Opa! Baked Falafel

The only other time I've made Greek food before was a horrible attempt at tabbouleh a few years ago. However, I've been craving falafel and I can't find a restaurant around me that makes it the way I like it. So I tried this recipe, and I'm so glad I did! 

Yield: I got 7 patties out of this, but I probably could've gotten 8 to make it even. Nutrition is per falafel, so 1/7 of the recipe.

Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil, divided

1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1 c diced onion (use frozen if desired)

1/4 tsp garlic powder

2 tbsp dried parsley

2 tbsp dried cilantro

Zest of small lemon

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/3 c flour

1 egg, beaten

Preparation:

1. Coat a metal pan (I used a skillet) with cooking spray and 1 tbsp olive oil and put it in oven. Preheat to 375 degrees.

2. Pulse chickpeas, onion, garlic powder, cilantro, lemon zest, parsley, salt, cumin, pepper flakes, and baking powder in food processor until minced (not a paste). Transfer to bowl and stir in the egg and flour.

3. Drop mixture in golf ball sized amounts in the pan and bake 20 minutes.


4. Brush (or drizzle) falafel with remaining oil, flip, and bake another 15-20 minutes until golden brown on both sides.

Serve with pita bread, tabbouleh, and yogurt sauce (6 oz fat free Greek yogurt, juice of 1/2 lemon, salt, and cayenne pepper to taste). For the bread I used multi-grain Itsy-Bitsy Pita Pockets - they are only 40 calories each, and they were the perfect size for the falafel!

Shredded Chicken Nachos (with Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips!)

Today was my first day back to work and I decided to have a really good dinner to clear my head. I'm feeling much better except for my ears, which are still stopped up (like that feeling you get when your ears pop on a plane), and I'm about to go nuts listening to myself breathe really loudly all day. Couple that with the fact that I could only hear about 80% of what people were saying all day -- you get the idea. I needed some good food.

This started out as tostadas and by the time I got done, it ended up as delicious nachos. Mmm!

Servings: Listed as serving 1, but of course multiply by as many as you want

Ingredients:

1/2 chicken breast, grilled and shredded (or really any protein you like...lean ground beef, steak strips, ground turkey, meatless crumbles, etc)

3 six-inch corn tortillas, each cut into six to make 18 pre-chips

1/2 c fat free refried beans

1/4 c Mexican blend shredded 2% cheese

1/2 c shredded lettuce

1/2 c chunky salsa/pico de gallo

1 tbsp diced jalapeños

1 1/2 tbsp light sour cream

Canola oil cooking spray

Salt and lime juice to taste (optional)

Preparation:

I almost burned these...

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and lay the tortilla pieces in a single layer. Make sure that there is space between the edges of each chip - if you put them too close together, they won't crisp up. Spray the tops of the chips with the cooking spray, and then sprinkle salt as desired. Once the oven is heated, put the chips in and bake for 8-10 minutes, until chips become crisp. Be careful not to let them turn brown, they can burn quickly!

2. While the chips are baking, heat the refried beans in the microwave for about one minute fifteen seconds, until hot. Get all your delicious toppings ready!

3. When the chips come out, scoop them on a plate and start layering. My order? Beans, chicken, cheese, lettuce, salsa, jalapeños, and sour cream, with a little fresh lime juice drizzled on the top. If you like your cheese extra melty, put it in the microwave for 30 seconds after the cheese goes on top, then finish with the cold toppings.

Experiments in Fashion Inspiration

I've been crazy bored out of my mind the past few days while I've been sick, and I decided to channel it toward something (somewhat) constructive. I've been looking at what to buy with my weight loss reward this month since I'm pretty sure with the plague that I have I'll make it to March 1 without regaining five pounds, and the online shopping has been out of control.

So for those readers who are less than interested in fashion inspirations, I'll make these posts after the jump for you. You are welcome.

Quick Update and February Goal Met! For Now...

This isn't me. I don't look this cute when I'm sick.

Just a quick update since I've been MIA for a few days. I've been really sick, finally went to the doctor today and got my antibiotics for a sinus infection. While I've been moping around the house in my pajamas the past three days, I've lost roughly six pounds. I'm sure at least half of that will come back on once I start feeling better, but I'm still counting it as reaching my February goal early! Total weight loss right now is at 16.8 pounds since January 1, which I think is pretty awesome.

