What's on your Saturday menu, RNYers?

I'll play today...

QOTD: my old fridge had lots of magnets on front..and other crap. The one I got 10 years ago have a "fake" SS front. Fake - because it looks like SS but magnets don't stick.. It also does not show fingerprints..so trade-off is ok. I have 1/3 of one side of the fridge exposed and that thing is full of magnets with important info...(emergency contacts) as well as some coupons, or anything I don't want to lose in my clutter ... I.e any theater or concert tickets we keep in small envelope on the fridge. If it is not there...there is no way I could find it. ... 

Eats: 

Coffee..with some Miralax ... Followed by more coffee..and green tea. 

I almost always skip breakfast. My gut hates me when I eat too early... I often start my eating with lunch..but then I eat till I go to bed... I don't recommend that - but that what works for me and my IBS... 

We are going to a wedding today and reception so I am not sure what's on the menu

But in any case it would be proteins. I hope they have more than just cake... But if they don't - I will have my "snacks" with me. I always carry portable food with me. Like low sugar jerky, nuts, nut butters (they make individual portions in small pouches..very handy) 

Dinner - I plan to eat my stuffed squash.  I use my IP to make suffed peppers and decided to utilize my extra squash... I love the Instant Pot to make stuffed veggies. I never can make them right in the oven unless I pre-boiled the veggies. Now - they get soft and ready in 20 min total (7-10 min pressure) . So good. (my gut hates raw or undercooked veggies...) 

 For anyone who wants to do it: it is great for utilizing some leftovers..(leftover meet sauce, some grains, some veggies) 

Used any good thick meat sauce, mix with some grains for your loved ones or finly chopped veggies for you. Add shredded cheese - if desired...mix it in.. Hollow the veggies (like pepers or squash, or anything). Place on a trivet in the IP, top with some tomato sauce...add 1 cup of stock or water ...set timer on manual for 7-10 min...NPR 5 min. Open - top with extra cheese - eat it.. 

I can put 4 large peppers in my IP. The only problem is taking them out...lol. They are so soft. If you want firm - reduce time to 4-5 min and do QPR.  

I can eat 1 mid size stuffed pepper if I am really hungry and it is late in a day. Lunch - 1/2 or it is more than enough. 

I use stock for my liquid while cooking - so later I can reuse that for my stew or other dish... (like soup..- I eat soups..I make them very thick) 

Note about lean ground meats: making them soft enough for me. 

I use my pressure cooker to cook my meat sauces. I use lean ground beef or bison - and the IP makes the meat "fluffy" and soft.  Simple meat sauce recipe : brown ground meet in the IP, top with tomato sauce (i use NSA 365 brand organic) add more tomato paste it required. Add spices if required...close the lid and cook on stew setting - 35 min + 20min NPR.  Open and eat. 

I always strain mine to remove extra liquid.  I use that liquid - either drink it as a stock. Or use in other dishes.

i.e making an eggdrop soup: warm up the stock - scramble 1-2 eggs .Pour that slowly over boiling stock. Remove from heat once it just start boiling again - rising. Top with chopped dill Or other herbs.  Eat. Great for cold days when a protein shake just won't do.  Add spices to "warm it up" like pepper. BTW: boiling it longer will harden the "egg drops". Ok for longer term post op - not so good for fussy young pouch. Sometimes I call that "pouched scambled egg" when I make that thicker and add some chopped avocado ... That is often great "small lunch" meal for me.  Easy and fast.  My SO loves it too.  Quick "hold me over" meal until dinner when we get home and are hungry..  

Enjoy..... 

Thanks for the  recipe ideas. I  bet  riced cauliflower would be a great replacement for the rice in stuffed peppers. I may have to do that as they used to be a favorite before surgery.

I haven't been able to eat rice for years, I replace riced cauliflower anywhere you would need rice and no one complains at my house!  It is Yummy!

Everything sounds delicious! What are you using to thicken up your soup? I am a soup lover too! :)

What do I use? Most of the time- a strainer. 

I strain most of the liquid. Use the liquid as a drink before I eat the solids. 

But..for sauces - some people use things like xantham gum or guar gum.  I personally don't use that that much. 

I rather drink liquid and then eat the solids. 

I used cashew butter in my mushroom sauce-gravy, instead of cream. 

But ..until you are at goal - use any sauces sparingly. Even now - I use soups and stews when I try to eat more..more proteins and more volume - calories. 

Even using an egg - will add volume, thickness and proteins ...I.e if I have a cup of chicken soup or veggie soup - I may break 1 or 2 eggs and mix them..then pour over the boiling soup. Take off the stove.. Wait 5 min.. Eat. It gets thick. Even now I can only eat 1.5 cup of thick soup like that. 

Thank you for all of your help Hala! :) I enjoy the liquids more than the solids as well.

Hi menu gang,

QOTD I have a picture of me when i was heavy and one of my cat i had. Some magnets.

B 2 large coffee with sf pumpkin spice creamer,  egg whites ham and cheese omelet and string cheese

L tuna salad, orange pepper and apple

D chicken sausage and some kind of vegetable 

S. Greek yogurt,  turkey sausage snack sticks and apple

Have a good day

Good morning JB and gang.  My hubby is home and I feel like my head is screwed on straight again.  I was struggling this week, but I'm feeling back to normal now.  I work tonight from 2:30 to 9:30, so my day is pretty boring.  Now that I've put my notice in at Jo-ann's, I'm feeling like I'm getting the cold shoulder from my manager, which is understandable.  But, I don't like to work in a hostile environment, so it's getting harder to go in for my shifts.  

I have tomorrow off, and I plan to do a little shopping and spend time with my hubby and kids.  Maybe if I'm lucky I'll have time to finish up a couple of sewing projects that I have going on right now.  

I haven't really made a plan for the day for food, but I'm going to have to do it soon, since I'll be packing dinner to eat while at Joann's since I'm working so late in the day.  

Yesterday was my 15 months surgiversary

B: Light and Fit Greek Yogurt, Pumpkin Pie flavor.  Coffee with coffeemate (I'm all out of sugar free, so using my hubby's regular today, ack!)

L: Turkey deli meat with mayo and tomato on half a wrap

D: Not sure, I have some turkey meatballs in the freezer, and some other stuff, but I'm not sure what I've got a taste for tonight.  It will be protein forward, whatever I choose. Maybe shrimp with ****tail sauce, that sounds yummy.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  I'll try to pop on tomorrow to check in and will update on my totals for today.  

Congrats on 15 months out!

Ack, forgot the QOTD.  So, my fridge is a hodgepodge of junk.  I have pictures that Kal has colored, a magnetic pouch for coupons that I forget to take grocery shopping with me, and most are probably expired, magnets and the like.  It's not totally covered, but it is a bit cluttered.  I try to change out the artwor****asionally.