Why Isn't There an Equivalent of a Man Cold For Women? At Least There's Falafel.
I'm sick.
Did you feel that? The world stopping it its tracks, the universe shifting to accommodate my pain, my family suddenly becoming extraordinarily self-sufficient, making me meals, cleaning, and letting me rest?
Of course not.
Like cold medicine commercials (weirdly) proudly proclaim: "Moms don't get sick days."
Thankfully, John just got home last night and he is wonderful at taking over everything when I'm truly down and out. However, he usually misses 90% of our illnesses at home.
Let me tell you, I don't think any degree of preparation can ever prepare you for the first time your little is battling a stomach flu and while that is a challenge in and of itself, when you're fighting one yourself and you have no one to help you out, you find a newly undiscovered strength in your own abilities that you never knew you had. It's pure survival instincts at that point.
So I'm thankful this time that it's only a head cold.While I know I don't have to cook today (thank goodness for that dear man of mine), I thought I would share a recipe I make often when I feel an illness coming on: baked falafel.
They taste great dipped in tzatziki, they freeze wonderfully for quick additions to meals like buddha bowls on other days, and perhaps my favourite thing about them is that they make wonderful fillings for sandwiches.
A spread of mayo, a dab of hummus, some greens on toasted bread and that's my favourite sandwich on the planet. You can put money on it that if there are falafel in the fridge, I'm eating them for breakfast the next morning in this sandwich. My tiny also loves bringing these to school for lunch.
The best part about these things, and why I make them when I'm starting to feel under the weather, is that they are completely made within a food processor which means minimal chopping, prepping, time standing instead of laying on the couch, etc.
Baked Falafel
2 cups cooked chickpeas*
1 carrot
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup cilantro
1/2 cup parlsey
2 tbsps tahini
2 tbsps lemon juice
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt and pepper
2 tbsps olive oil
Spray oil or olive oil
1) Preheat the oven to 375 F. Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2) Prep anything that needs to be prepped such as the carrot and the garlic (peeled and tips removed).
3) Put everything in a food processor, except the olive oil, and pulse to break everything up into small pieces.
4) Start drizzling in the olive oil on low speed, scraping down the sides as needed until a homogeneous dough is forming.
5) Using a tablespoon measure, or a tablespoon cookie scoop as I use, make as many balls as your mixture will allow, placing them with gaps on the baking sheet. They don't spread, they just need a little space for air to brown all over.
6) Brush the tops with a little layer of olive oil or spray with cooking spray before baking for about 20 minutes, until the bottoms are golden.
7) Enjoy with tzatziki (recipe follows) on their own, or in a bunch of different ways as I've already outlined.
*Chickpeas cooked from scratch are ideal for falafel as they have more of a bite and aren't as mushy as canned, but canned will work in a pinch, making it a truly speedy meal.
Tzatziki
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 tbsp dried mint
2 tbsps fresh chopped dill
2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
½ a cucumber, grated
Lemon juice, to taste
Salt
Mix all ingredients together, changing measurements, depending on flavour preferences.
Notes
I had once spoken to an older Lebanese chef about how I could never get my tzatziki to taste like a restaurant and he said that the key was dry rubbed mint. While I prefer the Lebanese mint-based tzatziki, if it’s not for you, omit the mint and increase the amount of dill, following the Greek tzatziki flavour profile.I also never de-seed or drain my cucumber. Yes, it leads to a looser sauce, but it seems like unnecessary waste to me. If you do de-seed them, at least save the innards for a smoothie.
I hope you all enjoy one of the staples of my household. I'm going back to being unconscious on the couch until our anatomy scan this afternoon.
We cannot wait to see this sweet babe again. Daddy finally got to feel its kicks for the first time last night. We are definitely feeling more confident now. After today, I'm sure our hearts will beat easier. Wish us luck!