Came home from lab around 4:30 really hungry. I guess my cheese + bread lunch wasn’t as good as it tasted. I thought about doing some baking, but I decided I didn’t want to wait for something to cook, so I dug into the cereal.
First I had this bowl of H2H, TJ’s High Fiber, granola plank and 2% milk.
Then I went back for a 1/3 cup-ish more H2H to finish off the milk.
THEN I spotted the Blondies on top of the fridge and had half of one (on the left in there). A little mindless eating, eh?
I think I was itching of boredom so I decided to go for a long walk in the neighborhood (~45 mins) with a magazine. I should have taken my Nutrition textbook, but I reasoned that it was too heavy to carry 😳
Of course I spoiled my dinner appetite with my snacking. We had this recipe planned: Chickpea and Spinach Salad with Cumin Dressing and Yogurt Sauce. We didn’t eat until close to 8pm (the husband spoiled his own appetite eating tofu at work).
As usual, I changed it around a bit. Here’s what went in our version (serves 2):
- 1.5 cups chickpeas (made from scratch on Sunday)
- 2 stalks celery
- 1 orange, sectioned
- 1/3 small cucumber
- 6 mint leaves chopped
- Abbout 2-3 tbsp toasted almonds for garnish
- Dressing:
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp orange juice
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp honey mustard
- 2 tbsp low-fat buttermilk (didn’t want to waste the delicious greek yogurt on a dressing and we had this on hand)
- S+P to taste
All served with a small pile of garlic-canola sauteed spinach with toasty almonds on top!
I also had a small piece of crusty bread with whipped butter on the side –
The dish was pretty good. The husband loved it. I thought the addition of orange sections and almonds were the best part. And as always, beans made from scratch are SO much better than canned beans. They have a firmer texture and aren’t at all slimy or dried out.
Not sure what I’ll be up to for the rest of the evening, but I really need to do some nutrition reading.
Tomorrow is the husband’s first day of 4:00am bakery work. He’s getting up at 3:00am I think!? He’s going to bike to the store uptown, which is about 45 minutes away, but his regular store that is opening in a few weeks is much closer so he won’t need to get up quite that early on a regular basis. I’m sure glad I’m not the one getting up! I guess this is revenge for all the days I’ve gotten up and gone to the gym at 5 without him and left him snuggled in bed (with his animal!)
G’night!
Grounded Fitness says
im confused- whys the title Dixie Chicks?
Im also not sure what a Blondie is but it looks delicious.
and dinner looks like a way healthier version of the chinese food i usually get- maybe ill have to make this instead
Kelly Turner
www.groundedfitness.com
Kath says
Kelly,
I’m trrrryyying to stretch “Chicks” to Chickpeas!! Guess my creativity came to a road block.
K
VeggieGirl says
Spinach & Chickpea Salad + BLONDIES = great food choices. Yum!!
Maureen says
His animal? He he he. After your post title all I can hear in my head is “Cowboy taaaake me awaaaaaay”.
Maureen says
Oooh, I just read a couple posts back about your sleep mumblings, thus “the animal”. I had mistakenly pictured a grown man in bed with Blues Clues or something. 🙂
Megan says
What a delicious dinner! Wow ,that is early, but I guess if the bread has to be ready they have to start the process earlier!
coco says
Poor the Husband. But if it’s something that he enjoys, he’ll be happy getting up early!
zestycook says
Hey Kath,
Love the spinach and chick pea salad combo. I have yet to find a bad combination with spinach. I love it! Great post! Poor husband. I feel bad… he is so keen biking as well. Great to see you guys are so energetic.
Amy says
Your dinner looks fab! And so do those blondies… 🙂
caitlin says
wow husband!! you are seriously dedicated, i love it.
kath – dinner looks yummy!
Lee says
Hi Kath,
I’ve been reading (and enjoying) your blog for awhile but haven’t yet left a comment. But I have to ask:
1. What is BRB?
2. How do you go for a walk with a magazine or book? Do you stop somewhere along the way, or do you literally read and walk at the same time? How do you concentrate on what you’re reading? And how do you avoid getting so involved that you don’t walk into anything? As you can tell, I just can’t picture this.
