IMG_0280
When you decide to do something slightly crazy.

Like attempt to lose 20 pounds while writing a food blog.

Or train to run 13.1 miles.  In a row.  In the middle of winter.  When it is 20 degrees outside.

Or actually run 13.1 miles.  In a row.  On a race course that is dotted with Disney characters and photo opportunities and everything that makes you inner five year old want to scream and shout and dance to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” at 5 AM while she’s waiting in her corral, ever so patiently, for the race to begin.

Or then decide to forgo showering or sleep in favor of doing it all again the next morning and running another 7 miles with a friend who, because running a full marathon in one weekend isn’t enough, has decided to do both the half and the full.  Over the course of two days. (And for that matter, if anyone ever needs advice on how to jump into a marathon, ask away.  The key – keep running and don’t look back at the sheriff who may or may not be approximately ten feet away).

IMG_0274

If any and all of these sound appealing to you, then let me tell you.  You had better have a good support group ready and waiting to bolster you when your calves are just about ready to stage a mutiny.

Or when you really want to eat that monster chocolate chip cookie (or any and every other dessert offered in your Walt Disney World resort’s buffet line).

Or when you are convinced that training for a half marathon has somehow managed to give you a stress fracture.  In your pinky.

Or when you just need someone to tell you that they are proud of you.  That your efforts have not gone unnoticed.  That, even though it is hard right now, it will all be worth it.  And you will get there.  That finish line  it’s just a few steps away.

IMG_0259

As you may or may not have guessed, our theme this week for Eat.Live.Be. is support communities.  Who are they?  What are they?  Where are they?  That kind of thing.

It’s really hard to make any kind of lifestyle change when there’s no one there to kick you back into gear when you go astray.  Or when you doubt that anything will ever be different.  And one of the single most important factors in whether or not you will succeed in achieving your goals is whether or not you have people standing behind you, ready and willing to hold you up when you feel like you can’t take another step in the right direction.

So who are the people that I turn to in a time of need?  (Which, for me, occurs approximately daily.) First and foremost are my friends and my brother.  They understand my neuroses.  They listen to me when I walk into their rooms in a state of utter despair, certain that I’ll never have working calves again or that I’ll never fit into my skinny jeans.  And they talk me down.  They remind me how to be positive when I can’t seem to see past all of the doubt and pessimism that I’ve shrouded myself in.  Their faith in me gives me faith in myself.  Which is awesome.

Then, there are my fellow Team in Training-ers.  These are the people who motivate me to get up at 6 AM on a Saturday morning so that I can be ready to run by 8.  Who run next to me, mile after mile.  Who ask about my calves and muscles and every other ache and pain in my life, both physically and emotionally. And are willing to slow down or speed up as needed. Planning to work out with a group or even with a good friend is great because you can push each other.  So that when one person doesn’t really feel like going to the gym or lacing up those shoes for a run, the other person can say, “Yes, but think of how great we’ll feel when we’re done.”  Having someone like that in your life – priceless.

And then there’s you guys.  The blogging community.  You guys supported me so much this weekend with your comments and your tweets.  Each one of which pushed me one step further.  So thank you for that.  I needed it.

Sharing your dreams and goals with the world via your blog may seem scary.  You may feel like you’re standing naked in front of a whole auditorium full of people.  You may want to run in a corner and hide.  But knowing that there is a whole cohort of people out there from all corners of the globe, who are rooting for you.  It just feels so good.

Is there anyone else you guys turn to for support?  If you would like to join in on this week’s Eat.Live.Be., then write a post about it and link up here!

Next week’s topic is going to be on how to stay inspired to work out even with subzero temps outside.  A topic on which I have quite a lot to say.  So stay tuned and consider joining in!

And here are a list of the other bloggers participating if you want to check out their posts today!

Weekly Weigh-In: -1.6 pounds!

