Low-Carb Ramekin Shepherd's Pie

So...St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow. And some of you already have your corned beef and cabbage cooking. Yum!

Here's another idea to throw onto the heap. I love cooking with ramekins. It's so fun! You can make a perfect portion (by purchasing the ramekin size that suits you), it's easy to ditch starches (like pie crust in this instance) and they are just darn cute, don't you agree? (TIP: For another St. Patrick's Day ramekin idea, check out my Reuben Ramekins!) 

I love Shepherd's Pie. And I even love it without any modifications! In moderation I have absolutely no problem eating the full fledged version. But since I also want to enjoy a piece of Soda Bread with this meal, I gotta make a swap somewhere. (Why? Because Nik's blood sugar will sink like an anvil if I have more than one source of starch at a sitting!) This swap I can live with as a weeknight meal. I'm more inclined to use a more traditional recipe for weekends.

Here's how it goes.

Nik's (Version of) Lil Baby Shepherd's Pies

(Makes about 4 six ounce ramekins)

***For Shepherd's Pie purists, please read the recipe notes!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 of a yellow onion, finely diced
• 1/2 lb. lean ground meat (I used turkey)
• 8 oz. can peas and carrots, drained
• 1/2 bag frozen cauliflower florets (or about 2 c. fresh ones)
• 4 oz. (or approximately half a can) low-fat, low-sodium Cream of Mushroom soup
• 2-3 Laughing Cow style cheese wedges (any flavor)
• 1/3 c. shredded cheese for topping
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Put a small pot of water on to boil.

Set a skillet over medium heat and let it get hot. Spray it with nonstick cooking spray and add onions. Sautee about 2 minutes.

Add ground meat, browning and mixing in the onions until meat is fully cooked. Drain if necessary. Your pot of water should be boiling so drop cauliflower florets into it.

Add peas and carrots and stir. Then add soup and stir. If soup doesn't sufficiently coat the meat mixture, add about 1/4 c. milk. Allow the mixture to warm through then set aside.

When cauliflower florets are tender (about 4-5 minutes after returning them to a boil), drain and mash them (I use a basic potato masher). Add the Laughing Cow wedges while the florets are still hot. Mix with spoon until mixture becomes a mash (won't look exactly like mashed potatoes but will bond together and won't look like grated cauliflower anymore either).

Place your ramekins on a baking sheet. Ladle in about 1/4 c. meat/veggie mixture. Top with about 1/4 c. of the cauliflower mixture and top with a sprinkle of shredded cheese.

Bake ramekins for about 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and, if you like, browned.

A few notes:

• If you are a Shepherd's Pie purist perhaps the soup shortcut just won't do. That's fine! Use whatever you like to make the gravy for the pie. Play with your food! (And if you come up with something good, let us know!)
• If you are a Shepherd's Pie purist you might also prefer a potato topping. Don't let me stand in your way!
• Every time I use canned soup in a recipe I seem to get scoffs from folks. I will say this. I have low blood pressure and therefore have been advised against a low-sodium diet. I know that's not the case for many of you. Use your best discretion with regards to canned soups. There are great low-sodium varieties out there!
• Finally, if a 6 oz. ramekin is too much for you, feel free to make them smaller! They freeze beautifully when you wrap them properly and are a great, comforting meal to reheat!

Here are a few other photos of this delicious dish!

The addition of parsely in food pictures can make a real difference to the visual appeal in my honest opinion. Check out this dish before I added parsely. Doesn't it look more appealing with it? 

Protein Cheesecake Egg Pops



Note to self: Never, ever, EVER do multiple dessert offerings during a week when the kids aren't home.

Moving along...

Of all the offerings so far - the protein carrot cupcakes w/ protein cream cheese frosting, the Cadbury Cream Egg protein dessert...this one was the MOST fun to make.

As I was making it, I thought about how much the divas would probably enjoy this. Outside of Easter, you can certainly make round shaped pops. This seems to me a wonderful way to keep kids occupied on a rainy day.

Nik's Protein Cheesecake Egg Pops
(makes 8-12 depending on the size of your pops)

Ingredients

One of Nik's Protein cheesecakes
Popsicle Sticks
A mini-scoop (or two large spoons)

Toppings used above:

Sugar-free chocolate, melted
Sugar-free almond granola (from Whole Foods)
Sugar-free ice cream sprinkles
(for the kids) Colored sugar

Directions:
A note about the cheesecake. It's ridiculously easy to make. Especially for this recipe because, unlike a cheesecake you intend to use as a cheesecake you a) don't have to use a springform pan and b) who the hell cares if it cracks. Also ditch the crust in the above recipe. You don't need it!



