Update (Where I've Been) and some Pearl Barley Salad

Wow, long time no write!

I am so sorry about the almost month-long hiatus. I could give you a detailed list of exactly why I've been lacking in my normal weekly updates, but none of you really want to hear about that! Instead, I'll give you a fun little story: I've been working on a student-body political campaign for the last two weeks.

And guess what?

WE WON!!

So all of the sweat (literally), tears (literally), and blood (ok, maybe just a little of this one) were completely and totally worth it. But helping to run a campaign, even if I was just volunteer coordinator, really sucked up a ton of my time. My eating bills this month skyrocketed, because I was on a tight schedule that left no room for actually making food. I would get up at 5AM, bustle around getting all the campaign stuff ready, be on campus by 7, have classes and work from 8-4, go to campaign meetings from 4-6, and then head to the nearest coffee shop and do all my actual school work until about 1AM. Rinse and repeat.

Needless to say, I ate a lot of pre-made food. Even in Fort Collins, which is super granola and all about fresh/local, I felt so weighed down after about the first week. There's something about making a huge plate of vegetables at home, the way you like it, that is immensely more satisfying than scarfing down a bagel or even a pre-made salad. It just tastes better and lighter and all-around more fantastic.

Today is the first day I've really been able to sit back and get all of my daily routines and chores back on schedule. I ran a 5k this morning with a close friend called The Flying Pig, which was great, and then I came home and cleaned everything (I just get in these obsessive moods sometimes where I have to clean?? Does anyone else experience this?? The kind of mood where I-have-to-clean-before-I-can-even-think-of-anything-else?).

And then I cooked for the first time in two weeks.

When I was looking in my fridge I was trying to figure out what the heck I could do with all the random (almost dying) vegetables, and so I naturally moved to the pantry. The Pearl Barley was found, and voila. Introducing a chilled pearl barley salad with tons of vegetables.

This is totally customizable, y'all. It's wonderful. You can throw in whatever vegetables you like. Personally, I always have mushrooms, carrots, and spinach on hand, and then I grabbed some frozen peas in to add a tiny bit of a pop and some more beautiful green color. When I tasted it initially, it was lacking some salt and zing, so to make it more interesting I added feta cheese and lemon juice (which, I admit, it my go-to. If something isn't perfect, cheese and lemon juice usually fix it). The pearl barley adds some awesome texture. It's so close to being like rice but with a bit more substance, almost chewy but no exactly?

Words are hard.

But yes, feel free to mix it up in any way you want. I made enough to last me the whole week, which is awesome because HOMEMADE FOOD. I've been missing it. Cooking and I used to be tight, but the past two weeks strained our relationship. So, clearly, I just need to make all the delicious things that way we can be friends again.

That's how it works, right?

Chilled Pearl Barley and Vegetable Salad
Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 5 large carrots, sliced into rounds
• 12 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced in half
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1 cup cooked pearl barley
• 1 cup spinach, chopped
• juice of one lemon
• 1/2tsp salt
• 1/2tsp pepper
• 1/2c. reduced fat feta cheese

Instructions:

1. Steam the carrots and mushrooms, either by microwaving them with 1 tablespoon of water for approximately five minutes or bringing them to a simmer in a large pot with 1/4cup water and then removing from heat and sitting, covered, for ten minutes. (Or until tender).
2. Meanwhile, combine the peas, barley, and spinach. Add the steamed vegetables, and immediately squeeze the lemon juice over the mixture. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Move to the fridge and allow to chill for at least thirty minutes.
3. Before serving, sprinkle with feta cheese. 

Nutrition Information:
Sodium: 383mg
Total Fat: 2g
        Saturated: 1g
        Trans: 0g
Sugar: 5g
Protein: 10g
Calories: 198

Curried Spaghetti Squash with Mushrooms and Feta

Ah, Spaghetti Squash. The current superstar of the craze for no-carb, pro-squash maddness, this little (actually, quite big) squash has been making the rounds in recipes for years. I remember discovering it two years ago when I had my first blog, and having no idea what to think of it. On the one hand, I'm a huge fan of foods that get people to try new things and to rethink what they are eating. On the other hand, anything that is touted as a "cure" for anything or a "superfood" (yeah, guys, those don't exist as far as scientific R.D. data is concerned-- sorry!) makes me cautious. Is Spaghetti Squash the answer to all your problems? No. Should you still try it, and enjoy the slightly sweet nuttiness and smooth texture that it provides? Yes.

