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On the Band Grads board we have an Italian chef! Very handy! He grows courgettes and recommends pie! I understand that Bisquick is a powdered scone mix, British readers!

Ingredients:    3 cups Zucchini, diced small    4 eggs. lightly beaten    1 cup Bisquick      1/2 cup grated cheese      1/2 cup olive oil    Black pepper    Parsley flakes  Preparation:        Grease a shallow baking pan well. Mix all ingredients, pour into baking pan and even out mixture.  Bake at 375 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes.  For a double batch, bake for 50 - 60 minutes.  Serve hot or cold!

I posted about this on the main VSG board but I thought that I would restate it here because it relates to a UK hospital -- the staff at the bariatric surgery department of Charing Cross Hospital gave away my surgery slot!!!

Over the past 24 hours I have been through every emotion relating to this development, but now I am feeling quite beaten.  I can't believe they did this to me.

I had my pre-op screening on May 20 and was given the surgery date of July 21st.  I met with the nutritionist and the surgeon, signed all of the papers and was given a date.  I thought everything was sorted.  As I waited to see the anesthetist, I was told that it was too soon for the MRSA swab, and that I should go away and return on July 1st (yesterday).

I never received a letter confirming yesterday's follow-up, and I tried multiple times to reach the office at Charing Cross to confirm, but was never able to get through.  I did leave a voice mail and sent two e-mails, however.  Not receiving a call back, I decided to honour the appointment.

I arrived yesterday morning and got yelled at by the nurse.  She said that I had missed my pre-op screening and that "they are very busy" and "if I don't show up for my appointments I will lose my surgery."  WHAT?????

After much panic and confusion I learned that my telephone number had been mis-transcribed on their files (oh course, they never answered any of my e-mails either).   The person who told me to go home on May 20 was wrong and the office has been trying to reach me at the wrong number.  Now I have lost my surgery spot because some idiot can't type!

I am soooo upset.  I don't understand how this could happen.  Did the nurse physically open the surgeon's diary and strike through my name?  Was it an act of vengeance against patients who waste time?  I don't understand!!!

Anyway, I have a new surgery date: September 14th.  I suppose everything happens for a reason but right now I just want to crawl up into a ball and cry.

Wow! Great ideas! Thanks. I'll have to see about modifying the muffin recipe. 

Yes, I am a vegetarian, but I do sometimes have meat occasionally, especially if my iron starts to go low. I'm not a vegan so I eat fish and different forms of veggie proteins, including tofu, beans, and some fairly good products here in the States. Not sure if you have Boca (not my favorite, but not bad), Morningstar Farms, and Gardein. I also eat eggs & cheese a few times a week.

One of the biggest sources of protein that I use is a whey isolate shake that is sweetened with Stevia. I use it in my coffee and mix it with Greek yogurt for at least one snack each day. It's locally manufactured and not available, as far as I know, except through a small homeopathic pharmacy that my husband and I use. Actually, I ran out and picked something else up. Tried it today, and I don't think I'll ever have it again!! BLAACHHH!!! Oh well, I'm sure I'll make due.

Off to work now. Have a great day.

 LOL - maybe I've been training too hard to come on here hahaha.  The plan is going great, I have not missed a single day and I've hit all my targets!!!  I am so pleased with it all but still a long way to go.  I am now now on day 14 and up to doing 2 x 8 minute runs with a 2 min walk inbetween.  I can't believe how quickly it builds, going back to those first few days when it felt like my legs couldn't support me on a 1 minute run - oh my.

Sounds like I'm blowing my own trumpet - and I still have a very long way to go .............. but toot bloody toot!!! 

Just wanted to give a wave to everyone. We're in fullblown summer here and all of the fresh fruits and veggies are in abundance. My husband's boss gave us a whole load of courgettes (we call them zucchini), so I've been busy getting creative in preparing them in different ways to eat throughout the week. So far I've made:

1- Courgette Casserol prepared with fresh sauteed tomato, mushroom, basil, garlic, onion, Burgandy wine, and topped with fresh mozzarella cheese and veggie-based protein crumbles.

2- Courgette Salad with fresh tomatoes and onions marinated in a balsamic vinegarette

3- Courgettes sliced thin and baked in the oven until crisp (to be used as a side snack) (Maybe I'll put them on some homemade pizza later in the week)

Any other ideas?