Sweet Potato Falafel Ball Salad

Pin It For those of you who love sweet potatoes and love falafels, this is for you.  This here, is the good stuff.  It's funny, because a few years ago, I don't think you could have gotten me to eat a falafel. I wasn't a big fan of chickpeas (or trying new things) in general and I was pretty afraid of hummus.  In fact, I think the only sauces I would eat were ketchup and ranch.  Oh how my world has expanded and I have fallen in love with the chickpea and all its splendor (and lots of other things, too - I am still working on seafood though).

Every time I think of Falafels I think of Paris, and if you haven't been to L'As du Fallafel, put it on the bucket list.  It is that good.... and you can visit Paris on the side (bonus!)!  Well, this salad isn't quite L'As du Fallafel,  it is a delicious and healthy alternative (or you can try my Falafel Inspired Veggie Burger).

This salad was filling and a perfect way to spice up my post-baby salad a day plan.  I realized after a few days on the "regimen", I needed a salad with some oomph, or I would be snacking on chips an hour later (kind of defeats the whole purpose, hey?).  Breastfeeding makes a gal hungry and now is not the time to go on a diet.  Eat healthy, yes, but limit myself and feel famished (small exaggeration), no.  This salad will leave you full and satisfied.

I topped mine with a homemade tzatziki, but think tahini or hummus and tzatziki combined would be even better.  Yes, top falafels with hummus.  One can never have too many chickpeas.

Eat, Enjoy and brainstorm about what to do with 3/4 head of purple cabbage or plan a trip to L'As du Fallafel.  Ideas?

Falafel Ball Salad (as adapted from My New Roots)
Makes 15 balls

Balls:
3 small sweet potatoes (mine were pretty small, if you have medium size, use 2, and large, use 1)
1 jar of chickpeas
1 egg
1/4 c chopped fresh cilantro
1 small yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 green onions
2 t cumin
Juice of half a lemon
3/4 c whole wheat bread crumbs
salt and pepper
sesame seeds (for rolling balls in)

Pierce holes in sweet potatoes with a fork.  Bake at 400 for ~30 minutes or until softened.  Let cool.  Peel and put flesh in a medium sized mixing bowl.  Mix egg and chickpeas in a blender until fairly smooth with some small bits.  Combine in mixing bowl.  Add cilantro, yellow onion, green onion, garlic, cumin, lemon juice, bread crumbs and salt and pepper.  Mix.  Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes (this will make the ball forming process easier).  Form into balls.  If it is too mushy, you can add more bread crumbs but I found 3/4 cup was sufficient.  Roll in sesame seeds.  Bake for 30 minutes at 400.  Top them on a salad.

Salad

1/2 head lettuce ( your choice)
1/4 head purple cabbage, chopped
1-2 carrots, shredded
1 red pepper

Combine all ingredients.  Top with Falafel balls and Tzatziki or Tahini Sauce.  Serve immediately.

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Blueberry Peach Salad

Pin It Well, a lot has happened since my last post, namely Charlie was born.  He graced us with his presence one week and one day late, on July 22 and nothing has been the same since!

I have been pretty much AWOL this entire pregnancy.  Hey - I was growing a human, that's some tiring work.  Then after growing him, taking care of him happened and that is even more tiring.  Now that he is nearly 6 weeks old, I have decided to get back in the saddle and do some recipe blogging again (and soon travelling- WOO HOO!).  Hopefully I can get the creative juices flowing, because during pregnancy I didn't really have any (creative juices, or energy for that matter) and ate a lot of same old, easy dishes and Domino's Pizza and cake and ice cream and chips.  So my cravings weren't the most healthy (nor energizing).  I have to add that I ate a lot of fruits and vegetables, but this was in addition to lots of junk.  Now that I lost my excuse to eat like crap -I am a pregnant lady- give me what I want NOW (which actually sounds really bad), it is time to clean up my act.

To start, I am replacing one meal per day with a salad.  We generally eat a lot of salad, but as a side dish in addition to the pasta or frozen pizza.  But, now I am cutting out that pizza or pasta, at least for one meal per day.  It's not too bold, but it's a start.  To prevent boredom, I am going to have to mix up my salad eating a lot.  No more lettuce, cuc, and tomato only salads (I will still eat them, I just won't blog about it).  It's time to experiment with some new fruits and veggies and homemade dressing concoctions.

Onto the delicious salad creation we enjoyed this afternoon with the end of the season's blueberries and peaches.

Blueberry Peach Salad

Ingredients:
1 head red leaf lettuce
1 c blueberries
1 peach
1/2 cucumber
1-2 T pumpkin seeds
Goat Cheese (as much as you desire)

Viniagarette:
2 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 T Balsamic Vinegar
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
1 T Pure Maple Syrup
a dash of salt

Combine Viniagrette ingredients and refrigerate.  Combine salad ingredients.  Top with vinaigrette before serving.

Bon Appetit!

