Great meatless pasta sauce....saute in 2 T olive oil (which is GOOD for you), chopped red onion, lots of garlic (both of which are GOOD for you!), several chopped skinned fresh tomatoes (haha...good for you, especially guys)...add fav. spices, salt if allowed, oregano, a couple of pinches of allspice, a bay leaf and a large dollop of red wine as this cooks down....and minced black olives w/a little juice from the can for added flavor.

Potatoes....slice thin, brush lightly w/olive oil, sprinkle w/garlic powder and seasoned salt, bake till crispy in 350 oven. Pretty non-diety tasting fare...

3 egg omelet, w/one yolk and 3 whites.....shred small red potato, young zucchini, minced onion is a tiny bit of olive oil until just cooked, dump into well beaten eggs with whatever seasonings allowed, plus some parmesan cheese, and pour into large pan. Cook thru on one side, then flip (good luck!), and cook till puffy.

Smashed chicken.....cut skinned, boneless ch. breast into small, bite-sized pieces, drench in wheat or white rice flour, seasonings including paprika, then enclose between two generous pieces of wax paper and beat the bejesus out of them, flatten them as much as poss. while beating the seasonings into them. I use a rolling pin but any heavy object will do. Drop these pieces into simmering olive oil....you need enough oil to come up half way on the now well flattened pieces, but if the heat is right they chicken will take up virtually no oil. Saute on one side until golden brown, flip over (takes a bit of patience if there are lots of pieces), brown second side...usually only takes 3-5 minutes per side. Remove w/slotted spoon, drain and serve over rice or add to Thai dish with peanuts, raisins, very lightly stir fried veg, moistened w/a bit of low fat coconut milk and served sprinkled with a tablespoon of shredded coconut and sesame seeds. Pretty exotic for a diet but heart-friendly.

There is good food after heart surgery! It just takes a bit more effort! Good luck, Spaw....

Nancy