The sun will come out tomorrow!

The sun is out!  THE SUN IS OUT!  YAYAYAYAYYAYAYAYAYYAYYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That's all I wanted to say.  I know it might not seem super important to y'all, however, it is to me!

Let's get this week started off right!  Get outside.  Enjoy the sun, while it is here!

Going bald?

It's a fact... I am loosing my hair.  And not in small quantities, either!  By the handful, is more like it.  Every time I touch, brush or do anything near my head, hair falls out!

FEAR NOT!  It is a normal occurrence after this type of surgery.  Well, that is what I am told.  My medical posse isn't as worried about it as I am.  They suggested taking Biotin.  YES, I will be taking that along with all my other vitamins!!!!  Biotin promotes new hair growth and it help with hair loss!

In the meantime, I am thinking about cutting my hair quite short!  I'm even looking into getting some fun wigs.  No standard wigs for this gal!  Go big or go home, right?!?!?!  :) :)

Italian night

I grew up near my cousins.  Our families would get together and have big Italian feasts.  Pasketti, homemade meat balls, garlic bread, salad... the works!  My uncle would spend all day making the meatballs, as they were the highlight of the meal!  He would always tell us it was his secret recipe. 

For years, I have wanted that recipe.  So, for one of my birthdays, my aunt typed it all out for me and sent it my way!  I have never shrieked so loud.  Hubby came running and I was jumping up and down an waving a piece of paper around!  I HAD THE RECIPE!!!!!!  WOOOHOOOO!!!!

Tonight was the perfect night for meatballs.  Is there a non perfect night for meatballs?!  I would have loved to do the pasta and garlic bread, but I don't do that anymore (my choice)!  I made a couple of Kelli Ann twists on the recipe.  You know I had to put my own spin on it!!! 

Kelli Ann's meatball extravaganza

adapted form Uncle Mike's Famous meatballs

1 pound ground beef

1 pound ground pork (I use one tube-y thing of Jimmy Dean)

1/4 c. good red wine 

less than 1/4 c. bread crumbs, I used garlic and herb

whole wedge of parmesan cheese, shredded

minced garlic, a whole lot of it!

My uncle uses fennel seeds, and parsley, as well as some eggs to bind.  I just forgot all that tonight!  The shredded cheese was enough of a binder that I didn't need the eggs!  I use both the pork and the beef as it keeps it super moist!  Dry meat = not a happy pouch!

So, mix all your ingredients together until well combined.  Form into whatever size meatballs you'd like.  I make mine fairly large because they are my meal!  Place them into the bottom of a deep-ish pan.  I used my roasting pan.  Pour enough water to cover the bottom of the pan and come partly up the meatballs.  Cover the pan TIGHTLY with foil.  Make sure you seal the edges well!  Pop the pan into an oven pre-heated to 350.  Cook them for 45-59 min, depending on the size.  In the last 10-15 min of cooking remove the foil so the tops can brown up.  They come out perfectly done while still being moist and SUPER tasty!!!!!

My uncle normally fries them and cooks them through in the sauce.  I wanted to try steaming them.  WOOHOOOO, they came out out great!  I simply topped mine with a bit of jarred sauce!  You can pair these with whatever kind of italian food you like!

Sorry for the half eaten, blurry pic!  I was simply soooooo hungry!  :)

Rainy days and comfort food

It is raining today.  Shocker, I know.  It is England.  However, it is ACTUALLY raining today, not spitting, which is what it normally does!

Whenever it pours like this, all I wanna do is snuggle on the couch and eat comfort foods.  My love for comfort-y foods hasn't changed but my definition of them has, for sure!  It used to be a HUGE portion of whatever fast food joint was closest.  THEN, a double portion of extra fries!  Now, I realize that I can have homemade comfort food at a FRACTION of the cost and other stuff!

Her ya go... my comfort food recipe of the day!

Zucchini Latkes

2-3 big zucchinis, grated
1/2 cup of multi-grain pancake mix
1/4 ish tsp. of Baking soda
1/4 tsp of KSP, or to taste
olive oil

First, drain your zucchini.  Grate them into a colander in the sink.  Sprinkle some salt, not the 1/4 tsp, on the top and leave them for about 10-15ish min.  After that, place all the drained veg in a clean kitchen towel.  WRING out your veg!  You'll be surprised at how much aqua will come out!  Give it an extra wring for good luck!  Dump your veg into a bowl and the add the salt and pepper.  Give it a stir and separate the clumps up.  Add the soda and MG pancake mix.  Mix it all together.  Put the olive oil in the pan and heat it up until it is shimmery. Plop spoonfuls into your pan.  Not too many, we don't wanna crowd the pan!  Flatten with the back of your spatula.  Cook about 3-4 min on each side on about medium heat until GOLDEN BROWN.  I popped mine into a 325ish oven for about 10 mins to further crisp them up an fully set them!

