Starwarsandcupcakes

Speedy recovery ❤️‍🩹

I’m so glad and grateful to be home. Even while in the hospital I noticed how much I was able to walk and hold a conversation while even just walking 300 feet (little over 90 meters). My surgeon even said I looked much better than before surgery and my 15yr old told me that she was happy to see me back and that it was sad watching me slowly decline (she had never shared that with me! 😭). Recovery is expected to last 4-6 weeks for bone healing but cardiac rehab lasts 8-12 weeks and starts week 2-4 post op.

First one is day 2 post op heart surgery dinner. Are about half.
The second and third are the after picture and nutrition info from dinner today (post op day 4 and a full day home). Used about 1/2 a serving of sauce to a full serving of dumplings. As you can see, I ate a half serving.
Im gonna have an ensure max Protein Shake with my medicine and go to bed.

First one is day 2 post op heart surgery dinner. Are about half.
The second and third are the after picture and nutrition info from dinner today (post op day 4 and a full day home). Used about 1/2 a serving of sauce to a full serving of dumplings. As you can see, I ate a half serving.
Im gonna have an ensure max Protein Shake with my medicine and go to bed.

Was anyone else afraid of stomach stretching when you had your surgery? I was. I had nightmares about accidentally eating a giant plate of food (hello anxiety! 😂)
Well six years post op next month and very little stretching!
(A Rachel on sourdough with collard greens)

Well so much for my dolloping Boursin on my steak. My batch had started to go green even though it had another week to go. Sigh. Went to a different deli & another grocery store that’s supposed to stock it & no luck. Will have to make my own again.

Meals and Snacks yesterday (minus a small handful of corn nuts)
avocado toast with cucumber and coffee
canned (tinned) peaches and Peanut Butter
Sautéed peppers and onions with garlic basil polenta and sugar free pancake Syrup
blueberries and strawberries with cranberry almond granola and coconut milk Greek yogurt
Mini vegan chick’n slider with sugar free BBQ Sauce and tomatoes.

The diy Boursin love continues....
fresh out of the oven: Spinach-Boursin Quiche!

Meals and Snacks yesterday (minus a small handful of corn nuts)
avocado toast with cucumber and coffee
canned (tinned) peaches and Peanut Butter
Sautéed peppers and onions with garlic basil polenta and sugar free pancake Syrup
blueberries and strawberries with cranberry almond granola and coconut milk Greek yogurt
Mini vegan chick’n slider with sugar free BBQ Sauce and tomatoes.

omg these "Boursin"-carmelized-onion-tarts were a hit! (thanks for the idea @Arabesque), they are totally going on the pot-luck contribution rotation for future gatherings...
I made them into individual tarts, because I love hors d'oeurves-type presentations...plus i don't have to cut into anything to serve!
is funny because they ate a few before i took a pic of the pan, and then a couple more before i got them on a plate. they were that delicious!
I candied some bacon as well to put on top of them, but there were only 2 left by the time the bacon was done. Imma gonna make some candied-bacon-chocolate chip Cookies later instead.
i also didn't get a chance to put some of the seasoned arugula on top for garnish...i'll just eat it as a salad later.
yum!

look ma, i did it!!
totally made the diy Boursin, which the fam enjoyed with bagels...tomorrow i am gonna try my hand at a tart (so excited!!) 😂
p.s., the other (taller) container is homemade tzatziki sauce to go with the roasted leg of lamb i made today (no pics, sadly, it was gobbled up before i remembered to take a pic...but take my word for it: i looked and tasted awesome lol)

Hi, I’m the problem 😂

its been a couple months since i last made a salad for myself at home in my trusty salad bowl. i blame the holidays and vacation and pure laziness!
salads always, ALWAYS! hits the spot!
347 cals for the entire bowl, ate about 3/4 of it? yummer!
p.s. i don't normally eat this late (its after 9pm here), but i was making and assembling empanadas for the past couple hours to fry in my deep fryer tomorrow. never deep fried my empanadas before (i always bake them)...we'll see if they turn out...i'll post pics tomorrow!)

Latchkey Children unite!

Homemade mix of sweet and sour and general tso’s chicken but with vegan nuggets (on clearance for $1.59 a bag!) with rice.
Yogurt Gummy Snacks I bought my kid but they say they hate them now so I’m eating them.
Chopped salad with crispy corn tortillas- pinto Beans, tomatoes, onions, bell pepper, jalapeño, tajin, cumin, and lime juice

I was in the large family that celebrated/soothed everything with food. Sad? Have a cookie you’ll feel better! Good grades? Have some ice cream! Birthday? Don’t forget the cake! Going to a reunion? Make sure you bring the potato salad and pink stuff! Oh someone died? Don’t forget the luncheon and the funeral potatoes and pie.
But dinners most week nights were my responsibility after age 10 so we ate a lot of latchkey ability dinners- spaghetti, white people tacos (tortillas, ground beef, shredded cheese, iceberg lettuce and sour cream), and Mac and cheese with peas and tuna mixed in, and potato surprise (mashed potatoes, ground beef, peas, and shredded cheese).
Now? I’m still the one cooking even for holidays and such. I don’t regret it but I do make better choices now that I know better…. Most of the time.