When the cheesecake is all cooked and cooled you'll want to scoop out hunks of it. TIP: wet your hands and then spray them down in non-stick (yes both). It makes egg forming a LOT easier. Here's what they look like pre-decorated.

Now don't worry if the surface of your eggs isn't perfect. You can go back and fix that (we'll get to that in a moment). For right now, though, get your popsicle sticks. Dip about 1/4" of them in either your melted chocolate, some sugar free cake icing or even some left over cream cheese. Then insert into the egg. Why? When it freezes it'll hold the heavy egg on the popsicle stick!

Then, lay them on a wax-paper lined plate and pop those babies in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Whilst they are chilling, let's contemplate toppings, shall we? The sky really is the limit but in the interest of not going TOO crazy...keep it reasonable. The sprinkled one is for La Grande Diva. Even though it is sugar-free sprinkles, I'm just not a sprinkles kinda gal. The sugared egg is for La Petite Diva. She loves pink. Now that chocolate one with the granola? That one is for me!



Anyway, set out a dipping station and let the kids choose the toppings they like.

Take the pops out of the freezer and allow the kids to dip them. If they fall off the stick, re-dip the stick in chocolate or icing and re-insert and re-freeze. Unless you have a bunch of kids doing this, take out a few at a time from the freezer so they get really cold.

If you're not eating them right away, put them back in the freezer until you are ready to eat them.

These are a really cute conversation piece when you're having folks over. I didn't have time to do the presentation piece the way I wanted but the above is just a simple $1 glass filled with Easter Candy with the pops in it. Again, use your imagination!

Some tips/warnings:

#1 - Your hands will get dirty!!! (And your clothes, and your kitchen, and your floor...)

#2 - Smoothing out the egg



Once they are firmed up a bit in the freezer, dip your fingers in water and smooth out the surface of the egg. Remember to put it back into the freezer for a few minutes to firm back up aftward. This is all a moot point, however, if you plan to coat the entire egg.

#3 - These WILL go fast! Get yours and then get the heck outta dodge!!!

NOM!!!!



That's it for me and Easter treats. I feel the urge to hurl myself at a pile of veggies now, if you'll excuse me...

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Super Bowl Eats Post-WLS



It's Super Bowl Sunday...and I know you...all of you. You've gone and made your family and friends wonderfully yummy treats to eat during the big game but...have you made anything that is yummy that YOU can feel good about eating?

Or did you resign yourself to "going with the flow" or "just having a few bites" (which, I dunno about you, but for me that never works out. Even when my pouch capacity was tiny, I usually spent the whole time miserable and grumpy that I couldn't eat more)? Worse, have you decided to go with a protein shake??? (Not that protein shakes are bad, but c'mon! It's Super Bowl Sunday!)

I'm here to help with some quick and easy food YOU can eat for the big game and still stay on track. Many require things you already have in your kitchen. At the very least, a quick run to the store might be in order.

So how about some...

Nachos:

Thought you couldn't have them, didn't you? Well check out this recipe for great, protein packed nachos!



Buffalo Chicken:

• How about some Buffalo chicken salad
• And if you think your healthy "stash" might get raided...try making a Buffalo Wing cheese ball for the whole crowd!

Deviled Eggs:



Except I don't like to be devilish. So try my Angelic Eggs instead (and...to put another twist on them....use tuna instead of chicken!)

Dip:

Jane's Spicy Creamy Jalapeno Dip



I know you love to dip! Check out this yummy crab dip. If you like it hot, check out Jane's spicy jalapeno dip, or Jen's Cuban sandwich spread!

Meatballs:



Who needs sliders when you can have Magic Meatballs? And don't worry if you don't have any TVP. The recipe works just fine without it!

Sweet Treats



There's still time to make a Reese's Cup protein frozen pie for when your sweet tooth starts aching. Or perhaps a pumpkin cheesecake protein trifle might fit the bill?

So, go and make yourself something good! You deserve it. And I'm willing to bet that your protein treats will steal the show at your football party!

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!

BF Crafty Corner: Last Minute Homemade Gift Ideas

~~posted by Jen

Well it's the night before the day before the night before Christmas, and all is frantic in my world. Even though my family is 1300 miles away, I have lots of local friends who are like family that I spend time over the holidays with. One of my best friends from work very graciously invited me to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with her family this year. She has 2 little boys, and a large, boisterous Cuban American family, so it will be a fun time.

Of course, my budget for gifts is pretty slim since I missed so much work this year, but I came up with a couple more ideas if you have some "last minute" gifts you need to come up with in a hurry on the cheap.

Idea #1. Another version of the "Romantic Dinner In A Basket" idea. It has a bottle of wine ($2.99 at Trader Joe's), wine glasses ($1 each at Home Goods), a bottle of flavored olive oil ($4 at Aldi), and the jar is a risotto mix ($1 at Stop n Shop) layered with sundried tomatoes and dried mushrooms. The whole deal? Less than $20 (including the basket, jar, and towel) and a very nice gift for 2.

