Thanksgiving Prep: How Bariatric Post-Ops (Should) Do Pie

Pictured: Nik's Sweet Veggie Pie (recipe link below)

Yep. Let's talk about pie for a minute. Because Thanksgiving is coming. And there will be pie. Ohhhhh yes...there will be pie!

For some of you it might be pumpkin pie. For others, sweet potato. (Side note: I'm not sure if it's cultural or regional but my family resolutely refuses to eat pumpkin pie...hmmm...) And for some of you there will be pecan and other sorts of yummy concoctions which WILL leave you either (a) grateful for your picky pouches (or sleeves) (b) wishing for your old stomachs for just a day or (c) down right testy!

But did you know that you can do pie?

"Stop messing with me Nik...this is a touchy subject!"

I kid you not! You can do pie. And I'm going to show you how.

You can do...

Protein Pie

Like my "Amp'd Sweet Potato Pie" which is made with a sugar substitute and protein powder. Nobody could tell the difference frankly and it was GOOD! Or if you're feeling adventurous and want to go totally covert on your family you can give my Sweet Veggie Pie a shot! With or without protein you'll feel a deep sense of pride for pulling that pie off!

Protein Pudding/Frozen Pie

I usually tell people about the frozen in the summer but they work equally well at Thanksgiving, especially because you have to let it sit for a minute before slicing them! Or, like in the picture above, you can simply make a protein pudding pie. If you don't share my love of Fiber One Original cereal, choose a high fiber and/or high protein cereal that crushes well. Here's my top favorite cereals.

And here are the recipes to:

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Frozen Pie
• Rocky Road Protein Frozen Pie
• Cookies 'n Cream Protein Frozen Pie
• Mocha Toffee Protein Pudding Pie

Pie in a Ramekin

This is good because you can either skip the crust or make a very small one for the top. I make my crusts out of a simple dough of low-carb baking mix, a little sweetener, salt and water. It comes out very nice!

Here are the recipes to:

• Ramekin peach pies
• Ramekin banana cream pie
• Ramekin pumpkin pie

Pie Reinventions

Like my Apple Brown Nik. This recipe combines apples, fall spices, crushed cereal and nuts. It's been a hit since the first time I brought it to Thanksgiving dinner (and it got pilfered before I even got any!). If you don't want to use the cereal I used, use the cereal of your choosing OR you can just go with a crushed nut topping.

Also a noteworthy mention is my Sweet 'n Salty Potato Casserole. To be fair, it's half pie reinvention, half side dish and all wonderful. BUT...for that recipe, you'll have to look to "The Bariatric Foodie Holiday Survival Guide." It's on sale in hard copy form on Amazon and at Smashwords for Nook and iPad. Believe me, for that recipe alone the book is worth it!

I should also mention that many of the recipes listed above are included in the holiday book but there are so many more. Like a totally good, yet cookie-less, protein banana pudding recipe and several kosher recipes written by my friend Joy of Kosher Bariatric.

Nik's Christmas Cookie Protein Shake

Funny thing I've noticed. Every year I sell two protein shake sample kits in the Bariatric Foodie Holiday Survival Kit. Both flavors are generally well received but one tends to reach EPIC status.

Last year it was this shake. It can be made hot or cold. You can decorate it with any assortment of sugar-free embellishments. But most of all it is (a) devilishly yummy and (b) it SMELLS awesome!

I hope you enjoy!

Nik's Christmas Cookie Protein Shake

8 oz. milk (whatever kind you use)
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I like this kind and it's what I used in the shake kits last year)
1 tbsp sugar-free butterscotch pudding powder
1 oz. either sugar-free brown-sugar cinnamon syrup (what I used last year) or sugar-free cookie dough syrup (I tried it this year and NOM!)

NOTE: In the absence of EITHER syrup, you can use a tablespoon of sugar-free pancake syrup + a generous dash of cinnamon for a cold shake, 1/8 tsp. maple extract + a generous dash of cinnamon for a hot preparation.

Optional: Ice, Whipped Cream, embellishments

Directions:

If making cold: Combine ingredients and mix by the Triple X Method. Or not, your choice!

If making hot: Combine ingredients and mix using the Bariatric Foodie Method for Making Hot Protein Drinks. Or not, your choice!

Top with whippage, if desired, and any deco. Then SLURP!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Greetings!

