Little Pink Monsters

Meet The Buffaloaf. (and a really awesome giveway!!)

by on in dinner 101

Before I tell you what the heck a ‘Buffaloaf’ is let me give you a quickie personal update since last I mentioned I was having voodoo doll problems…

I’ve been doing a lot better this week, thank you so much for all of your sweet well wishes! I still have some pain & stomach problems but after taking B12 supplements daily the neurological symptoms, numbness & weakness, have almost completely gone away. I really think this was just a case of me being so nutrient deprived from the GI stuff that it starts to wreak havoc on other parts of the body. I haven’t blogged this past week because I’ve had an obscene amount of doctor appointments & tests but now that it’s behind me here’s where I’m at. The MRI of my back showed two degenerative disks & a herniated disc in my lower back, apparently this can cause the leg pain that I thought was just muscle pain from my auto immune randomness. My Dr recommended a series of steroid epidural injections to bring down the inflammation so hopefully it can heal itself. I’m always a bit weary of steroids, I worry I could wake up in the morning with chest hair, but if it means relief I gotta say, I’m in. I had my first one yesterday & it wasn’t too bad at all, sore today, but if it works, totally worth it.

Second thing is my new, 2nd opinion rheumotologist gave me her final diagnosis.

I have a moderate case of ________.

She doesn’t know.

Shocker, right? She said I have the symptoms but not the bloodwork for a diagnosis of one inparticular disease. That’s frustrating but not a surprise but you know what was BEYOND frustrating?? She said my previous GI workup I had done last year wasn’t done correctly. I guess before they take a biopsy of your stomach to test for Celiac Disease you’re supposed to load up on wheat for a week or so. My Dr had me actually doing a test gluten FAST for the 3 weeks before the biopsy! I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MAD THIS MAKES ME. The GI workup was one of the first places I started a year ago & he told me it was absolutely not a GI autoimmune disease, (Chron’s, Ulcertative Colitis, Celiac’s…) so I moved on to other specialists. If I go back to another GI doc (which my dr wants me to do next) & he/she finds that was the problem all along I’m gonna LOSE.MY.MIND. When I think of all the pain, wasted time, impact on family & friends that this sickness has costs me….if that could’ve been avoided if my last GI Dr had done his job correctly, ooooooooo boy, I’m gonna be googling anger management courses asap. So we’ll see. She does want me to still keep up the 6mth trial of the Lupus medication just in case, it’ll be interesting to see if it helps. My mom & sisters are here with me & that is just about my favorite thing ever so I’m just gonna take life one day at a time. Right now I hear my kids screaming running around the house with their aunties, my mom is cooking my favorite meals & I’m sitting here, finally typing up a blog post with lovely bag of peas on my back. Life is getting better.

On to the BUFFALOAF!

A month or so ago I received an email that made me literally squeal out loud when I read it. The folks who made “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” were working on the release of the sequel & they wanted me to create a recipe for the stars of the sequel, the “Foodimals”!

My girls are HUGE fans of the first movie so I was all over this opportunity, SO COOL right?

Here’s the concept, in the new movie the food has come to life! Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2:: The Foodimals! For my recipes I chose to make the Buffaloaf & the Fruit Cockatiel, I still am so giddy that my creations are on the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 Facebook Page! You have no idea how much street cred I’ve picked up with the local kindergartners from doing this, I’m officially cool. For now.

In the movie Mr Buffaloaf has onion ring horns, a thick ketchup coat & a tussle of parsley hair. I’ve actually been working on nailing down my own recipe for a great meatloaf & with this guy I really think I’ve got it! Despite his name he is not actually made of Buffalo. In fact my recipe includes a mix of ground pork & ground beef along with grated onion & apples for a sweet & savory meal that everyone in the house will love! You can find my entire recipe here, I’m so happy with the final product, once you got past taking a bite of something so cute it was really yummy!Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2:: The Foodimals!:: Buffaloaf Recipe by Little Pink MonsterThe second Foodimal I made was the super cute Fruit Cockatiel, while he isn’t a complete meal he’s a great way to get your kids interested in fruit, my girls saw nothing wrong with popping off those tasty cherry eyes! More details on how I made the Cockatiel here.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2:: The Foodimals!:: Fruit Cockatiel by Little Pink MonsterNow here’s the really exciting part! The awesome peeps at Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs are celebrating the new movie by giving away Sony Readers & a copy of the original Cloudy with Chance of Meatballs! All you have to do is leave a comment with your name & which Foodimal you’d like to eat! Haha, gruesome, I know. (; You can find all of the Foodimals from the movie here.

