Eggface Protein Shake Pantry Essentials Giveaway

Getting enough protein in the first few weeks post weight loss surgery is pretty difficult without protein shake supplementation and some of us continue to use them on our weight loss journey on those days we just don't feel like a hearty breakfast, need a protein boost in the day, to fuel our fitness workouts, a cool treat on hot summer days, or those super busy go go go days.

I love to add low calorie additions to my protein shakes to change them up. I've gathered together some of my favorites additions into this Protein Shake Making Pantry Essentials Box. If you are the winner of this box of goodies you'll be able to create many of the shake recipes on My Favorite Protein Shake and Smoothies Pinterest Page (including a couple of award winning ones: Candy Cane Shake or Chocolate Covered Cherry Shake) or start churning out Protein Ice Cream.

It's Giveaway Time!

The Prize: Some of my favorite post weight loss surgery protein shake pantry essentials...

7 Different Sample Packet of Protein Powder (a week of new tastes) including Celebrate Vitamins, Chike Nutrition High Protein Iced Coffee, Quest Protein and more.
3 Premier Protein RTD Protein Shakes (Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberries and Cream)
1 Mini Sampler Set of Sugar Free Torani Syrups (4 - 150 ml mini bottles in SF Caramel, SF Raspberry, SF Vanilla, and SF Hazelnut)
2 jars of Chike Nutrition Chike PB Powdered Peanut Butter (add the taste of peanut butter with only a fraction of the calories, fat and sugar) in Original and Chocolate.
4 Sugar Free Pudding Mixes (SF Pistachio, SF Lemon, SF Cheesecake, SF Butterscotch)
3 Davinci Coffee Flavors
28 oz. Blender Bottle Shaker
1 FREE Chilled Almond Breeze Milk (coupon for 1 half gallon in any flavor Almond, Coconut, Coconut Almond, Cashew, your choice)


How to Enter: LEAVE A COMMENT on this blog posting (be sure to include a name and some email address where I can contact you if you are the winner) Scroll down to # of comments/post a comment below to leave yours. That's it, easy peasy. For fun: I'd love to hear what your favorite protein shake add-ins are.

Example: Jane Doe jdoe@someemail.com

***Bonus Prize: If you follow me on at least one of my social media networks: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest. Tell me which you follow in your comments for a chance to win the second prize! I'll choose a second winner to win a super cute Christmas Stocking filled with 7 packets of Protein Powders, a week of yummy new tastes to try including Celebrate Vitamins, Chike Nutrition High Protein Iced Coffee, Quest Protein, Syntrax Nectar Sweets and a homemade knitted (by my Mum) Christmas Tree Ornament.

Example: Jane Doe jdoe@someemail.com I follow you on Instagram and Facebook

Contest Period Ends: Sunday, December 6th, midnight (Pacific), sometime Monday, December 7th. 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. 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, AK & HI) (sorry it's a legal issue: international laws govern giveaways and a money $ thing)

All this protein shake talk is making me thirsty. Now which one to make...

Good Luck and Happy Holidays! Thanks for telling your pals about The World According to Eggface.

Thanksgiving Leftovers Transformed: Lazy Chili Rellano Casserole

Hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend filled with laughs and love. Here's a great use for those Thanksgiving Turkey leftovers. I call it Lazy Chili Relleno Casserole, it's super easy to prepare and is loaded with so much flavor your family will never realize they are eating leftovers.

Shelly's Lazy Chili Rellano Casserole

1 Yellow Onion, diced
1 cup Cooked Turkey, chopped
1 cup Black Beans, rinsed and drained
3/4 cup Picante Sauce or Salsa (heat level of your choice)
1 (7 oz. can) Whole Mild Green Chilies
1 1/2 teaspoons Cumin (divided use)
a few twists of Black Pepper
1 cup Cottage Cheese, 2%
1/3-1/2 cup Shredded Mexican Cheese

Saute onion till golden. Add chopped turkey and saute with the onion for about 5 minutes till turkey gets a little color. Add beans, picante sauce and 1 teaspoon of the cumin. Mix till combined. Spoon half into a Pyrex casserole dish (or pie plate.) 

Layer whole green chilies across top. Spoon remaining turkey mixture on top of those... so you are sort of creating lasagna-ish layers.

