Posts tagged ‘Hummus’

February 13, 2012

Where Have I Been?

I really haven’t had time to experiment with new recipes lately and my “blogging time” has been devoted to reading others, discovering new daily reads (post on that soon!) along the way. Between rebuilding my strength after getting over my weird flu-like illness, work, school, commuting to Manhattan, interning, race training, etc., there has been very little time to be in the kitchen. Forgive me?

          

Meals have been looking a lot like the picture to the left. I know it doesn’t look that appetizing, but it’s quite tasty. Stir-fried veggies and tofu (in a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar) with a generous dollop of red pepper hummus, a sprinkle of nutritional yeast and a pinch or two of chia seeds. Satisfying and power boosting…just what I needed to get my sluggish self through last week’s workouts. In other news, Mike is done with workie for a bit now that the football season is over. It’s SO nice to have my man back. After interning Thursday, we went out to Market Cafe around the corner from his place. Mike wasn’t too adventurous and got a burger, while I ordered the delicious salmon, which was over a bed of oven roasted potatoes, asparagus and roasted red pepper sauce. Although I swore to give up on most fruit until they come back into season (everything  has been so mealy! bleh…), I’ve been on quite an orange kick lately. Out of pure curiousity, I bought and tried my first tangelo (a cross between an orange and grapefruit) last week, which I adored. Add in a cup of Jo in the lovely (teehee, get it?) February cup from Starbucks and you’ve got yourself the perfect afternoon snack! 

          

Saturday morning I bundled up and hit the frosty pavement with Amanda. How about that Okemo Mountain headband circa 1995? A few flakes fell here and there during our jog but the chilly weather didn’t hold us back from completing our 6-miles in exactly an hour. Slow and steady wins the race! Shortly after, I headed back up to school to go to the UConn women’s basketball game vs. Georgetown with the folks and Mike. Lots of guacamole, dinner and margaritas at Agave Grill, my favorite Mexican restaurant, followed. My new favorite cocktail, the Margarita Fresca (Partida Reposado, Cointreau, fresh squeezed lime juice and orange juice). Strong and refreshing!

How. Good. Does. That. Look. Believe me, the picture doesn’t even BEGIN to do the Pasilla Rubbed Tuna any justice. Ahi tuna rubbed with a Pasilla crust, grilled (I asked for as rare as possible!) and served with roasted corn, black bean and mango salsa. Um, yum. Instead of rice, I asked for the grilled veggies, which were out of this world. Add the drizzle of Chimichurri sauce and a mountain of crispy tortilla strips and you’ve got yourself a winner. Mike and I ended up stopping by to see some friends in the area afterward and did a whole lot of nothing (I even skipped the exercise, gasp!) yesterday except enjoy one another’s company. It was weird literally catching up after a month or so of chaotic work schedules. It’s great to have him back.
What’s been up with you? 

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren 

October 8, 2011

A Taste of Heaven

Starbucks Americanos with an extra shot of espresso make tough Thursdays all the more manageable.

Veggie-filled lunch during my copy editing lecture…worth all the stares from my peers.

 Pumpkin ale after a long day of studying? Quite a lovely and festive dessert. I earned it. Yum!

Enjoy your weekend!

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

June 21, 2011

Monday Cuisine

Today started off early. I woke up — thanks to my own mental alarm clock — at 4:15. Yes, a.m. and yes, it was still dark out. After ignoring my sleepy eyes and tight hamstrings (as a result of the Branford 5-mile Road Race I competed in yesterday), I thew on my running shoes for a 3-mile course near my house. It felt great to breathe in the crisp, summer air and work out the kinks in my cramped legs, all the while be guided solely by the glow of a flashlight. I ate a solid breakfast, showered and before I knew it, I was on the train into Grand Central. Rise and grind! Gotta love Mondays…

I met up with my friend, Chelsea, for lunch in Bryant Park. (We commuted in this morning again together. Her last day of her co-op is tomorrow, total bummer. I’m going to miss my train buddy!) The weather was gorgeous — not too hot and not too cold — so I was psyched to catch a few rays during my lunch break! My metabolism has been running wild with the mileage I put in running this weekend so I indulged in a veggie-filled salad and roll of sushi (salmon, avocado and roe wrapped in cucumber) from Zeytinz Fine Food Market Place. It was just as good as it looks, if not better!

At 6, I got out of my internship and met up with my friend, Laura, for dinner in West Village after a few stops on the subway, which I might add I’m starting to get the hang of…somewhat. We decided that Hummus Place looked appetizing after coming to the conclusion we wanted something light, fresh and summery. It was all that and more…plus outdoor seating to enjoy prime people watching. Check out my gorgeous “Health Salad” made of freshly cut tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley and onions. Crunchy and full of flavor!

