Despite the recent absence of food diary posts, I’ve been taking pictures of food as obsessively as ever. Now, I finally feel ready to get back into full on food diary mode. Your kind words have encouraged me to keep the food diary posts coming, so that I will do, starting with yesterday.
I’m taking a little inspiration from Andrea at bella eats who often posts ingredients and recipes with her food diary. Her food photography also inspires me. I’m getting there… but not yesterday.
Diary for Monday, February 10, 2008
Fitness: Morning swim at 7am. Just a short one, about 15 minutes of freestyle and breaststroke. What a great way to wake up in the morning – way better than coffee!
Breakfast: Bircher muesli. Topped with banana and natural yogurt.
I know I said I was feeling the hot oatmeal lately, but I think this fascination is subsiding: I’ve had Bircher the last three days in a row. It’s fabulous stuff!
This batch was made with
1 cup oats
2 apricots
6 prunes
20g raisins
20g almonds
10g flax seeds
1 apple, graded
1 lemon wedge, juiced
Lunch: Tofu taco with salad.
The tofu taco filling was made by scrambling the following:
100g tofu
1 small onion
1 clove garlic
1 hot red chili pepper
1/4 each green and yellow bell pepper
pinch turmeric
a few pinches of cumin
a sprinkle of nutritional yeast
salt
pepper
This I stuffed into a corn tortilla and toped with black olives and some Trader Joe’s corn salsa.
The salad was basically just a pile of veggies – greens, cucumber, carrot, red onion, tomato, yellow bell pepper – topped with a bit of balsamic vinaigrette.
Fitness: I like to get out after lunch for a little stroll. I took a walk around the park in the London rain. The rain would have deterred me on the weekend, but in the middle of a weekday, those that don’t have to work tend to hide indoors, and I feel like I have the whole wet city to myself.
Dinner: Indian-spiced chickpeas and chard with raita, chapati, and raw veggies.
This picture is hideous – just look at that raita island, surrounded by a sea of tomato juice. Despite its somewhat sloppy appearance, this meal was delicious. And it came together very quickly. I had the chapati dough already made in the freezer and the chickpeas and chard are a cinch to make. And SO delicious. We eat it about once a week. OMG, I can’t wait to eat the leftovers.
After glowing about this dish so, I think I would be doing a disservice to you if I didn’t post the recipe:
Indian Chickpeas and Greens
This recipe calls for spinach, but you can use whatever greens you like. Chard is very nice! And feel free to use frozen, and add more or less to your liking. This is great with basmati rice or chapati.
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
10-15 curry leaves
1 16oz can chopped tomatoes
2 cups chickpeas
1 tsp hing / asafoetida
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 tsp salt
200g fresh spinach OR 20oz frozen spinach
Heat the olive oil in a large pot. Add the cumin, fennel and curry leaves. When the cumin and fennel turn a few shades darker, add the tomatoes, followed by everything else EXCEPT the spinach. Simmer for about 5-10 minutes, until the tomato has reduced a bit. Then add the spinach, cover and cook until the spinach is wilted. Have a taste and add more salt if desired.
Awe, thanks for the sweet compliment! I think your food photos are lovely, and I’m now dying to try the Indian chickpeas + greens…I have some kale in the fridge that desperately needs to be used tonight.
Glad you’re back in the swing of things!
From reading the above, it looks like you had a very healthy day! Making your own food is so much healthier than eating out. Thanks for the recipes too.
– Dave
No prob, Andrea! If you do make the chickpeas, let me know how it turns out!
Dave – you’re very welcome. =) I don’t eat out very much these days, and generally prefer home cooking anyway. It’s healthier, and usually tastier!
Sounds so delicious, I love chickpeas. Will have to restock my chickpea stash and give this recipe a shot!