Cauliflower

I have been craving cauliflower and cheese sauce lately. So I started researching different recipes you can do with cauliflower. Here are some that look YUMMY!

Cheesy Cauliflower Patties
1 head cauliflower
2 large eggs
1/2 c cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 c panko
1/2 t cayenne pepper (more of less to taste)
salt
olive oil

Cut cauliflower into florets & cook in boiling water until tender about 10 minutes. Drain. Mash the cauliflower while still warm. Stir cheese, eggs, panko, cayenne & salt to taste.

Coat the bottom of a griddle or skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat. Form the cauliflower mixture into patties about 3 inches across. Cook until golden brown & set, about 3 minutes per side. Keep each batch warm in the oven while you cook the rest.

Crunchy Cauliflower Bites


1/2 Head of Cauliflower Florets
2 Cups Gluten Free Bread Crumbs
1 tsp Taco Seasoning ( or your favorite blend )
2 Eggs – Beaten
1 Tsp Mustard
oil spray
1 Tbs Creamed Horseradish
Freshly Ground Sea Salt and Black Pepper

 Cauliflower and Carrot Puree
Serves 4

Ingredients
2 tbsp butter or ghee
1/2 head cauliflower, roughly chopped
1-2 carrots (depending on how sweet you want it), peeled & roughly chopped
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 onion, roughly chopped
3/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp Italian seasoning

Additional butter or ghee for serving

Directions
1. In a large stock pot, melt the butter or ghee over medium high heat. Add all remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
2. Bring the broth to a boil and reduce heat to medium low to simmer. Cover and let simmer for about 20 minutes, or until veggies are soft. Remove from heat.
3. Using an immersion blender, blend veggies and broth until all is combined and pureed. If you don't have an immersion blender, pour cooked ingredients into a blender in batches until all is pureed.
4. Serve hot with a little more butter or ghee on top. Enjoy!

Mashed Caulfilower

Ingredients

• 1 head of cauliflower or 1 bag of chopped and washed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt and pepper
• chives

Instructions

1. If using a head of cauliflower chop and wash.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add cauliflower and cook about 10 minutes, until tender.
3. Save about ¼ cup of cooking liquid and drain remaining water.
4. Return cauliflower to pot and mash with potato masher. Add oil. Add cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time.
5. Season with salt, pepper, and chives.

49 Days and Counting...

So today I talked with my RN with my insurance company. She had to do a health assessment. Not sure why, other than to waste my time, but hey whatever gets them to clear me for surgery, although I am already cleared and have a surgery date.

She did talk about something interesting though. She talked about advance directives. I had never thought of it because I had never had major surgery and I had the thought of I am young why would I need one. But this is major surgery and there is a slight chance I could die. Does my family know what I want when I die? I mean, we always talk about what my mom and dad want in their last days and when they die, but we never talk about what I want in my last days or when I die.

So I set out to make my advance directives. I had to have two people who are not related to me, and who would not benefit from my death, be witnesses to my filling out of the advance directives. I decided that I don't want to be on life support if it is deemed that I won't have a return of a good quality of life. I also decided that if I am a match I want my liver donated to my mom. She is on a liver transplant list at the University of Washington.

Last but not least, I have 49 days until my surgery. I found out today that I will be the first case of the day. I have to report in at 5:15 am. That's really early, but I am glad I am the first one.

And the date is.........

Well as it turns out we didn't get the dates we wanted. The surgery scheduler didn't tell us what we needed to do all up front so we were a little behind in what we needed to do. Now the insurance has approved it and we have our dates set. I am actually going first because it works out better that way with our schedules.

My date is June 27th and Charlie's is July 10. I have requested 2 weeks off work. I am hoping it will be enough.

Almost there.....

I am almost to the surgery date! I have an Upper GI Series, an ultrasound, a chest xray and an EKG to do on April 11. After that I have to meet with the doctor again and take a class on nutrition for before and after surgery and then it's time for surgery.

 Everyone around us are very supportive of our decision. I am getting so excited to finally have a healthier life.

I belong to a group on Facebook for gastric bypass. I love being apart of it. I am able to ask questions that I have been wondering. I get to hear stories of success and hear from people just like me.

Stay tuned for before photos and measurements. 

Little things....

It's the little things in life that mean the most. Like cuddling with your precious dogs. Having a late night conversation with your husband. Your mom posting cute photos she finds on your facebook. Coworkers who are your friend.

Well this morning I celebrated one of the little things in life. But to be honest, it's not little, it's BIG BIG BIG, well for me at least.

I FINALLY BROKE THE 300's!!!!!!!!!!!

And here is the photo to prove it!

  

weight loss

Well we must be doing something right because I have lost 11 pounds and charlie has lost 13. This is awesome! We have 4 more days of this liquid diet. It's actually not to bad. Last night we bought a scale. I don't think I have ever bought one. I stepped on it and it said 301.4 This morning is said 301.4 so when I got to work I checked it on that scale, in disbelief, and it said 301.4 Well when I got home charlie told me he had lost another 3 pounds and I didn't believe it so I stepped on the scale again tonight. I was down to 300.8 Just another pound and I will be under 300. I haven't see the 300's in well over a year. This is pretty exciting!

Today

Saw my primary care provider this morning for some warts on my leg. I mentioned to her that I was in the process of getting cleared for weight loss surgery. She wasn't too keen on the idea since she isn't pro surgery, but she is willing to support me. She weighed me this morning and I have lost about 3 pounds since I met with the surgeon last week. I don't care if it was water weight or what, all I care about is I am making a start and 3 pounds is 3 pounds.

Today we started the liquid diet. It wasn't too bad while I was at work. Once I got home though I became really hungry. I am so used to eating dinner almost as soon as I get home from work. I had some sugar free pudding and in a little while we will make a protein shake and have that for dinner.

Charlie had his psych eval today. He said he just sat there and listened to the guy talk for a bit then he had to do this test that had over 300 questions. He said he almost fell asleep while doing it because he was in a room that was so quiet. I have my psych eval on October 12.

I have found a few support groups on facebook and on obesityhelp.com. I am going to a support group here in my area on October 15. 6 months will go by fast, I just know it.