For an entree, we split the “Hummus Fava” which was topped with fava beans, Tahini, hard boiled egg, olive oil and spices. DIVINE! Instead of eating it with the pita, I spooned it onto my salad.

Laura opted to do the same with her “Tabule Quinoa” dish. She was raving about it, respectfully so! Yum.

Before heading back to her beautiful apartment, where I’m currently enjoying the comfort of her couch, we stopped by Phileo Yogurt for some dessert. I got a heavenly combination of non-fat chocolate, cappuccino and strawberry froyo topped with fresh raspberries. Holy cannoli! It was glorious. I’m not one for sweets or desserts, but every once in a while you deserve to treat yourself. I savored every last bite. All in all, another great day in the city. Now it’s time for me to get some shut eye and be grateful to be able to wake up with barely a commute tomorrow…just a few blocks to walk! It will be great exercise. Special thanks to Laura for letting me crash on her couch! Night, all!
What are your favorite froyo flavors and toppings?

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren 

May 24, 2011

Favorite Things, Round 2

After a seven hour shift on my feet, followed by a decent workout, I am pooped and turning in early. Don’t ya just love being in bed by 10 PM on a Monday evening? I know I do. Macbook + online shopping + Adele’s 21 CD (which has been blasting on repeat the last two weeks) = ideal. Woop, woop…am I one wild and crazy 21-year-old or what? Anyway, I have some new, favorite food obsessions I would like to share with you, all in which are pictured below. Not the most fun or intriguing of posts, but a necessary one to hopefully perk up some of your taste buds!

Bartlett pear slices with almond butter…a favorite snack of mine, which I picked up on thanks to a friend of mine (Amy). Take your morning toast up a notch by adding on this delightful combination (with a drizzle of honey or agave nectar). Can I hear an AMEN?

AVOCADOS ARE FINALLY REALLY IN SEASON! In other words, I’ve been avocado-happy, topping everything and anything with this glorious fruit…or is it a vegetable? Regardless, I love ‘em, especially on my scrambled eggs in the morning. The past few I picked up from my local Stop & Shop have been flawless and divine.

You can’t go wrong with a humongous salad. Top it with avocado, tofu cubes, an assortment of fresh, colorful veggies, sesame seeds and a large dollop of hummus? Even better. Clean meal for a clean eatin’ gal. I’ll take it any day.

Here’s one of my favorite evening snacks when I’m plopped in front of the television, feeling the need to graze and craving something both salty and sweet: savory popcorn, popped on the stove. Making it yourself on the stovetop is a healthier alternative to sodium-filled, overly buttery microwavable bags, plus a lot tastier and versatile (you can mix in your favorite spices for a whole new take on this classic snack). Did I mention low-cal? Um, yes please? I’ve been making mine in extra virgin olive oil and seasoning with cinnamon with a quick drizzle of agave nectar for a sweet, dessert-like snack. Surprisingly very filling, might I add!

Although I would have loved to have had the opportunity to live in NYC this summer, being home has suited me well. Having home-cooked meals prepared for me has added to the overall appeal, I’m not going to lie. Cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner for yourself day in and day out as an off-campus student can be taxing after a while! My father made the baked salmon pictured above for dinner last night with a side of corn on the cob and fiddleheads (below). Just a little bit of olive oil, sliced green peppers, parsley, onion and lemon made for pure perfection. I likey.

I had never tried fiddleheads before last night but can officially call myself a fan. My dad simply sautéed them in a little bit of olive oil, garlic and shallots. Yum, yum, yum! Welp, there ya have it. My recent favorite foodie trends I can’t get enough of the past few weeks.
What have you been loving lately?

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

April 18, 2011

Summer-Inspired Zesty Basil Burger

Nothing reminds me of summer quite like a solid burger. My two vegetarian summers were such a drag and not nearly as delightful without the staple cookout food. Don’t get me wrong, I love veggie burgers but the fact I was always making things difficult at BBQs, having to explain why I became a vegetarian and that whole schtick in the process, became tiresome. Regardless, I still make things somewhat difficult for I haven’t consumed red meat since (except over this past Christmas break when I was starving at our family friends house and a bit tipsy but that’s neither here nor there…) my senior year of high school and therefore turned to turkey burgers. Ground turkey is much leaner and, in my opinion, tastes better so I’m fully content with bringing my own patties wherever the grilling takes place, often converting beef-lovers into turkey burger fans.

