Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Buffalo Chicken Dip · Chicken · football · Recipes · Uncategorized · WLS

Buffalo Chicken Dip

My girlfriend Beth shared this recipe with me a couple of years ago on one of our couple trips.  I loved this!! It was game day on Saturday, and we have to have some sort of football food, right?  So I made this.

Ingredients:
1 can of chicken (large)
8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1/2 cup BBQ Sauce
1/4 Frank’s Red Hot Wings sauce
1 cup of finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Mix all of the ingredients (but not the cheddar cheese) in a bowl until blended and the cream cheese is thoroughly mixed in.Place into a baking dish, and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until the mixture is hot and bubbly.  Place the cheddar cheese on top, and return to the oven until the cheese topping melts.Let set for about 5 minutes, and serve.  You can use tortilla chips or Frito’s – a chip that is sturdy to hold the dip.  Most of the time I use Scoops, but we didn’t have any.

My plate with a 1/4 of a hamburger as well, because I can’t just have buffalo dip.  This mixes up effortlessly, and everyone loves it.


What is your favorite game day food?

Blessings!

 

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Chicken · Recipes · Uncategorized · WLS

Sheet-Pan Chicken with Chickpeas, Cumin and Turmeric

This is from The New York Times Cooking site.  I receive their weekly emails, and this one look really good, so I thought we would try it.  Sheet-Pan Chicken with Chickpeas, Cumin and Turmeric.  I followed the recipe with the exception of the chicken – boneless, skinless chicken thighs.

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I loved this.  The chicken was moist, and the chickpeas were crunchy.  The sweetness of the roasted onions and the contrast of the lemon soaked onions were refreshing, and really worked.  I will definitely make this again.

Blessings!

Bacon · Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Recipes · Uncategorized · WLS

Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts

I found this recipe at Savory Tooth.  I had all of the ingredients (love), and made it for my dinner the other evening.I cleaned and prepped the Brussels Sprouts, cut the bacon in half and wrapped a half slice over each sprout secured with a toothpick.

Arranged on a sheet pan covered with parchment (really a best friend of mine – love parchment).

The dip – I varied it with much more balsamic vinegar than the recipe called for.  I like it with more zip – and this had more zip.  It worked out to be equal parts of mayo and vinegar.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the bacon is crispy, and the sprouts are soft.

My plate.  Perfect.  I love bacon, and the earthiness of the sprouts added a nice, meaty taste.  The dip was tangy, and good amount of balance for the salty, bacon.

I will be making these again, and not just for an appetizer.  I think you should try these if you aren’t sure about the sprouts.  They are a good way to ease your way into loving this vegetable.

Blessings!

 

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Bible verse · new habits · new routines · old · Quotes · Uncategorized · WLS

The Old

“You’ve got to make a conscious choice every day to shed the old, whatever ‘the old’ means for you.”  – Sarah Ban Breathnach

This can mean so many things for me: staring a diet, a savings, or purging of stuff.  Every day I have to make a conscious decision to exercise, eat healthy, and not have chocolate.  Every day I have to remind myself not to get anxious.  So many “old” me’s most of the time I don’t know where to begin.

So today I will begin a new day with new opportunities to shed part of the old me.  Relying on God to guide my path.  (Psalm 119:105 – Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.)

What does ‘the old’ mean to you?

Blessings!

 

 

 

Appetizers · Bariatric Surgery - My Story · fall · football · Pork · Uncategorized · WLS

Sausage Cheese Balls

My supervisor brought in some of these sausage cheese balls to share, and oh my, I loved them.  Original recipe at Plain Chicken.

Cream Cheese Sausage Balls
(Printable Recipe)
1 lb hot sausage, uncooked
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 1/4 cups Bisquick
4 oz cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 400F.

Mix all ingredients until well combined. (I use my KitchenAid mixer with the dough hook attachment)  Roll into 1-inch balls.  Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until brown.

Sausage balls may be frozen uncooked.  If baking frozen, add a few minutes to the baking time.

Plain Chicken’s advice to use the mixer with the dough hook attachment was the best ever!  It didn’t over mix making it tough.   They were blended, and completely mixed.

I froze half of the mixture.  These were creamy, moist, and had a bit of a kick due to the hot sausage (used Jimmy Dean’s Hot).  I loved the original recipe of the sausage balls without the cream cheese, but these are so much better.

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · comfort food · football · Recipes · Uncategorized · WLS

Pigs in a Blanket

Saturdays are football days, and even with my weight loss surgery I still like to have not so great for me food.  Pigs in a Blanket are yummy, little snack bites that are really easy to make.  One container of crescent rolls, and a package of lil’ smokies.  Roll out the dough, and press the seams together, then cut into smaller strips.  Place the sausage in the middle and roll.  Bake at 400 degrees for about 20-25 minutes or until done.  My plate with some of the ones with not a lot of bread on them.  Had to have them with Dijon mustard.  David loves his with Ketchup.  Satisfied my craving, and on the cool day, something warm.

What are your go to snacks for Fall?

Blessings.

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Beth Moore · Breast Cancer · Quotes · Random Thoughts · Sunday · thoughts · Uncategorized · WLS

Sunday Thought

“When my alarm goes off hatefully early, I try to console myself with this:  No one is going to get to Heaven and say ‘Man, I wish I’d slept more.'” – Beth Moore

I so feel this way since surgery.   I feel as though everyday I must be doing something, because for years (yes, years) I wasn’t able to do anything but sit and watch life go by.

Yesterday, David and I participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at our local mall.  The walk wasn’t timed or for anything but to bring awareness.  Two years ago I would have felt guilt for not being able to participate.  Now, grateful I can.  Honored to walk for those who have left us too soon.  Honored to walk for those who still fight.

Up early…not liking it…but I LOVE it.

Blessings today.

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Grits · Recipes · Shrimp · Uncategorized · WLS

Lemon-Garlic Shrimp and Grits

I have been craving shrimp and grits.  David and I cleaned out the freezer and pantry over the weekend, and I found the grits I had purchased when we were in Helen, GA.

I cooked the grits per the package instructions and add 1 cup of Gruyere cheese and 1/4 cup of Parmesan.  This is a 1/4 cup serving.I followed food networks recipe for lemon-garlic shrimp. Super simple, and not with a lot of ingredients.I used ten medium shrimp, salt and pepper, teaspoon of minced garlic, and bottled lemon juice to taste.  Added the 1/2 of a scallion, chopped, after plating.It was tangy, cheesy, and had a nice bite from the garlic.  I loved it, and have had it for the next several nights.   (I made plenty of grits without the cheese so just fix a new batch of shrimp each time.)

Blessings!

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Goals · pictures · Uncategorized · WLS

Head Shots

This one was taken October 2016.

October 16 Head Shot

This one September 2017.

Most days I don’t see the difference in my weight loss especially when I know I have gained weight this past month.  These pictures help.  I know that I have lost a substantial amount of weight.  I know that it wasn’t easy, and I still have a ways to go.

These pictures help me see some accomplishment, and I really did need to see them this week.

Blessings.

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · blog · Blogging · thankful · Uncategorized · WLS · wow

Thank You!

100 Followers!

thank-you

Wow! Thank you.

Blessings today and always.