cheese and that my friends is heaven. Thinking of scoring some more corned beef while its cheap to make this again soon. It will definitely be added to the Eggface St. Patty's Day Favorites list.


Shelly's Corned Beef & Cabbage Casserole

2 cups of Cooked Corned Beef, cubed (leftovers are perfect for this)
1 head of Cabbage, boiled, chopped and drained
1 Yellow Onion, chopped
3 Green Onions, diced
6-8 Mushrooms, sliced
1 Tablespoon Butter
1 Tablespoon Spelt Flour
1/2 cup Chicken Broth
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
a few twists of Black Pepper
1/2 cup Irish Cheddar Cheese, grated
Olive Oil of sauteing

Cook the corned beef according to package directions. Set aside to cool. I cooked it the night before in the crock pot and cooled in the fridge. Trim any fat and cube. Cold from the fridge made the trimming and cubing easy. This casserole is a great use for the leftovers the day after St. Patrick's Day. Cut the cabbage into sections and boil till fork tender. Drain and chop. I use a sharp metal spoon to chop it into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.

Saute onions and mushrooms till golden. Add cubed beef and chopped cooked cabbage. Stir till combined. Make a well in the center of the pan add butter and spelt. When butter is melted slowly add chicken broth. Season with salt & pepper and stir to combine.

Pour into Pyrex dish. Top with grated cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes till bubbly & golden.

If you have a little more or less corned beef or cabbage toss it in. Rarely would any casserole recipe I create be so exact a science that a 1/2 cup of something one way or the other couldn't be added or subtracted.

I served it as is for dinner but you could serve it with some steamed veggies, fresh spring peas or baby carrots would be great.

Ate this yummy dinner then watched the Idol results show. You guys watching Idol this season? I'm really not feeling it. I have to multitask when I watch because there are so many I don't like. I like Crystal (she's got the whole gritty Janis Joplin thing going on) and Lee (he's super cute but always looks like he's so nervous he's gonna hurl.) Others I sort of feel are Casey (I think he looks like a Harlequin Romance cover model... not my type but he's talented) and Andrew (I like his story, he's a local SoCal boy, but I fear he will never repeat the magic that was "Straight Up") Big Mike is a talented guy but his confidence comes across cocky and rude. It's not endearing. Every season I say I'm not going to watch it but I stick it on in the background then I have to see what happens.

Keeping with the Irish and music theme of this post. If you haven't gotten into the band "The Script" (nice group of Irish lads) yet do yourself a favor & download or buy their self-titled debut album. It's so good. Literally I could listen to that band sing the phone book... well OK maybe not the phone book but give it a listen you won't be sorry.

Happy and Healthy St. Patrick's Day

Whether you are Irish, of Irish descent or like me Irish-for-the-day here's a few recipes and ideas to celebrate healthily and get your green on this St. Patrick’s Day...

Shelly's Shamrock Protein Shake
Shelly's Avocado Deviled Eggs
Shelly's Broccoli Fritters with Garlicky Greek Yogurt Dip
Shelly's Ricotta Cheese Pistachio Pancakes
Shelly's Awesome Guacamole & Shrimp Cocktail
Shelly's Irish Avocado Dip
Shelly's Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream
Shelly's Mini Pistachio Protein Muffins

and I had to christen my new Keep Calm and Shamrock On glass (found at JoAnns)

Shelly's Shamrock-on Pistachio Protein Shake

8 oz. Milk (any cow, soy, almond, coconut)
1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
1 Tablespoon Sugar-Free Pistachio Pudding Mix, dry
a few Ice Cubes
optional: a few drops Green Food Coloring

Whiz in blender on high. I topped mine with No Sugar Added Homemade Whipped Cream and a few nonpareils.

Shelly's Homemade No Sugar Added Whipped Cream

1 cup Whipping Cream
1 Tablespoon Sugar-Free Torani Syrup (any flavor will do)

Whisk till well combined. Every batch I make a new flavor: SF Vanilla, SF Coconut, SF Almond, if you want pink cream SF Raspberry is great. Fill whipping cream to the fill line of the whipper. Screw on the top. Insert the CO2 cartridge till it empties, unscrew that. Put the nozzle on, shake a few times and squirt away. It makes a ton, store it in the fridge for up to 10 days just give it another few shakes before squirting. Great on berries, protein shakes and smoothies, protein cake.

Need more ideas: Make a lettuce wrap, grab a handful of green grapes, make my green bean salad, good ole "ants on a log" celery sticks, cucumbers, grilled zucchini, stuffed peppers or cabbage.

More Eggface St. Patty's Day Ideas

Eggface 2013 - The Blog Year in Review

Some of my favorite posts, recipes, menus, ideas and tips from the past year. My 7th year post weight loss surgery.

January: Challenge Mean! and I Promise Jar (must do better this year)

February: Be an advocate - 5 easy ways and A day in my pouch (a particularly yummy day)

March: St. Patrick's Day Weight Loss Surgery Friendly Menu and A day in my pouch (aka it's hard to blog when your electric company blows up your computer) 

April: Build Your Own Salad Bar Night and A day in my pouch (a family visit)

May: Flying High and Low and Gift ideas for the weight loss surgery post-op

June: Fun at the Fair and Conference Attendance Tips

July: 7 Protein Packed Grab and Go Breakfast Ideas and Fitbloggin and Birthday in Oregon

August: #YWM2013 Your Weight Matters Convention Wrap-Up and A day in my pouch (aka surviving the heat wave from hell)

September: Happy National Pancake Day! and How September 11th Changed My Life

October: ObesityHelp Conference - My Session and Healthy Protein Packed Recipes to Celebrate World Vegetarian Day 

November: Life After Weight Loss Surgery Q & A and A day in my pouch (a particularly yummy day)

December: Weight Loss Surgery Wisdom from a Friend ♥ RIP Lei

2012 Blasts from the Past
2011 Blasts from the Past
2010 Blasts from the Past

Thank you for joining me on this journey! It is comforting knowing I am never alone. Happy New Year! May your 2014 be filled with good health and lots of laughter.