Pancakes at 3 AM revisited - Cottage Cheese Lemon Pancakes

I've been having trouble sleeping. I get to sleep fine but no matter what time I go to bed I wake up at about 3 AM. I just lay there and start to think too much and that is never a good thing. So I've been getting up and making pancakes.

Here's my latest version...

By coincidence, today, March 31st, is Oranges & Lemons Day.


Shelly's Cottage Cheese Lemon Pancakes with Orange Marmalade

1/2 cup Cottage Cheese (I use pre-mixed cottage cheese with pineapple)
1 Egg
3 Tablespoons Whole Wheat Flour (I use Arrowhead Mills Multigrain Pancake Mix)
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Lemon Pudding Mix, dry
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Orange Marmalade (I use Smucker's Simply Fruit), nuked

Whiz in mini food processor. Spray pan with non-stick spray. Cook on low till bubbles appear, flip. Cook till done. Nuke SF Orange Marmalade for 25 seconds so it drizzles well. Serve each pancake with a drizzle of warmed marmalade. Makes 4 small pancakes (pictured) or 8 silver dollar size.

These are very tender pancakes so smaller is better for flipping. They won't get any style points but they taste yummy. OMG they are soooo good! They totally remind me of those French crepes at IHOP.


You'll flip for these other Eggface Pancake creations:

Shelly's Pistachio Cottage Cheese Pancakes (aka Leprechaun Pancakes)
Shelly's Banana Cottage Cheese Pancakes with Sliced Strawberries
Shelly's Potato-less Potato Pancakes
Shelly's Blueberry Pineapple Cottage Cheese Pancakes
Shelly's Chocolate Monkey Pancakes

Another "Bite"

Yeah so when I find something yummy I get a little OCD about it. This is probably version 15 or so of these little suckers but every one is super tasty. If you haven't made them yet... what are you waiting for??? ;)

Serve as a weight loss surgery friendly appetizer, light meal with a salad, or breakfast. These particular bites are great if you have vegetarian friends coming over.

They freeze well and reheat great in a toaster or regular oven. They are fine for up to three days in the fridge but trust me they won't stick around that long.


Shelly's Zucchini Bites

1/2 Yellow Onion, diced
2 Green Onions, diced
2 cloves Garlic, minced
2 small Zucchini, diced
1 teaspoon Butter
1/2 teaspoon Marjoram
1 teaspoon Parsley
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
a few twists of Black Pepper
5 Eggs, beaten
1 cup Parmesan, grated

Preheat oven to 350 F. Saute onions in butter till golden. Add garlic and saute 1 minute more. Add zucchini. Saute with lid on turning every once and awhile till soft (about 5 minutes) Set aside to cool.


Mix all ingredients together. Be sure veggie mixture has cooled slightly before adding to egg mixture. Spoon (I use a small ice cream scoop) into a lightly greased mini muffin tin.


Bake for 30 minutes or until centers are firm. Makes 24.




Other Eggface "Bites" (think crustless quiches):

Shelly's Beef Fiesta Bites
Shelly's Italian Crab Bites
Shelly's Artichoke Florentine Bites (vegetarian)
Shelly's Breakfast Bites
Shelly's Pizza Bites
Shelly's Spinach & Feta Bites (vegetarian)
Shelly's Bacon & Swiss Bites

Beef, it's what's for dinner - Greek Mini Meatloaf

Shelly's Greek Mini Meatloaf

1 1/2-1 3/4 pounds Ground Beef
1/4 cup Italian Style Dry Breadcrumbs (or I use Oatmeal)
1/4 cup Milk
2 oz. Tomato Basil Feta Cheese, crumbled
2 Eggs, beaten
1 Yellow Onion, diced
3 Green Onions, diced
2 cloves Garlic, diced
3 oz. Carrot, shredded
1 teaspoon Greek Seasoning
1 teaspoon Oregano
a few twists Black Pepper

Saute onions till golden. Add garlic cook 1 minute. Set aside to cool. Soak breadcrumbs/oats in milk for 1 minute. Beat eggs. Add eggs and soaked breadcrumbs/oats to ground beef. Add cooled veggies, carrots, seasonings, cheese. Mix till combined. Divide into 8 equal mounds.

