Breakfast: An old breakfast favorite emerges. Shelly's Cinnamon Apple Walnut Salad. I went on a kick with this breakfast awhile back so much so I think I burnt myself out of it but I bought the most beautiful Fuji apples at the Farmer's Market and this was the perfect use. I was out of cranberries so a few golden raisins were subbed.
Lunch: We're in the middle of a heatwave from hell. 104 degrees and unusually high humidity for more than a week. I don't want to turn on the oven or stove to heat up the house, I don't want to stand in front of it cooking and cleaning up needs to be minimal too. So I tossed a couple chicken breasts on the grill at the crack of dawn. My neighbors must have wondered why they were smelling BBQing chicken while they were eating their Cheerios. I filled my bento box with lunch (sort of Greek themed) and took it to the park to eat.
Pink Box (top left): Greek Salad (Romaine, Kalamata Olives, Feta, Tomato)
Orange Box (top right): Shelly's Sweet Almond Mini Protein Muffins
Blue Box (bottom left): Grilled Chicken
Green Box (bottom right): Herby Yogurt Dip (Greek Yogurt, Oregano, Mint, Salt & Pepper to taste)
Shelly's Sweet Almond Mini Protein Muffins
1 Egg, beaten
3 Tablespoons Milk
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Torani Syrup (I used SF Almond)
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
3 Tablespoons Multigrain Pancake Mix
2 Tablespoons Almond Meal (storebought or make your own with a coffee grinder & almonds)
1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
Pinch salt
a few sliced Almonds for the top
In a measuring cup 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, almond meal, 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.
Optional: I placed 2 Tablespoons of sliced Almonds in a pan with 1 Tablespoon of SF Torani Almond Syrup and sauteed them till syrup was absorbed and almond had a little golden tinge. Cool. I placed a few on top of each muffin. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, until knife inserted comes out clean. Makes 12.
More Eggface Bento Box Lunches
While I was enjoying nature at the park everything in my house decided to break. I got home and flipped on the garbage disposal. Kaput. An hour or so later I went over to the freezer to get some ice (to make an Iced Coffee, more about this great find below) and I found a bag of defrosting ice. Checked the fridge section. Yep. Kaput. It's only 3 years old (P.S. Don't buy a Whirlpool Refrigerator.) Thankfully, I hadn't done a lot of shopping lately. I was cautious in case we had a power failure in this heatwave. Sadly, I still had to toss some stuff. So I have a fridge in the garage that is tiding me over till sometime next week when I can replace it with something... or not. I might just bring the garage fridge in. It's smaller and there is no light in the freezer (annoying) but it's paid for... ugh I hate unexpected expenses.
I was hot and emptying the fridge and freezer made me even hotter so I decided to use a Red Lobster gift certificate I had and sit in their free AC.
Tips for Eating Out at Restaurants Post Weight Loss Surgery
Dinner: Choose your own combination. I chose Grilled Salmon and Steamed Crab Legs and Roasted Vegetables side. It came with a salad and I boxed that right away. The salad and leftover salmon and crab were repurposed into lunch the next day. When it was pretty...
What I took home (plus the salad)...
More Repurposed Restaurant Leftovers
Snacks: I came home and glared at my fridge and made an Iced Coffee with this new awesome Trader Joe's find: Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate.
I use a couple of Tablespoons in some milk, a squirt of Sugar Free Torani Syrup (excellent with the new Sugar Free S'mores flavor), over ice. It's also great mixed in Greek Yogurt. Mmm coffee yogurt. I dipped apples in it the other night.
This and protein ice cream have been my saviors this heatwave. Earlier in the day I had a few samples of fruit at the Farmer's Market. I bought some more peaches to make more of those individual Peach Crumbs (Sunday dessert.)
More days in my pouch.
