Almost back

I'm about 95% back to normal after being sick. I did some of my typical weekend things but usually I can go go go non-stop and this weekend by the afternoon I was plopped down on the couch, wiped out. Still... what a difference a week makes! If someone had videotaped me last weekend it would have looked like a scene out of The Exorcist. Not pretty. So I'll take being a little wiped out.

I went to the Farmer's Market. I missed it last week. It was huge yesterday. The great weather we've been having are bringing lots of new faces out. We even had a few new booths. I picked up some onions, a few apples, some baby leeks (thinking casserole), and some absolutely gorgeous Strawberries. They are super sweet. I've already turned some of them into Strawberry Cannoli.

After the market and some errands. Costco on a Saturday, ughhh. I went for a walk then came home and crashed. When I felt human again I made a batch of Protein Ice Cream...

Shelly's Toasted Coconut Protein Ice Cream

1 cup Vanilla Soy Milk (or Regular Milk 2% or above)
2 scoops of Vanilla Protein Powder
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Coconut Torani Syrup
2 Tablespoons Toasted Unsweetened Coconut

Mix together milk, protein, and Torani syrup. I used this gadget to mix it up. It makes it airy and lump free. If you don't have one just toss it in a blender on super high. You want it fluffy almost double in size. Pour into ice cream maker. Add toasted coconut. Follow your machine's instructions for freezing.

You can eat it right away it is soft serve-ish (use it at this stage for Protein Ice Cream Cake making) if you want scoops put it in the freezer to set for an hour. After that hour it will be hard (like rock hard - this is do to the lack of fat content as its not cream) just nuke it 25 seconds to bring it back to scoops.

Nom nom nom. Coconut not your thing? Here's a ton of other Protein Ice Cream flavors and Protein Ice Cream making success tips.

Today I've done all my household chores (well almost all, grrr ironing), I've packed up my super cool bento box with some noms and in about an hour I'm heading to the park. I think all the Vitamin D laced sunshine and fresh air I can get the better.

Pink Box (top left): Shelly's Strawberry Cannoli
Green Box (top right): Sliced Cucumber
Blue Box (bottom left): Just the Cheese Crunchy Cheese
Orange Box (bottom right): Hummus

Oh I wanted to give you a heads up... I just nabbed this sale on Crunchy Cheese (Save 20% when you enter code JTCHNYNY at checkout) and realized it only lasts till January 31st (tomorrow) I picked up a box of Classic White Cheddar (my fav) and a box of Grilled Cheese. I also have tasted the Jalapeno (a bit too spicy for me) and the Pizza (tasty.) For those of you that don't know what it is, it's basically crunchy mini rounds (dime-ish sized) of baked cheese. Hmmm how to describe... OK you know when you bake something cheesy like a casserole and some cheese bubbles over the edge and gets very crunchy. If you chipped it off the dish and ate it (not that I'd know anything about that) you'd basically have crunchy cheese.

You can make them yourself (silpat, low oven, pile of cheese) I have tried but you know they never quite come out as dry as I want them too. So I stick to buying them. They are a salty low carb snack fix and great for tossing in your bag when traveling. It's as close to a "chip" as I get.

Nutritional Information (Classic White Cheddar)

Serving: 1 bag (approx. 22 pieces)
Calories: 75
Fat: 6.5 grams
Carbs: 1 gram
Protein: 5 grams
Sugars: 0 grams
No wheat, gluten free, no MSG.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

P.S. Don't forget to enter this year's Progresso Souper You Contest. I want one of my pals to win!

Healthy Eating Post Weight Loss Surgery: 10 Favorite Protein Sources

In no particular order my favorite post weight loss surgery protein sources...

Eggs - I make several versions of these little crustless quiches I call "Bites" you can find all those recipes by clicking here. Drop a couple in a snack sized baggie for an on-the-go breakfast. I serve with a scoop of veggies or a salad for lunch or dinner and they are always the first thing to go at parties. Non-ops and whippersnappers love them.