IMG_0279

Of course, when you’re about to run 13.1 miles, you can’t just depend on the people around you to get you through.  You need to eat well, too!  Most people associate running marathons and half marathons with carb-loading.  Pasta, bread, etcetera. But it’s important to remember that whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables can get the job done just as well.  This Moroccan chickpea barley salad is what I ate on the plane the day before the half marathon to try to build up my glycogen stores.  It is filled with good, whole grain carbs and tons of dietary fiber with over 100% of your recommended daily fiber requirements in one serving.  Nutritional all-star?  I’d like to think so.  And I pretty much rocked the half without feeling even an ounce of fatigue.  On three hours of sleep.  Like I said.  All-star status salad.  Right here.

Oh, and with all of my favorite spices and the almighty chickpea, which I am slightly obsessed with at the moment, in case you couldn’t tell. It was pretty damn delicious, too.  All-star status.  Times two.

IMG_0263

Moroccan Chickpea Barley Salad
Serves 4 as a main, 6-8 as a side, adapted from Simply Recipes

1 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups barley
1 1/2 cups veggie broth
1 1/2 cups water
1 tsp salt
1 (15 oz) can chickpeas or 1 cup raw chickpeas soaked, drained and cooked
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup shelled pistachio nuts
1 cup dried apricots, diced
3 scallions, chopped
1 cup chopped parsley
zest and juice of a lemon
1 recipe Ras el Hanout spice mix (below)
salt to taste

Ras el Hanout
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp turmeric

1. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot on medium high heat.  Add the barley and saute, constantly stirring, for 3-4 minutes.  Add the broth, water, and a tsp of salt.  Cover, bring to a boil and then lower eat, simmering until barley is tender, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

2. Strain the cooked barley through a colander or sieve, if necessary.

3. Spray the barley with a bit of olive oil cooking spray or toss with a tbsp of olive oil to prevent sticking.  Put in a large bowl.  Add the chickpeas, bell pepper, pistachios, apricots, scallions, and parsley and mix well.  Add the juice and zest of a lemon and mix well.  Sprinkle the ras el hanout spice mixture over the barley and mix well.  Taste and add salt if needed.  Serve warm or let marinate for an hour to cool.

NOTE – This was a bit spicy so if you’re sensitive to heat, then you might want to decrease the cayenne a bit.

I am submitting this to Souper Sundays hosted over at Kahakai Kitchen and the Hearth and Soul Blog Hop!

IMG_0266

You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.
blog_share_subscribe
Share →

111 Responses to Moroccan Chickpea Barley Salad…Eat.Live.Be. for a Better 2011!

  1. I can NOT believe that you did that much running the day after your half, you are nuts!!! Congrats on a successful race. Another delicious looking recipe to start the week:-)

  2. Congratulations Joanne! Such an accomplishment to be proud of!

    I’m obsessed with chickpeas too – a step in the right direction in getting that rock star body!

    This dish is stunning…both in presentation and flavor! A must try, thanks!

  3. As a Moroccan, I certainly appreciate a good chickpea dish like this with all the wonderful spices. It looks great, Joanne.

  4. Shannon says:

    I was thinking about you all weekend wondering how the race was going! I knew you’d be awesome 😉

    And as for this dish, I MAJOR want.

  5. I love deeply spiced bean dishes! So glad the race went well!! I’m out every morning, rain or shine, cold or hot, with the Doberhound for our 2-mile loop AFTER my 6 am CrossFit class. I hear you on staying motivated– I know it makes her so happy to be out, so that’s my motivation! And I just bundle up!!

  6. This is a terrific and healthy salad! I love the pistachios and dried apricots here!

  7. Your dedication to running and a healthy lifestyle is trul admirable Joanne. We can all take note.

  8. Katie says:

    Congrats on surviving the race (and kicking its ass)! I’m a big fan of bean and grain salads (barley and chickpeas are at the top of my favorites list), so this looks fantastic. I hope your body is recovering well!