so today the deep fryer i bought on an online sale was delivered (yes, i said deep fryer! don't judge me!) i spent all morning and afternoon researching recipes so that i could use my new toy. short-listed to 5 recipes that i knew i already had the required ingredients on hand for, and then....realized i had no oil! whomp, whomp.
sooooo.....dinner tonight ended up being strawberry yougurt with a chopped up fresh fig on top. i was so hungry (cuz i forgot to have lunch because of the aforementioned researching, dammit) that I ate 2 of these babies.
(2x yougut) + (2x figs) = 360 calories.
isnt my tiny spoon the cutest!??

I was in the large family that celebrated/soothed everything with food. Sad? Have a cookie you’ll feel better! Good grades? Have some ice cream! Birthday? Don’t forget the cake! Going to a reunion? Make sure you bring the potato salad and pink stuff! Oh someone died? Don’t forget the luncheon and the funeral potatoes and pie.
But dinners most week nights were my responsibility after age 10 so we ate a lot of latchkey ability dinners- spaghetti, white people tacos (tortillas, ground beef, shredded cheese, iceberg lettuce and sour cream), and Mac and cheese with peas and tuna mixed in, and potato surprise (mashed potatoes, ground beef, peas, and shredded cheese).
Now? I’m still the one cooking even for holidays and such. I don’t regret it but I do make better choices now that I know better…. Most of the time.

Homemade mix of sweet and sour and general tso’s chicken but with vegan nuggets (on clearance for $1.59 a bag!) with rice.
Yogurt Gummy Snacks I bought my kid but they say they hate them now so I’m eating them.
Chopped salad with crispy corn tortillas- pinto Beans, tomatoes, onions, bell pepper, jalapeño, tajin, cumin, and lime juice

I was in the large family that celebrated/soothed everything with food. Sad? Have a cookie you’ll feel better! Good grades? Have some ice cream! Birthday? Don’t forget the cake! Going to a reunion? Make sure you bring the potato salad and pink stuff! Oh someone died? Don’t forget the luncheon and the funeral potatoes and pie.
But dinners most week nights were my responsibility after age 10 so we ate a lot of latchkey ability dinners- spaghetti, white people tacos (tortillas, ground beef, shredded cheese, iceberg lettuce and sour cream), and Mac and cheese with peas and tuna mixed in, and potato surprise (mashed potatoes, ground beef, peas, and shredded cheese).
Now? I’m still the one cooking even for holidays and such. I don’t regret it but I do make better choices now that I know better…. Most of the time.

Homemade mix of sweet and sour and general tso’s chicken but with vegan nuggets (on clearance for $1.59 a bag!) with rice.
Yogurt Gummy Snacks I bought my kid but they say they hate them now so I’m eating them.
Chopped salad with crispy corn tortillas- pinto Beans, tomatoes, onions, bell pepper, jalapeño, tajin, cumin, and lime juice

I was in the large family that celebrated/soothed everything with food. Sad? Have a cookie you’ll feel better! Good grades? Have some ice cream! Birthday? Don’t forget the cake! Going to a reunion? Make sure you bring the potato salad and pink stuff! Oh someone died? Don’t forget the luncheon and the funeral potatoes and pie.
But dinners most week nights were my responsibility after age 10 so we ate a lot of latchkey ability dinners- spaghetti, white people tacos (tortillas, ground beef, shredded cheese, iceberg lettuce and sour cream), and Mac and cheese with peas and tuna mixed in, and potato surprise (mashed potatoes, ground beef, peas, and shredded cheese).
Now? I’m still the one cooking even for holidays and such. I don’t regret it but I do make better choices now that I know better…. Most of the time.

Same!!! My BF used to ask why can’t I just finish the two bites I’d leave?Because I did want to, I had enough! Then it became I should order less (I only order apps and small plates). He really tried to manage my food portions until I chewed him out. Sir, why are you so obsessed with me 😂 JK
I realized I didn’t grow up in the finish everything on you plate type of home (and truth be told I’m now realizing I have been a picky eater my entire life so it wouldn’t have worked well on me). But he absolutely was forced or shamed into a clean plate. It’s really damaging long term especially if your parents don’t prepare healthy choices (or just don’t cook well 🤣)
I glad you got to break free of the cycle ❤️

The finished products. The zucchini tart had my Boursin cheese & was sprinkled with pistachios & drizzled with honey. There wasn’t a piece left of that so a success. The Tomato had semi dried tomato tapenade & caramelised onion under the tomato - was left with half so lunch & dinner sorted for a couple of days 😉. I so love the ease of pre made puff pastry. The salad cos, pear, fennel, walnuts & cranberries with a red wine vinegar. My serve in the last pxt - each piece was an 8th of the tart. Finished with a fruit platter & a truffled brie cheese & omg was that truffled goodness.
  

Hi, I’m the problem 😂