Spaghetti Squash recipes featured on this blog are not encouraging a low-carb or no-carb lifestyle. Carbohydrates are necessary for things like, oh, breathing and oxygen use. So having an intake of carbs every day is important and smart. But I do like to use Spaghetti Squash because it adds subtle undertones of walnut into any dish and acts very well as a canvas to paint other flavors on. This recipe is one of my favorites, actually, because it brings in mushrooms (which I adore) and green curry paste. If you've never had GCP before, it has citrus notes and a slight spice that pairs wonderfully with the sweetness of spaghetti squash. (I'm also a feta addict, so adding that in here was a no-brainer for me.)

This can honestly be a main or a side. It has a low calorie count, which makes me want to put it as a side, but it is also a substantial amount of food. I would say that if you serve it as a main, add some grilled vegetables on the side and maybe a protein of some sort on top (tofu, tempeh, etc). As a side, it is good to go!

Curried Spaghetti Squash with Mushrooms and Feta

Serves 4 

Ingredients:

• 4c. sliced white button mushrooms
• 2tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 4c. cooked "forked" spaghetti squash
• 3/4 to 1tbl green curry paste (depends on how strong you want it-- I always use 1tbl)
• 1/4c. water
• 1/2c. reduced fat crumbled feta cheese

Instructions:

1. Coat a medium pan with oil, and heat over medium-low heat. Add in the mushrooms and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. Combine the green curry paste and water, mixing until a smooth and relatively thin sauce forms. Pour the sauce over the spaghetti squash, tossing to coat.
3. Place 1c. of the spaghetti squash into each of four bowls; top each with 1/4 of the mushrooms and 2tbl feta.

Nutrition Information:
Sodium: 370mg
Total Fat: 5g
      Saturated: 2g
      Trans: 0g
Sugar: 6g
Protein: 8g
Calories: 119

Stuffed Mushrooms

Mushrooms stuffed to the brim with rich cream cheese, tender spinach, and salty Parmesan, and then sprinkled with breadcrumbs and baked until golden and delicious! A complete breeze to make, these Mushrooms are perfect for any occasion, even the fanciest dinner party (trust me, the guests will be impressed).

I remember serving these at a party that my father was hosting a few years ago, before I went off to college. It was one of his first times ever throwing a party without my mother there and he was so nervous. He and I always made an effort to cook together, so it seemed natural to make these and help him out.

(The party was awesome, by the way!)

Stuffed Mushrooms

Makes 50 Mushrooms
Serving Size: 2 mushrooms

Ingredients:

• 50 medium white button mushrooms, with stems
• Cooking Spray
• 8 ounces low fat cream cheese (block)
• 10 oz frozen spinach, thawed according to package directions and then drained/squeezed of most moisture
• 1/2c. Parmesan Cheese
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tsp)
• 1/2tsp pepper
• 1/2tsp salt
• 1/4tsp paprika (optional)
• 1/4c. breadcrumbs

Instructions:

1. Take the stems from the mushrooms. Discard half of the stems; with the remaining half, dice into small pieces.
2. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray. Place the mushroom tops evenly spaced on the sheet, with the hole-side up. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. In a medium pan coated with cooking spray, cook the stems on medium heat for about 3 minutes, or until relatively cooked. Add in garlic and cook for another minute. Remove from heat.
4. In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, spinach, Parmesan, mushroom stem mixture, salt, pepper, and paprika. You will need to mix this for a while, until the mixture is thick, creamy, and ingredients are evenly distributed.
5. Using a teaspoon, place 1 teaspoon of the mixture into each mushroom cap. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly over the mushroom tops. 
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Breadcrumbs will be slightly golden, mixture inside will be creamy and warm, and the mushroom will be tender and cooked through.

Nutrition Information
Sodium: 114 mg
Total Fat: 2g
        Saturated:1g
        Trans:0g
Sugar: 1g
Protein: 3g
Calories: 41