Madjadara

My friend, Springer, made this for us for dinner a week ago and it was DELICIOUS! I have to share this recipe because I think ya'll will love it! It will also go well if you add meat (chicken, beef, lamb in particular would likely go well with it):

Madjadara:

1 (or 2) cups brown lentil, rinsed
1 cup long grain rice, rinsed (or substitute brown rice) cooked
5 cups water
2 tsp - 1 tbsp of cumin (to taste)
1-2 tbsp salt (to taste)
1-2 tbsp of pepper (to taste)
1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
6 shakes of Mrs. Dash spice
1 large onion (cut into long, moon-shaped, slices)

Directions:

1.) Heat up oil in a sauce pan and add chopped onions. Add in some Mrs. Dash, cumin, salt and pepper as desired to spice the onions.
2.) Meanwhile, bring lentils to a boil, add salt to taste.
3.) When lentils are half-way cooked, add cooked rice, cumin, pepper, and Mrs. Dash.
4.) Once onions have caramelized (translucent and browned on the edges), add onions to the lentil/rice and mix.
5.) Remove from heat and dish to be served (can be served hot or cold... plain yogurt may be added as a side)

*Add cooked meat as an option*

Sooooo good!

Tom - Independent BeachBody coach and FOOD enthusiast!

Edamame Salad

I had this amazing salad with some friends of mine and fellow beachbody coaches house in Ohio a couple weeks ago. This salad is great as a hamburger or hot dog topping, pizza topping, dip, or just eating plain. Edamame Salad is EXCELLENT for your heart health. My friend Daniel Merk is responsible for the recipe. Check out his facebook page.

Edamame Salad

Ingredients:
12 ounces fresh or frozen shelled edamame, about 2 cups
1/2 cup fresh corn kernels, about 2 ears of corn
1/4 cup finely diced scallion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup chopped fresh tomato
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the edamame, corn, scallion, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper into a 13 by 9 metal pan and stir to combine. Place on the middle rack of the oven and roast for 10 to 15 minutes, just until the edamame begins to brown. Remove from the oven and place in the refrigerator until completely cool, approximately 30 minutes.

Add the tomato, basil and vinegar to the edamame mixture and toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning, as desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Toms omnivorous Tommy burger! Who says burgers are bad for you???

Who says burgers are bad for you??? OBVIOUSLY people who have not had the pleasure of a Tommy Burger :) Fire up your taste buds and WITHOUT guilt because this is how I make my Tommy Burger...

1 GRASS FED ORGANIC beef patty.
2 slices of whole wheat bread or Jewish Rhy
2 or 3 Greek Olives, pitted
A little bit of crumbled feta cheese - low fat
1 tomato slice
1 red onion slice - raw
some green spinach leaves - raw
optional tbsp of extra virgin olive oil soaked in the bread
1 George Foreman Grill

I like to lightly toast the two slices of bread in a toaster and I like my burger medium rare. I use my handy dandy george forman grill to cook my burger in because what little fat there is in lean meat will drip off. All of the ingredients are optional but if you keep them all you are getting a nice colorful picture perfect blend of various nutrients (I.E. carbs, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals). I use no seasonings. The veggies I use provides more than enough flavor, believe me! The flavor delightfully explodes in your mouth! All of those various veggies compliment each other very nicely. It's what food-gasms are made of and best of all you don't have to feel guilty eating it :-) If your goal is weight loss then skip the extra virgin olive oil. Just make sure you eat something else in one of your other 5 - 6 meals that day with a source of un saturated healthy fat.

My vegetarian friends can substitute the lean beef patty with a veggie patty of their choosing. The combination of veggies I choose for my Tommy Burger will make any meat or meat less filling a plethora of flavor :)

Tom - Independent Beachbody coach