Form into mini meatloaves. If you have this super groovy pan like me use it. Bake for 45 minutes in a 350 oven.

These freeze well (either cooked or uncooked.)


I served them with Italian Green Beans (frozen) and a Pesto Fage Greek Yogurt Dipping Sauce. For post weight loss surgery pals: I've been a dipper from the beginning. It helps keep everything sliding in the right direction plus you get the added protein from the Greek Yogurt.

Shelly's Pesto Yogurt Dipping Sauce

1/2 cup Greek Yogurt (I buy the 2% plain)
2 Tablespoons Storebought Pesto Sauce (I use Trader Joe's but Buitoni/Contadina has one available in most supermarkets near fresh pasta)
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
a few twists of Black Pepper.

Mix together and let sit for a few minutes in the fridge. Great dip for beef, fish, chicken, or veggies.

More Eggface Weight Loss Surgery Friendly Dinner Recipes

Chocolate Monkey Pancakes

OK Mom's this one is for you...

This weekend make these for you and your kids. You will be the hit of the neighborhood... "My Mom is so cool she makes me Chocolate Monkey Pancakes!"

They seriously rock and since they are weight loss surgery friendly you may find yourself fighting over the last one.


Shelly's Chocolate Cottage Cheese Pancakes with Sliced Banana (aka Chocolate Monkey Pancakes)

1/2 cup Cottage Cheese (I use pre-mixed cottage cheese with pineapple)
1 Egg
3 Tablespoons Whole Wheat Flour (I use Arrowhead Mills Multigrain Pancake Mix)
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Chocolate Pudding Mix, dry
Banana, sliced

Whiz in mini food processor. Spray pan with non-stick spray. Cook on low till bubbles appear, flip. Cook till done. Serve topped with a sliced Banana and SF Maple Syrup (I use Cary's). Makes 4 small pancakes (pictured) or 8 silver dollar size.

These are very tender pancakes so smaller is better for flipping. They won't get any style points but they taste yummy.

You'll flip for these other Eggface Pancake creations:

Shelly's Pistachio Cottage Cheese Pancakes (aka Leprechaun Pancakes)
Shelly's Banana Cottage Cheese Pancakes with Sliced Strawberries
Shelly's Potato-less Potato Pancakes
Shelly's Blueberry Pineapple Cottage Cheese Pancakes

Brownie Bites

I added some stuff to my basic breakfast bar recipe and came up with a sugar free and no white flour version of a "brownie." It will definitely fit the bill ladies once a month when that chocolate craving comes a-calling.


Shelly's Brownie Bites

1/3 cup Raw Almonds, ground
1/3 cup Steel Cut Oatmeal
1/4 cup Soy Flour (7 g. of protein per 1/4 cup)
2 Tablespoons Almond Butter
1 Tablespoon Cold Butter
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
2 Tablespoons Cocoa (Dutch Processed not regular, I use Droste)
1 teaspoon Instant Espresso Powder
1 Egg, beaten
2/3 cup Ricotta Cheese
1/3 cup Nuts, chopped (I used a combo of pecans, walnuts, and macadamia nuts)
4 Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cups or Almond Roca, chopped
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Torani Syrup (I used SF Vanilla)

Beat egg and add ricotta, mix and set aside. In a mini food processor whiz almonds, oats, soy flour, baking powder, cocoa, and espresso powder till fine. Add almond butter and butter and whiz again till incorporated. Add to egg and ricotta mixture. Add SF Torani syrup, peanut butter cups and chopped nuts. Mix well. Pat with a fork into 5 x 7" baking dish that has been lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Let them cool. Drizzle PB Cup Topping over and cut into 16 bite sizes. Refrigerate. They are best served cold from the fridge. Just an FYI: they freeze well. Just defrost in the fridge.