In a mini food processor (or blender) whiz cottage cheese till smooth with remaining 1/2 teaspoon of the cumin and a few twists of black pepper. Dollop on top of layered casserole. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes and then broil for 3-4 minutes till cheese is bubbly and a little golden.

Seriously... this is a DELICIOUS way to transform those turkey leftovers. I hope you try it. If someone got up in the middle of the night and gobbled up all your turkey leftovers... or turkey is not your thing... it's great with cooked chicken or cooked ground beef too.

More Healthy Turkey Day Leftover Transformations:

Shelly's Thanksgiving Cranberry Protein Shake
Shelly's Sante Fe Turkey Bites (aka crustless quiches)
Shelly's 5 Minute Cranberry Protein Cake
Shelly's Cranberry Protein Souffle
Shelly's Turkey Squash Casserole
Shelly's Green Bean Casserole Stuffed Mushrooms

Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving to all my family & friends! I am thankful for all of you xo

Blue Diamond Eggcellent Game Changing Snacks

Football season is in full force. My Facebook and Twitter newsfeed are filled with smack talk and team rivalries. People really take their football seriously. I have gone to a few games but I must admit my favorite part was always the tailgating before the game. Unfortunately, game day spreads are often full of greasy, carb-laden, not so healthy choices. Embracing a healthy lifestyle doesn't mean you have to give up fun activities or your resolve. I had an opportunity to create a couple of game changing game day snacks using Blue Diamond Almonds.

Here's two healthy, protein packed snacks that are delicious, super easy to make (get the kids in on this one) and would be great for your next game day get together or tailgate party:

Shelly's Smoked Almond, Bacon & Cheddar Deviled Eggs

4 Hard Boiled Eggs
2 Tablespoons Greek Yogurt, plain
2 Tablespoons Leftover Cooked Bacon, crumbled (or Bacon Bits), plus a little for topping
2 Tablespoons Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 Green Onion, diced fine
Top with Blue Diamond Smokehouse Almonds, crushed
a few twists of Black Pepper

Hard boil eggs. Cut cooled eggs in half. Remove yolks and mash with yogurt till smooth-ish. Add bacon, cheese, onion, pepper. Mix till combined. Spoon back into egg whites. Add crushed almonds and few sprinkles of additional bacon on top.

Shelly's Wasabi Deviled Eggs

4 Hard Boiled Eggs
2 Tablespoons Greek Yogurt, plain
Wasabi powder or paste, to taste
1 Green Onion, diced fine, keep a little for top
1 stalk Celery, diced fine
Top with Blue Diamond Wasabi & Soy Sauce Almonds

Hard boil eggs. Cut cooled eggs in half. Remove yolks and mash with yogurt and wasabi powder (or paste) till smooth-ish. Add onion and celery. Mix till combined. Spoon back into egg whites. Top each with a Blue Diamond Wasabi & Soy Sauce Almond and a sprinkle of chopped green onion.

How I hard cook eggs: Place eggs in pot. Fill pot with cold water till 1" over eggs. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and cook for 20 minutes. Pour off hot water and cover eggs with very cold water. This is an important step which prevents the greenish ring you sometimes see on yolks. When eggs are cool enough to handle. Crack & peel away shell. Chill. In a rush... you could buy the pre-cooked ones.

Let me know if you give these recipes a try. Oh and they are lucky so when you make them your favorite team is sure to win ;)

This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds. Remember to ditch the chips and grab some of these Blue Diamond Almond Game Changing Flavors this football season! Enter for a chance to win the Ultimate Football Party Prize Pack, get great savings and ideas for more delicious snacks at GameChangingFlavors.com

Drum roll...

Thank you to all who entered the Cooking with The World According to Eggface Giveaway

Congratulations Kelly C. chicklit72@xxxxx.xxx! You win the Cooking Goodies Prize Pack filled with cooking and baking pantry supplies and gadgets to create fun healthy treats.

and Mary Ann A. Barnababy1@xxxx.xxx! You are the winner of the Chike Nutrition High Protein Iced Coffee and Shaker Prize in your choice of original or mocha!

You have mail.

Want to learn more about any of the contents of the giveaway above: Click here for more info and sources.