Hard boiled eggs make a great portable protein source (save some salt & pepper packets from your next takeout order) but I prefer them turned into deviled eggs or egg salad.

Shelly's Deviled Egg Spiders
Shelly's Confetti Egg Salad
Shelly's Bacon & Egg Salad
Shelly's Pesto Deviled Eggs

Chicken - When I BBQ I almost always throw an extra breast of chicken on the grill to have on hand. I know a lot of post-ops have issues with chicken but I love it. The trick for me is to keep it moist and to dip it in a yogurt-based dipping sauce like this or this or turn it into a chicken salad. Some of my favorite chicken salads:

Shelly's Pimento Chicken Salad
Shelly's Tropical Chicken Salad
Shelly's Chutney Chicken Salad
Shelly's BLT Chicken Salad
Shelly's Italian Chicken Salad
Shelly's Dilly Chicken Salad
Shelly's Crunchy Curry Chicken Salad
Shelly's Mexican Chicken Salad
Shelly's Healthier Hot Chicken Salad Casserole

Protein Powder - I place a scoop of my favorite protein powder into snack sized baggies and place the sealed baggie inside my blender bottle. I always have one of these in the car or my airport carry-on. Then all I need is to buy a water bottle (or ask for some water on the plane) and shake, shake, shake. If I'm home I can get a little more creative. Other favorite uses:

Protein Ice Cream
Protein 5 Minute Cakes
Protein Muffins

Cheese - I am a cheese-o-holic and yes I eat full-fat cheese. Premium pouch space is reserved for only tasty things. I don't do cardboard cheese and usually that non-fat stuff is full of a bunch of bizarre chemicals with long names I can't pronounce, that can't be good. Soooo it's the real deal only for me. I just eat that full fat cheese in moderation. I love all cheese but some of my favorites are Manchego, Burrata, Provolone, Mozzarella, Ricotta and Cottage Cheese.

Greek Yogurt - (common brands: Fage, Chobani, Oikos, Voskos, Trader Joes) Be sure to look for Plain. Steer clear of flavored, most are compotes and full of sugar. Add Sugar Free Torani Syrup, Defrosted Frozen or Fresh Fruit, Sugar Free Pudding for a sweet version or use like sour cream in savory dishes. I prefer 2% but they also have 0%. Here's a ton of ways I use it.

Shrimp - Cooked Shrimp dipped in cocktail sauce is a favorite. Again I use the real deal cocktail sauce (they do have SF versions) I just don't slather and never have issues. Salsa is great too. I also love grilled shrimp and leftovers make the best Tortilla Pizza topping.

Tuna - I make lots of salads with it. They stay for several days in the fridge so I always have a quick snack or lunch that's packed with protein. Here's a few favorites:

Shelly's Tuna Caprese Salad
Shelly's Lemony Chickpea & Tuna Salad
Shelly's Tuna Salad Italiano
Shelly's Tuna Pesto Salad

I prefer Ventresca Tuna (it's premium belly tuna, packed in oil (drain it), common brands: Roland, Ortiz) it's super moist and so much more flavorful then regular tuna. Seriously it's one of those things that once you have the good stuff you are spoiled for anything less. If you hate tuna... try Ventresca Tuna. Trust me.

Beans - I love beans and since I don't do pasta, rice, bread, or white potatoes since weight loss surgery (by choice) I get my carb fix from them in a much more worthwhile and nutritious way.

Shelly's Cannelini Bean Soup
Shelly's Mexican Beef & Bean Bake
Shelly's Greek Three Bean Salad
Shelly's Italian Bean Salad
Shelly's Kidney Bean Soup
Shelly's Greek Bean Salad
Shelly's Chicken Cacciatore with Beans
Shelly's Cannellini Bean Mash
Shelly's Sausage & Bean Cassoulet
Shelly's Italian Beef & Bean Soup
Shelly's Roasted Chickpeas
Shelly's Black Bean Soup
Shelly's "Award Winning" Jazzy New Orleans Muffaletta Salad :)
Shelly's Beef & Bean Bites
Shelly's Burrito Peppers

Another Favorite are frozen Edamame Pods. I use this little gadget to steam them in the microwave and they really satisfy when you are looking to crunch something. I also get the shelled ones to have on hand to add to salads.

