Well, the bad news is that I've gained all the weight I lost on weight watchers (about 8 pounds), since I started working in Boston again. Sitting in that cube evidently works up quite an appetite. There's an Italian Deli and a convenience store in my building, so all I have to do is ride the elevator down to the first floor, stock up and head back to feed in my cube. I fell into bad habits fast. By the end of the first week, each time I chatted with my sister on the phone, it was around three or so and I'd just returned to my cube after taking my regular afternoon walk to the elevator and to the convenience store where they sell old-fashioned penny candy. Penny candy!!! And they had my favorites too, the tiny swedish fish, and those snowflake looking dark chocolate non-pareils. Not good for the diet.
But, in an effort to get back on track, I stumbled onto an excellent new find. Just playing around one night, I opened a can of chick peas (garbanzo beans), rinsed them under cold water, and tossed them into a large saute pan. I drizzled about two tablespoons of good extra virgin olive oil over them, added plenty of salt and fresh ground pepper and a few big pinches of crushed red pepper. I stirred them well, then threw the whole pan into a 350 oven for about 50 minutes.
They are positively swoon-worthy. The outsides get nice and crisp and crunchy while the insides are tender and creamy. The flavor from the seasonings adds just the right amount of spicy kick. These are best when served hot. Transfer immediately into a serving dish, so they stop cooking. I made a batch once and didn't do this and an hour later, they resembled shriveled, hard peas.
These are great as a healthy, high fiber snack, with cocktails as an appetizer, or tossed into salads for a little extra crunch.
You could also experiment with the spices. I bet it would be fantastic with fresh rosemary and a splash of lemon, or chinese five spice seasoning, or just about any flavor you like.
Enjoy!
:) Pam
OMG, that sounds AWESOME! I love chick peas! I'm back at WW, and lost 3.8 the first week. I wrote down EVERY SINGLE THING I ATE. That's all I needed to do. It's tough though when social events come calling!
Posted by: Manic Mom | June 22, 2006 at 11:43 PM
Steph,
CONGRATS!!! That is a seriously wonderful first week. Good for you! Writing it down is key, it's a real eye-opener. I had no idea how much I was really eating until I did this.
For social events, those 35 extra points come in handy. When I was tracking faithfully, I'd be really good during the week and depend on those points for weekend events.
:) Pam
Posted by: pam | June 23, 2006 at 05:44 PM
I haven't tried the recipe for the Roasted Chick peas yet, but I just want to let you know that Rachel Ray has a similar recipe in the August issue of her magazine, she tosses her chick peas with some roasted tomatoes. It all sounds great, your recipe and hers.
Posted by: Heather | July 13, 2006 at 09:52 AM
Hi Heather,
Thanks! It is really good, and you can vary the spices too. Adding the tomatoes sounds interesting, that would make it more of a side dish than finger food. I'll have to check that recipe out. I saw her first issue, but haven't seen this one yet.
:) Pam
Posted by: pam | July 13, 2006 at 07:39 PM
Hehehhe, I'm not sure I've ever had chick peas before. But I do think I've heard they are good for you. Maybe I'll get some and try them out on the family :D
Posted by: rashenbo | January 11, 2007 at 01:14 PM
Yummy blog you got there! I enjoyed hopping through it!
Posted by: Pookah | March 15, 2007 at 10:30 AM
Chickpeas are so good for you, and yet, I hardly ever eat them. Here's hoping your recipe inspires me!
Posted by: Devon Ellington | April 14, 2007 at 11:02 PM
I have only used chickpeas in salads, but these sound like a great snack way to get them in my diet in other ways.
Posted by: Lillie | June 17, 2007 at 08:52 PM