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Lisbon, Portugal: Babymoon Part I

Pin It To kick off our babymoon, Paul and I jumped on a plane to Faro, Portugal, where we then jumped in a car and headed to the oldest city in Western Europe, Lisbon, Portugal.  Lisbon is a beautiful city, which (in parts) still has that old town feel, something not a lot of big European cities still have....

Starting with the vintage trams that connect the city.  It is mandatory, when in Lisbon, to take the famous Tram 28.  Unfortunately, as this is not a little known secret the tram is pretty packed (like Portuguese sardines).  I suggest to take it later in the day, after the cruise ships have left and you might have better luck snagging a seat.  Fortunately for me, the Portuguese are very kind to pregnant woman, and the second I walked on a mother and child scooted together so I could share their seat with them (I have yet to see this kind of courtesy on the Brussels Metro).

As people cleared out, we got a chance to sit together.

Showing it's Moorish influence, its still common to see buildings covered in mosaic azulejos or tiles.  The ones shown below, are typical Moorish fashion, consisting of geometric shapes.  Some of the facades can get really fancy, as shown here in this post of Lisbon Lux Magazines most beautiful facades.  I think I prefer the geometric shapes.

No where in Lisbon feels as original as the typical Alfama district.  This is where the streets are still small enough that one needs to walk single file, where the houses could be too small to contain a shower and you will meet your neighbors in the public showers nearby (talk about getting to know your neighbors!), where people use laundry-mats from a different time (without washers and dryers, shown below), and where everyone knows your name.  Our guide José, from Lisbon Chill Out Tours, showed to us the real Alfama.  As we walked through the area, he greeted everyone, it seemed by name and explained to us the ins and outs of the area.  We even (well not me) got to try some homemade Ginja (a Portuguese licquor made of sour cherries) from Tina, a woman who sells her homemade concoction outside her living room window in the Alfama district for one euro.

We spent the afternoon walking around Lisbon with  José.  Not only did he show us the Alfama district, but he showed us the main non-tourist attractions Lisbon has to offer, sometimes taking us back in time, by having us close our eyes and painting a picture for us.  At one time, I felt like I was really at the Onion field market, being introduced to an onion for the first time as an adult, eyes watering, wondering what this strange item is (as this is how items from all over the world were introduced to the people of Lisbon hundreds of years ago).  If you are in Lisbon and want to see the sights from the perspective of a local, I highly recommend Lisbon Chill Out Tours!

Stay tuned for our day trips to Sintra & Cascais from Lisbon or check out how we spent the second half of our babymoon glamping in the South of Portugal at the Yurt!


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Life's Better at the Yurt - Glamping in the Algarve

Pin It I was never much of a camper.  Sure, I went camping once a year as a kid with my grandparents (and always had a blast), but after that I did my best to avoid it.  I am not sure why.  Maybe it's the fact that I hate waking up in a hot and sticky tent or sleeping on the hard cold ground.  Or maybe it's just that I am a true cottage girl.  A cozy bed, a beautiful lake, lounging in the hammock.  That, to me, is relaxation.  Well, I have to say my eyes have been opened to a new form of camping, Glamping.  Paul and I went glamping in the Algarve for our "baby moon" and let's just say we were two three happy glampers.

We have been doing our best to be more kind to Mother Nature, but one of our big downfalls is the amount of travelling we do.  Thankfully there are places like the Eco-Lodge Brejeira in Southern Portugal, where you can have a relaxing and eco-friendly holiday.  It's like having my cake and eating it, too (and lately I have been a big fan of cake).

How about waking up to this view right outside your yurt door?  Not another soul in sight.  Just you, your book, your coffee and the sunny blue skies of the Algarve.  Yes, it's that simple.  Life was better at the yurt.  And I am having trouble adjusting to reality.

This was our home for the three nights we spent in the Algarve.  The authentically decorated yurt (with a comfy bed!), an outdoor mini kitchen perfect for al fresco dining, a deck with a spectacular view of the hills and valleys, and an outdoor shower (also with a view) just for us.

Every morning our friendly hosts, Claire and Sander (who live in a yurt on the property), brought breakfast to our yurt. Breakfast consisted of fresh breads, homemade fig jam, honey from the region, yogurt, muesli, fresh fruit, special cheeses and ham, fresh squeezed OJ (which may have been the best I ever had) and fresh coffee.  You see why adjusting to reality is hard after a few nights at the Eco-Lodge?!  Not to mention the view we were dining with.  Please forgive me in advance if I mention the view one more time.

When we weren't hanging at the yurt, we were out exploring the rugged beaches of the Southwestern coast of Portugal. It was beach weather everyday. In. Love. With. Portugal. <3  (and the views!)

Paul took a surfing lesson.  Check out that mean up dog.  Yowza!   Who knew?!  I spent some time reading and walking on the beach.  Unfortunately, no surfing (or attempting to surf) for me and Charlie.

I am seriously considering living in a yurt, just not sure I can handle it in Wisconsin?  In the mean time, I will look for more yurts to stay in and glamp.  The Eco-Lodge Brejeira was truly glamping at it's finest.  A big thanks to our hosts, Claire and Sander!  We'll be back! Pin It