Cold Cut Roll-ups - Watch the sodium content. I prefer Boar's Head Low Sodium meats. The Low Sodium Roast Beef is delicious. Roll-ups are the quickest meal when you have no time. A slice of any cold cut meat wrapped around a cheesestick or pickle spear or you can get a bit more fancy if pals are coming over. I eat them cold or if you have a few minutes try these hot versions.

Shelly's Avocado and Turkey Melted Roll-up
Shelly's Ham & Cheese Melted Roll-up

Peanut Butter/Almond Butter - Yes it's high in fat but in moderation, it's a super yummy way to get some protein in. Here's one of my favorite ways to eat it.



P.S. If you are wondering what else is in my pantry. Here's a list of my pantry essentials.

Alien Invasion

Oh how I wish I could tell you my little blogging hiatus this week was a romantic getaway with a hottie oil Baron... no such luck. Sometime on Thursday I started to feel cruddy. You know that "Uh oh, I think I'm getting sick" feeling... achy, headache, overall crappy feeling. I popped some Tylenol and went to bed early. The next morning I felt pretty good. I had a plan to mow the lawn (aka weeds that have taken over my lawn) We had several weeks of rain and now we're in the middle of a little heatwave 70's and 80's so the lawn was getting scary, strange weeds and flowers from the neighbors yard are taking over any grass I once had. I mowed it and the plan was to hit Lowe's and figure out what I could spread on it to help the grass win the battle for the yard. So I mowed the front and at about the halfway mark of the back I was feeling cruddy again. I finished but I was super woozy and my head was pounding. I wiped down the mower, came in took a shower, tried to do a few things but it was no use... sweating, nauseous, pounding head, I curled up in a ball in bed and that is where I have been for the past few days. Aliens took over my body and threw a great big rager. The low-lights: No solid food would stay in my body for 3 days. I don't remember much of Saturday. Sunday, I felt like I had gone 12 rounds with Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and George Foreman combined.

Yesterday, I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can't really do the typical BRAT thing (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) considering 2 of the 4 things I don't eat post weight loss surgery (no rice, no bread) and applesauce never sounds appealing when I'm sick. Someone explain the applesauce thing to me please... apples go right through me normally so tell me how applesauce will help when I can't keep anything in me?! Don't get that one at all. Anyway... so that left bananas and I figured some good bacteria in yogurt might help so I made myself a Banana Lassi. I sipped it slowly and it went well. So later I had another and after the third I felt brave enough to try some Fish and sliced Cucumbers in yogurt sauce (Tzatiki-ish)... that went well too. Thank goodness.

Ways you know I was really sick... no coffee for 4 days, no Farmer's Market, I was barely on the computer (I apologize for the 413 and counting unanswered emails)

My favorite things while I was sick... Sunbeam Electric Throw (a Christmas gift from my Mum), Cottonelle Aloe & E Toilet Paper (TMI), Romantic Comedies, and my Banana Lassi creation...

Shelly's Chocolate Banana Lassi

1 cup Vanilla Soy Milk (or Regular Milk)
3 oz. Greek Yogurt (I used plain 2%)
1/2 frozen Banana
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Chocolate Pudding Mix, dry
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Torani Syrup (SF Vanilla, Almond, Chocolate all work great)
2-3 cubes of Ice
1-2 Tablespoons Almond Meal/Flour (optional)

Whiz in blender till smooth. After the first one went well I added Almond Meal/Flour (which is just finely ground almonds: Meal = skins on, Flour = skins off) to the mixture to start preparing myself for food again. I started with 1 Tablespoon and then added a little more to make it a little heartier.

So I'm here, emerging from this alien invasion. Testing the waters slowly, trying to regain some strength, and saying hello to my cyber pals. Hello. I missed you. Get your flu shot because you don't want whatever this was.

Post Weight Loss Surgery Menus: A day in my pouch

My yesterday in post weight loss surgery eating...

