JennaKopanyi

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The crust:
16 oz cauliflower, cooked, excess moisture pressed out, riced
1 cup 1% cottage cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella
4/5 container dannon greek yogurt
2 egg whites
rosemary, thyme, oregano, parsely

mix all together and spread into 2 pans. Bake at 400 for 30-40 minutes, broil lo for additional 5 minutes if it doesn't brown

toppings i used on one pizza:
1/4 cup tvp reconstituted with water, ranch powder, 2 tb buffalo wing sauce
1/2 cup mozzarella, shredded
1/5 container dannon greek yogurt
1 tb alfredo sauce

spread greek yogurt over baked crust, as you might ricotta. spread alfredo on top of that. layer 1/2 of tvp mixture on top of yogurt/alfredo, top with mozzarella, broil for 4-7 minutes until cheese is melty and golden

2nd pizza was hubby's with pepperoni, red peppercorns some tvp and puttanesca sauce bleh

my pizza was cut into 16 slices, 4 slices= 168 calories, 6.3g fat, 8,5 g carbs, 19.7 g protein

using real meat will increase fat but lower carbs
next time might use 1 cup greek yogurt only and skip cottage cheese.
pizza was very textured and more substantial and regular cauli/egg/cheese crust. i feel fuller and it was less greasy/slider-y

Still on this powder ranch kick... Had Ranch Parmesan Chicken (recipe compliments of LadyQuenn~ check her out, she's awesome) and more mashed fauxtatoes. Since I already gave the mashed recipe in another entry, you're just getting the Chicken today (recipe) and a picture of both)




1-1.5 ponds boneless chicken strips 1/2 packet ranch dressing mix, dry (or 3 tsp from the shaker jar) 1/2 cup parmesan cheese 1/2 cup eggbeaters or 2 eggs whipped or 6 TB egg whites   Mix parmesan cheese and ranch dressing mix. Dip chicken in egg then coat with parmesan/ranch mixture.  Place on baking sheet sprayed with pam and bake at 350 for 20-30 min, depending on thinkness, till done. I cooked these for 15 minutes, flipped them, cooked for another 10, they came out perfect. I think I used 11 strips and it used all of the mixture so add or subtract as needed. The first time I made them I used a full packet of ranch mix and a full cup of parm and had half left over (they went in the mini quiche, remember?) so I halved the recipe. DO what works best for you. This fed 1 non op, 1 two year old, and me. Nutrition facts will vary, but OH has this lovely nutrition tracker where you can put in recipes and it breaks it down for you, check it out.

I went through all of this to improve my health. My diabetes is in remission, my cholesterol is great and I'm very very active now.

Did my 9 month lab work and the surgeon's office called to tell me that my liver enzymes have doubled since my 6 month lab work. I don't have the results in front of me, I haven't even seen them, so I don't know what the exact numbers are, but it's stressing me out. And I have to follow up with a doctor who knows nothing about me because I had to break up with mine over insurance.

Here's what I know from my past:

1- I was on Avandia 12 years ago for a couple months. This is when my first liver test showed abnormally high results

2- When I first started testing high, I had gained about 100 pounds ina very short period of time

3- The GI doc I saw at the time told me that I most likely had a fatty liver and that it was caused by rapid weight gain or loss, both would do it

4- It took close to 10 years for my levels to come back down to normal

5- January of 2010 I was put on Januvia, and got very very ill. I had to have an abdominal ultrasound and they told me my liver was massively enlarged. I was taken off of the Januvia and my levels remained high, but better

Okay, so if it's fatty liver and I just really annoyed it by losing 95 pounds over the past 10 months, why is my surgeon concerned? Wouldn't this be something he has seen before? Frequently even?
6- I don't drink
7- I barely use tylenol anymore
8- i've been vaccinated for hep b,
9-with my RNY he also took out my gall bladder.

So where does this put me? Has anyone else been in this situation?

I made a new necklace for my med alert tag last night, check it out in it's shiney awesomeness!! Yeah, not a great picture of it, but I'm cute. It's got large crystals going around and dangling off of it, I'm a fan, here's also a side view

 

Mini Crab Cakes (Another mini muffin tin recipe)

3 cans of crab meat
3 TB mayo
2 TB brown mustard
3 TB parmesan cheese
4 tsp ground flaxmeal
3 TB shredded cheese
3 egg whites
Old Bay, as much or as little as you like
Powdered Ranch Mix, as much or as little as you like

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl, scoop into your mini muffin tins. Broil LOW for 10-15 minutes, keep an eye on them and take out when golden brown
This batch made 26, results will vary, don't have nutrition breakdown, since your ingredients may vary from mine, I use Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil, WalMart brand crab meat, French's spicy brown mustard, I ground the flax seeds myself in a coffee grinder that has never nor will ever see a coffee bean, and used mexican blend cheese



Ranch Mashed Faux-tatoes
Double batch

1 bag frozen cauliflower (fresh is fine too)
4 TB cream cheese
4 TB heavy whipping cream
4 TB shredded cheese
2 tsp powdered ranch mix
2 TB butter, margarine etc

Cook cauliflower until tender, dump in a colander and press a small plate or bowl against it to drain all moisture. Toss them and repeat.
Place cauliflower in food processor with whipping cream and puree until smooth, return to pot.

When ready to serve, heat in the pot on low, slowly add in all other ingredients and stir. You'll know it's ready when your cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

You can hand mash if you don't have a food processor or if you prefer yours to be chunkier

They were so good you'd think I shouldn't eat them... YOM!