~~by Nikki and Jen



Your faithful Divas would like to thank you for making this the best year EVER for Pouch Party™  and Bariatric Foodie™! We broke 1,000 fans on Facebook, tripled our presence on Twitter, partied with support groups, and held our first large regional event.

We blogged like crazy and posted more recipes, Top 5 Lists, survival guides, peeks, and product reviews than you can shake a stick at! We even managed a few recipes for our four-legged friends in Pouch Party Pets and some cool ideas from the Crafty Corner!

None of our success would be possible without supportive, motivating, and enthusiastic friends like you!

Thank you for reading the blog, commenting on posts both here and on Facebook and OH, sending us your recipes and "food porn", and most importantly for Playing with your Food!

We've got big plans for 2011, and we're not just talking about our "Total World Domination" tour! Stay tuned for more give-aways, more recipes, and more fun than ever before!

In the meantime, we wish you a very Merry Christmas (if you celebrate Christmas) and a Happy New Year!
Rest up, Pouchers, because 2011 is the "Year of the Pouch Party™ Animal!" You've been warned!

Happy Holidays and much love from Nik (The Pouch Diva) and Jen (The Party Diva)!

Christmas Morning Breakfast Ideas

~~posted by Jen

Nik's Southwestern Scramble

In my family we have a tradition of waking up early on Christmas morning, opening gifts, and then enjoying a nice breakfast together as a family. I know that is pretty common in most families. You want a delicious meal for your family that won't blow YOUR plan, but how to do that without lots of work and mess?

We've got your back! Nik and I love coming up with tasty weekend morning breakfast treats, so we already have quite a few you can refer to that are both easy to make and something that everyone will love for the perfect Christmas morning spread.

You can set up a "Parfait Bar" with the ingredients for my Daybreak Protein Parfait and let everyone help themselves. Put some pretty glasses at one end, then each ingredient in a separate bowl so people can make them however they like.

Put a platter of fresh fruit alongside the parfait bar, with a thermos of coffee and a carafe of something cold to drink. I like to mix the Diet V8 Fusion Juice with a little bit of Diet Sprite or Club Soda for a refreshing alternative to Fruit Juice. If you're early out and not cleared for carbonated drinks, you can serve it without the "fizzy mix-in." A big pitcher of Crystal Light Sunrise is a good replacement for Orange Juice.

Now let's talk about the main dish. Depending on what your family prefers, we have a few tasty choices. SOS is always a breakfast favorite, served on toast. It's also delicious on grits if your family likes grits.

Creamed Chipped Beef AKA "SOS"

Vegetarians in the crowd who don't eat eggs? Nik's Vegetarian Breakfast Tostada is a delicious alternative for the non-carnivores who also happen to not eat eggs. (I know there is an official term for that, but I can't think of it at this moment.)

If your family is into eggs and you have a big crowd to feed, I'd say one of my Frittatas or Nik's Southwestern Scramble would be just the ticket. You can double any of the recipes to feed more than 8 people. For a smaller crowd, Nik's Egg Rosettes are delicious and festive.

If you need to get food out quickly, then I wouldn't suggest making these as the main dish for a big crowd of mostly non-ops, because you can only make them in batches of 12 or so. For larger groups, they are perfect side "bites" and everyone always raves over them. Protein Latkes make a delicious accompaniment to any of these main dishes.



Bananas Foster French Toast



More into sweet things? How about Stuffed French Toast is a good one, as is the Bananas Foster French Toast. If you're making this for a large crowd, I wouldn't waste a whole loaf of P-28 bread feeding non-ops. (But then I am cheap like that.) Substitute your favorite multigrain bread and it works just as well.

If you need a "grab and go" type breakfast that everyone can eat on the way to Grandma's house, make up a big batch of "Egg Nik-Muffins" and you're good to go! We hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas morning together. Merry Christmas and a very Happy and Healthy New Year!

One Shake, Three Ways: Protein Egg Nog

 

It's that time again, kids! Time to be merry and cheery and all that wonderful jazz!

 

I must admit I LOVE Christmas. My family has more traditions than you can shake a stick at but we mostly just love being together.

 

Part of my holidays of yesteryear was a cup of rich, delicious eggnog. But nowadays, unless I want a dumping episode to follow shortly thereafter, I had to remake this beloved treat.

 

There's a lot of eggnog recipes out there. If you have one, by all means, hit us up so we can share it! I'm giving this one to you in both single serving and party variety. You know...just in case you'd like to serve this at a party and watch non-ops croon over something that is (gulp) healthy (ack!).And, as a bonus, we're sharing a reader's variation!