Bad day but good tamales!

Today has been a not great day.  I woke up this morning and felt sick!!  YUCK!  I hate being sick!


Tomorrow is a different day.  YAY for that!  I did end up making some good homemade tamales, though!  Hey, bad days aren't an excuse for eating poorly!!!


Poblano pepper tamales

     Masa Dough
          1 3/4 c. masa harina (instant corn masa mix)
          1 3/4 c water
          1 c. corn kernels
          2 TBS. veggie oil
          1/2 tsp. of salt
     Filling
          1 tsp. veggie oil
          1 medium onion, sliced
          2 poblano peppers, thinly sliced
          6 oz. queso fresco, or Monterey jack

Tamale wrappers or parchment paper

Saute your veggies in the oil until crisp but cooked.  Chop up your cheese into little pieces.  Make your dough by mixing all the dough ingredients together!  Now is the time to put it all together!  In your tamale wrapper, put a little bit of dough and spread it on about a third of the wrapper.  Next add your filling, not too much.  Finally put the cheese on.  Now comes the fun part.  WRAPPING THEM!!!!  Wrap it into a burrito type deal and fold up the bottom end.  Finish putting all the tamales together!  After they are all assembled, pop them into your steamer.  My steamer was a GIANT stock pot with an upside down bowl on the bottom with a plate on the top.  I put water in the bottom and the tamales on top of the plate.  Steam your tamales for an hour.  Take them out and let them cool a bit, they will firm up and become more tamale like!!!!!  THEN EAT!
Makes 12 ish!

Yes, it is blurry and hubby's thumb is in the pic, but here they are!!!  THEY ARE YUMMO!!

Yummy, Yummy pancakes...

People have been asking me what do I miss about not eating.  Well, It's not that I am not eating, it's that I am eating different things and smaller portions.

However, that got me thinking... I really do miss breakfast-y type things, ie: pancakes!

NO LONGER, MY FRIENDS!  I have a recipe for pancakes I can eat!

Here ya go!

Ricotta pancakes

1/2 cup ricotta cheese (drain the cheese in a coffee filter in a strainer to make it thicker, I did!)
3 TBS. Multigrain pancake mix
1 TBS.  sugar free instant vanilla pudding mix
1 egg
2 TBS. Sugar free vanilla syrup (I use Toranni)

Whiz up all the ingredients in your mini food processor/blender until WELL combined.  Spray your griddle/pan with non-stick spray.  Cook over low to medium heat until golden!  Enjoy with any sugar free toppings you like.  I personally don't like anything on mine, so I ate them plain!  This recipe makes 8 ish silver dollar sized pancakes.

*There are many variations... Add any flavor pudding and syrup!!  If you are feeling frisky, don't forget a scoop of protein powder!

They aren't the prettiest, but they taste good!!!

Gadgets that are a MUST HAVE in a post-op kitchen!

I am a gadget gal!  I LOVE me some gadgets, let me tell you!!!  Here are several gadgets that I couldn't live without in my post-op kitchen!  They make life after surgery easier and WAY tastier than I though could be possible!!!

First is my mini food processor....

This thing is amazing!  I, of course, got a hot pink one instead of green!  It is great for whipping things up.  If you are in the pureed food stage, it is a LIFE SAVER!!!!!

Next comes my slow cooker...

Slow cookers are great, especially when you use a slow cooker LINER!!!!!  As a post-op gal, I need my food to be moist and juicy.  It helps to keep everything moving in the right direction!!!

The next gadget is a MUST when cooking ground meat!  The Pampered Chef Mix n' Chop!!!!

This thing is called the "meat smoosher" in our house!  It make cooking ground up meat super easy... No scratching of the pans, no big forks!

The next item isn't a MUST have, but it does make things nice.  You could use any blender, but I like the Magic Bullet!

I have several other gadgets, but these are the most important to me!  What do you like to use?!?!