Eggplant and Lentil Stacks

Protein!!!

Ingredients:

• 1 Eggplant
• 1 can lentils
• 1/2 cup tomatoes, chopped
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/3 cup shredded basil

What to Do:

1. Cut eggplant crosswise into 6 1.5 cm-thick slices. Heat in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until tender and golden.

2. Place lentils and tomato in a bowl. Drizzle over with vinegar and half the oil. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Place 1 eggplant slice on a serving plate. Divide the lentil mixture up and pile onto eggplant slices. Drizzle remaining olive oil and serve.

Tabouleh

I'm a Middle-Eastern cooking genius!

This was so labor intensive and I hated making it, but I love eating it. Persuasive, eh? I messed up the quinoa like 3 times, so that's why it took so long. Also, my camera screen broke, so I now have to guess where the wanted object is and hope that it turns out good on the computer.

But seriously. So delicious. And no tahini! You don't have to experience anaphylaxis! What a delight.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 cup quinoa (I used quinoa instead of bulgur wheat because Utah's never heard of ethnicity.)
• 1.5 cups minced parsley
• 1 cup minced mint leaves
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 red onion, finely diced
• 1 cucumber diced
• 2 ripe tomatoes

What to Do:

1. Whisk the lemon juice, olive oil, black pepper, and salt together in a small bowl.

2. Cook quinoa and then let it soak in the lemon juice/olive oil mixture for 30 minutes.

3. Mince the parsley, mint leaves, and chopped onion in food processor to get very small pieces.

4. Mix all other ingredients in with the soaked quinoa mixture and allow to soak in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

But really. So good. I say this about everything. But. Forreal this time. 

Falafel and Loaded Guacamole

I made guac for lunch and falafel for dinner. Maddy says she wants to guest post on our food blog just so she can tell people she is a food blogger.

Loaded Guacamole

Mind you, I only made this for me. You would need to double or triple for you and Ronaldo and Will.

Ingredients:

• 1 Avocado
• 1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp. sliced tomatoes
• 2 Tbsp. finely diced cucumber
• 1/4 finely chopped red onion
• 2 Tbsp. olives
• 2 Tbsp. green onion
• 1/2 tsp garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp chopped oregano

Directions:

1. Mash avocado. 

2. Stir in lemon juice. 

3. Fold in remaining ingredients.

Falafel!

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 can chickpeas, washed and drained
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1 Tbsp. chopped cucumber
• 1 egg, beaten

Directions:

1. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large pan. Fry the onion and garlic over a low heat for 5 minutes until softened. 

2. Mash up chickpeas with a fork or in a food processer.

3. Stir in spices, onions, garlic, cucumber, and egg. 

4. Mix into 6 balls, then flatten into patties. 

5. Heat remaining oil in the pan and fry falafels on medium heat for 3 minutes on each side. 

I put this on a hamburger bun, but I feel like it would have been better in pita. 

Today Merete and I "exercised", meaning we did 15 minutes of Insanity, then had a pushup contest. I think I am going to get real buff. 

Chicken Shwarma

I made this to reach back to my middle eastern roots.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cucumber (cut)
• 1/4 cup low-fat plain yogurt
• 3 tablespoons tahini
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound chicken breast
• 4 6-inch whole wheat pita breads
• 1 medium tomato (cut)
• 2 cups lettuce

(Serves 4)

What to do:

1. Stir cucumber, yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.

2. Combine garlic powder, curry powder, pepper, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt in another bowl. Slice chicken breast crosswise into 1/4 inch strips; toss with the spice mixture to coat. Add 1 tablespoon oil and toss to combine.

3. Grill the chicken until cooked through.

4. Spread 1/4 cup of cucumber-yogurt mixture on pita and top with the chicken, tomato, and lettuce

YUM this is so good and is very easy to make.

Today I frolicked in the snow taking water samples at Deer Creek. It was the best.