Breakfast: This has been my breakfast for the past few days. It's delicious. I'm thinking this needs to become a protein ice cream maybe with some fresh peach chunks or raspberries mixed in. Nom.

Shelly's Peach Melba Protein Shake

1 cup Vanilla Soy Milk (or Regular Milk)
1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Raspberry Torani Syrup
1/4 cup Peaches (fresh, frozen, canned)
2-3 cubes of Ice

Whiz in blender till smooth. Top with a squirt Homemade No Sugar Added, Whipped Cream, optional.

Lunch: Packed up the super cool bento boxes in our great bento bags we made last year and spent most of the day at the park near my house. It has some great walking areas and my Mum has been using them to recuperate from that fall she had a few month back. Here's what I bought along...

Pink Box (top left): Shelly's Lentil & Edamame Salad
Orange Box (top right): Sliced Cheese & a Babybel
Blue Box (bottom left): Turkey Cold Cut Roll-up
Green Box (bottom right): Sliced Cucumber


Shelly's Lentil & Edamame Salad

1 bag (12 oz.) frozen shelled Edamame, cooked & cooled
1 1/2 cups cooked Lentils
2 Tablespoons Fresh Cilantro, chopped
1 Tablespoon Lemon Infused Olive Oil
(or Regular Olive Oil w/juice of 1/2 a lemon)
Kosher Salt to taste
a few twists of Black Pepper

Cook edamame (boil in salted water for 5 minutes, drain). Edamame (young soybeans are found in the frozen bagged veggie section) Cool them in the fridge. When cool combine will all other ingredients and refrigerate for several hours before serving.

I used pre-cooked lentils from Trader Joe's (find in the refrigerator section) but you could just soak dry ones and cook then chill.

Lentils and edamame are especially good for us weight loss surgery folks high in protein, iron, calcium, vitamins B1, A, C. These pre-cooked ones at Trader Joe's are fabulous just cut open the package and they are ready for use in salads, soups, stews, or just eaten on their own. Very convenient.

Dinner: I came home and made my Philly Cheesesteak Casserole. This is one of my favorite casseroles.


Shelly's Philly Cheese Steak Casserole

1/2 a Maui Onion, diced
1 Large Green Pepper, diced
6 Mushrooms, sliced
2 small Zucchini, sliced
a little under a 1/2 lb. (about 7 slices) Roast Beef Cold Cut Meat, chopped
1 can (10.5 oz.) Cream of Celery Soup, unconstituted
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 cup Shredded Colby Jack Cheese, divided use (any good melter will do)
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
a few twists of Black Pepper

Saute onions, green peppers & mushrooms till golden. Remove from pan. Add zucchini and saute till golden and fork tender. Add back veggies. Add beef, soup, Worcestershire, 1/4 cup of the cheese & seasonings. Mix to combine and melt cheese. Pour into Pyrex casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Snacks: Too much coffee, leftovers from my bento, and a bag of Classic White Cheddar Crunchy Cheese.

Happy Pesto Day!

Today is Pesto Day! Seriously it is. Google it. I'm celebrating. I love Pesto. I'm Italian, I think it's a requirement. I made a super yummy Pesto Salad for lunch. This is the kind of salad you can have in the fridge for several days it just gets better and better.

Shelly's Pesto Pea & Ham Salad

1 (12 oz. pkg) Frozen Peas, steamed & cooled
1 Cucumber, diced
3/4 cup Diced Cooked Ham
2 Mozzarella Cheesesticks, diced
2 Tablespoons (Storebought or Homemade) Pesto Sauce
Kosher Salt to taste
a few twists of Black Pepper

Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate for a several hours till cold.

Here's a bunch of weight loss surgery friendly ways you can celebrate...