The contest ends Monday evening, September 30th, at 9pm EST. I’ll choose a winner at random & ship your reader & movie to you next week! Good luck!!meatballs movie

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  1. I’m Jen and I would soooooo eat BUFFALOAF!!!!! I’m known for my love of meatloaf, just ask my friends! lol I wish I was joking.

  4. So cool and exciting! I’d like to try to make the Buffaloaf! Glad to hear you are starting to feel better!

  7. Hey Natasha! Im glad you’re starting to feel better and that you have your mom and sisters around! Family is the best :o) that really stinks about that first GI test- I would be super mad too!

    I love the buffaloaf- so cute! I think I would try the hippotatomus! Im Irish and love just about everything potato lol. The names are so fun too! My girls cant wait to see the movie!

  9. You are so creative! Very glad to hear that things seem to be improving with your health. Enjoy your family time and thanks for the great ideas!

  10. I’ll have to give your Buffaloaf a try! Although, w/ summer gone too soon, a juicy slice of Watermelophant sounds delicious right now! 😉

  11. I would love to try the Fruit Cockatiel! By far the cutest of the bunch (: it would be fun to make with my son and getting him to eat extra fruit would just be an added bonus! As always, thanks for sharing!

  16. I am definitely making and eating the Fruit Cockatiel! My son loves Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs! I live in Houston and love your blog. I learned about it thru your husbands show! Love them too! HOPE YOU GET BETTER!

    • That’s awesome! I love hearing how people all around the country end up here, so cool! And thank you (:

  17. I love in the preview how they say “shrimpanzee” (and then Steve punches him in the face…)

    But, the one that looks the most appetizing is probably the buffaloaf and the kiwi birds!

    Glad you’re feeling better! <3

  19. That is such an amazing opportunity! Very creative foodimals you have drawn up! I have no creativity for that sort of stuff 🙂 I love the Fruit Cockatiel, she’s saucy and flirty (similar to myself)! Kudos Natasha! -Iva

  20. I would totally eat the Buffaloaf and of course the tacodile. These are adorable and I bet I could even get my daughter to eat one of these cute creations!
    Thanks for the recipe!

  21. The Buffaloaf looks delicious but there is something about a Tacodile that makes me hungry. My elephant-obsessed son would go for the Watermelophant!

  26. My kids would love the Fruit Cockatiel, they are crazy about fruit! I am so glad to hear you are starting to feel better!

  27. Watermelophant for sure. No one else in my family likes watermelon (what is WRONG with them?!), so I never buy it.

    I hope you find out what is going on soon. I would be livid if it turns out to be gluten after all that!

  28. So creative! I think my 5 year old would like the Hippotatomus and my 11 month old would like the Meatbalrus! I like the fruit cockatiel! Glad you’re feeling better!

  29. My pick has to be the Mosquitoast simply because nobody else would pick him and I don’t want him to the last pick in gym class 🙁

  30. (My comment from FB) OK, this is BEYOND cool Natasha Elisa!! If I have to pick one of those critters to eat, it would be the Mosquitoast! ONLY because just once I’d like to get back at those little buggers, ha! And I’m absolutely going to try making the buffaloaf one day soon. Keep up the great work!

  36. Natasha,

    First off, let me say I feel for you. With all you have going on health wise I am surprised at how you are able to keep up with everything else life throws your way. I am 24 and just had my first 3 cortisone injections. (I was the only person under 50 in there) I had to be put under because I am deathly afraid of needles. You make it sound so easy breezy. I feel like such a baby now. Anyways, I love your blog and I appreciate you sharing your personal “deep” issues as well as such fun things! I am such a fan of yours. Keep being strong! You are an inspiration.

