I finally wake up today after snoozing my alarm for the umpteenth time. Had decided to go for a walk as I am trying to get myself into healthy habits but now that I am late, no time for it :(
I notice that the welts on my forearms have almost disappeared and the one on my calf has also lightened to a tame red from the purple bluish one yesterday.
I have planned the salad of the day yesterday, so am in a better mood. I had this nice veg Moroccan salad at California Pizza Kitchen a long time ago. I have given it a personal twist and it still continues to be one of my favourite.
The Travelling Foodie's Moroccan Salad (I have cheated a bit today as the ingredients are not completely raw)
Ingredients:
- A bunch of spinach (You can also add or substitute this with lettuce or any other greens) well washed and torn by hand. If you are using lettuce, you can rinse it in ice cold water before serving. It keeps the leaves fresh and retains the crispness
- 1 Half boiled beetroot, shelled and cubed
- 1 mildly roasted (on gas flame) Sweet Potato cubed
- 4-5 Chopped dates
- Chopped almonds (I usually take roasted ones but have not today as these can be consumed raw unlike the sweet potato)
- Chopped walnuts
- Lemon, honey and salt for the dressing
- I sometimes also add roasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds and whatever other fruit that will go in it like chopped apple, grapes or pomegranate
Method:
Wash and chop or tear the ingredients as required and mix everything except the dressing. That will have to wait just a few second till you are ready to have the salad else the salad will go limp.
Through the day I nibble on the Thai Guava that I picked up yesterday, figs and chikoo. I have the salad for lunch and I have another new recipe for the evening snack.
Cucumber & chutney rolls
For this I have peeled thin vertical slices of a couple of cucumbers. On each layer I applied one of the three chutneys I have - the kadipatta, the Rajkot groundnut and the Mint / raw mango. Every thin layer of the chutney applied cucumber I lightly roll up like the patra. They look beautiful like roses. I line them neatly in the dabba but sadly when I open it at tea time, to my disappointment, the chutneys have made the cucumber soggier and all the beautiful roses I created in the morning are now swimming in a mix chutney sauce! However, the mixed flavours also taste good, so I don't mind at all :)
I am seriously craving for a cup of coffee by evening. I am in a battle with one part of my mind that is pushing me to break my resolve. But the saintly one triumphs for now and the devil takes a back seat. I check with S on my way home if I can have pani puri pani. He says yes as the ingredients are all raw. Now pani puris are something I can have any time of the day or night, for breakfast, lunch, dinner or midnight snack! I already have the sweet chutney waiting for me in the fridge. All I have to do is make the pani - puri pani, add a bit of meetha chutney to it and enjoy the cool drink :)
I reach home around 8.30 today. First I have the pani-puri pani which is a small treat I give myself for being a good girl and not giving in to the coffee craving. After that I have some jackfruit that I had picked up on my way home, a handful of blueberries and a salad of raw American corn, raw mango and dress it with rock salt and lemon. Since I have some time on hand today, I make a few calls, watch some TV and decide to wrap up Day 8.