Shelly's Tuna Pesto Salad
Shelly's Savory Pesto Pancakes
Shelly's Antipasto Skewers
Shelly's Zucchini Pesto Pie
Shelly's Shrimp Tortilla Pizza
Shelly's Pesto Chicken & Veggies
Shelly's Green Bites
Shelly's Pesto Shrimp & Veggies Packet
Shelly's Shrimp Venezia Packet
Shelly's Red, White & Green "Italian Flag" Lasagna
Shelly's Italian Chicken Casserole
Shelly's Pesto Yogurt Dipping Sauce
Shelly's Bacon-wrapped Pesto Shrimp
Shelly's Pesto Deviled Eggs
Shelly's Homemade Pesto
Shelly's Pesto Halibut Packet

Sunny Day Bentos

We're having a beautiful weather week. We started the winter with several weeks of rain and my walks (my preferred form of post weight loss surgery exercise) were either inside a warm, dry shopping mall or bundled up, dodging cloud bursts.

This week we are having perfect 70's and 80's, sunny days. I've been taking full advantage of it. I've been making myself a yummy protein shake in the morning and then taking off walking, hiking, or on a bike ride. There were a few days of work too (blah, gotta pay the bills) but even those days I tried to at least eat all my meals outside. Here's some of the super cool bento box meals I ate...

Bento #1:

Pink Box (top left): Shelly's Chocolate Pecan Turtle Protein Muffins
Green Box (top right): Sliced Cucumber
Blue Box (bottom left): Chicken and Ham Cold Cut Rollups (in the little blue box) Mustard
Orange Box (bottom right): A Happy BabyBel Cheese

Shelly's Chocolate Pecan Turtle Protein Muffins

1 Egg, beaten
3 Tablespoons Milk
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Caramel Torani Syrup
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
3 Tablespoons Multigrain Pancake Mix
2 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa (Hershey's is what I used, baking aisle)
1 scoop Chocolate Protein Powder
12 Pecans
Pinch salt

Mix egg, milk, syrup and oil (applesauce or cottage cheese can sub for oil but 1 T divided between 12 muffins is really not a lot) and combine thoroughly. In a separate bowl, mix pancake mix, cocoa, protein powder and salt. Tip dry into wet and stir till combined. Pour into a non stick mini muffin pan that has been sprayed with Pam. Place a pecan on top of each.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Makes 12 moist, delicious, mini muffins.

Bento #2:

Pink Box (top left): Shelly's Melted Chicken & Provolone Roll-up
Green Box (top right): Shelly's Raspberry Cheesecake Protein Yogurt
Bottom left: Just the Cheese Crunchy Cheese
Orange Box (bottom right): Pitted Fresh Cherries

Shelly's Raspberry Cheesecake Protein Yogurt

3 oz. of Greek Yogurt (could use SF Pudding too)
1/2 to 1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Raspberry Torani Syrup
1 teaspoon SF Cheesecake Jello Pudding Mix, dry

Mix till well combined. Eat as is or great for dipping strawberries, sliced bananas, fresh cherries, apple slices or chunks of protein cake.

Bento #3: I took to the park and ate with this family of turtles...



Pink Box (top left): Madras Lentils
Green Box (top right): SF Andes Mint (found them at CVS) (in the little blue box) Shelly's Cool Yogurt Dip
Blue Box (bottom left): Shelly's Thai Chicken Skewers
Orange Box (bottom right): Cuties Clementine

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Got some great stuff at the Farmer's Market today. I have a bunch of cooking projects planned. I'll share the tasty ones.

P.S. Have you entered the Progresso Souper You Contest yet? Enter! I want to see one of my pals get the VIP treatment this year.

Sunshine Shake

Breakfast this morning tasted like a lot like an Orange Julius. Yum! I mixed this up and sat on the patio for a bit, watched the sun come up and the birds on the feeder. After a few weeks of rain looks like we are in for a beautiful week. For my pals dealing with snow and ice, this would be the week to escape to Southern California, sunny and 70's. We have our issues... wildfires, mudslides, earthquakes but this week we're the place to be. Come on down, we'll have protein shakes on the patio.

