Beans a la Morocco

Sometimes I think the title of this blog should be "Varying combinations of Beans and Cilantro" or "How to Eat Daal Once a Week and Not Get Sick of It." This next recipe is typical, but incredible. And, if we're going to be picky, I rarely eat chickpeas except in hummus, so maybe I'm a bit of a rebel this week? Quarter life crises will do that to you, I guess. Anyway, I followed this recipe almost exactly, except for a few changes because I was a) cheap or b) forgetful. Compare if you like, because the original could be better.


Moroccan Chickpea Stew

This picture is terrible because it was taken on my phone. 

2 tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
1 cup onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup dried apricots, sliced
1/2 tbsp. garam masala
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup water
3/4 tsp. lemon zest
3/4 tbsp. lemon juice
1 15 oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes (unsalted)
3 cups endive, torn into 1/2 inch pieces
fresh cilantro
toasted almond pieces


Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add garlic; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove garlic from pan using a slotted spoon; discard or reserve for another use (aka wait for it to cool and then pop it in your mouth). Add onion and next 6 ingredients (through cinnamon) to pan; sauté for 7 minutes or until the onion is lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Add water, lemon zest, juice, chickpeas, and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Lastly, stir in endive; simmer for 1 minute or until endive wilts. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with cilantro and almonds. Serve over couscous or quinoa (with raita on the side, obvi.)

THIS WAS FREAKING AMAZING. I had enough for about 3 servings, and I am sooo excited for the next time I make it.

1. 
   

Ignore this if you don't want to hear me whine

There have been times in my life when I thought I'd like to go back and relive experiences because I missed them so much. I remember after college wishing I could start at the beginning, but ultimately realized that I was glad I had finished and I didn't actually, really want to relive all of it again.

Now, I'm beginning to understand that it must actually be over with Nate, because every part of me wishes I could go back and have each experience I had with him over again, with no thought for the future or for the ways it would set me back in my life. I wish I could live on a circuit, where I just replay the two years we had together in Ithaca, and even the year we had together after I moved. I wouldn't even necessarily change anything to make it better, although I can say definitively that none of it was perfect. I just want it again. And again, and again.

I took this picture off my nightstand today.  Little by little I've tried to remove pieces of him from my life; I hide the miscellaneous tee shirts in bins beneath my bed, I slip birthday cards into the pages of books I've already read. I'm just hoping that I won't accidentally unearth them until I'm ready to throw them out. But that thought in itself- that I want that moment to come, that I want to forget him absolutely- makes my heart hurt. 

Weekend breakfast I'm loving lately...

Fried eggs, sharp cheddar cheese, and salsa. 

So salty and satisfying after a run!