  9. girlichef says:

    Yay, you did it!! You totally rock. Anybody who runs for any other reason aside from being chased always makes me feel a little star-struck. Of course, you did mention the sheriff, so maybe that’s only half true 😉 And I have to say, this dish looks awesome. I recently realized how much I actually incorporate the glorious chickpea in to my meals, too…this is a must-make for me. Plus, it’s so pretty. As are your photos…the bowl is so cool! Thanks for sharing this inspiring post w/ the hearth and soul hop this week, Jo 🙂

  10. Clearly you understand my love for chickpeas.

  11. Mo Diva says:

    Not only is it gorgeous, but it sounds amazing! You pretty much had me at chick peas. but staring at your gorgeous photos makes me want to inhale this dish with a shovel… and texturally looks like paradise.

  12. Amy says:

    Looks like I picked the wrong weekend to take a break from Twitter 🙁 Although clearly you didn’t need me. Sounds liked you rocked it, J! It also sounds like you should be horizontal all week.

    This salad is booootiful. I went through a stage where I was completely obsessed with Israeli cous cous, followed by the Chickpea. I even made cookies with chickpeas – they’re one of my favorites. I get all sorts of weird looks when serving them…but that’s nothing new.

  13. yepiatethat says:

    This salad. Amazing. Just like you.

    You’re so right about having a buddy or group to run with. To push each other. When my running buddy moved 3000 miles away I felt lost.

    I secretly want to do the goofy challenge one year, half and a full marathon on back to back days. How rock star would that be?!

  14. you are SO totally right. we all need people for support – it’s human nature, after all. congrats on finishing and having established such a wonderful support community. we’ll help you through the next race, of course, by cheering on your fab recipes. yum, as usual!

  15. janet says:

    Joanne, I am in awe of you. I couldn’t imagine doing all that running. I am also living vicariously through your eats, since I already had both this salad and the last Ottolenghi chickpea dish on my to-do try list! This one will totally get bumped up higher to try now. 🙂

    Keep on trucking, girl! You can do it! 🙂

  16. congratulations Joanne… what an accomplishment! then again I would ask the same question over and over… “how do you do all these things while in Med School?” haha.. you make me feel like a slacker really!

  17. Kristin says:

    Congratulations! I don’t know how you are doing it all. This dish looks delicious and healthy too.

  18. elra says:

    Your salad look really delicious. Love the chickpeas and the spices for this salad.

  19. Maria says:

    Congrats on your progress! I am revamping my eating habits, but you are being much more detailed about it … wish I could be too!

    As for this salad, it looks fantastic. Love everything about it from the hearty chickpeas, to the psices, nuts and dried apricots. Well-rounded, flavorful and probably just delicious.

  20. Faith says:

    You are seriously amazing, Joanne! And inspirational…and I know exactly what you mean about trying to lose a few pounds while writing a food blog, lol! (By the way, nice job on -1.6!)

    Now on a completely different note…I’m thrilled to hear that you were able to get this salad through airport security! (They made me throw out an apple last time!) This gives me hope. 🙂

  21. i’m working on eating healthier this year as well (just because i’m in college, doesn’t mean i have to eat like a college student, ya know?) and thankfully i have my mom to help me stay on track.

    🙂

    hope you’re having a great day, my dear!

    xo Alison

  22. Rachana says:

    Congratulations Joanne!

    This is a gorgeous Salad. I loved the addition of apricots and pistachio there.

  23. I love these flavours, barley is a huge favourite of mine!

  24. Carolyn says:

    I saw your comments on my blog about finishing the half and I don’t know how I missed the fact that you were training for it! For some reason, I thought you had been injured and couldn’t run for a while. Well, good on you for doing it. I love halfs, can’t wait to do my next one! But I am not sure I would want to run another 7m the next day!
    This salad looks like perfect fuel for such a 3/4 marathon weekend.

  25. Hope you enjoyed your time in FL. I know how demanding a half marathon can be, but to get up and run the next day … you’re amazing!