 I desperately needed to take a break last night from my endless amount of end-of-the-year group projects/papers so decided to make a light, summer-inspired dinner. I had fresh basil in the fridge leftover from a wine/homemade pizza dinner I hosted Friday with friends so experimented a bit with my favorite herb, alongside some spinach, garlic and onion, of course.

Ingredients
20 oz. 99% Fat Free ground turkey
2 tablespoons chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped spinach
1 finely chopped garlic clove
Juice of half a lime
Pinch of chili powder and cayenne pepper
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper 

To start, finely chop onion, spinach and garlic. In a large bowl, combine the veggies with the ground turkey with the freshly squeezed lime juice.

Season with chili powder, sea salt, cayenne and freshly ground pepper. Add more for more kick!

Mix together and form into patties. Can you tell I was hungry with my enormous portion size? Sorry I’m not sorry…

Time for the grill! Yummm…

I put my burger on a grilled whole wheat wrap (which ended up getting crispy and chip-like) with a generous dollop of hummus. It was delightful, alongside spicy cayenne-lime veggies. Too bad tomatoes aren’t in season yet, otherwise I would have had a nice thick slice on there. I was also wishing I had some feta cheese to crumble on top. Shoulda, coulda, woulda. Dear summer, get here faster. Please and thank you! What is your favorite summer food? Are you a burger fan (veggie, beef or turkey)?

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

March 16, 2011

Green-ify Your Sandwich

I am a person of habit. Once I find something I like, I simply can’t get enough of it! Although I enjoy spontaneity from time to time, I typically stick with my planned and known comfort (whether it be food, scheduling tactics, clothing brands, etc.) Coinciding with this epiphany, my lunch recently has remained fairly consistent: turkey wraps. I’m going through a phase where I simply can’t get through my day without a solid sandwich. After returning back to school Sunday, I stopped at the grocery store and picked up what I needed for the week, which of course included my new lunch necessities.

Near the deli line, I came across Joseph’s Flax Oat Bran & Whole Wheat Lavash Bread. They looked great, I liked the “Reduced Carb, Reduced Fat and High Protein” concept plus saw that they were only 50 calories! Sold…

It wasn’t until I was unloading my groceries that I took a closer look and saw the “*per serving.” Fail. I hate misleading advertising! Still, you can’t beat 100 calories. They’re light, soft and easy to stuff a lot into!

Anyway, my typical wrap fix-ins have recently included hummus, alfalfa sprouts, cucumbers, spinach, turkey and swiss cheese.

The hummus (and/or avocado, if you have it) serves as a great substitute to fatty condiments like mayonnaise and adds an interesting texture alongside the fresh crunch of the sprouts, spinach and cucumber. Wraps like these provide the perfect opportunity to sneak in your daily serving of vegetables! In honor of St. Patty’s day, load up on the greens!

What does your typical lunch consist of? Do you play it safe, like me, trusting your routine and habits or are you more spontaneous?

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

February 4, 2011

Foodie Fact Friday: Super Bowl Edition

Beer, chicken wings, nachos, pigs in a blanket…the Super Bowl has turned into a tradition focused more on binge eating and drinking than watching the actual game. No matter where you end up plopped in front of a television, there will undoubtedly be a buffet of junk food, calories and fat. Just because the guys on your flat screen are running around and sweating doesn’t mean you can gorge yourself! Try noshing on some of my healthy-alternatives below, all previous posts of mine (a little walk down memory lane).

Kiwi Salsa

Black Bean and Corn Salad/Salsa

Crispy Roasted Chickpeas

Hummus

Turkey, Brie and Apple Sandwich

Turkey Chili

Gingery Turkey & Cucumber Pitas w/ Ramen Noodle Salad

No Bake Cookies

For more ideas and healthy recipes check out FitSugar.com or EatingWell.com. Have fun this weekend! Let’s go Giants! …oh wait, they were awful this year. Fail.

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren


January 20, 2011

Healthy Hummus

As you already know, I love chickpeas (seen here and here). With lots of veggies in the fridge and my new mini food processor, I decided a dip was a must and what better a snack than hummus? A lot of times hummus can be pricy at the grocery store so if you’re on a budget like me (oh, the life of a college student…) making your own is great on both your wallet and stomach.

Ingredients
1 can garbanzo beans (drained)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons lemon juice (or more if you like lemons like me!)
1-2 tablespoons olive oil (depending on how thick you like it)

The instructions on this one are easy: put all the ingredients into the food processor and blend together until desired consistancy! I kept mine a little chunky. Slice up your favorite vegetables and dig in! Easy and delicious if you’re hosting a party or great to nibble on as a healthy afternoon snack.

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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