Keep up with the great recipes. I’ve tried a couple and they were delish!
Justy2003 says
Wow, the husband has to get up at 3 am to be there at 4 am after a 45 minute bike ride? Wish I was a guy so I could get ready in 15 minutes! 🙂 At least he’ll be getting a bit of a workout in on his ride there…that’s definitely a plus!
I haven’t tried much cooking with chickpeas but this looks good! I’ve been getting bored with dinners lately so I think I need to start looking into some new stuff! I’ll probably start checking out your recipes some more to get some ideas 😉
daphna says
Yum, I loved using dried beans too. By the way, I was wondering if you have a favorite baked oatmeal recipe out of the several you have on here? Thanks!!
Fleur says
3am is disgustingly early – does that even count as morning? Still, good luck to the Husband tomorrow ‘morning’.
Delicious looking dinner! How could anything with both chickpeas and spinach fail to please?
Biz319 says
Good luck getting up Matt! Hope all goes well!
Beth says
Kath,
I just started using dried beans (because they are cheaper than canned) and have so far found that I don’t like them as much – maybe I am preparing them wrong? They always seem to have a somewhat dry, mealy texture…. Any tips? I typically soak at least 8 hours, then boil for 1-2.
magpie says
Okay, that is early. I hope he has fun!
Hope you’re having a great night, and getting the nutrition reading done! The salad looks great 🙂
Jenny says
Haha … I can totally relate to “the husband” I have to wake up at 3:30 am to open for my job, I bike also. Lots of fun, woo hoo!! Love the blog, btw 🙂
RD2be says
Wow, I have to get up at 3am to be at work at 5am. If I had to be there at 4 I’d have to wake up at 2! I might as well not go to bed then. I’m impressed.
Josie says
You know, sometimes I wonder if some people just aren’t meant to eat dinner. I always spoil my appetite with afternoon snacking. Eh, maybe that’s just me.
madison (follow my weigh) says
i feel bad for the husband!! wow, well good thing he likes biking. biking at 3am for 45 minutes??
Laurel says
Does anyone know of a connection between stress and constantly getting sick (e.g., colds, inflamed lymph nodes, flu-like symptoms)? My job is extremely stressful and it’s taken a toll on my mind and body.
I try to be active but I’m just so worn out all the time and keep coming down with something. I started taking vitamins again recently and switched to just walking at the gym (instead of pushing myself to do heart-pounding, sweaty workouts) if that’s what my body feels like doing.
Food is another story; my husband is so incredibly picky that he barely eats anything, and I’ve been so busy and tired with no energy to cook. Plus I’m bored of eating the same things but not enough time to branch out and experiment.
Any advice? Thanks
Kath says
Lee ,
BRB is computer talk for “be right back.”
Walking with a magazine is much easier than you would think. You just have to try it. Walk in open pathways or quiet neighborhoods – not anywhere busy or dangerous. You just have to look up every few steps and use your peripheral vision.
daphna ,
I think the Baked Brulee is the best because of the topping 🙂
Beth ,
It sounds to me like you are overcooking them. I skip the soak these days (I’ve found you don’t have to soak many things that recommend it like wheat berries) and just bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer on a very slow boil (just enough heat so there are bubbles) for 1-2 hours. I just taste test along the way and see if the beans have lost their crunch. I like my beans with more texture, so this method works for me.
Laurel ,
There is a strong connection between stress and the immune system. There is a great article in this month’s Body + Soul Magazine on stress and staying healthy. Check it out when you’re in the grocery shopping line or buy it.
Kath
Andrea (Off Her Cork) says
Ooo that dinner looks awesome!
SmA033 says
you made the chickpea salad!! i’m glad you liked it. I was surprised by the combination of orange with yogurt in a savory salad but it works really well. And it’s really filling too!
Meredith says
wow, 3AM? And I thought it was rough when I had to get up at 4AM back when I was working at Starbucks!