    <3 Kayla

    • Oh Kayla let me just tell you P had to come with me and hold my hand in the waiting room until I went back, then once I was on the table I was fighting back tears because I was so nervous! I had a horrible spinal tap in the ER a few years back, thank goodness these docs do these everyday so they’re much much better at it. I really barely felt it! BUT, if I had a choice for that or being put under I would totally go for the designated nap time!!

  44. Oh man, I would give that watermelophant a nice little tequila bath and eat him right up! Glad you’re feeling a little better – sometimes, a girl just needs her mama.

  47. OMG!!! Hands down the Mosquitoast. My girls and I love frenchtoast.
    Natasha stay strong. God is watching over you and your beautiful family.

  48. Ugh. I feel for you… I’ve been dealing with some chronic health problems for the past nine months and have had test after test done and taken countless medications, only in the end, to be told that they have no idea what it is. I’ve seen eight different doctors and they’re stumped. I finally took my health into my own hands and went on an elimination diet and my symptoms have almost completely gone away. I do plan on seeing a holistic doctor in the next month, but I get the frustration of being told they don’t know what’s going on. And Lord have mercy if it ends up being what you tested negative for in the first place. I guess it would be a relief to finally have an answer, but I think the initial instinct to harm would have to pass. 😉 Still praying that you find healing! And that is SO awesome about getting to make recipes for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2! I will most definitely be trying the Buffaloaf recipe. Me nieces love the movie so I’m sure this will earn me some extra points in the cool aunt department! 🙂

  49. I’m so glad to hear you’re feeling a little better! There is something special about having our moms cook for us! It’s such a comfort! Anyway, I think the buffaloaf looks delicious! You’re in my prayers.

  52. OMG so cute! Love that this is a food post, I’ve missed them (I’m often guilty of making the spinach pita pizza that you posted among your pregnancy cravings, except that I’m not pregnant haha).

    I would love to try the Fruit Cockatiel! I’m a sucker for fresh fruit.
    My younger cousins LOVED the first movie and they cannot wait for this new one.

    PS as a long time lurker, I am glad you’re feeling better and I hope you finally get to the bottom of your health problems!

  53. OMG so cute! Love that this is a food post, I’ve missed them (I’m often guilty of making the spinach pita pizza that you posted among your pregnancy cravings, except that I’m not pregnant haha).

    I would love to try the Fruit Cockatiel! I’m a sucker for fresh fruit.
    My younger cousins LOVED the first movie and they cannot wait for this new one.

    PS as a long time lurker, I am glad you’re feeling better and I hope you finally get to the bottom of your health problems!

    PPS def forgot my name in the comment! Khushbu 🙂

  54. The link showing the other animals isn’t working for me, but out of the ones you show here on your site I’d want the fruit cockatiel!

  55. I love the kiwi bird! We read the book but what a fun night it would be to watch the movie with my 4 yr old and make some of these animals. Thank you for the brilliant idea! Angela

  58. You are so creative! I am definitely going to try the buffaloaf—I think my kiddos will get a kick out of it.

    Glad you are feeling better and have your peeps here to take care of you!

  61. Wow! What a fun oppurtunity, a good thing to distract you from more and more tests. I have been following along on your medical updates, so if you wonder if Anyone is reading those posts we are! Am hoping the new tests can help figure out SOMETHING. Big hug mama, we are supporting you.

    I would so eat that Tacodile, hilarious. Im orobably not eligible to win the giveaway since Im in Mexico, but had to comment and give my support anyway
    , and I LOL ed @street cred with the kinders 😉

    • LOL, thank you so much for the sweet words Tricia, sometimes I can pretty alone in all this crap and your comment reminded me of how much support I do have (:

  62. Firstly, Im glad to hear things are improving for you. Nothing like having your mama and sisters there 🙂
    Super fun and cute contest. Going to try your recepie soon! Meantime, that tacodile is calling my name! Xo

  65. I’m Jordan and I would eat the Buffaloaf even though I’ve never really liked meatloaf. It looks yummy and cute all at the same time!!!

