Coming Clean: Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

So, here's a little update on life: It's crazy busy.

I realized a few days ago as I was planning for the month that I divulged all kinds of TMI back in May and then never followed up about it.

{Kind of like those NYC posts that I STILL haven't had the time to finish sharing. Ugh.}

Since that time, I've shared 10 "Coming Clean" recipes, went just about completely dairy-free for 6 weeks, and majorly curbed my sugar intake. It was glorious.

Then vacation happened. And birthdays. And baby showers. And weddings. I gave myself a little wiggle room {mostly in the form of ice cream}, and have been more lenient with the types of foods I've allowed, making sure to stay veggie and fruit-heavy, but definitely indulging here and there.

I was supposed to have my follow up appointment with the doctor in the beginning of July, but had to postpone it because her schedule and mine just wouldn't sync up.

So... the news is, there's still no news.

This week I'll finally get everything checked out again and see what's going on. I'm bracing myself for things I may not want to hear {i.e. surgery}, but hoping that my push to actively "clean up" my diet has made even the tiniest bit of a difference.

I guess we'll see.

Meanwhile, I've continued to stay busy playing in the kitchen with different ways to make eating healthy fun and exciting.

Here are a few things I've discovered or confirmed throughout this little journey:

1. Some brands are tricky. "All Natural" does not, in fact, mean All Natural. Read labels and try to stay away from weird stuff. {I'll be sharing an in-depth post about this soon.}

2. It's easier {and less expensive} to make your own healthy food than to buy it pre-made. Finding the time... now that's a whole other topic.

3. Stevia tastes funny.

4. It IS possible for a dairy-holic {like myself} to enjoy a dairy-free lifestyle. There are a surprising array of different foods out there to make up for a lack of lactose. :)

5. Avocados make my day. So do super-easy healthy recipes like this one.

I'm embarrassed to even call this a recipe. It really isn't. It's just a bunch of yummy stuff tossed into a bowl that happens to taste really good together.

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad should be called "No Excuse Salad". Because there's really no reason you can't throw it together in about two seconds and have a healthy lunch or snack that is both filling and delicious.

One word of caution: You may want to serve this with a side of mouthwash or think about omitting the garlic {sacrilege, I know} if you're planning on coming into close proximity with others after eating it. In my opinion, the flavor is totally worth the stink.

Keeping my fingers crossed that this week will bring good news to share with you in upcoming posts, but for now, good recipes will just have to do. :) Have a great Monday, friends!

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Juice of half a lemon
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon dried mint {or 2 teaspoons fresh mint, well-minced}
1 clove garlic, grated
Sprinkle of sea salt
2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1-2 tomatoes, chopped
1/3 cup crumbled or diced feta cheese
1/3 cup Greek olives, chopped
Optional: Whole wheat pitas

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, mint, and salt.

2. Add chickpeas, chopped cucumber, tomatoes, feta cheese and Greek olives. Pour prepared vinaigrette over top.

3. Gently toss together to combine, making sure ingredients are fully coated.

4. Serve with warm whole wheat pitas, if desired.

*This can be eaten immediately, but it tastes even better after sitting in the fridge over night!

Works For Me!

Have I mentioned that I am now working two jobs? {One that I like WAY more than the other, but that pesky graduate degree in Education won't release it's grasp on me. I like kids... I just dislike teaching them against their will. :P }

I am lucky enough to be able to work mostly from home for my newer job as a marketing assistant for a fantastic author. Let me tell you, had I known how fabulous working from home can be, I would have insisted on doing so long ago. {Strike that. Fitting a classroom of 30 kids into my eensy weensy living room may have been a tad tricky - and a bit weird & illegal - now that I think about it.}

Aside from the fact that I am getting to write almost all the time {which I adore. Except for when I can't think of a darn thing to say.}, I am also enjoying the benefits of having my home as my workplace. Here are just a few things I've come to appreciate about it:

1. Working in my pj's. {Don't lie. I know you other work-from-homers do it, too.}
2. The fact that having bedhead and no makeup is completely acceptable in this workplace.
3. Typing, emailing, & social networking... from my big, cozy couch.
4. Using Starbucks as my conference room. {Although I could do without smelling like strongly brewed espresso all day afterward.}
5. Spending virtually no money on gas and transportation.
6. Being able to talk to myself and not have people around me think I'm nuts. {Except my husband when he comes home for lunch, but he knew what he was getting into when he put a ring on it.}
7. Setting my own schedule. I'm a creature of habit.
8. Having Food Network on mute in the background while I work. {I have no idea why I enjoy this, but I do.}
9. Being able to have something baking, or rising, or cooling while I'm getting other things done. It's like double productivity.
10. Never forgetting my lunch at home.

Don't worry, I still have to interact in person at my other job, so I won't go all Emily Dickinson on you. :)

Anyway, I realize this has nothing to do with food. I'm gettin' there.



Nestled snuggly in a whole wheat pita pocket. :)

We are finally starting to feel settled in to our new place, which means one thing: I'm back in the kitchen! Last night I made some tasty Greek Spinach & Feta Turkey Burgers with Cucumber-Dill Yogurt Sauce for dinner and they were delish. So good, in fact, that I had the leftovers for lunch today. :) I made them in my cast iron skillet, but you can grill them up or even turn them into meatballs. I've tried them all three ways and they turn out great.

Looks like a turkey burger daisy. Didn't even do that on purpose! :P

I don't have great pictures of them because, when I finally found my camera after our move, the battery was dead... and then I couldn't find the charger. :P But I promise, they taste MUCH better than they look. Give 'em a try!

Greek Spinach & Feta Turkey Burgers
a Kitchen Prep original recipe, although the idea has been done by just about everyone. ;)

You'll Need:

1 lb ground turkey meat
1/2 an onion, diced small
2-3 cloves of garlic, grated with microplane or minced
1/2 bag fresh spinach leaves (you could replace with frozen if you prefer)
3 oz (half a small tub) feta cheese
1/4 cup breadcrumbs (we used Glutino Gluten Free Bread Crumbs)
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp oregano
Olive oil
Salt to taste

1. Preheat grill or skillet with 1 tablespoon olive oil to medium high heat. In a medium saute pan, add 1 tablespoon olive oil.

2. Add onion and cook until translucent and softened. Grate garlic into pan and allow to cook with onions until fragrant, 1-2 minutes). Add fresh spinach leaves and saute until wilted down, 2-3 minutes. Set aside and let cool slightly.

3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine ground turkey, feta cheese, bread crumbs, onion powder, garlic powder, and oregano. Add cooled spinach and onion mixture. Combine until all ingredients are well distributed throughout the meat, being careful not to overhandle (makes for tough burgers).

4. Form into patties. {I made 8 smallish ones.}

5. Place patties on grill or in cast iron skillet and cook until thoroughly cooked through, 4-6 minutes per side.

6. Serve on hamburger buns or pitas with yogurt sauce & assorted veggies, or eat them plain like my hubby. :)


Cucumber-Dill Yogurt Sauce

1/2 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
1/3 small cucumber, peeled & diced small
1/2 tsp dill weed
1/4 tsp garlic powder (or to taste)
Pinch of salt

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Serve with burgers or as a tip for pitas or veggies.