Hello!
Well, I made it to the weight lifting class after work today! I got to the gym about 10 minutes early, so I walked on the treadmill at 4mph/2% incline while I waited. The class ended up being pretty good – tons of leg work. It all pretty much went downhill, though, when we broke out the dreaded blue balls. Get your head out of the gutter…I’m talking about these blue balls!
I loathe, nay despise, those dang blue exercise balls! I am only 5’2, so the general sized ones they have at the gym are always WAY to big for me to wrap my stubby little legs around. In turn, it makes passing the ball back and forth between my hands and feet, lifting them with my legs, and crunches while holding them in the air, darn near impossible.
Also, I consider myself a fairly coordinated individual. I took dance and gymnastics for many years, and pretty much have the balance thing down pat. Throw an exercise ball into the equation though, and it’s lights out. I’m like a dead worm on that thing. Hate them! Down with blue balls!!
Deep breath.
Ok I’m better now, I just really had let that out.
Thankfully, dinner put me in a much better mood: Chana Masala!
Chana Masala, per my handy dandy book, is a “rich stew of garbanzo beans (chickpeas) with a supporting cast of spices and herbs” and is very popular in Indian cuisine.
I adore Indian food, and have been seeing Chana Masala everywhere these days. Rose has a thing for chickpeas, 
so I often see it on her blog. Smitten Kitchen has a great rendition as well. But when I saw an easy version on Serious Eats the other day, I knew I had to include it in my menu for the week!
I halved this recipe, and made a few changes:
- Used ground ginger instead of fresh
- Added cayenne pepper since I forgot to get a green chili at the store
- Added sprinklings of cinnamon & garlic salt
- Omitted the lemon
Bomb.com!
All the spices in the recipe get nice and toasted during the cooking process. Combined with some sweet tomatoes and a touch of onion – the flavors are really out of this world. Or it least, the U.S.
Indian spice blends are so unique and special. What a treat!
I think I committed a mortal sin by serving this with brown rice instead of a long grain white rice (which is what it’s traditional served over) but I just really love the chew that brown rice has. Well, plus the health benefits of being a whole grain and full of fiber! 
This is a great dish for meat eaters too, because the chickpeas are super hearty. You won’t miss the meat at all!
If you’ve been curious about trying your hand at some Indian food, but have been intimidated, you should definitely give this a go. It was ready in the time it took to cook the rice, fool proof – and plus, who doesn’t like a good legume? 
I’m looking forward to getting LOST tonight and, per usual, having a Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwich for dessert. I wish you could buy just the “cookie” part of the sandwich too – they are awesome! Anyone know what I mean?
Goodnight!
~~~~~
Do you like legumes/beans?
Is there a piece of equipment at the gym that you won’t go near?
I love legumes/beans – except for lima beans. My Mom made succotash (corn, carrots & lima beans) all the time growing up because my Dad LOVES it – and it’s just chock full of them. I remember being forced to sit at the table until I ate all of my lima beans. Gross!
Ugh I hate the stairmill. It’s hard, and it doesn’t burn that many calories!
I love Indian food. It’s definitely all in the spices. This looks so good!
I like all beans! I haven’t had black eyed peas in decades, so I don’t know if I still like those
Glad the workout was a good one. But I’m with ya, strength training isn’t so much fun when you adore cardio so much. Oh well, its all for the good of the entire body.
I have NEVER made Chan Masala but want to sooooo badly. Toly HATE indian food though so I haven’t really had the opportunity to make it on a solo occasion. Soon though, soon!
I love all things beans. But I’m with you on the Lima Beans. I loathe those ones with a passion and won’t even call them beans.
I don’t go near the regular bench press bar at the gym because I’m afraid I’ll drop it on my chest. Since I workout alone I don’t have a spotter.
Haha I hate them too, almost as much as I hate the BOSU. Dinner looks great though!
