random goodness

Today I was a little ambitious at lunch time. I wanted falafel and tomato cucumber relish. Easy enough, right? Well, not if you are making pita bread to go with it and you don't have a food processor to speed up all the chopping. Shortly after getting started on the bread Eric showed up with chocolate chunks to make more cookies for the guys at work so I started on those too. An hour and a half later Eric ran off to work with 3 pitas, 6 falafel patties, some relish, and about 45 cookies. I'm worn out and my belly is very full so I thought I'd sit and blog :) Here is the recipe if anyone wants it.

Falafel

2 cans garbanzo beans (chick peas) rinsed and drained
1/2 bread crumbs
4 cloves garlic
1/2 fresh parsley
1t salt
2T cumin
1/2t cayenne
2 large eggs

Process ingredients in food processor until smooth. Shape into 1/2 inch patties or small balls. They will be sticky. Pour 1/2 in of vegetable oil in frying pan and heat over medium heat. Fry patties (or balls) 3-5 minutes, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately. Good in pita bread or plain

Cucumber relish

1 large cucumber, seeded and chopped (I never seed mine)
4 plum tomatoes, chopped
2 cloves pressed garlic
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
2T lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste (maybe 1/4 t each)

combine, cover, and chill 

The pita bread recipe is from the Food Network and you can find it here

Here are the girls enjoying their lunch. I think. That funny face was the best picture I could get from Anika.

The cookie recipe is the one on the back of the Baker's chocolate chunk bag and I baked most of them on a pizza stone because it doesn't brown the bottoms.

 And finally, playroom progress. The curtains are hung so it is nice and dark in there for Emily's nap. Eric made the rod out of a dowel and I painted it with leftover paint from the shelves. $7 for a curtain rod is a much better deal than the $25 to buy it ready made.

Half of the playroom closet shelves are done. The last couple just need a little trim and should be installed soon. then the chalkboard just needs a frame and we are done!