Not a winner this time... no worries another Eggface Giveaway is starting very soon! Follow along here on the Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for the latest eggciting announcements! I'm really excited about the next couple of giveaways coming up!

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: I made myself a Protein Shake before heading to the Farmer's Market. It was extra crowded... last market before Thanksgiving. I picked up lots of great stuff: onions, mushrooms, zucchini, spaghetti squash, apples, avocados, cucumbers, red walnuts. I wanted some Brussels sprouts to roast as one of my Thanksgiving side dishes but all I could find were abnormally big ones... I mean like baseball sized, I've never seen them that big, thinking they might not be that tender that size and the rearranged guts might not like them. The Turkey Day plan is roasting a bone-in breast portion. I think I might do a little bacon lattice over the top to keep it moist. I'm making a super easy Roasted Butternut Squash and Spinach Gratin (I'll post the recipe this week.) I thought the roasted sprouts would go well with gratin... might have to go back to the drawing board on a second side. Undecided yet on dessert. I'm leaning toward my Crustless Sweet Potato Pie. What are you all having? If you need a few WLS friendly ideas be sure to check out my Thanksgiving Pinterest Page.

Shelly's Irish Cream Iced Coffee Protein Shake

1 cup milk (I used a combo of Almond and Soy)
1 scoop Chike Mocha High Protein Iced Coffee
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Irish Cream Torani Syrup
1 Tablespoon Unsweetened Cocoa (plus a sprinkle for the top)
a few cubes of Ice

Whiz on high in blender. I topped it with No Sugar Added Homemade Whipped Cream and a sprinkle of cocoa.

More Eggface Protein Shakes and Smoothies

Lunch: A couple weekends ago I was in Los Angeles for the Your Weight Matters Local event and the final days of National Obesity Care Week. I was honored to be serving as the patient spokesperson. I was chatting with a fellow post-op WLS and she shared with me that my Ricotta Bake recipe was helpful to her in the first few months. She especially loved that her kids loved it too and they all sat at the dinner table eating it together. It made her feel more "normal" again. I was so pleased. It did the same for me. In those early days I was so sick of popsicles, jello and protein shakes and sweet. I longed for warm and savory and this hit the spot. If you haven't made it it's basically lasagna filling without noodles so perfect softness for our newly rearranged guts and packed with protein.

I've had it in my mind since our conversation and I happened to have everything in the fridge so I made it. I ate it as is but it would go great with any veggie or a little salad. I've added sauteed turkey, beef, sausage, even it in individual ramekins and pressed a cooked meatball in the middle before baking. It was nice to have the original it's been awhile... so good.

More Eggface Healthy Italian Recipes

Dinner: I picked up a small steak at the store and I tossed that and a couple of the zucchinis I picked up at the market. Just a swipe a olive oil and a sprinkle of Greek seasoning. Not pictured was the Greek yogurt dip I made (I dip most meats) just plain Greek yogurt and a dollop of prepared horseradish.

I rarely BBQ steak at home. I BBQ often but it's usually veggies, chicken or shrimp or fish in foil packets. Kabobs a few times in the summer. I had to laugh being the source of BBQ steak smell in the neighborhood for a change. My neighbors are BBQ fanatics, 4-5 days of the week I smell steaks BBQing. We sort of have a running joke here... like "OMG steak again?!" I actually kind of worry about their cholesterol levels and damn their grocery bills must be huge $$$. This would not be the neighborhood to live in if you were a vegetarian. If it's not steak, it's carne asada or the other night I came home from a walk and the whole street smelled like Italian sausage... and dryer sheets... that was an odd combo.

Snacks: Coffee and I toasted one of my Mini Apple Loaves upside down in a pan with a swipe of butter. Oh this batch (per reader request) I tested adding protein powder. I took out 1/2 the oats (I'll put the adapted recipe below) and replaced it with Big Train Spiced Chai Protein. Soooo good. I ate it while watching The Amazing Race (my favorite show.) Are you watching this season? I travel the world vicariously through the show... but cozy under my lap blanket eating toasted apple loaf.

