Bring a Pouch Party to a kitchen near YOU!

I just want to clear up one thing right here, right now blogoverse...I am NOT averse to doing Pouch Parties outside of Maryland. I get messages from folks saying how they'd love to have this experience but they don't live in MD. Well, here's a tip: if you're willing to get enough folks together to have a party...I could come to you! I'm crazy like that! Hit me up! It may be a real possibility.

I thought I'd give my little spiel on why this is so important to me. Pre-op I hated to cook. My children and I did the carry-out, pizza night, carry-out schedule. Imagine my surprise post-op that I actually like to cook! Am interested in nutrition! I spend hours reading labels, comparing nutritional stats, finding the very best ingredients, the most beneficial recipes, not only for myself but because I don't want anyone out there who has had WLS to feel like they'll never eat well again! I truly believe I've been given this gift to share it with other people.

So seriously...if you're interested in having a party and you're willing to help make it happen...let me know...it may not be impossible.

Something the April Pouchers *didn't* get to taste...

I generally tend to only show recipes with stuff that people can get from their local supermarkets. This is a bit of a science experiment.

It's made with Carbalose flour, a low-carb, high-fiber flour that you can use just like white flour. The brand I used is called Carbquik (like a low-carb "Bisquik.")

This lovely little pancake is "regular people sized" and is about 21 calories, 1 net gram of carbs. And it was delicious. On top is some Blue Bonnet Light (40 calories for 1 tbsp, I used 1/2 tbsp) and some Smucker's sugar free breakfast syrup (40 calories for 1/4 c. I used about 2 tbsp which would 1/8 c.). This...a coupla slices of turkey bacon...one could fool oneself into thinking they had a "normal" stomach. Almost.

Want to taste this and other num, num, nummy breakfast stuff? Consider hosting a breakfast or brunch Pouch Party! Hit me up if you are interested!

Breakfast for Dinner!

Ok, so I lied just a little bit. I did not serve the frozen hot chocolate at this month's party...I served this instead:

What is that? It is a Click Frappucino and it's yuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmeeeeeeee....

Ok, so you weren't at the party. Cuz maybe you live too far away or maybe the warm day drew you outside. There really is no excuse but I will give you the recipe anyways.

Click Frappucino

8 oz. skim milk, 2 scoops Click protein, 1/2 scoop Body Fortress vanilla whey, 1 oz. Torani sugar free hazelnut syrup, 1 tbsp Splenda, 6 ice cubes.

Directions: Put it in a blender and whiz it. Top with whipped cream...sip...die...go to heaven...

This drink was VERY well received. So much so that my guests requested that I make a second drink later in the evening. "This does not taste like a protein shake at all," sayeth Lee, my faithful gym buddy and Pouch Party loyalist.

So the other one I do not have a pic of...but pics of protein shakes aren't that interesting. I'll just tell you about it. I call it a "protein mudslide."

Ingredients: 8 oz. skim milk, 1 scoop Body Fortress cookies 'n creme whey, 1 tbsp sugar free chocolate pudding mix, 1 tbsp Splenda, 1 oz. Davinci sugar free kahlua syrup.

Directions: put it in a blender and whiz it...pour in festive glass...top with whipped cream...mistakenly think you are at Applebees and wonder why nobody is bussing your table.

Moving right along...

So next we learned to make breakfast sausage. I got a few raised eyebrows on this one. I mean, why make breakfast sausage when Mr. Dean makes them so well? Well...because with homemade you get to control what goes in it AND how big your sausage patties are. Plus it's cool to say you made your own breakfast sausage. All this was toward the pursuit of making one of the most popular breakfast things that I make. The "Egg NikMuffin." We don't need no stinking arches ;-)
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Ok, so my girl Shelly (a.k.a. Eggface) makes these little crustless quiches that she calls bites. I had to demo the bites because they are goooooooooooood. So we did three kinds: Maryland bites (crab meat and Old Bay...keepin' it simple), Bacon/cheese bites, and ham/cheese bites (both with onions and green pepper in them). I wanted mushrooms in the ham/cheese bite but I got vetoed. I hate when that happens. Anyway...above is Renae mixing up her Maryland bites.

And here is a picture of the Bacon/cheese and ham/cheese bites. The Maryland bites...um...they didn't make it...


These are very yummy and ridiculously low cal. Check out more bite recipes on Eggface's super duper blog!

So anyone who has been to a Pouch Party thus far knows I'm all about giving away free stuff. This month's goodie bag featured the following (starting at 6 o'clock and going clockwise):

• 3 oz. Torani sugar free hazelnut syrup
• A South Beach Living cereal bar
• A South Beach Living nut snack mix pack
• 25 calorie Swiss Miss packet
• Baskin Robbins sugar free hard candy
• Soy nuts
• 1/2 scoop of Body Fortress chocolate whey powder (in the thingie that looks like lip gloss)

So that's that! My guests chose as the next party theme Mexican Fiesta! The party will be the last Saturday in May (and I'm too lazy to look the date up, ok????)

New Pouch Party e-mail and April Pouch Party info!

If you're interested in attending or hosting a Pouch Party, there is a new e-mail address: pouchparty@gmail.com! Send it there for the fastest response.

The April Pouch Party info is as follows:

Date: Saturday, April 25th
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: E-mail for details
Cost: $10 (this is to cover food and you get oodles of leftovers)
Theme: Breakfast Food!

We'll cover recipes for each kind of breakfast person, including the:

• "I don't have time for breakfast" person
• Donut/pastry breakfast person
• Cereal/oatmeal breakfast person
• "I like a cooked breakfast" person

If you're pre-op, this is a great opportunity to see how you'll eventually eat post-op (including portion sizes), talk to post-ops and ask food questions! Hit me up if you plan to attend.

See you at the Pouch Party!