If you want to know what kind of mood I’m in, turn the car on.
Sounds strange. I know. Let me connect the dots.
If it’s a pretty typical day and I’m feeling okay, when you turn on the car, you will most likely hear NPR or (we’re friends, right?) some “light FM station.” It’s true, I confess, some days a little 80′s music is just what I need to drive home to.
If I’m in a great mood, feeling inspired or have tons of energy, you’ll know it by the “Girly Girly Girl” CD that will be blasting. Yes, this is the CD title my husband labeled it (to make sure he never grabbed it by mistake); it’s filled with Lady Gaga, Adele, Shakira and more. It’s fun, sassy and can make a great day even better.
If you should stay far away from me, you’ll turn the car on and hear classical music. Yup, I find it’s the perfect way for me to wind-down, remind me to take a few deep breaths and sloooow down. While this usually does the trick, it’s still wise to keep your distance until I’ve at least had something to eat.
Just like music, food can also have a drastic influence on my mood. Some meals leave me stuffed to the brim and ready for a nap, while others fuel me up and get me ready to tackle the next challenge.
This dish is definitely the latter. With bulgar wheat as the base (this was my first time using it; what have I been waiting for?!), a mixture of dried cranberries, chickpeas and almonds on top, and all dressed in flavorful dill and paprika vinaigrette, your mood can’t help but be uplifted after eating this!
Bulgar Chickpea Salad with Dill Vinaigrette
Keywords: salad side vegetarian vegan nuts cranberries beans chickpeas
Ingredients
Salad
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup bulgar wheat (I found this in the bulk section at Whole Foods)
- 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds
Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbs. lemon juice
- 1 tsp. chopped fresh dill
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
- Salt and pepper
- Dash smoked paprika
Instructions
1. Bring 2 cups water (can add dash of salt) to a boil. Add bulgar wheat, reduce heat to a simmer and let cook about 12-15 minutes, until water is absorbed and bulgar wheat is tender.
2. Meanwhile, mix together vinaigrette ingredients; set aside.
3. Toss cooked bulgar wheat with chickpeas, cranberries, almonds and about half the dressing. Taste and add more, as desired. Serve warm or chilled and enjoy!
Oh and if there’s one thing that can always brighten my mood, it’s coming home to a package! I was sent four bags of Plentils, courtesy of Enjoy Life Foods, in each of their flavors: Light Sea Salt, Dill & Sour Cream, Garlic & Parmesan, and Margherita Pizza.
As with all Enjoy Life Foods, these are gluten-free, allergy friendly and contain no artificial ingredients.
I am always impressed with the way Enjoy Life Foods produces foods that are not only free of common allergens but also taste great to people like myself, who (thankfully!) don’t have any diet restrictions, and these Plentils are no different. They are light, crispy and a great snack to munch on throughout the day!
~Don’t forget to enter to win Simple Green cleaning supplies!
~Does the music you listen to and/or the foods you eat change according to your mood?