Peanut Butter Cup Topping

8 Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cups
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Torani Syrup (I used SF Vanilla)

Microwave for 40 seconds. Stir till smooth. Drizzle over cooled bars. Refrigerate.

I packed up a batch (less a few samples for the cook) for a friend.


and I crumbled up one for dessert last night topped with Fage Greek yogurt (sweetened with SF Vanilla Torani Syrup) and raspberries. The bites are about 100 calories and 4 grams of protein (using my ingredients) and a dollop of Fage adds a nice 8 grams of protein so it was a yummy dessert with benefits.


Alternative topping: This one is for my pal Lea. The other day on OH she posted a crazy heart attack on a plate that Paula Deen makes. Here's a weight loss surgery friendly version for her. I took one of the brownie bites and topped it with an optional fluffy peanut butter topping.


Shelly's Peanut Butter Fluffy Topping

1/4 cup Peanut Butter
2 Tablespoons Peanuts
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Torani Syrup (I used SF Vanilla)
1 oz. Cream Cheese, softened

Whiz Peanuts and Peanut Butter in mini food processor. Add soften cream cheese and syrup. Mix till fluffy. Spread on cooled brownies. Makes enough for the whole pan.


Other Eggface Chocolate Fixes:

Shelly's Chocolate Kahlua Ricotta Custard
Shelly's Chocolate Monkey Bars
Shelly's La Dolce Vita Parfaits
Chocolate Protein Shakes

14:59

If you are a subscriber to OH Magazine. When you get your March/April mag in the mail check out pages 56-59. I'm honored to be included in this issue.


For a sneak peek.

Banana Pancakes at 3 AM

My left boob woke me up at 3 in the morning. Random sharp knife pains no sleeping through those. I guess the nerves are coming back and they are not happy with me.

So what do you do when you are up at 3 AM???

Make pancakes of course...

I added dry pudding mix again. Here's my first version from St. Patty's Day. These are sooooo good. Next up Lemon Pudding with SF Orange Marmalade ooooh or maybe Chocolate Pudding with Sliced Banana. Decisions, decisions.

Shelly's Banana Cottage Cheese Pancakes with Sliced Strawberries


1/2 cup Cottage Cheese (I use pre-mixed cottage cheese with pineapple)
1 Egg
3 Tablespoons Whole Wheat Flour (I use Arrowhead Mills Multigrain Pancake Mix)
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Banana Cream Pudding Mix, dry
Big Juicy Red Ripe Strawberries, sliced

Whiz in mini food processor. Spray pan with non-stick spray. Cook on low till bubbles appear, flip. Cook till done. Serve topped with a sliced Strawberry and SF Maple Syrup (I use Cary's). Makes 4 small pancakes (pictured) or 8 silver dollar size.

These are very tender pancakes so smaller is better for flipping. They won't get any style points but they taste yummy.

Update and a Casserole

Tomorrow will be a week since my latest round of plastic surgery. I'm doing OK. Hell this is waaaayyyyy better than last time so I'm not going to bitch. I'm getting some random take your breath away knife-like pains in my nipples. Yeah not pleasant. Dr. Quiroz said it was normal (happened last time too) something about the nerves coming back. Well they are back and they are pissed.

Going to take my first post-op real shower today. Currently trying to psyche myself up. I've been sponge bathing it and it's just not cutting it for me any longer so wish me luck. I'm sure I will be wiped and requiring a happy pill afterwards so I experimented this morning with this casserole so dinner would be an easy reheat tonight. Hope you enjoy it!

