Five layers of Mexican-inspired delights are topped by a layer of vegetables, then smothered in cheese and garnished with black olives. The vegetables may be varied according to taste.

Prep Time: approx. 30 Minutes.
Ready in: approx. 30 Minutes.
Makes 1 dip (56 servings).

1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
1 (16 ounce) jar salsa
1 large tomato, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 bunch chopped green onions
1 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded
1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

In a medium bowl, blend the taco seasoning mix and refried beans. Spread the mixture onto a large serving platter.

Mix the sour cream and cream cheese in a medium bowl.
Spread over the refried beans.

Top the layers with salsa. Place a layer of tomato, green bell pepper, green onions and lettuce over the salsa, and top with Cheddar cheese.

Garnish with black olives

Before my gastric bypass surgery and massive weight-loss, I could not understand the issues of anorexia/bullemia - and did not understand why these people could not see how thin they are.

Now I understand.

Everytime I put on a new piece of clothing, I think “oh its gonna be too small, that will never fit”. And sometimes they are even too big.

I pass a large window or mirror and I have to look twice - “Am I really that small? Is that me?”.

It has even gotten to the point that when I shop for jewlery, I am still stuck in that mindset of “oh, I must get a longer necklace, bigger ring, larger bracelet, cause surely those normal ones won’t fit”.

We all struggle with issues, and for some our issues are harder to deal with.

I hope that anyone who is dealing with Anorexia or Bullemia and happens to see this gets the help they need.

Life is for living, and these two disorders are just a way of slowly dying.

I just sent the following email over to the crew at home-ec101.com and hopefully will get an answer soon:

I am an expat American, and my very British husband LOOOVES American food.

He has a question that I cannot answer about some American yummies, and I hope you can help.

What, oh wise home-ec101.com gurus, is the difference between scalloped and au gratin potatoes?

I would be ever so grateful for your divine truth in this matter.
So much so, I am willing to share with you the secret to life, the universe, and everything: 42.

Many thanks.

Geneva
www.thegeneva.com

Well I have finally made it:

Here is an image to show my progress (click to open full image):

I am sooo happy!

I saw my surgeon this morning and he is dead chuffed with me - i have lost half of my excess weight in 4 months - most of his patients take about a year to do that well - I actually eat healthily and exercise though!

So, I am soooo excited about it all, and plan on having a huge sale of clothes on eBay in the coming weeks.

I did mention that I have never dumped on sugars - and he says some people don’t. I have not pushed it more that 11 grams in a chicken sauce though.

He is sending me to get checked for gallstones - I occasionally get very nasty pains, but other than that, I couldn’t feel better!

On the day of the wedding, we have selected the following menus:

Wedding Breakfast
Starters:
Selection of chef’s salads (pasta, rice, noodle tossed green salad and Caesar salad)
Selection of Mediterranean and Asia breads

Main Course:
Beef Wellington
Lemon honey chicken supreme
Steamed Asian vegetable Rice
Layonnaise potato
Boulangere potato
Panache of season vegetables

Dessert:
Wedding cake and cupcakes (sponge)
Fruit platter
Warm sticky toffee pudding and butter scotch sauce
All served with cream and fruit couli

Evening Buffet:
Selection of closed sandwiches in focaccia bread
Mini quiches (leek & bell pepper, mushroom, cheese & tomato)
Mediterranean brushetta selection
Shish kebabs
Vegetable samosa

Does this sound yummy or what?

When I first had my surgery, I thought I would set small goals in increments of 50 pounds.

Never in my life did I think I would get there in just 8 weeks!

As of this morning, my 8 week new-me day, I have lost 51 pounds.

I almost have to pinch myself!

Today, I had to go see one of the secretaries in another building - I needed to get some stationary from the locked cupboard.

Anyways, a few of the ladies in the department were asking how much I weight I have lost and I told them I am quite happy to discuss things with them, so they asked the usual questions about excess skin, etc and commented on how great I look.

The cupboard I needed was just across the hall, and as soon as I left the room, I heard one of them say “wow, she looks fantastic” and the others agree and make comments.

I have never been so happy! It’s moments like this that make is soooo worth it!

I am sooo happy!

I saw the nutritionist this morning and she is very happy with my progress - yay me!

She also told me that I need some carbs, and forget about what some people say about no carbs - if they aren’t qualified nutritionists, don’t listen!

She wants me to have a varied diet, and a few carbs won’t hurt me - she says to stop counting them! I suppose she is the specialist.

Also, she mentioned that my goal weight was a bit low for my height, so she has asked me to add 14 pounds to it. I suppose 154 at 5 ft 8 wont be too bad.

She also wants me to make sure I get plenty of Selenium.

I have also been given the go ahead to have very small quantities of brown bread - toasted is best. 2 small pieces of the mini loaves at most.

I bought some sugar free jam today, so toast, here I come!

Dumping Syndrome.

It occurs when I eat something that for one reason or another, does not agree with my new stomach and intestines. I don’t know that this is occuring until about 15-30 minutes after a meal.

The rapid “dumping” of food triggers the pancreas to release excessive amounts of insulin into the bloodstream.

This is what I experience when I dump: shortly after eating a food I can’t tolerate I begin to feel a bit disoriented, maybe dizzy and then an overall sense of confusion or panic takes over my mind and body. My heart starts to palpitate and I feel as if it is going to jump out of my chest.

This is a mild state of delirium. Then I begin sweating. During this state of sweaty panic I feel like I’m out of my mind! Once during an extremely dramatic dumping episode I literally thought I was dying, the state of distress was that severe.

Sometimes this is occompanied by being violently ill.

I know the event is starting to pass when the sense of panic is replaced by exhaustion and cold chills instead of sweating.

The mild delirium associated with dumping is the result of an interruption of nerve impulses affecting cerebral metabolism. This mild delirium is characterized by a reduced ability to maintain attention to surroundings or disorganized thinking. The daily routine can become confusing. In extreme cases a person who is dumping may experience rambling, irrelevant or incoherent speech.

Through trial and error I can predict most things that make me dump and I avoid them contemptuously. it is still early days yet so some things I just don’t know about.

There is no way to stop this once it starts, but lying down helps. So you may see me with my head on my desk after lunch sometimes, as this is as close as I can get to laying on my right side.

If you want to read more about Dumping Syndrome, the Mayo clinic has an article at http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00715.html