I love black beans, northern beans, cannellini beans and kidney beans! I used to like garbanzos alot too but I ate them once in an Indian dish using TJ’s tomato chutney right before getting really sick and now mentally can’t bring myself to eat them again (weird, I know?) Well unless it’s hummus, love that stuff
*chuckles* blue balls. Ohhh I am so immature! I used to not go anywhere near the treadmill, but there is one certain one that I will go near because it doesn’t hurt my legs. All the other ones that look old and not very padded….STEP AWAY!
That looks good!! I’ve been nervous about Indian food but that may be a good place to start
I LOVE beans. But I used to hate them… it was a texture thing. Now, I’m all about some beans.
ahh i hate lima beans too! GROSS.
your dinner looks great! ive NEVER had indian food before and i feel like im totally missing out!
Dinner looks great! I will definitely be trying that soon! I love legumes!! They are one of my main sources of protein right now since I gave up meat for Lent!!
Yumm dinner!
So you can do backflips!? I totally would have forced you to show off. LOL!
I was wondering what the heck your post was going to reference with that title!
Those chickpeas look amazing!! I have been dying to try Indian at home. On a another note. I made Your Chipotle bowls tonight. Oh my gosh. So amazing. Thanks for the inspiration!!!
Chana Masala is soooo good! Completely agree with the brown rice! My sister and I went to eat at an Indian restaurant and they brought out a HUGE bowl of white rice that we didn’t touch and when we were finished they kept asking if we wanted to take the rice home… felt bad but we didn’t ask for it!
http://thislifeitsmine.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/better-than-chipotle/
Kristin from Iowa Girl Eats was my Chipotle inspiration”
I looovee legumes! Chickpeas and butterbeans are probably my favourite – especially roasted
Gym wise, ALL machines I hate. I hate the gym in general!! Give me my road running shoes anyday…..
Enjoy your sandwich!
I could eat black beans for every meal! I’m sad that more of the Mexican restaurants in DM don’t use them.
Oh yeah, added that recipe to my favorites bar! Kashi has a Chana Masala frozen dinner with edamame, carrots and eggplant and I just love it! I allow myself one every other week. It’s pretty much the only frozen meal I devour and want seconds of.
I’m turning into a quasi-vegetarian so I love me some beans!
I feel very intimidated by weight machines – like those large all-on-one contraptions. I rarely go to the gym (I have everything I need at home), but feel I’m fairly confident with everything there! I’m scared of bosu balls because they make me hurt soo much!
The chana masala looks delicious! I love Indian food and have made different dishes a few times. My husband isn’t a huge fan of chickpeas, but I know I’ll love the dish!
I love beans … they’re a great alternative to other protein sources!
K
I have Skinny Cow Ice Cream sandis for dessert every night too! Do you get them at Costco? So much cheaper. And I do love the just cookie idea. Although I get really mad when I get one that doesn’t have the little bit of crunch.
I totally have a thing for the legumes.
Haha! Blue balls. Love it. I laughed.
Those chickpeas look g r e a t! Yum!
This looks amazing, I’m making a similar version this weekend.
I LOVE LOST!!!!!
Any Skinny Cows are amazing! I used to eat the plain old vanilla, but lately I’ve ventured to the Mint Chocolate, and have Strawberry Shortcake and Chocolate Peanut Butter on my “to try” list. So good and satisfying for a sweet tooth for so few calories.
Since I’m a vegetarian I eat legumes pretty much every day in one form or another to get protein. I just love them!
I don’t think there’s anything that I won’t go near at the gym, but I hate squats, but love what they do for my body and I’m very lazy about back and chest muscle groups and hardly ever work those, just cause arms, shoulders, abs, and legs seem so much more important for a woman.
[...] me to the gym this morning. These exercises were challenging (they even incorporated the dreaded blue ball!) and my muscles were totally spent by the [...]
Hi – thanks for the post. I never know what I will come across when I scroll these blogs. But just wanted to let you know I really liked your post. Thanks again and Keep it up.
Shelly
[...] made Channa Masala several different times (with chickpeas) and have really loved the flavors, so when I saw this simmer sauce at [...]