Shelly's Mini Apple Breakfast Loaf (Chai Spice Version)

1/2 cup Spelt Flour
1/2 cup Coconut Flour
1/4 cup Oatmeal, dry
1/4 cup Spiced Chai Protein Powder
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 1/2 teaspoons Apple Pie Spice
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/4 cup "Stuff" (Chopped Walnuts or Raisins or Cranberries or a Combo)
2 cups Apple, peeled and chopped (I used 2 Honeycrisps)
1/2 cup Sugar Free Caramel Torani Syrup
2 Eggs, beaten
1/2 cup Greek Yogurt (2% plain or flavored, whatever)

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all wet ingredients together and combine with dry ingredients. Divide equally among 8 mini loaf pans that have been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake for 25 minutes or till knife inserted comes out clean.

More Post Weight Loss Surgery Menus

Cooking with The World According to Eggface Giveaway

I have always loved to cook. It's my creative outlet. I was scared that having weight loss surgery would put an end to my days in the kitchen but happily it did not. I actually get to be even more creative by analyzing a favorite recipe and seeing where I can make changes to make a healthier version of a pre-op favorite. Fall has finally arrived in Southern California (fingers crossed we're below 90's for a few months), I am more willing to turn on the oven and heat up the kitchen so I will be spending more time doing what I love. Yay! I'm celebrating this...

It's Giveaway Time!

A few favorite gadgets and pantry staples to get you cooking...

The Prize:

1 lb. Bag Almond Meal (great healthier alternative for coating chicken)
26 oz. Bag Multigrain Pancake Mix
1 Bag Celebrate Vitamins Protein 20 (All Purpose Protein to add to anything)
2 Mini 125 ml. Bottles Sugar Free Torani Syrup (SF Classic Caramel & SF Vanilla)
1 Bottle Greek Seasoning (I love this on zucchini)
Set of 3 Mini Spatulas
5 oz. Mini Measuring Cup
12 cup Mini Muffin Tin

LEAVE A COMMENT on this blog posting (be sure to include a name and some email address where I can contact you if you are the winner) Scroll down to # of comments/Post a comment below to leave yours. That's it, easy peasy.

Example: Jane Doe jdoe@someemail.com


***Bonus Prize: If you follow me on at least one of my social media networks: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest. Tell me which you follow in your comments for a chance to win the second prize! I'll choose a second winner to win a 17.56 oz bag of Chike High Protein Iced Coffee (20 g whey protein) in winner's choice of Original or Mocha flavor and a Blender Bottle Shaker (color may vary.)

Example: Jane Doe jdoe@someemail.com I follow you on Instagram and Facebook

Contest Period Ends: Sunday, November 22nd, midnight (pacific), sometime Monday, November 23rd. 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 email address provided. You'll have one week (7 days) to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen. Remember winners of the bonus prize must be following at least one of my social media networks, links in post above. 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 US mailing addresses only, 48 contiguous, AK & HI (sorry it's a legal and $ thing.)

THANK YOU for always sharing the blog with your family, friends and support groups. I hope you and your family enjoy anything you try from the blog.

Shelly's Pancake Bites

Be sure to check out my 10 Tips for Surviving the Holidays Post Weight Loss Surgery

New Product Alert: Foster Farms Saute Ready

Foster Farms gave me the opportunity to try out a new product called Sauté Ready. It's a really awesome new product and will become a new pantry staple at my house. It's marinated, pre-cut, and frozen all natural chicken breast pieces. They cook in about 10 minutes and go directly from freezer to skillet, with no thawing required. Perfect to keep on hand for quick and easy meal. You can have a super healthy: low fat (98% fat free) and protein packed (21g protein/serving) home cooked dinner on the table in minutes. This is the kind of "fast food" I like.

It's 100% natural (no added steroids/hormones) and comes in three varieties: Fajita, Garlic Herb and Asian Style marinated. It was delicious and was super tender and juicy. I also loved that the bags were releasable so I could grab just what I needed from the 1.75 lb bag (about 7 servings) and save the rest frozen for another day.

Yesterday, I took some of the Sauté Ready Garlic Herb Chicken and turned it into this great Chicken Supreme Pizza Sauté for dinner... soooo good.

Shelly's Chicken Supreme Pizza Sauté

1 to 1-1/2 cups Foster Farms Sauté Ready Garlic Herb Chicken
1 Yellow Onion, sliced
1 Green Pepper, sliced
1 cup Mushrooms, sliced
1 cup Pizza Sauce
1/3 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
1/4 cup Black Olives, sliced
1 oz. Pepperoni slices (I used mini slices)
Salt and Black Pepper to taste.