Shelly's Orange Vanilla Banana Protein Shake

1 cup Vanilla Soy Milk (or Regular Milk)
1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Orange Torani Syrup
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Vanilla Torani Syrup
1/2 a Banana
2-3 cubes of Ice

Whiz in blender till smooth. Top with a squirt Sugar Free Land o Lakes Whipped Cream, optional.

If you don't have SF Orange Torani... a sprinkle of SF Orange Jello Powder would work. I love the SF Orange Torani though it's great in Greek yogurt. Speaking of Greek yogurt if you want even more protein add a dollop of that to this shake (like this), or a dollop of cottage cheese (I swear you can't tell its in there) oh and peel and freeze that other half of banana to use the next time you make a protein shake or smoothie, frozen banana makes shakes super creamy.

Post Weight Loss Surgery Menus: A day in my pouch

Yesterday's super yummy post weight loss surgery day in eating...

Breakfast: Made a batch of my Sausage Pancake Bites actually I made six sausage and six I topped with a teaspoon of Apple Compote.

Shelly's Pancake Bites

1/2 cup Multigrain Pancake Mix, dry
1/3 cup Soy Milk (any milk would do)
1/4 cup Torani Sugar Free Caramel Syrup

Optional Toppings
1/3 cup Cooked Sausage Crumbles
2 Slices Cooked Bacon
Fresh Fruit
Apple Compote

Mix pancake mix, milk, syrup together till thoroughly combined. Pour batter into a 12 cup mini muffin tin that has been sprayed with Pam. Fill about 3/4 way up. Top each muffin with optional toppings.

Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes or until golden. Serve with SF Maple syrup for dipping.

Lunch: A Mozzarella Cheese Stick and this yummy Coconut Cream Protein Shake...

Shelly's Coconut Cream Protein Shake

1 cup Vanilla Soy Milk (or Regular Milk)
1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Coconut Torani Syrup
2 Tablespoons Light Coconut Milk
2-3 cubes of Ice

Whiz in blender till smooth. Top with a squirt No Sugar Added Homemade Whipped Cream and sprinkle of Unsweetened Coconut, optional.

This was delicious... only needed a little rum ;), warm sunshine, a sandy beach, a HOT cabana boy to make it perfect.

Coconut not your thing? Here's some other favorite protein shake recipes.

Dinner: I christened my last year's Christmas gift to myself, my Kiwi Green Le Creuset Round French Oven with a big pot of soup. Praying I don't drop this sucker on my toe ever, holy moly it's heavy. This soup seriously tastes like a Bacon Cheeseburger. Try it, it's soooo good.


Shelly's Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

1 Sweet Maui, diced
2 slices Bacon, diced
1/2 lb Ground Sirloin
1/4 cup Bruschetta Sauce (chopped tomatoes can sub)
2 cups Chicken Broth
1 (10 3/4 oz) can Cheddar Cheese Soup
1 Tablespoon Steak Sauce
1/4 head of Iceberg Lettuce
dash Seasoning Salt
a few twists of Black Pepper

Shredded Cheddar for topping

Saute onion till golden and bacon till crisp. Add sirloin and cook till no pink is seen. Add remaining ingredients (except shredded cheese.) Turn to low and simmer for 1/2 hour with lid on, stirring occasionally.

Top bowls of soup with shredded cheddar.

Snacks: Went for coffee with a pal and ordered my standard Sugar Free Cinnamon Dolce Soy, No Whip, No Foam Latte from Bux and last night I ate a handful of Fresh Cherries as I finally finished taking down the Christmas decorations.

It was an especially tasty day in my world.

Hey have you guys entered this year's Progresso Souper You Contest yet? Do it. What's that they say, "People Really Win!" it's true! Would love to see one of my pals get the VIP treatment this year. Good Luck!

Heads up: Breakfast for a Buck is Back

You've got till January 19th to score a yummy weight loss surgery friendly breakfast for $1 at Jamba Juice. Print this coupon and bring it to any participating location to get any of their Steel Cut Oatmeal's for $1.

Here's the 411 on the oatmeal from my review back in March.

My order: Oatmeal with Banana minus the Brown Sugar Crumble. They have a whey or soy protein boost, you could always add that to it too. Makes a great breakfast on the go.