Ready for the oven
Shelly's Creamy Chicken Florentine Casserole

1 cup Chicken, boneless, skinless breasts diced 1" cubes
1 yellow Onion, diced
3 green Onions, diced
4-5 fresh Mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves Garlic, diced
1/8 teaspoon Marjoram
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
1 Tablespoon Fresh Basil, chopped
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
a few twists of Black Pepper
1 - 13.75 oz can Artichoke Hearts, non marinated, diced
1 cup cooked Spinach, drained and chopped
1 cup Alfredo Sauce (I used jarred Bertolli)
1 - 14.5 oz can Italian diced Tomatoes
1 cup Shredded Italian 4 Cheese Blend
2 Tablespoons Italian Style Dry Breadcrumbs
Oil/butter for sauteing

Saute chicken till golden. Saute onions and mushrooms till golden. Add garlic and dry seasonings and cook 1 minute. Add spinach, basil and artichoke hearts. Add sauce, tomatoes, cheese and chicken stirring to combine. Pour into a Pyrex casserole dish. Top with bread crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes until golden.



Oh I also wanted to update everyone on my kitty Rose (Prescott's Mom) and my only remaining furbaby. My pal Tara asked me about her this morning. Thank you. Well it was a tough few weeks on her. She was pacing and looking for Pressy for a few days (broke my heart) and then I took off and went to Mexico for surgery for 4 days (My mom was with her but still).

She's doing OK. She is doing some odd things. She has become extremely talkative. Anyone speak kitty? She's rambling on about something. She's really cuddly way more than before. She was always a cat that would enjoy love for a few minutes then take off... like OK I'm through with this. She'll stay forever now. Oh and she carries around a stuffed gray kitty in her mouth and drops it at our feet. She did this every once and awhile through the years but now it's a every night thing. We say thank you and give her love. It's her new ritual before bed.

Highlights of the day:

* I'm less swollen today and the bruising is going away (purple is turning yellowish)

* When the pain meds kick in ;)

* It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.


Listening to: U2 "City of Blinding Lights" I love this song.

Strawberry Banana Bars

Day 5 post plastics (round 2). I had a little incident this morning with the bandages sticking and tearing off the scab that was forming. Not fun. I'm still really swollen and purplish but I'm enjoying my pain medicine and taking it slow. I did mess around in the kitchen a bit this morning...


Shelly's Strawberry Banana Bars

1/3 cup Raw Almonds, ground
1/3 cup Steel Cut Oatmeal
1/4 cup Soy Flour (7 g. of protein per 1/4 cup)
2 Tablespoons Almond Butter
1 Tablespoon Cold Butter
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 cup Nuts, chopped (I used 1/2 pecans, 1/2 walnuts)
1 Egg, beaten
1 Banana, mashed
2 fresh Strawberries, diced
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Torani Syrup (I used SF Vanilla)

Mash banana and beat egg and set both aside. In a mini food processor whiz almonds, oats, soy flour, baking powder till fine. Add almond butter and butter and whiz again till incorporated. Add to egg and banana mixture. Add SF Torani syrup, strawberries and chopped nuts. Mix well.



Pat with a fork into 5 x 7" baking dish that has been lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Let them cool and cut into 8 bars. I like them cold out of the fridge.




Strawberry Glaze

1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Strawberry Jam (I use Smucker's Simply Fruit)

Microwave for 25 seconds. Drizzle over cooled bars.


Other Eggface Bars:

Shelly's Banana Nut Breakfast Bar
Shelly's Almond Roca Bars
Shelly's Apple Nut Breakfast Bar with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
Shelly's Chocolate Monkey Bars
Shelly's Fruity Breakfast Bars

Happy Easter to all my peeps!

Home

I was planning on staying in Mexico till Monday but the pain is not nearly as bad as last round - Lower Body Lift, Breast Lift & Augmentation and Brachioplasty all at once. I need to overnight it in a month for stitch removal and check-up so I figured I'd save a few bucks (2 days hotel = a little over $175 even with the medical rate my Dr. scores us.) I'm purple and swollen (I'm a big time sweller) but I can be purple and swollen at home too.