Anyway, I haven't really been cooking and have been surviving off of leftovers made last week and takeout, so I'll just list a few of the things I've been doing the past few days:

1. Drinking a lot of V8 Fusion Strawberry Banana. I usually don't drink these since an 8 ounce serving has 120 calories and I prefer to eat, not drink, my calories, but I bought some cans a couple of months ago and they have been a real lifesaver this week. Got a bunch of good vitamins and fruit and veggie servings, and it's tasty too.

2. Watching Jersey Shore. Before this year I was one of the few proud people to be able to say that I'd never seen Jersey Shore. No longer, my friends. I have crumbled in my resolve and I love every minute of it. They've been running marathons on MTV and VH1, and I can't get enough. 

3. Ordering Asian takeout. I've been very good about cooking at home and not ordering food in or picking it up on the way back from work, but the past few days I just haven't been able to get myself psyched up for cooking, and there's always something comforting about some chinese or thai takeout. I called into my favorite thai place today for a pick up, and when the woman asked for my name, I said "ReDAY" with my stopped-up nose. She asked again, seemingly alarmed. I replied, "ReDAY! ReDAY! Sorry, I have a cold." She started laughing and said she'd see me soon. When I went to pick it up, I found that she included an egg roll and a cup of soup for free and told me to get better. (This is why I love Thai Spice. Seriously, check it out.)

4. Eating gummy vitamins. I love these, and the fact that they make them for adults now only proves how right I have been in taking the children's vitamins all along. The best I've found is the Slice of Life brand, but I've been known to take some Spiderman gummies from time to time. 

Hopefully next week I'll be back in full force. Stay well!

Gym Workout Today

Went to the gym (at my apartment complex) for the first time in...I can't remember when. Maybe last summer? Maybe.

I burned 350 calories on the elliptical in a little over 30 minutes. I was worried going in that I wouldn't be able to finish the full 30 minutes, but I surprised myself!

Definitely going more often now. Bonus: there were only two other people at any given point, so that was great. I expected it to be WAY more crowded around 7 o'clock.

I got my charm in the mail today, so I added it to my bracelet. Hopefully I can make this month's goal! I'm afraid it's going to be close, but so far a total of 12 pounds down since January 1!

Valentine's Day Treats!

Happy Valentine's Day! I spent all day yesterday baking and making these delicious treats to take into the office this morning. I felt a little like a crazy person since there were way more cake balls than I anticipated and ended up bringing in just under 100 of them, but most of them were gone by the end of the day, so I think they enjoyed them. Recipes will be posted later!

Red velvet cake balls in chocolate and powdered sugar

Cinnamon and sugar biscotti

Rice krispie treats

Oreo truffles

Just Another Meatball Monday

It was just another meatball Monday
I wish it was Sunday
'Cause that's my funday
My I-don't-have-to-run day
It's just another meatball Monday

So if you don't get the joke, you need to watch this video immediately.

Now that you've done that and laughed at my hilarious reference, take a look at my Valentine's Day dinner. I have been craving beef for a few days and I finally decided to make some penne and meatballs with arrabiata sauce. It was amazing.

Yield: 5 servings (about 15 meatballs if you make them pretty big)


Ingredients: 
1 lb lean ground beef (93% lean)
Jennie-O hot italian turkey sausage (3 links)
1/3 c breadcrumbs with Italian seasoning
2 eggs
1/4 c shredded Parmesan
18 oz jar pasta sauce (I used Safeway brand arrabiata)
Salt and pepper to taste



Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Remove turkey sausage from the casing and set aside.
2. Pour breadcrumbs into a large bowl and add 1/3 cup of hot water. Stir until moistened and let sit until the water is fully absorbed. Add eggs, Parmesan, and salt and pepper.
3. Mix in beef and turkey sausage - don't be afraid to use your hands! Form the meatballs, making sure they are equally sized so they will cook evenly.
4. Brown the meatballs in a skillet over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes on each side, or until some of the fat drains off.
5. Spray a large baking dish with cooking spray and place the meatballs in the dish. Make sure there is a little room between the edges. Pour the sauce over the meatballs.
6. Bake at 425 degrees for 35 minutes until bubbling. Serve with penne and mozzarella or Parmesan on top.

This was so good, and I'm definitely planning on freezing these for when I get another craving! In case you're curious, I used Barilla Plus pasta since it has extra fiber and I hate the taste of whole wheat pasta.