Food Matters Project: Quinoa Tabbouleh

I sent this take on tabbouleh along with Rob for lunch last week. This was the text response I received:

“Thanks again babe, but I’m sorry, I was not a big fan of lunch … it was super healthy though which is great … I need something like that every once in awhile though.”

I had a feeling this was the response I’d receive but that’s one of the things I truly appreciate about this guy, he will try everything I make at least once.

I felt a bit better about this week’s Food Matters recipe, chosen by Sara over at Simply Whole Kitchen. It was crazy healthy and it made a perfect light lunch. I’m not sure I’d pick it over traditional tabbouleh though, that stuff is so good! I stuck pretty close to the original recipe which you can find over on Sara’s blog. For many more tabbouleh interpretations, make sure to head over to the Food Matter’s site.

Food Matters Project: Stir-Fried Veggies and Chicken over Rice

Not the most intriguing name for a dish is it? What could possibly be so special about stir-fried veggies and chicken? OK, so this would probably win the award for most boring Food Matters Project dish to date (my particular version, not the actual selected recipe) but like any stir-fry, a good sauce can really make a difference.

This week’s actual recipe of Crisp Rice Cakes with Stir-Fried Vegetables and Chicken was selected by Small Kitchen College. You can check out the original recipe over on their site.

I’m not quite over the vacation brain yet and took a slightly lazier approach to this recipe. I didn’t even bother attempting the rice cakes. I was going to, but one squeeze of my brown rice and quinoa mixture and I knew I just wouldn’t have the patience.

(The above photo is of the other lazy shortcut I took … I am a big fan of these microwavable bags of brown rice and quinoa, and now an even bigger fan of this mix with a little sesame oil mixed in.) (And yes, that’s completely my own opinion ;-))

I did stick to the prescribed veggie combo though and was actually quite blown away by the simple sauce of fish sauce, water and lime juice. I can see that combo elevating many future “kitchen-sink” stir-fry dinners.

I’m sure many of the other FMP bloggers had success with the crisp rice cake aspect of this recipe, be sure to take a look at all of their versions over on the FMP site.

 

The Food Matters Project: Spring Rolls for One

I’m headed to the beach soon, so you know what that means … a bathing suit. Like probably almost every other woman (and maybe even some of the guys) out there, I have my hesitations about having so much of my body on display. Not that I’m going to let anything stop me from enjoying the sun & surf, but I have been trying to eat a few more veggies and booze a little less these past couple weeks and these spring rolls were the perfect afternoon snack.

The original recipe for Mr. Bittman’s Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce can be found over on Alyssa’s blog Everyday Maven. My snack was simply filled with a few veggies (cucumbers, carrots, yellow squash, cabbage and romaine) and I put together a quick dip of soy sauce, garlic & honey. For all the other takes on this recipe, be sure to head over to the Food Matters page.