I crossed the border at 5 AM this morning (to avoid lines like these), caught the 7:05 train and was buying strawberries at my Farmer's Market by 8:45 AM. Sure beats my last post plastics trip.


I can't be without my fresh fruit and supermarket fruit just doesn't cut it ;) I hit my three favorite stalls bought some of those awesome strawberries, blueberries, red and yellow onions, leeks, and some baked goods for my Mum and then stopped off at the store to pick up a few essentials. My final stop was Starbuck's for a Soy Latte to wash down my happy pill which by then I was sooooo needing.

I'm hurting right now but yeah not anywhere like last round so I'm going to be thankful and suck it up. Thank you again to everyone for the good thoughts and prayers. I felt them and appreciate it more than I can say.

If you are considering plastic surgery out of the country or are interested in CosMed Clinic (where I go) feel free to shoot me an email or comment. I'd be happy to answer any questions I can.

I heart this stuff

Bio Oil is recommended for:

Scars: Helps reduce the appearance of both new and old scars by improving the condition of skin with scar tissue.

Stretch Marks: Helps prevent stretch marks during periods of rapid change in body size such as pregnancy, adolescence and weight loss. Helps reduce the appearance of existing stretch marks.

Uneven Skin Tone helps reduce the appearance of pigmentation marks and blemishes.

Aging Skin: Helps smooth and tone sagging and wrinkled skin by helping to improve the skins elasticity.

Dehydrated Skin: Helps protect against the drying effects of water and climate; lubricates and soothes dry or chapped skin.

It's really doing wonders on my scars and after an Open RNY, Lower Body Lift, Bracioplasty, and Breast Augmentation and Lift I am one BIG scar. It smells great and is oily but not greasy if you know what I mean. It absorbs into the skin and just feels awesome.

Bio Oil gets this FRANKEN BARBIE'S SEAL OF APPROVAL. Buy it here.

Now with more perk...

Hey everyone,

I'm checking in from South of the Border. I had my breast lift revision yesterday morning. I was told back in October I was going to need two surgeries on my breasts but I was hoping my Dr. was wrong.. he wasn't (he's never wrong) I needed a little more skin removed, redraping and tightening. Our post-op boobs (damaged skin, lots of stretch marks, etc.) sometimes takes a little more effort then those girls that just get implants placed in nice elastic-y skin.

So far so good... a blood spot appeared last night that seems dry this morning and the happy pills seem to be keeping pain to a minimum.

Thank you so much for the surgery page comments over at OH, emails and PM's but especially for keeping me company the night before surgery. I was "alone" here but I NEVER FELT ALONE thanks to my OH pals. Also big thank you to my surgery angel and pal Sarah and my Hoke.

My friend William arrived last night so we hung out (he went on a Starbuck's run for me I was happy to find Starbucks down here has soy milk and SF syrup) and had a nice dinner... his surgery is this morning and he'll be back tomorrow. He's a wls post-op too. If you can say a little prayer for him I'd appreciate it.

Hope everyone has a great day... the news is showing the scary storms in the midwest and east. I hope all are safe.

Ohhhh yeahhhhhh that happy pill is kicking in so I'll check in again soon...

Hugs,
~Michelle

Franken Barbie - Part 2

OK everyone I'm off to Mexico for Round 2 of my plastics.

While I'm enjoying my morphine drip feel free to browse the Eggface Archives and new Eggface Storefront on the left side of the page.

Have you tried the Eggface Search Engine yet? It's under my Before & After pic. Just type in an ingredient or a keyword or two and it will search only this site for related posts. Try it! Type in Tortilla Pizza or Chicken or something.

So please forgive the spotty blogging for the next few days. I'm bringing my laptop so I'll post all the gory details as soon as I am able. If you are believer please say a little prayer (or swing a chicken whatever your thing is.)

Thanks.
~Michelle

Wrap it up

I didn't feel like doing the whole traditional St. Patrick's Day corned beef and cabbage dinner so I made Grilled Reuben Wraps instead.

