Breaking a Record

Well tonight I had something I haven't had in a very long time. Fish. You see I've been a strict vegetarian for four and a half years. And when I say strict I mean strict - no white meat, fish, or even meat broth. However, recently I've had some concerns and have decided to start incorporating fish and possibly white meat into my diet again.

So it was quite the evening - I had Albacore tuna with steamed vegetables and brown rice. It was OK..I would rather have had a hot dog, lol. Nonetheless, it was healthy :-) Next time I may try a Tuna Salad Wrap. But I'm afraid I'll run out of ideas..

Anyone have any healthy options for preparing fish or white meat??

Photo of the Week - Nathan's World Famous..., Coney Island

In this shot I'm reminded once again that despite being vegetarian, hot dogs are actually something I miss like crazy.

Taken over the summer on Coney Island here is Nathan's.

Going Veggie - Chickpea Curry aka Chana Masala

I've been making this curry for about 3 years now. The recipe comes adopted way of 'The Essential Vegetarian Cookbook' from Bay Books.

It's spicy (but not too hot), low-fat, and has protein from the lovely chickpeas (or garbanzo beans - whatever ya wanna call them).

Note: a half cup of chickpeas has 170 calories and 10 grams of protein - not too shabby!

Anyway, I made this last night for a good friend and there were compliments galore :-) Try for yourself - it's super easy!

You'll need:

2 onions
4 cloves garlic
1 TBSP oil
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp paprika
1 TBSP ground cumin
1 TBSP ground coriander
2 14 oz cans of chickpeas, drained
1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 tsp garam masala

•  Slice onions finely.
• Crush garlic.
• Saute with oil over medium heat til soft.
• Add chili powder, salt, turmeric, paprika, cumin, and coriander - stir for 1 minute.
• Add chickpeas and undrained tomatoes. Stir until combined.
• Simmer, covered, over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in garam masala.
• Simmer, covered for 10 more minutes.

Serve naan, pita, (sometimes I'll use tortillas in a pinch), or brown rice.

Another note: garam masala is a blend of Indian spices and can be found in large supermarkets and specialty food stores.

On with the photos! (My favorite part :-)

Enjoy!

Going Veggie - Protein Packed Breakfasts - Greek Yogurt & Granola

Greek Yogurt and Granola with Flaxseed

Greek yogurt is a vegetarian's absolute delight. It usually boasts about 15 grams of protein and around 100 calories (for the non-flavored). My personal favorite is Chobani for it is a bit cheaper, quite silky, and all natural without preservatives.

Be sure to check labels

Tossing in a fourth cup of protein granola and a tablespoon of ground flaxseed adds extra protein and nutrients needed to start the day. I love Bear Naked's Peak Protein, which has 140 calories and 6 grams of protein.

A bit of ground flaxseed gives more fiber, lignans, and omega-3's which vegetarians can tend to be deficient in. One tablespoon has 30 calories and 1.5 grams of protein. Bob's Red Mill is available at most grocery shops, but you can find it cheaper at health food stores.

(A note on ground flaxseed - it lasts longer if stored in refrigerator.)

Therefore, you need:

• one 6 oz. Greek yogurt of your choice
• 1/4 c granola (preferably one with extra protein)
• 1 TBSP ground flaxseed

Mix together and enjoy! You'll get only about 270-300 calories, but about 22 grams of protein!