Saute onion, pepper, mushrooms till golden in a non-stick, oven safe pan. Remove from pan and set aside. Cook chicken till no pink is seen.

Add back veggies. Stir to combine.

Top with sauce, olives, pepperoni, cheese, salt and pepper. Place pan in oven and broil till cheese topping is bubbly.

This was delicious and gave me my pizza fix in a healthy, protein-packed, low carb way.

More Eggface Healthy Italian Recipes

Right now you can score coupons to save up to $2.00 to try Foster Farms Sauté Ready yourself. I'm looking forward to trying out the other flavors. Thinking the Asian-style marinated might be perfect for my Cauliflower "Fried Rice." Let me know which flavor you try first and what you create.

This post is in partnership with Foster Farms. For the purposes of this post and recipe development I was provided the product used. Thanks for the yummy chicken. Want to learn more about Foster Farms great products LIKE their Facebook page and tell them The World According to Eggface told you to stop by.

Drum roll...

Thank you to all who entered The World According to Eggface Healthy Halloween Trick or Treat Giveaway

Congratulations Liz S. chrisandliz811@xxxx.xxx! You win the Nike Workout Bag filled with Celebrate Vitamins and Chike Nutrition protein shakes, Premier Protein bars, The World According to Eggface Reuseable Lunch Bag and other fun healthy treats.

and Congratulations Kathy H. hennies.pennies@xxxxx.xxx! You are the winner of the Chike Nutrition High Protein Iced Coffee and Shaker Prize in your choice of original or mocha!

Want to learn more about any of the contents of the giveaway above: Click here for more info and sources.

Not a winner this time... no worries another Eggface Giveaway is starting very soon! Follow along here on the Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for the latest eggciting announcements! So many cool things!!

FYI: My Instagram Pop-up Giveaway winner(s) will be announced later today over on Instagram.

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 Halloween menu...

Breakfast: It was Halloween so I had to have some chocolate, of course! I made a Chocolate Truffle Protein Shake before heading to the Farmer's Market.

Shelly's Caramel Chocolate Truffle Protein Shake

1 cup milk (I used a combo of Almond and Soy)
1 scoop Chocolate Truffle Protein Powder
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Caramel Torani Syrup
a few cubes of Ice

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

More Eggface Protein Shakes and Smoothies

Picked up lots of great stuff to cook with this week onions, mushrooms, garlic, cauliflower, beets, zucchini, crookneck, spaghetti squash, apples, avocados, tomatoes, red walnuts... hmm I think that was it. I've got some great meals planned. It helps the Daylight Saving Time Change transition to have your ducks in a row.

More Eggface Recipes

Lunch: I made a batch of Egg Foo Young Bites. My Mum's favorite Egg Bites and in my top 3 for sure. I served it with a tomato, avocado, mozzarella salad. They are also great with Chinese New Year Soup or Cauliflower "Fried Rice."

More Eggface Egg Bites (Crustless Quiches)

Dinner: It was a gorgeous evening. I sliced a couple of zucchinis lengthwise, gave them a swipe of olive oil and a sprinkle of Greek seasoning), tossed them on the BBQ and grilled them till they were tender and had some good grill marks. I arranged them onto a platter and my pretty Day of the Dead skull decoration turned it into the perfect skeleton.

I had made another bowl of that Crunchy Curry Chicken Salad I posted the other day (I'm on a kick) and put it in my Pyrex Day of the Dead skull bowl. Dinner was not only cute but healthy and delicious.

We ate it on the patio, watched the sunset and waited for trick or treaters. We actually got 12 this year. Best costume of the night went to the little caveman complete with ratty, bed head looking hair and faux fur getup. I love homemade costumes. I'm thinking his Mom no doubt is following a Paleo diet ;)

Snacks: Coffee including a SF Vanilla Soy Latte at Starbucks after the Farmer's Market, a stalk of celery and one of those Alouette Petit Fromage Spreadable Cheese Squares (love these) and a couple of Quest Protein Bar Chocolate Chip Pecan "Cookies."

More Days in my Pouch