Cinnamon Roll Protein Shake

Ingredients:
2 scoops vanilla Whey Powder
1 tbsp sugar-free instant vanilla pudding
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp imitation vanilla (or 1/4 tsp extract)
1 packet artificial sweetener
a few dashes butter flavor sprinkles or butter-flavor extract
8 oz. water (or low-fat milk)
3 ice cubes

240 calorie chicken salad

I love chicken salads.  Here is a delicious one I eat for lunch that is surprisingly low in calories, but high in flavor, protein and satisfaction

What you'll need:
Rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked chicken
Arugula
Green onion
Slivered Almonds
Semi-soft goat cheese
Fat-Free balsamic dressing

Place 1 cup or more of arugula into your bowl
Chop and toss in 2 green onions
Add 3 ounces of shredded chicken
1 ounce goat cheese
2 Tbsp of slivered almonds
Finish with 2 Tbsp of fat-free balsamic

Enjoy!  You will not feel deprived and the creaminess of the goat cheese makes the balsamic divine.  It's truly a salad I can eat all year long - and it's great for protein!

Best Baked Salmon

This is a way to bake salmon my mother taught me.  It's the easiest and most delicious!

What you need:
Glass baking dish - big enough to fit the fillet
Fillet of Salmon
Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Pepper

Put 2 Tbsp of Olive Oil into the dish
Turn oven onto 400 degrees and place dish immediately into the oven, while cold
Let oven preheat with the dish of oil
While the dish is preheating, salt and pepper your salmon to taste.  You can also add other spices, but I'm a salmon purest, so I usually only put sea salt on it
Once the preheat alarm goes off, carefully take out the dish with the hot oil
Place the seasoned salmon into the dish, skin side down
Cook the salmon for 7-15 minutes, depending on it's thickness.  You will want to check on it and see if it's fully cooked until it's the desired level of pink you like to eat

Remove and enjoy!  Make sure to take the salmon immediately out of the dish once you've determined it's cooked enough to prevent it from over cooking while it sits.  Guaranteed delicious moist fish every time.

Fiesta Chicken Recipie

This is also on my VLOG, should you want to watch me make it.  Very exciting.

What you need:
Glass baking dish - preferably a casserole dish
Chicken - any combination that will fit in the dish.  We like 2 breasts, 2 legs and 2 thighs
1 bottle of Pace Picante Sauce, mild
Foil

Turn on the oven to 400 degrees
Place the chicken into the glass dish
Pour the Pace Picante over the chicken until it's swimming in it
Cover the dish with foil
Place in oven for 1 hour

After an hour, check that the chicken is done to your liking.  Enjoy!

Best Tool of the Trade: Cuisinart Hand Blender

I know they are a little pricey, but this tool has been the best tool thus far.  I got the Cuisinart Hand Blender with the whisk and chopper attachment a lllooonnnggg time ago.  I never used it - except to make individual servings of salsa - and I'm allergic to corn chips, so you can imagine how often that happened.  Now I am so thankful that I have it.  I use it multiple times a day and I just throw it in the dishwasher between uses so it's ready for my next meal.  The chopper is perfect for making tasty purees when you are blending multiple ingredients (which I do a lot because I'm trying to get in a little fruit or veggie at every protein meal).  The hand blender is great to make an individual smoothie - again, great because my entire family is not on the smoothie train that I'm currently riding.  All in all - hands down best and most convenient product to date.  And now it's earning every penny of it's original purchase cost.

Egg and Tuna Salad Puree

1 hard boiled egg
1 oz. canned Tuna
1 small green onion
1/2 baby dill pickle
1/8 or less of fresh avocado
1 T. of low-fat mayo
1/2 T. of yellow mustard
Pinch of sea salt

Blend them all together in a blender (I use the Cuisinart Smart Stick chopper attachment)

Low fat Chicken Salad Puree

1-2 T. of Humus (I like garlic flavor or original)
1 oz. Canned chicken
Pinch of Sea Salt

You can also puree in green onion and/or a half of a baby dill pickle

I blend it in the Cuisinart Smart Stick chopper attachment.  

Tropical Smoothie Recipe

1 pack Pineapple Cocktail whey protein (Diet Health and Sports brand)
2" slice of banana
1/4 teaspoon of coconut extract
1/2 cup 1% milk
1/2 cup water
Blend and serve very cold

Whey protein source:  mydietshopz.com
Extract purchased at Whole Foods

Chocolate Coconut Protein Shake Recipe

1 serving of Chocolate Whey protein (I used Diet Heath and Sports Wise)
1/4 tsp of Coconut extract

Blend and enjoy!
Whey source:  www.mydietshopz.com
Coconut extract source:  Whole Foods

Boppy Pillow - ain't just for babies anymore!

I have found that the Boppy pillow (the breast feeding pillow shaped like a C) has been a God-send when I'm sleeping.  I'm a side sleeper, but the pressure on my wounds was a little too uncomfortable.  As an experiment, I took the Boppy and placed one end underneath my stomach to support it, and then put the other end between my knees to support my hips.  The result is pain-free side sleeping just 4 days after surgery! 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Protein Shake Recipe

2 scoops of Tera's Whey Chocolate protein powder
2 inch slice of banana
2 tsp of smooth all-natural peanut butter (I use 365 brand from Whole Foods)
1/2 cup of 1% milk
1/2 cup of water
Yields 22 grams of protein per 1 cup serving
I purchased everything from Whole Foods

Portobella Mushroom Soup Recipe *amazing*

3/4 cup of Imagine Brand Portobella Mushroom Soup (heat and serve style)
Heat until desired temperature

Add 1 scoop Jarrow Formula brand 100% natural Whey Protein (unflavored)
Dilute with Imagine Brand Beef Broth (about 1/4 cup)
Yields 19 grams of protein
I purchased my Imagine brand soups and my Jarrow protein from Whole Foods

Chocolate Almond protein shake recipe

1 packet of "Diet Health and Sports Wise" brand chocolate cream shake
1/2 tsp of almond extract
1/2 cup 1% milk
1/2 cup water
Yields 20 grams of protein in the 1 cup serving
(I get my shakes from www.mydietshopz.com)

Stuff I used in the Hospital

There are many things people recommend you take to the hospital for your stay.  However, since everyone is different, your needs will not match the recommendations.  Here is a quick list of things I actually USED while staying for 2 nights:
1.  Chapstick (I LOVE Burt's Bees Replenishing with Pomegranate Oil)
2.  Slippers
3.  Robe (to cover up your backside, since your gown is rarely tied closed due to constant examinations)
4.  Cell phone.  I texted friends to update them.
5.  Flip video camera (if you want to document what's happening like I did)
6.  Trashy magazines because who doesn't like trashy magazines to pass time quickly.  Plus, I had a lot of fashion magazines since I was enjoying entertaining the idea that I would soon be able to wear whatever I wanted.  Makes looking at fashion MUCH more fun when there are possibilities that you will wear them one day.
7.  A empire waist dress and slip on shoes to go home in.  Trust me, you won't want a waistband touching your incisions. 

Everything else was provided by the hospital - toothbrush, toothpaste, mouth rinse, pillows, blankets, socks, that sexy gown, etc.