 

Nik's Egg Nog Protein Shake

 

8 oz. milk

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

2-3 pumps sugar-free Egg Nog syrup

1-2 pumps sugar-free Butter Rum syrup

1 tbsp French vanilla pudding mix

Dash of nutmeg and a dash of cinnamon

 

Directions:

 

Combine in a blender and mix according to the Triple X method. Or not. Your choice.

 

Nik's Big Ol' Pitcher O' Egg Nog

 

4 c. milk

4 scoops vanilla protein powder (or unflavored)

1 box French vanilla pudding mix

1/4 c. sugar-free Egg Nog syrup

1/4 c. sugar-free Butter Rum syrup

1/4 tsp each of nutmeg and cinnamon

 

Directions:

Combine in a blender and mix well. A blender with a spout works well for self-serve! We served this at the 2010 Holiday Preview and it was a hit!

 

And now...for a reader variation. This one from our friend Laura (LadyTazz) from Obesity Help:

 

Laura's Egg Nog Protein Shake

 

8 oz milk (I used unsweetened vanilla soy silk)

2 tsp sugar free cheesecake pudding mix
4 tablespoons sugar free DaVinci eggnog syrup
1 scoop vanilla protein (I use Body Fortress)

Directions:

Throw it all in the blender and use the Triple X method.
 
As you can see, there's room for experimentation and tweaking to get to just the right drink for YOU! I hope this makes your holidays just a little bit brighter.

Holiday Party Post-op WLS Style

~~posted by Jen

Submitted by our pal Christine S, she made Nik's pumpkin roll cake. 

'Tis the season! Lots of shopping, busy schedules, running hither and yon trying to get it all done. Sound familiar? Of course at some point in the next few weeks, you're expected to have some guests over to your house for drinks and nibbles, or something of the sort.

Holiday entertaining does NOT have to be stressful. So quit freaking out, take a deep breath, and let's make a plan here! I (humbly) consider myself pretty good at throwing together a slamming party in a hurry, for very little cash and effort. I've had years of practice!

I love love love having people over, even if I don't have two nickels to rub together, as my Granny would say. You can set out a delicious and WLS-friendly appetizer buffet, make a big bowl of WLS-friendly punch or Hot Mulled Cider Mocktail, put some good music on, and it's a holiday party!

Here's your Bariatric Foodie menu for a WLS-friendly Holiday Party that will have your friends and family begging for more! Best of all, they won't even know it's healthy!

Dips and Spreads:
Jen's Cuban Sandwich Spread
Creamy Crab Dip
Curried Chicken Salad
Jane's Spicy Jalapeno Dip

Creamy Crab Dip

Appetizers/Finger Foods:
Spinach Balls
Nik's Magic Meatballs
Tilapia Stuffed Mushrooms
Thai Chicken Skewers

Spinach Balls

Desserts:
Nik's protein cheesecake
Jen's chocolate trifle
Nik's pumpkin roll cake
Nik's cheesecake cheeseball with fruit slices

Protein Cheesecake Cheeseball

Drinks:
Hot Mulled Cider
Nik's Sugar Free Egg Nog
Witches' Brew Punch (call it Happy Holidays Punch)
Nik's Citrus Green Tea
Nik's ideas for Flavored Waters

Hot Mulled Cider

So there's your menu, all you need now is to light a few candles, turn on the Christmas tree, and light the fireplace. Don't have a fireplace? Put a Yule Log DVD in the DVD player and it will put one on your tv screen.

Now all that's left is to set up some tunes on the stereo. Here are a few of my personal favorite Holiday albums that are excellent in the background of a party. (Yes, I have eccentric taste in music, thanks for noticing.)

Music Suggestions:
 Harry Connick, Jr--When My Heart Finds Christmas



Harry Connick, Jr--Harry For The Holidays

Bing Crosby--Christmas Classics

Etta James--12 Songs of Christmas

Martina McBride--White Christmas

Glee Cast--The Music, The Christmas Album

 Various Artists--Now That's What I Call A Country Christmas

 Taylor Swift--Holiday Collection/ Sounds of the Season

 Louis Armstrong & Friends--The Christmas Collection



Ella Fitzgerald--Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas


There you have it, a simple yet fabulous holiday party all on one page! So call your friends, set out some snacks, and relax and enjoy your guests!