Breakfast: After I ate this delicious, weight loss surgery friendly, super easy breakfast, I packed up my lunch and took off for most of the day with a to-do list a mile long...
Shelly's Strawberry Almond Yogurt Parfait1/2 cup Greek Yogurt (I use plain 2%)
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Almond Torani Syrup
1/4 cup Fresh Strawberries, cut up
a sprinkle of Toasted Sliced Almonds
Mix Yogurt and SF Torani till well combined. Top with berries and nuts.
I sometimes make these Yogurt Parfaits in plastic cups the night before, cover with plastic wrap and that way in the AM when I'm in a rush I can just grab one and go. Don't forget a plastic spoon.
Lunch: I spent the day picking up special order items for a pal who is catering a big event this week. A few of the errands brought me to a town very close to the beach so I brought my super cool bento box and sat for an hour staring at the ocean before heading back home.
Pink Box (top left): Shelly's Roast Beef & Cheese Cucumber "Sandwiches" and Mustard for dippingGreen Box (top right): Leftover chopped Strawberries from breakfast
Blue Box (bottom left): Peanut Butter & Jelly Quest Protein Bar
Orange Box (bottom right): Sliced Tomato and 2 Marinated Mozzarella Balls
More Eggface Bentos
Shelly's Roast Beef & Cheese Cucumber "Sandwiches"Slices of Cucumber
Cold Cuts (I prefer low sodium Boar's Head brand)
Sliced Cheese
1 slice of cheese and meat makes about 4 "sandwiches" you can spear them with a jazzy food pick for parties. For ease of assembly the day of a party (great weight loss friendly appetizers) or for a quickly made lunch during the week pre-cut the cucumbers the night before and place in a Ziploc baggie in fridge.
Aside: My cat Charlie just stepped on my keyboard and sent you all a message. Ready for it... 022222222222222222222222222222222222222 Wishing she could pick the winning lottery numbers.
Dinner: I came home and made a casserole. Sunday I had roasted eggplant. Just eggplant cut into cubes 1" or so (skin on), tossed on a baking sheet with kosher salt and olive oil, baked at 425 for 45-50 minutes or so (move them around every 15). It's great to have in the fridge as a cold side dish to cold cut roll-ups or reheated sprinkled with cheese or tossed with marinara and sprinkled with cheese for a sort of Faux Eggplant Parmesan. I used some in this AMAZING casserole that has become a staple post weight loss surgery dinner at my house.
Shelly's Middle Eastern Casserole
1 Onion, diced
1/2 pound Ground Beef (or Turkey or Sausage)
1 cup Roasted Eggplant (see above)
1/4 cup Storebought Hummus (any flavor, I like roasted garlic)
1 (15 oz.) can Cannelini Beans, rinsed and drained
2 Tomatoes, diced
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
1 Tablespoon Za'atar, divided use (it's a spice, don't leave out)
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
a few twists of Black Pepper
2-3 Tablespoons Feta Cheese, crumbled
Saute onion till golden set aside. Brown meat till no pink is seen. Add back onion and remaining ingredients with the exception of the feta and 1 teaspoon of Za'atar. Cook for about 5 minutes stirring to combine. Spoon into a Pyrex. Top with Feta and a sprinkle of Za'atar. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. It's great on it's own like I had it last night or with sliced cucumbers dressed with Greek yogurt and fresh herbs. Leftovers reheat great the next day for lunch.
Find Za'atar (aka Zatar, Zahtar) in ethnic aisles of well stocked supermarkets, Middle Eastern, Lebanese, Persian markets, good cooking stores like Williams Sonoma, online through someplace like Penzey's, or make your own...
Za'atar
1/4 cup Ground Sumac
2 Tablespoons Thyme
1 Tablespoon Roasted Sesame Seeds
2 Tablespoons Marjoram
2 Tablespoons Oregano
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
Grind spices in a coffee grinder. I have a coffee grinder just for spices but if you use your regular one clean it really well before you make coffee or it will be an interested flavor ;) Store in a spice jar for several weeks.
Snacks: Samples at the "Costco Buffet" a hunk of ham and piece of turkey cold cut, a few of my Frozen Protein Yogurt Drops while I vegged finally in front of the TV watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Sugar Free Vanilla Latte from Bux in my travels.
A very yummy day. Today I've got some casserole leftovers makes for an easy night which is good because right around dinner time is the first of the Obesity Action Coalition's free webinar series.
P.S. For those of you who attended the Southern California Weight Loss Surgery Meet & Greet this past July or the Temecula Hoedown. We lost a friend and fellow WLSer. Virginia Little Walker lost her battle with ovarian cancer. For those that did not get a chance to meet her she was a lovely lady with a smile that lit up a room.