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.
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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.
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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.
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