No Jamba's near you. Make my homemade Banana Walnut Oatmeal. It rocks.

Drum roll...

Thank you for the wonderful response to The World According to Eggface & Building Blocks Vitamins New Year, New Flavor Giveaway.

The random generator has selected these 5 winners:

Susan T.
sben20@xxx.com

Laura R.
ljr1012@xxxxxxx.net

Janeene G.
janeene.gregory@xxxxx.com

Linda
lovelylinda55@xxxxx.com

David M.
david_mckee@xxxxxxx.com

Congratulations!!! You are the winner(s) of 1 bottle (30-Day supply) of Building Blocks Vitamins Multiple Chewable Tablets *NEW* Citrus flavor. Check your email and follow instructions for claiming your prize.

If you weren't one of the lucky winners this time but still want to try Building Blocks Vitamins products here's a link to request FREE SAMPLES or place an order. Please tell them Eggface sent you.

Thank you for playing everyone! Another super cool Eggface Giveaway will be announced soon!

Your turn! Progresso Souper You!

Last year I was one of the lucky winners of the Progresso Souper You Makeover Contest! Thanks to many many many votes from you guys. Now it's your turn! Progresso is running the contest again and I would love to see one of my pals be the next to get the VIP treatment in NYC.

Oh and there is a video of the day you can check out too. Brought back great memories.

The Trip Details
Progresso Souper You Photos

The Elvis Shake

Tomorrow January 8th, would have been Elvis Presley's 76th birthday. It's commonly known that a peanut butter and banana sandwich with bacon, fried in bacon fat was his favorite. Here's my healthier version. My yummy breakfast this morning.

Shelly's Peanut Butter, Banana & Bacon Protein Shake "The Elvis"

1 cup Vanilla Soy Milk (or Regular Milk)
1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
2 Tablespoons Powdered Peanut Butter (aka Peanut Flour)
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Vanilla Torani Syrup
1/2 a Banana
2-3 cubes of Ice
Optional: Sugar Free Land o Lakes Whipped Cream, a teaspoon of Real Bacon Bits

Whiz in blender till it's all shook up. Top with a squirt Sugar Free Land o Lakes Whipped Cream and sprinkle of bacon bits (yes you read that right) optional but delicious. You won't be able to help falling in love with it.

A day in my pouch

My yesterday in post weight loss surgery eating...

Breakfast: Had a couple of those super yummy CLICKcakes made with CLICK Espresso Protein and a little Land o Lakes Sugar-Free Whipped Cream.

These are so good. If you haven't entered to win the CLICK'd out bike be sure too. Here's the info on that.

Lunch: Went out for Sushi. I don't do rice post weight loss surgery (my choice, no rice, bread, pasta, white potatoes, crackers, chips for the past 4 1/2 years) This was my yummy riceless order...

At my favorite Japanese sushi restaurant they are called Summer Rolls, sometimes at other restaurants I've seen them called Cucumber Rolls, Kamisu Rolls, Naruto Rolls, just ask your Sushi chef to make you a riceless roll. It's soooo good. Assorted Sashimi, raw fish, some cooked and veggies rolled in thinly sliced cucumber. Sometimes I just order Sashimi (slices of fish alone) which is great too but this roll is divine. I dipped them in a little soy sauce and wasabi. Heavenly and oodles of protein. Both are very weight loss surgery friendly dining out choices.

Want a riceless sushi fix at home. Try this, one of my favorites.

Dinner: I guess I was on a roll kick. I had a Turkey, Cheese & Avocado Roll-up. Delish. These are great cold of course but Mmmm sauteed in a pan these are great on a chilly night when you want warm, cheesy and gooey.

Just take a slice of turkey and cheese and place a slice of avocado or two in the middle. Roll it up. Place it seam side down in a non-stick pan that has been sprayed with Pam and brown all all sides.

Snacks: Much to much coffee, some Roasted Chickpeas (2 down, 9 to go) and a Cherry Almond Protein Smoothie. A day full of nom.