  26. Ada says:

    Awesome job on the race, congratulations!!! Do you by any chance know my friend Wei? She ran Disney (though she did the full) through team in training also.

    Congrats again and that chickpea salad looks amazing!

  27. I am proud of you too! Did you say waiting in the corral at 5:00 AM? Now, I’m really proud of you! What a fun place to run a marathon 🙂

    This looks so healthy and deliciously flavorful!

  28. Swathi says:

    congrats for running marathon. I have to loose weight,I don’t know how. I will . This salad looks delicious and has all the healthy ingredients.

  29. wow, congrats, i think its amazing that people can run that much! i did a 5k once and i think that’s about my max… salad looks delicious – so many healthy colors 🙂

  30. Pam says:

    Congrats on the marathon!

    This salad has such great textures, flavors, and colors – beautiful!

  31. Sarah Caron says:

    Sending you a huge Whooooooo-hoooooooo on your half-marathon (and day after running!). That’s awesome. Also, I love the way you describe your brother and friends as understanding your neurosis’s. It’s so true.

  32. That Girl says:

    I totally understand the needing someone to recognize your accomplishments. When I got home for my 10 miler yesterday (and by the way, I was thinking about you on the run) I told the hubs that I kinda wanted everyone to cheer for me, like when you finish a race.

  33. Dawn says:

    You go girl with your running. I’m impressed that you get out there in the winter to train so kudos to you. Shoot I was just proud of myself for getting to the gym on my lunch break in the rain and STILL working out even though I forgot my sneakers. I snuck up the stairs and got on my new favorite machine, the Precor 100i, plugged in Fergie radio on Pandora and kept my heart rate up for 40 minutes!

  34. Half marathon followed by a FULL marathon? Someone needs a new hobby. And by the way, you make me feel guilty about talking myself out of running 3 1/2 miles a night in 50 degree weather. Thanks for that.

  35. Tasha says:

    This is one of those recipes that makes me feel as if it was written for me. As in I’m debating changing my current dinner plans because this just sounds so good! Congrats on your racing accomplishment too!

  36. Bridgett says:

    I admire how dedicated you are with your running and am quite impressed. You work so hard at school and with all of your cooking that I am amazed at your energy. You are really inspiring, sweetie.
    This salad would keep anyone’s energy up. Send me a bucket of it, ok? It looks fabulous.

  37. Katerina says:

    Congratulations Joanne! It is very important to have people on which you can count. We all need the support and love in our lives. This salad looks extremely flavorful and colorful.

  38. Did I hear that (read that) right? 20 lbs? Now I can’t quite tell but from what I gather that would be an awful lot to lose. Your recipe looks delicious. Don’t worry about numbers 🙂

  39. Corina says:

    Great salad. I’ll have to make it when I’ve been running.

  40. Julie says:

    hope you’re having fun in disney girl! you’re friggn amazing by being in med school and training for a marathon in the dead of winter. my idol for sure

  41. Give thatI adore chickpeas, this Looks wonderful, love the fresh and nutritious flavors in there.Bravo grl..both on the weight loss and training !

  42. ooooh this looks amazing! and so do you!!! keep being freakin awesome!

  43. OMG – this just screams “healthy” at you – I adore chick peas anyway, but love all the dried fruit and pistachios in here as well, especially with the Ras el Hanout. So pleased your half marathon went well 🙂
    Sue

  44. Chris says:

    Wow! You’re are my hero! That is an awesome achievement. Congrats!!

    Love this salad. So many yummy flavors. It has my name all over it!

  45. Allison says:

    You rock! What an accomplishment. This salad looks so good and right up my alley. I can’t wait to try it. YUM

  46. OohLookBel says:

    The pictures of your chickpea salad are so deliciously appetising. And well done on your being motivated to run and cook and blog – for me, it’s one out of three (ain’t bad!)

  47. FireMom says:

    Oh, that salad looks lovely.