Boar's Head (the only cold cuts I buy) sliced Corned Beef, Swiss Cheese, Sauerkraut, a dab of Thousand Island dressing wrapped it in a Mission Brand Carb Balance Whole Wheat Fajita Size Tortilla and grilled it on George Foreman Grill till bubbly and toasty.


Here's some other wraps I made recently...


Mission Brand Carb Balance Whole Wheat Fajita Size Tortilla, a smear of Pesto Sauce, slice of Chicken, slice of CoJack Cheese, and fresh Spinach leaves. Grilled.


Mission Brand Carb Balance Whole Wheat Fajita Size Tortilla, a smear of Pesto Sauce, slice of Roast Beef, slice of Swiss, and fresh Spinach leaves and grilled till the cheese is all melty and gooey and the tortilla is crisp.

The George Foreman Grill is great for wraps. It's basically a panini press but slightly slanted. I use the drip tray that comes with it, flip it over and place it under the front feet of the machine to make it flat and even.

Looking for other wrap ideas or the 411 on the tortillas I use...

Check out the Eggface Master Wrap List.

Top o' the morning to ya

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I didn't want to make a big corned beef dinner tonight so I'm making Grilled Reuben Wraps on the George Foreman grill. I'll snap some food porn later. For dessert, I made a couple of Green Parfaits 1/2 cup Pineapple Cottage Cheese, 1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Pistachio Pudding Mix, dry and a sprinkle of pistachio nuts on top. As I was making them I thought hmmm I wonder how it would taste to use this mixture in my cottage cheese pancake recipe.

What the heck let's try it.

Verdict: It rocks! I'm excited because of all the variations that are running in my head already... Sugar Free Lemon, Cheesecake, Butterscotch, Chocolate, Banana Cream.

So yeah that's not your monitor these are green pancakes.


Shelly's Pistachio Cottage Cheese Pancakes (aka Leprechaun Pancakes)

1/2 cup Cottage Cheese (or you can use 1/4 cup Cottage & 1/4 cup Ricotta Cheese)
1 Egg
3 Tablespoons Whole Wheat Flour (I use Arrowhead Mills Multigrain Pancake Mix)
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Pistachio Pudding Mix, dry
1 Tablespoon Pistachio Nuts, shelled (optional)

Whiz in mini food processor. Spray pan with non-stick spray. Cook on low till bubbles appear, flip. Cook till done. Serve with SF Maple Syrup (I use Cary's). Makes 4 small pancakes (pictured) or 8 silver dollar size.

These are very tender pancakes so smaller is better for flipping. They won't get any style points but they taste yummy.


Oh and here's the little parfait I made that started it all...



Listening to: The Pogues "If I Should Fall from Grace with God"

Chili Relleno Casserole

I love Chili Rellenos but stuffing a pepper full of cheese, dipping it in batter and deep frying it just doesn't seem weight loss surgery friendly. A little square of this is a much better alternative for getting your Mexican food fix.

I guess I am getting into the Mexico mode. My surgery is next week. I'm bringing my laptop and digital camera so if I'm up to it I'll give you guys a report from South of the Border. The hotel I'm staying at has the best Tortilla Soup. I'm going to try and get to be pals with someone in the know and find out the secret ;) wish me luck.


Shelly's Chili Relleno Casserole with Chicken

1-7 oz. can Mild Green Chilis, (I buy the whole & dice myself, less seeds)
1 Yellow Onion, diced
3 Green Onion, diced
8 Chicken Breast Tenders, cubed
1 cup Mexican Blend Shredded Cheese
1/4 cup Pancake Mix (I use Arrowhead Mills Multigrain Pancake Mix)
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Egg, beaten
1/2 cup Milk
Butter/Oil

Toppings:
Sour Cream (or Fage Greek yogurt with Taco Seasoning sprinkled in it)
Salsa
Sliced Avocado
Hot Sauce

Remove seeds from peppers, dice. Don't buy the already diced they are full of seeds. Set aside. Saute onions till golden in butter/oil. Set aside. Saute chicken till golden. Add onions and green chilis to chicken. Mix pancake mix, salt, and baking powder in small bowl. Add egg and milk to make a batter.