Idea #2. A Snack Basket or Movie Basket (if you add a DVD). It has several packs of various flavors of nuts and trail mix (39 cents a pack at Aldi's), a box of cheese straws (I put them in a jar, but you could just stack the box in the back. $1.99 at Aldi's), a bag of microwave popcorn, and it makes a nice sized basket of snacks. Again for less than $20, you could add in a DVD and make it a gift for a whole family.





These packets of nuts and trail mix are 39 cents each at Aldi's





The completed basket, without DVD

If you're really pressed for time and don't have a few minutes to put these things together, a gift card to the movies or a favorite restaurant or store is always very much appreciated. If you don't even have time to stop and buy a gift card, hop on Amazon and get an e-gift card you can print out. By the time you get your shoes on to leave, it will be printed out and ready to give! Merry Christmas!







BF Top 5: Winning Christmas Side Dishes

~by Nikki

In my family, Christmas dinner isn’t exactly dinner. It’s more like a compilation of appetizers. We have a very laid back holiday tradition. The divas and I open presents at home, then we trek to my mom’s house where we open presents there, watch movies and eat…all while never getting out of our pajamas (we literally drive there in our pj’s).

BUT…on Christmas Eve I throw a big dinner for the divas' paternal family (who rarely get to see them on the actual day). Right after my surgery, I resigned myself to making regular versions of dishes and just refraining from them (or partaking in tiny amounts for fear of getting sick).

But more and more lately, I’ve been “passing” dishes as regular when they are actually WLS friendly. The key is to make sure it still tastes good. And don’t tell anyone it’s healthy!!! (Yes, I know I sound like a broken record, but it really is an important point).

At any rate, you want something you can eat at Christmas dinner, am I right? Well, here’s some suggestions for dishes that will meet both your family and your pouch’s approval.

Jen’s Green Bean Casserole
This thing was the overwhelming hit of the 2010 Pouch Party™ Holiday Preview. We still get e-mails from people who have tried it and loved it! With a few simple swaps, your casserole can work for you, not against you!



Nik’s Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower

This recipe is for Nik’s mashed cauliflower cups, but you could just as easily transfer your cauliflower and veggies to a baking dish, cover it with cheese and bake it as a side dish. For a bit of indulgence, go for pork bacon and add about ½ c. of Greek yogurt to your cauliflower mixture for added creaminess.

Jen’s Corn Pudding


Because seriously? This stuff is goooooooooood. It’s rich and creamy and…just everything you THINK post-op food is not supposed to be. But it is!

Nik’s Corn, Okra and Tomatoes




This isn’t a traditional Christmas dish…but it is red and green! And yummy too. It’s packed with vitamins and flavor, so it’s something you can feel good about your whole family enjoying.

Jen’s Butternut Squash Soup

This makes a great starter for any meal…but especially a holiday meal. It’s warm, creamy and screams “comfort!”

These are five sure-to-please dishes that even the pickiest eaters in your family will love. They go with just about any meat, poultry, or fish, so no matter what protein you're serving as the main dish, these will complement it nicely. Happy Holidays!

BF Top 5: Holiday Gift Ideas for the Cook or Foodie

~~posted by Jen


Still finishing up the last minute items on your list for the holiday shopping? Me, too! Missing so much work this year, my finances aren't as stellar as I wish they were. But that's ok! I made lots of the "extra" gifts this year, like the Soup In A Jar and Romantic Dinner In A Basket. Those were perfect for the mail carrier, neighbors, mechanic, hairdresser, and even my boss!

I have a couple more that I'll share with you later this week, for the last minute gifts on your list. If your money situation is anything like mine this year, some of your "big-ticket" gifts have had to wait until the very last minute. I still need to get something for my amazing StepMom, who happens to be a terrific cook AND a foodie. So I was browsing around online for some ideas, and here are a few I came across.

If there's a special someone on your list that loves food and cooking, this is the Top 5 for you!

Top 5 Holiday Gift Ideas for the Cook or Foodie


#1. A set of really good knives. Y'all know how I am about my kitchen gear, so I consider myself something of an expert on this subject. I have this set of knives and they are awesome. They stay sharp, hold up fine in the dishwasher, and the handles are excellent when you're doing lots of chopping. Whether you love Rachael Ray or loathe her, I have to tell you her kitchen products are excellent! I have everything from the knives to the cookware, and I absolutely adore all of it. A great stocking stuffer would be a bench scraper with a small cutting board.


