Fat Frog Diary

I made this tonight. Even without the cheese toast, it's still delicious! 2 T butter or margarine 2 c thinly sliced onions 4 cups beef broth 2 T dry sherry (optional) 1 t Worcestershire sauce 1 pinch black pepper 4-6 slices French bread, toasted 1 cup shredded Gruyere, Jarlsberg, or Swiss Cheese In a large saucepan melt butter and stir in the onions. Cook and stir until the onions are golden brown, about 8-10 minutes. Onions must be browned. Don't skimp. You need that caramelization. Add broth, sherry, Worcestershire, and pepper. Bring to boiling, then reduce heat and cover. Simmer 10 minutes. Optional for non-ops: Sprinkle freshly-toasted bread with cheese. Place under broiler until cheese melts and turns light brown. Float bread on top of soup in the bowl. Makes 4-6 side dish servings. Hints and tips: Use your food processor and slice up those onions. In fact, save time and do the whole bag of onions. Measure out your 2 cups for this ...

Feeling better today. I had to remember that it's better to avoid triggers like being bored or mindlessly watching TV (with food ads every few minutes.) I'm happy to report that being at work helped a huge amount! I've hardly noticed and ate even less. Diarrhea started mid-afternoon. That's no fun.  It's not so bad, so I'm going to get in the kitchen and make myself French Onion Soup for tonight. If the recipe comes out well, I'll post it. Lee Plumb, NCICS

Doesn't this look easy and yummy?

I'm not hungry, but I am angry. It's difficult to be this restricted. Maybe it's psychological. You're told you can't have something and that's immediately the only thing you want. It also doesn't help to be watching Halloween Wars, with all the sweet treats given the judges.  I'm going to finish my consomme and maybe make a shake or eat a Popsicle. They are at least sweet.  I posted Cream of Everything Soup Mix recipe in Bariatric Foodies FB page. Seems successful.  Not sure if I can make it without cheating all the way to hospital admission day. 

Lessons Learned: Creamy Broccoli Cheese Soup- use the blender. I don't have time at lunch to stir a pot on the stove. Taste: Meh. Okay. The rotation isn't perfect, but it helps. Lee Plumb, NCICS

I've been reorganizing our freezers in preparation for my upcoming surgery and the dietary changes that come from one person (me!) having bariatric surgery while Da Roomie Dave copes with his new life as a Type 2 diabetic. I also finally got around to reading Marie Kondo's book, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." I've enjoyed having a very clean bureau, especially using shoe boxes as a primary organizer. They're cheap and versatile. I've already had one go at my closet, but I think a second round will be necessary. But enough of that. The point is, shoe boxes have a new respect in my life. So, since I had to clean out the freezer and I had a few spare plastic shoe boxes, I decided to "Kondo Mari" the small freezers above our two refrigerators. Before you diet-nazis get all huffy and feel superior, Da Roomie Dave and I each own a refrigerator. Mine is the black one currently in the kitchen and is one of the few remaining appliances lef...

Double Milk is the most interesting part of this. I've not tried it yet, so anyone who gives it a go before me, would you be kind enough to comment and let me know? It's supposed to be a "I can't go get more protein powder until payday" substitute when you need to keep drinking that all important protein.  I like the idea of it because you're allowed to add sugar-free syrups such as Torani and DaVinci, and I have quite a few of those. If you are curious, go to  https://shop.torani.com/Sugar-Free-Syrups/c/Torani@SugarFreeSyrups   or  https://www.webstaurantstore.com/51/flavoring-syrups.html?vendor=DaVinci   to see all the possibilities.  Note: I do not make any money from these links. They are offered as a courtesy to my readers.  

I don't talk about my diet much on Facebook. No one gives a rat's patootey about your diet except someone else on the diet. Your friends will applaud when you've lost a few pounds, but this is a long-haul marathon slog. In fact, it's a full lifestyle change. This is kind of like how vegans seem to brag about their diet choice and post recipes like they expect you to join in. The most I could ever manage was a lacto-ovo-pesco-pollotarian. (Willing to give up beef and pork, but will eat chicken, fish, eggs, and milk.) I've been back on a low-carb diet for months, and transitioning over to the Phase One of the pre-surgical diet has been relatively smooth. Do I miss my carbs? YOU BETCHA! Especially my morning bowl of hot cereals. Everything else I can live without, but that's a lifetime habit to have a bowl of carbs in the morning to fuel the day. I don't even miss red meat right now. This may change, but so far I'm okay with just fish, eggs, beans, white ...