Grease casserole dish. Layer 1/2 chicken & veggies, 1/2 the cheese and 1/2 the batter mixture. Repeat layers. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until golden and knife inserted comes out clean. Serve topped with sour cream, salsa, sliced avocado and hot sauce.


More Eggface Mexican favorites:

Shelly's Crock Pot Carnitas
Shelly's Mexican Lasagna

Fruit Bars & the Farmer's Market

I went to the Farmer's Market this morning. When my alarm goes off at 7AM I am always tempted to hit snooze and roll over but when I am walking around the market in the crisp morning air looking at all the gorgeous produce and flowers I am happy I dragged my toosh out of bed. I do that with exercise too. I'll talk myself out of it if I think about it too much I just need to get up and do it. I always feel good after.

I debated going to the Market this morning because I won't be cooking much this coming week. For those that are new to my blog I'm headed back to Mexico for round 2 of my boob lift. Ugggh. Stomach flip. I have an awesome Plastic Surgeon so I'm in great hands but not looking forward to the pain and being a patient again. I just want to start living in this body.

I did buy a few things at the market... another basket of those beautiful strawberries, two baskets of fresh peas, blueberries, heirloom garlic, onions, Pink Lady apples, tangerines and a loaf of my Mum's favorite Austrian fruit bread. I hit Starbuck's for breakfast then dropped off the Goodwill donations that I had in my trunk for a week and before heading home I stopped at Winco to load up on nuts to make these...


Shelly's Fruity Breakfast Bars

1/3 cup Raw Almonds, ground
1/3 cup Steel Cut Oatmeal
1/4 cup Soy Flour (7 g. of protein per 1/4 cup)
2 Tablespoons Almond Butter
1 Tablespoon Cold Butter
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 cup Nuts, chopped (I used 1/2 pecans, 1/2 walnuts)
1 Egg, beaten
1 Banana, mashed
1/4 cup fresh Blueberries
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Torani Syrup (I used SF Vanilla)

Mash banana and beat egg and set both aside. In a mini food processor whiz almonds, oats, soy flour, baking powder till fine. Add almond butter and butter and whiz again till incorporated. Add to egg and banana mixture. Add SF Torani syrup, berries and chopped nuts. Mix well.


Pat with a fork into 5 x 7" baking dish that has been lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Let them cool and cut into 8 bars.



Apricot Walnut Glaze

1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Apricot Jam (I use Smucker's Simply Fruit)
1/4 Walnuts, chopped

Microwave for 25 seconds. Drizzle over cooled bars.

Almond Roca Bars

Something sweet but still weight loss surgery friendly (no sugar added, no white flour, high protein) for my sweet friends. Thank you all so much for your kind emails and comments about my kitty Prescott. I'm a lucky girl to have such wonderful friends.


Shelly's Almond Roca Bars

1/3 cup Raw Almonds, ground
1/3 cup Steel Cut Oatmeal
1/4 cup Soy Flour (7 g. of protein per 1/4 cup)
2 Tablespoons Almond Butter
1 Tablespoon Cold Butter
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 cup Walnuts, chopped
1 Egg, beaten
1 Banana, mashed
5 SF Almond Roca candies, crushed (*divided use, hold back 1 T. of crushed candy for topping)
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Torani Syrup (I used Caramel but Torani makes a SF Almond Roca Syrup which would be even better)

Mash banana and beat egg and set both aside. In a mini food processor whiz almonds, oats, soy flour, baking powder till fine. Add almond butter and butter and whiz again till incorporated. Add to egg and banana mixture. Add SF Torani syrup, crushed almond roca and chopped nuts. Mix well.