Again, nutritional info will vary with your ingredients, didn't work these out yet.
I used frozen cauliflower, low fat cream cheese, mexican blend shredded cheese, and smart balance light spread and it was amazing.

yep, lots of powder ranch added to my recipes these days, bought it in a plastic jar and it makes everything a little kickier. I love ranch, now I can have it without the added fat and calories. Feel free to leave it out if you aren't a fan, but these are my experiments so I can put it in if i want to :P

... I learn about some side effect, do a happy dance that I don't have it, and then get it!

Hair loss, I was losing very little and roud of it, the moment I told someone that, it started coming out a lot. Might have had something to do with my dying my hair a couple days later, but still... annoyed the crap out of me

Reactive Hypoglycemia, I shared a fun pack of M&M's with my son today... not so fun I found out, I culdn't find my meter but that was definately a drop. i don't dump, but I guess I have this instead to keep me in line. No more "I wonder if I can..." for me. Screw that! I HATE low blood sugar with a passion, I feel so out of control and forced to eat, my hands shake and I can't walk straight. I thought at first I was angry about it, but now that I'm thinking on it, this is something that really will force me to toe the line since i know how much I hate feeling like that.


Some times, I forget I'm not normal, and I need to stop doing that. I may look normal now, but I never will be again. Lesson learned.

Today is a good day!
I don't even know why...
I feel so positive and happy and energetic, I don't even know how to explain it. Maybe because it's payday? Friday?
I spent some money today on things I've wanted for some time now, and that brings me joy.
I'll be buying Just Dance 2 after work today so that I can keep up with my friends who want to play every time we get together... Healthy, competitive, exercise, yeah, reap the benefits! Plus hanging out with friends is always great.
Bought some Da Vinci syrups today, I said no to the cookie dough and only bought flavors I could add to protein shakes and plain water, such as lime (for my water), german chocolate, peanut butter, and creme de menthe. I'm very excited. they were out of amaretto so I bought flavor drops of that instead. its not a sweetner, just flavor, i'm pretty excited to try those. ordered some just the cheese protein snacks~ they have a protein bar that is a 1/2 a carb! and I'm going to experiment with making my own this weekend, yes, I will take pictures and post if it is a success... also got some PB2, can't wait to experiment with that!!
not even the boo boo i almost made today at work is getting me down, i am undeniably (possibly a bit manic-y) chipper and happy today.
I tried a new shake this morning, ZOIC cookies and cream, has 1 net carb in it (6 carbs, 5 fiber). Also had some amazing SF FF lemon jello with frozen blueberries in it for my breakfast(s) and skipped my am snack, i just haven't been hungry, still not but I'm slowly eating my lunch anyway (tuna salad, soy crisps, green beans). It's amazing to not feel hungry, i hope it lasts! I don't know if it was the ZOIC, or the sip of cranrazz with anarchy i had when i ran out of stuff to drink on the way in to work or if it's the green tea infuser i added to my SF hawaiian punch today, but I'm soooo freaking chipper and unhungry and energetic, i Love it! and want to repeat daily!
for now i will nibble on my lunch and finish (hopefully) rading the other queen by phillipa gregory

hope you all have a wonderful day!!

So, I'm a moron. Really, not being self-deprecating just stating a simple truth. Sometimes it is so hard to figure out your own madness, even though you could see it in someone else in a heartbeat.

1. I am very close to my ultimate goal, so of course I'm getting scared of reaching it and all that will mean
2. When I exercise I am nicer and happier and better to be around
3.  When I don't exercise I am depressed and I eat too much
4. When I start my day with a protein shake, my whole meal plan for the day is better
5. When I have 2 protein shakes in a day as snacks or meal replacements, I have better control over the carb monster
6. If I exercise 2x a day I have to have 2 shakes
7. When I exercise in the afternoon, I burn more calories than in the morning
8. If I don't exercise in the morning, my day drags
9. When I exercise in the afternoon I do not snack in the evening, nor do I over eat at dinner
10. I am a boredom eater

All of this brings me to the conclusion that if I work out when I wake up and also when i leave work then I drink a protein shake for breakfast and my afternoon snack. I do not overeat at dinner and do not snack on protein bars after said dinner. I have more energy and general happiness. I will tone up my belly (my last problem area) and lose the last few inches I wish to be rid of (it's not about the pounds anymore). I feel better about myself and don't want to sabotage my efforts anymore. Huh. I've figured out what I need to do to reach goal! Go me!! I just want to smack myself for not figuring it out sooner, but better late than never, and it least it wasn't too late at that... I just became my own hero :P

Okay, not the end goal, but it was one I promised my grandmother (who is alive and well, travelling with mom in her motor home at present at the age of 81 btw). When her mom died I inherited 2 of her dance costumes, she was a ball room dancer. One will never fit, my rib cage is too wide, but tinkerbell... i haven't been able to fit in this dress since I was 12 years old. I promised Grandma I would, that it was my goal to wear her mother's dress again. Today it zipped, and I can't stop crying these happy tears. I loved my Great-Grandmother more than I can possibly explain, and when I was younger, she always let me dress up in her clothes and scarves when i came to visit. She'd let me put on fashion shows and she adored me. Wearing this dress has made me feel that joy and closeness that I haven't felt since I was a teenager when we lost her.
So here are the pictures, I can't wait to be Tinkerbell for Halloween this year!


Now, if only I could dance...

Last night's experiment is declared a success!




Ingredients:
3/4 cup egg whites
5 oz taco blend cheese
1 cup cottage cheese
1 bag morningstar farms chik'n strip starters, thawed and shredded (food processor is helpful)
1 10-oz pacakge of spinach, cooked, drained
2 packets taco bell sauce
(was planning to use 1/2 cup parmesan but forgot it)
cumin
red chili powder
any other spices required for that mexican taste

combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl, mix well. scoop into sprayed mini muffin tins. mine were flush with the top of the tin and yielded 42 mini's. Results may vary, I wish you the best of luck