 #2. A Wine of the Month Club Membership. Most true foodies also love wine, or at the very least COOKING with wine, so this would be a unique gift and open up new areas of exploration for them. Not to mention the perfect excuse for them to throw an impromptu wine & cheese tasting party every few months! The perfect stocking stuffers? A wine opening set and some cheese spreaders.


#3. A Complete Set of Cookware. This is the Rachael Ray set that I covet. I have a few of the open stock pieces, and am hoping to get myself the complete set one of these years. I am very picky about cookware (like all my skillets are either Calphalon or Farberware, I won't use any others) and have the original Genesis set from Pampered Chef that I've had for probably 10 years. I do have a few pieces of Le Creuset, but even with all the cooking I do, I still don't have a complete matched set. From my experience, very few cooks do. Some nice utensils would be a neat stocking stuffer, or maybe even Cooking Mama for Wii.

#4. Foodie Bling. These would be neat for that "Foodie Guy who Has Everything" on your list. (Is it me, or does practically everyone have at least one friend from college who fits this description?) These are sterling silver gourmet chef cufflinks! How cool! They'd be the perfect "stocking stuffer big gift", maybe give a nice dress shirt under the tree? Perfect for a snappy dresser who also likes to cook. (Stephen from Top Chef, I'm thinking.)

#5. A Gourmet Gift Basket. Sometimes even the most dedicated cooks need a night off, and no self-respecting foodie would say no to an igourmet goody basket. This is one of those "can't miss" gifts, and it ain't no Hillshire Farms summer sausage basket! That special foodie on your list will appreciate the thought and consideration you put into a gift like this. The perfect stocking stuffer accompaniment? How about a subscription to Bon Appetit or Food and Wine?

There you have it, our Top 5 Ideas for a fantastic holiday gift for the cook or foodie in your life. Amazon still guarantees delivery in time for Christmas if you select 2-day shipping, so get clicking!

BF Top 5: Holiday Gift Ideas--Jen's Fave Things

~~posted by Jen

Santa can you hear me? Santa? I had to y'all, sorry for the Yentl flashback. I do love me some Babs, though. S'anyway! A couple weeks back on her birthday, Nik shared her "Top 5 Favorite Things" that are on her Christmas wishlist. So today, it's my turn! 

No, this is not a "Dear BF readers, please buy me a present, kthanxbai" post. This is more to help you think of things for people on your list that you may not have thought of yet. We all have those who are somewhat difficult to buy for that we tend to leave to the last minute.

I am usually "that person" on my friends' lists, because they all know that most anything I *truly* want, I usually buy it for myself. But we have a hard and fast rule that from October 1st until January 1st, I am not allowed to buy myself anything. That way they have a chance to shop for my birthday (October 22) and Christmas without the chance of me having already bought myself the same thing.

These are my Top 5 "Christmas Wishes", in no particular order:


#1. A Keurig Brewing system. I have a Senseo, which I love, but we have a Keurig at my office and I am seriously coveting one for home use. Of course, Santa, if you're listening, I would be just as happy with a Tassimo. As you know, I'll need all the accessories, like the K-Cup Carousel and a variety pack of K-cups. (Santa, if you go for the Tassimo Ima need the T-disks and holder, too.) Y'all know I would not be me if I didn't want ALLLLLL the accessories, 'cause that's how I roll.


#2. A Dyson Handheld Vacuum Cleaner. We recently got the Dyson upright on sale to replace our old Bissell, and that thing is the bomb. As y'all know, I have dogs. They love to ride in the car. They shed on the seats of my six-month-old car. 'Nuff said. Especially since the Magical Cleaning Fairy is out of stock. :)

 #3. SJP-NYC Gift Set. This is the new perfume from Sarah Jessica Parker. I have been wearing Lovely for awhile now, but they had this out at the mall the other day. Of course I had to try some, and I love love love the way it smells. Santa, are you listening here?



#4. Barefoot Contessa Cookbooks that are missing from my collection, including: How Easy Is That?, Back To Basics, Barefoot in Paris, and Barefoot Contessa at Home. I have the others, but these four would complete my Ina Garten collection and make me one very happy cookbook collector. This Journal would be really cool too, Santa. (Just Sayin!)


#5. Apple MacBook Air. Now Santa, you know I've been a VERY good girl this year. Yes, I know I got the Netbook for my birthday, but it's just not the same. It's handy to keep in the kitchen for blogging new recipes or typing FB status updates, but I need more power than the netbook can handle. My poor old sick tired worn out pink Dell has about had it. Oh and a groovy pink case for the Macbook would be awesome, too. I like the idea of the Ipad, but it's really just a glorified Ipod Touch, so I wouldn't get that much use out of it. (See how I give you options, Santa?)

There you have it, Jen's Top 5 Favorite Things. Santa, I hope this is better than you expected! For our readers, I hope this helps you with the "difficult" person on your list!