Pat with a fork into 5 x 7" baking dish that has been lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Let them cool and cut into 8 bars.

Almond Roca Caramel Drizzle

1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Almond Roca, crushed (*see above)
6 Sugar Free Caramels (Brach's is one brand that makes them)
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Soy Milk

Nuke SF Almond Roca crush, caramels and soy milk together till melted about 30 seconds. Stir to combine. Drizzle over cooled bars. Helps clean-up if you put the wire rack on top of a tray, cookie sheet or piece of newspaper.

If you can't find SF Caramels (Smucker's makes SF Caramel topping in the ice cream section you can use that and omit the soy milk)

SF Almond Roca Candy (I got mine at CVS) they taste exactly like the originals.

Linda Blair's favorite soup

I heart split pea soup despite the famous Exorcist scene. This is a super simple meal. I start everything in a stock pot and then dump the contents into the crock pot and leave it to do it's thing all day.


Shelly's Split Pea & Ham Soup (in the crock pot)

1 cup dried Split Peas (soaked overnight, drained)
1 1/2 cups diced Ham
2 stalks Celery, diced
1/2 cup Carrot, minced
1 quart Chicken Broth
1 large Onion, diced
3 Green Onions, diced
1 Leek, sliced (white and light green parts only)
1 Tablespoon fresh Parsley, chopped
2 cloves Garlic, minced
a few twists of Black Pepper
1 teaspoon Butter
1 teaspoon Oil

Soak split peas in water overnight. Drain. Set aside. Saute onions, leeks, garlic in butter/oil till golden.


Add ham. Add peas, carrots and celery. Add broth, parsley and a few twists of pepper. Pour into a crock pot. Cook on low 7 hours. If you like a smoother soup you could blend it to the desired consistency. I used my groovy immersion blender and gave it a few whizzes right in the crock pot before serving.



I needed an easy & comforting meal yesterday. My beautiful honey colored kitty Prescott died last night (he was 18 years old) and I wanted to spend time with my Rose (his Mom) who was looking for him :( She's a bit better this morning but it will be an adjustment for us all not to have Pressy around.

It's been a cruddy week in the world of Eggface. Hopefully the clouds will lift for awhile and happier days are ahead.

Plastic surgery next week. Ugghh. Stomach flip.

Bacon and Swiss "Bites"

My favorite meal lately is a few of my "bites" and a scoop of my Italian Bean Salad. I ate it for dinner again last night though this "bite" version given it's breakfast-y ingredients would be especially good for breakfast with a nice fruit salad.


Shelly's Bacon & Swiss Bites

1/2 Yellow Onion, diced
3 Green Onions, diced
2 cloves Garlic, minced
6 slices cooked Bacon, diced
1 teaspoon Butter
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
a few twists of Black Pepper
5 Eggs, beaten
1/3 cup Tomato, diced (I used S&W canned, drained)
1 cup Swiss, shredded

Preheat oven to 350 F. Saute onions in butter till golden. Add garlic and saute 1 minute more. Set aside to cool. Mix all ingredients together. Be sure veggie mixture has cooled slightly before adding to egg mixture. Spoon (I use a small ice cream scoop) into a lightly greased mini muffin tin. Bake for 30 minutes or until centers are firm. Makes 24.

This is very close to the original version of my "bites" that won a cooking contest for me two years ago. If you want... eliminate the oregano and replace it with some of that Hidden Valley Ranch Dry Seasoning Dressing Mix (sponsors of the contest) voila - the contest winner.Once you make these "bites" I swear you will understand why I have like 15 versions of them ;)

Other Eggface "Bites" (think crustless quiches):

Shelly's Beef Fiesta Bites
Shelly's Italian Crab Bites
Shelly's Artichoke Florentine Bites
Shelly's Breakfast Bites
Shelly's Pizza Bites
Shelly's Spinach & Feta Bites

Pictures from my garden