So, 4 WEEKS! The scale greeted me to a .4 of a lb lost this week. BOO! But given the stress at work these days and my return to normalcy with meals, it was to be expected. I have done my 4 cardio days this week PLUS an extra 5 days at the off-leash park and tah dah... .4 of a pound. FML! I feel great though. Great about my food choices and great about my exercising too! You can't win em all! AND eh hemmm - look COLLARBONES!

I've been pondering how much I will miss carbs in my life and was sad about it for a while. That has changed now that I have discovered a new found love for grains and even more important.. experimenting with cooking. Before surgery I was in the same old same old menu rut. It was safe... and BORING. But alas, it has been broken!

Last week I experimented with BULGER and MILLET.

This week it is CHICKPEAS or GARBANZO beans.

So, here is what we are having tonight.

TURKEY and QUINOA meatballs and CHICKPEA salad w. curried yogurt dressing.

I actually made the salad for last night but it was such a hit we are having it again tonight.

SALAD

2c prepared chickpeas*

1c shredded carrot

1c red and yellow peppers chopped

1/2c finely chopped purple onion

1 head romaine lettuce

DRESSING

2c no fat greek yogurt

1c chopped cilantro

2tbsp curry

1tsp salt

1tsp pepper

1tsp roasted garlic minced

1Tbsp pepper

taste test as you go to suit you. I use more curry and more garlic.

Mix all salad ingredients except lettuce. Blend together all dressing ingredients. I served on a bed of romaine with a few slices of fresh tomatoes on the side. It was so light and fresh.

*-Chickpeas require soaking and cooking. I cooked up a whole bag on Sunday for use throughout the week.

TURKEY QUINOA MEATBALLS

2lb extra-lean ground turkey

2c prepared quinoa*

2 large eggs

2 Tbsp roasted garlic minced

2Tsbp Sunflower oil

1tbsp pepper

1tsp salt

1Tbsp chili powder

- add whichever spices you fancy.

Mix all ingredients together in large bowl.

Use 1/4 c measuring cup to size out balls.

Fry in pan with no-fat cooking spray, turn meatballs often.

Recipe makes about 20 meatballs at about 12g of protein/ball. I double this and freeze them on a cookie sheet before separating into plastic bags.