Humm-azing pita sandwich

I have been superrrrr lazy in the kitchen ever since summer started. Which is kind of the opposite of what you would expect since I have more free time now.... this is definite proof that I cook to procrastinate. Oops. However, I have been experimenting with more easy vegetarian options this summer. I still can't decide whether I am capable of cutting out meat completely but I have been pretty good about eating a lot of fruit and vegitables. I only eat meat when I go out to lunch or dinner, which is once or twice a week. Not bad, right? I mentioned before that I am interested in becoming a vegetarian for health reasons only so I will consider eating meat only once a week a win. You could say I am a flexetarian (I swear that is a real thing! haha). I feel sooooooo much healthier now that I have stopped eating meat every day :) 

Here is my go to vegetarian lunch (or dinner works too).

humm-azing pita sandwich

1 whole wheat pita pocket

hummus of your liking (I use sabra red roasted peper hummus)

2 slices red pepper cheese

1 slice of red onion

A couple carrot pieces (I buy the flat fancy wavy cut kind. Oh la la!)

A handful of baby romaine lettuce

Couple spinach leaves

• Cut your pita, opening the "pocket"
• On each half smear on a liberal amount of hummus. Yummmm
• Then add the onion and place a piece of cheese on each peta half. Microwave for 20 seconds. 
• Add carrots and lettuce.
• Enjoy with some mandarin oranges and almonds. Wah la! A fast, easy, tasty, vegetarian lunch or dinner! 

Will add photos later.... (So that you can literally SEE how awesome this sandwich is!)

Carrot and apple cake! (made with greek yogurt)

It's snowing again... ew. But at least now I don't mind using my oven in the apartment! Time to BAKE!!! I had two granny smith apples and some carrots in my fridge.. I had been neglecting them and eating Qdoba instead. I know, bad Kristi. This fruit plus veggie combo seemed perfect for a healthy cake which I can eat for breakfast or bring some into the lab for lunch! I used greek yogurt in this recipe just like in the apple cake I made below and I think it turned out really well. I'm still amazed that you can bake with yogurt but it tastes so good!!!

Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

A dash of nutmeg 

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 granny smith apples, grated

1/2 cup carrots grates

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup oil 

1/2 cup vanilla greek nonfat yogurt  

2 eggs

• First, preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• In a large bowl combine all of the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt
• Peel the skin off the apples and then grate. Once you have your grated apple squeeze out most of the liquid and then stir the grated apple into the dry ingredients. Grate your 1/2 cup carrots and add to mixture. 
• In a separate bowl mix the oil, greek yogurt, and eggs. Then add to the dry ingredients. Mix, mix, mix!
• You can place your 1/2 cup of walnuts in a plastic bag and smash with a heavy object. Then, add the walnuts to the bowl. Mix!
• Pour your batter into a greased baking pan 8x4 or 9x5
• Bake for 50 minutes
• Yummm! This was sooo good! I can't wait to eat more tomorrow for breakfast :)