Tiffany McFadden Nutrition Consulting
  • Tiffany McFadden, RD
  • Blog
  • About
  • Services and Rates
  • Book an Appointment
  • Links

Food with a Story

September...

9/1/2012

1 Comment

 
It is September first today. I just had a conversation with people who hate September. They explained it was the end of summer, the end of flowers, gardens and all things associated with decay (their words). I love September. I got married in September. To me it signals beginnings, new paths and stationary. I was in school for about 22 years. To me September 1 is more of a new year than January 1. During my university years I spent this time of year packing up for my new (likely dumpy) rental in the big city of Victoria or Vancouver. I was equipped with new clothes, hugs from my family and friends and a renewed sense of adventure and independence. It wasn’t like summer was over. There were still enough sunny days to meet for drinks on a patio, wander around campus or wait in a really long, outdoor line-up for a parking pass, student loan documents or used text books.  Plus there wasn’t any homework or tests to study for yet. It still feels strange to not be doing those same things even though I have been out of school for five years now. 
Picture
This rental should have been condemned. I shared it with four other roomies. So many gross issues and maybe the scariest basement ever. It was a fun two years though (crappy house = lots of parties). It has since been torn down and replaced with a multi-million dollar home.
Soon enough I will be packing my own children’s packsacks for their first day of school. In the mean time I have spent the last while thinking about a lot of other new beginnings. My in-laws have moved closer to us and there are many tiny, sweet babies around. I have also been thinking a lot about friends who have lost a tiny, sweet baby and a recent cluster of my patients getting life altering and potentially life ending diagnoses. New beginnings can be thought of as the end of something. Maybe it is then end of something good or not, but I try to look to the potential of the future.
Picture
On the up side of summer winding down: no more crazy chasing/bribing/begging toddler sunscreen applications. I wanted to fit in one more salad recipe while the sun is still shinning: Cilantro Lime Chickpea Salad.  I use canned chickpeas, easy and affordable. Make sure to rinse them well under cold, running water. It will remove about 40% of the sodium. You can buy low sodium canned beans, but I think they need some salt for flavour.   
Picture
Ingredients:
  • 2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 4 loosely packed cups fresh spinach
  • 1/2 onion, chopped small
  • juice from 4 limes
  • 1 bunch of cilantro (about loosely packed cup)
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 2 Tbsp dijon mustard
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
Picture
Method:
Chop the spinach very finely (you can use a food processor and pulse 3-4 times).  Add the chickpeas, onion, and spinach to a large bowl.  In the same food processor add the lime juice, cilantro, sugar, mustard, garlic, chili powder, and olive oil.  Process til it comes together into a dressing, about 30-45 seconds.  Pour over the chickpea mixture and stir to combine.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Let sit for about 10 minutes on the counter or overnight in the fridge to blend the flavours. Adapted from here.
Picture
I think cilantro makes this salad taste so fresh and is a great compliment to lime. This is an interesting way to use spinach. It appealed to me because I am not a huge fan of raw spinach. I find the texture kind of spongy, not a problem when you grind it up. The chickpeas (or garbanzo beans if you are over 50?) add a ton of protein and fiber. Heart healthy olive oil...we have a winner folks. So celebrate the end of summer and welcome the next stage, season, adventure...
1 Comment
    Picture

    Tiffany McFadden, RD

    Recipes

    All
    Apple Tart
    Baking
    Banana Blueberry Muffins
    Banana Rice Pudding
    Bean And Pasta Soup
    Beans 'N Stuff
    Black Bean Quinoa Chili
    Black Bean Taquitos
    Breakfast
    Broccoli Cheese And Potato Soup
    Buttermilk Bran Muffins
    Camping Meal Tips
    Carrot And Red Lentil Soup
    Carrot Mango Salad
    Cauliflower Cheese Soup
    Cheesy Quinoa Bites
    Chicken And Bean Enchiladas
    Chicken Chow Mien
    Chicken Tikka Masala
    Chipotle Turkey Burgers
    Chocolate Syrup
    Cilantro Lime Chickpea Salad
    Coconut French Toast
    Comox Valley Farmer's Market
    Condiments
    Cream Of Turkey Soup
    Crispy Yam Fries
    Curried Butternut Squash Soup
    Curried Sweet Potato
    Dessert
    Double Chocolate Muffins
    Easy Pizza Crust
    Easy To Make
    Eggplant Involtini
    Fish Tacos
    Freezer Jam
    Fresh Goat Cheese
    Fruit & Nut Steel Cut Oats
    Fruit & Yogurt Popsicles
    Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
    Glazed Nuts
    Gluten Free
    Grains
    Grapefruit Oatmeal Scones
    Greek Dressing
    Halibut Chowder
    Honey Mustard Chicken Fingers
    Italian Sausage Pasta
    Lactose Free
    Lemon Asparagus Orzo Salad
    Lemon Loaf
    Locally Grown
    Mains
    Mexican
    Mexican Rice
    Miso Glazed Halibut
    Nutrition Topics
    Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    Panko Herbed Fish
    Paper Bag Popcorn
    Peanut Butter Banana Pancakes
    Pineapple And Shrimp Fried Quinoa
    Pineapple Carrot Muffins
    Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
    Raosted Red Pepper And Goat Cheese Pasta
    Raspberry Banana Baked Oatmeal
    Raspberry Cream Cheese Quinoa Muffins
    Raw Kale Salad
    Refrigerator Oatmeal
    Roasted Tomato Soup
    Salads
    Salmon Cakes
    Salsa Stuffed Mini Meatloaf
    Sausage And Spinach Stuffed Shells
    Sauteed Swiss Chard
    School Lunch
    Sesame Ginger Salmon
    Sides
    Slow Cooker Enchilada Soup
    Slow Cooker Recipes
    Slow Cooker RIce Pudding
    Smoothie Tips
    Soft Granola Bars
    Soups/Stews
    Southwest Quinoa Salad
    Spiced Rhubarb Chutney
    Spicy Honey Bbq Chicken
    Stove-top Popcorn
    Strawberry Conserve
    Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
    Strawberry Vinaigrette
    Sun-dried Tomato Pesto
    Taco Seasoning
    Tex-Mex Shredded Chicken
    Tomato Polenta Tart
    Vegetarian
    West Coast Prawn And Quinoa Salad

    Archives

    April 2018
    August 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    August 2014
    June 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011

    Follow Me on Pinterest
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from avlxyz, racheocity, lyzadanger, eflon, Steve Snodgrass
  • Tiffany McFadden, RD
  • Blog
  • About
  • Services and Rates
  • Book an Appointment
  • Links