I Need a Salad: Greek Chickpea & a Giveaway


After a week of baking and holiday recipe testing, I can't stand myself.

I need a salad.

50 is not the new 30.
I can't eat like I used to without gaining weight. I've been lucky for way too long.

Though I eat very well, mostly fish and vegetables, I am a carb freak.

I love pasta more than you do, and I love bread too. Cake ain't so bad either.
I eat it at least twice a day and might have to join some kind of exercise class if I keep this up.

Today I am having a salad.
No bread, no cake, no pasta and no wine.
Can I do it?

Yes, I can.

I love salads, and this one was easy to put together, and I love chickpeas (garbanzo beans).
Beans, beans, good for the heart, the more you eat, the more you............

Chickpea Greek Salad:

1 (15 oz) can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1/2 small red onion, chopped
handful of cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1/3 cup pitted kalamata olives
1 cucumber, sliced and quartered
4 oz feta cheese, crumbled or cut into 1/2 inch cubes
fresh parsley, chopped
big handful of fresh arugula

For the dressing:
2 tbsp olive oil
juice of a lemon
1 teaspoon dried oregano
sea salt & pepper

Add all the ingredients in a big bowl, adding in the arugula just before serving.

Squeeze in the lemon juice and drizzle in some olive oil.
Season w/ the sea salt, pepper and dried oregano.

Mix together and enjoy.


and on another festive, holiday note: just for you NJ readers, MPAC (Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, NJ) is hosting a giveaway on my blog!

They are giving one of my readers 2 VIP tickets to see Robert Irvine from Food Network and Restaurant Impossible, in a one man live cooking show at the Center for Performing Arts in Morristown (it's a gorgeous theater), next Wed. December 2, at 8 pm.


I will choose a random winner and announce it on Friday. Please don't forget to leave your email in the comment (important!).

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Comments

Unknown said…
Great salad can't wait to make it, so simple ! <3 Robert Irvine ! ;) katarzynakufel0619@gmail.com
Ginny G. said…
I need a salad too! Like 10 years ago!
Would love to see Robert Irvine. He is HOT!

Thanks for the chance.

Ginny G.

ginnyg@gmail.com
Natalia said…
I love these types of salads. A few years ago I started adding beans to my salads and it has really made a difference - a difference in taste and a difference in filling me more quickly! ;)

<3 Robert Irvine! What a great idea for winning tickets to his show on one of the best food blogs I know! Happy Thanksgiving Stacey!

nkbilash@gmail.com - Natalia
Unknown said…
love the recipe as always !!! and yay for the contest!!! love to take my girl to meet Robert !!
Jesse Hoynowski
jessehoy14@aol.com
Happy Thanksgiving! A little wine on the side led that salad wouldn't hurt a bit! Tarekali6@gmail.com
Anonymous said…
Oooooh my kind of chickpea salad!!! How about a little Thanksgiving Trivia.
Why is Thanksgiving celebrated? To give thanks for a good harvest.
The 1st Thanksgiving celebration lasted for? Three days.
What was the beverage of choice for the Pilgrim settlers? Beer. (who knew)
Wishing everyone a very healthy Happy Thanksgiving
Rose Ann (raestep@yahoo.com) Love Robert Irvine
Anonymous said…
Hi Stacey
All the best for your Thanksgiving. We Canadians have it earlier so... we already finished putting on the extra pounds!
Thanks for this lovely salad, will try it tonight.You are so right, after 50 you look at food and you already feel tighter in your clothes!
Thanks also to Rose Ann for the trivia. I have one question, if I may ask here, sorry Stacey if I'm off topic. Where does "Black Friday" comes from? Why is it called that way? Here in Canada, stores quickly picked up on it, but so many reasons are given for the name, I figured I'd ask the experts. After all, it originates from the States!

Thanks!
Marie

PS: Please do not include my name in the draw, it's a bit far for me to go.
Stacey Snacks said…
Marie,
I just learned why it is called "Black Friday"......it has two meanings......today it is so retailers get in the "black" positive (instead of the "red").....but in the 1960's it meant something totally different, originating in Philadelphia.

I did my research, and all the sites say the same thing.

Here you go! :)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/27/black-friday-origin_n_4346347.html
Anonymous said…
Hello Stacey
Thanks for the answer! I had the "in the red thing" but to me it did not make sense. It could not be that all the retailers were "in the red" all year, only getting their head above the water starting Thanksgiving. The "Philly Cops" to me, is a more plausible reason.

By the way, the salad was delicious! Made it with spinach instead of arugula, still Hubby drank to your health when I told him where the recipe came from!

Thanks again! Hope your Thanksgiving will be a happy and bubbly one!
Marie

Anonymous said…
Not to be a drag, Ms. Snacks, but I completely agree - 50 isn't the new 30 IN SO MANY WAYS!

And there's something patently deluded and unattractive about folks who stridently insist it is.

I'm very lucky to have arrived at 53 in the shaped I'm in, but as my wonderful lady doctor, who's 10 years ahead of me, says - there are many, many adjustments we must to make during this time of life.

I try to keep aware of that, and to adjust as gracefully as possible.





Kayla.Holstad said…
I agree it's time for a salad and better eating! Kayla.holstad@gmail.com