    I really hope that you can figure out what’s going on in your body. I’m sure that you’ll get your answer soon. Just trust in God and he’ll show you the answers 😀

  66. May I please have an order Susheep with a side of Meatbalrus?- hehe. I’m glad to hear you are feeling better!

  68. I’m from Minnesota, where we joke that the Mosquito should be our state bird, so I like the Mosquitoast best! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

    Praying for patience, strength, and peace for you. Psalm 105:4 Search for the Lord and for His strength, and keep on searching.

  74. My name is Rachel Schwiesow, and I’d eat the Tacodile………. Why do I feel like I’m in a support group now? 😛

  76. Hmmm…I think I really will try that buffaloaf recipe of yours! It sounds yummy and I know the kids would be more interested in trying meatloaf in the shape of that cute little guy! So fun! And sorry for all the frustration with your health. I have hope you will get answers. *Hugs*

  78. I would most definitely eat/make the tacodiles! They look awesome in the movie…especially when one if the guys are like, “Tacodile Supreme!” Lol I also love how they look in the movie. They have a fun and creative name as well. I don’t know how they came up with which food would be which animal…the creators are some very creative people (ironic right?).

  86. My Name is Jennifer and I would like to try the tacodile 🙂 although the Meatbalrus sounds yummy too.

  87. Hi Natasha,

    I’m so glad you are feeling better.. Nothing like a moms love to help your mind, body and spirit 😎

    I would love to try the Buffaloaf, my kids love meatloaf and this cute guy is sure to be a crowd pleaser… Thanks for posting and love your blogs!!!!!!

  88. I’d love to eat the Susheep!

    PS – I also love your blog. I’ve been reading it for quite awhile, and find myself referencing it in conversations at least on a weekly basis. :o)

  93. The fruit cockatiel, it looks awesome and coming in second the meatbalrus, it is super cute. I’m glad you’re feeling better and hopefully can get some more answers soon.

  95. I am currently taking B12 supplements because I had my annual physical and my alkaline phosphatase was low. At first she told me it was low because I needed to eat more fruits and veggies – when I explained to her that is the majority of my diet (every morning is a fruit and veggie smoothie, lunch is most likely a salad, dinner is lean protein veggie & whole grain…) she went back and tested my B12. It was low, but not too low. So, now I am taking B12 and will have it tested again in 3 months along with pernicious anemia and celiac tests. I am hoping for the best (obviously), but wondering why a B12 test isn’t something that is routine. I complained of fatigue, and other things that are associated with both a thyroid and B12 issue, but she only suggested the thyroid test to be done with my routine blood work. I don’t have any symptoms of celiac, but from what I’ve read you don’t always show signs and can have a latent form, and in some women they don’t even have the gastro issues…scary! One of the main things they stress though is to NOT go gluten free until after the test. That doctor should be reported…how many other people have they had do this test the same way as you?

    • I know right?! Someone once told me that doctors are just like other people and there had to be someone that was at the bottom of the class, guess I found him!

      I hope you start feeling better, I really think the B12 supplements helped with a lot of stuff, we’ll see! Stay in touch Christina!

      • I was supposed to wait to take my celiac and pernicious anemia blood tests until December, but I requested to take them now. After your post yesterday I started reading more about celiac and all the different symptoms you can have. Yes, they can all be as a result of something else, but they also could not and I’d rather know for sure. It is crazy how many “normal” ailments you can have that could actually be “symptoms” of a serious problem. Being tired, having constipation, bloating, menstrual problems, difficulty losing weight, etc. could all be singular issues, but are also symptoms of celiac that no one really expects. Everyone expects the diarrhea, stomach pain, & weight loss mostly (at least I did).

        Good luck! I hope you are able to get some real answers soon!

          • Well, the celiac test came back negative…so that is not my issue with by B12 being low. Hopefully the vitamins I am taking work on that. Now on to figuring out what is going on with my cycle issues….may be polycystic ovary syndrome. Getting older sucks 🙂

  98. I would definitely try the buffaloaf and the tacodiles!
    Glad you are feeling better. Thanks for the chance to win.

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