    And that part about your calves declaring mutiny. I hear that, so much. So glad to have support in everyone!

  48. Joanne- wanted to let you know that I gave you the Stylish Blogger Award because I love your blog! Stop by the blog and check it out. I hope you’ll share 7 things with everyone!

  49. Wow! We should all learn from you…your commitment to eating healthy and the running! Whew! Well done, girl!

  50. This looks and sounds fantastic. I always want to run to make what you post! I usually make this kind of dish with bulghur, but barley is such an interesting idea.

  51. Raina says:

    Congrats on the marathon. That must have been so fun in Disney. You should be really proud of yourself. That is quite an accomplsihment. I can barely run three miles.

    This sounds really wonderful. I have to get myself in gear and start eating better. My husband has bad eating habits, so I have to be my own support system when it comes to food and I have to push him to eat better.

    I love this event. Since I am posting all fattening foods, I will have to wait to participate..lol Maybe next week:) I actually do have a healthy recipe on the back burner.

  52. I still cannot find the joy in running but my friends around me all seem to have started to participate in half marathons. During the recent Christmas party, a close friend was blunt and commented that I have put on weight because Instead of participating in sporting events with them, I am meeting food bloggers and eating too much! I am not offended but that, coming from a friend I respect, spurred me on to start doing daily cardio workout… 🙂

  53. Lindsay says:

    The recipe looks delicious and your running is inspirational!!

  54. tigerfish says:

    Love love love the legumes you used and love love love the spices you used! 🙂

  55. Mo 'Betta says:

    Woohoo! I’m proud of you 🙂 Awesome and inspiring. I ran all of 7 miles last week. NOT in a row…over the course of the entire week 😛 and I don’t know if I commented on the Nutella Cornmeal muffins, but if not..LOVE!

  56. teresa says:

    you’re freaking awesome, way to go! i bet you rocked that thing, how fun!

    this is such a beautiful salad, i love how colorful it is and i feel healthier just looking at it.

  57. Yes! You are awesome, my friend! Loving these veggie dishes! And, I have to tell you… your photos look fantastic! Just lovely!

  58. aipi says:

    Congrats Joanne. You rock!!

    Salad looks FABULOUS..the spice combo is amazing and I love the pistachio and apricots in it!

    US Masala

  59. wow your amazing Joanne so proud of your determination and wow lovely healthy dish hope you find some wide noodles 🙂

  60. Amy says:

    So when I arrived on the site today, I saw the first picture…and thought it was crazy-colored M&M’s. Why? I dunno. I don’t have any rational explanation, other than my hormonal state that punches my ovaries and makes my taste buds beg for chocolate.

    On a more saner note, this salad looks MAJORLY flavorful! I’m looking for more meatless dishes in my life, as I noticed I tend not to eat much of it these days. I need good sources of protein, and I’m always trying to fit more whole grains into my diet.

    Also, congratulations on your badassery! Your efforts are nothing short of amazing, and I’m really, really proud.

  61. You go, girl! What an accomplishment! So glad the running went well and that you have such great support. Your salad looks so good and chock full of healthy ingredients. I love that spice mix. 🙂

  62. Miriam says:

    Congrats!! Yea, and I’m going to have to make this in the next couple of days. I love food like this 🙂 Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

  63. Congrats on the run–you put all of us to shame! 😉

    I love this salad–hearty, healthy and delicious. Thanks for sending it to Souper Sundays.

  64. Monet says:

    Congratulations, again and again. I was proud of my four miles today 🙂 So you know how impressed I am with your mad running skills. This salad looks and sounds so fresh and flavorful. I’m trying to incorporate more barley into my diet so this is perfect. Thanks for sharing, sweet friend!

  65. You’re officially a powerhouse woman! You don’t even need to hear another congrats because it’s not enough to express how awesome your efforts are. Keep. It. Up! And how nice to see this vegan recipe today. Bookmarked!

  66. sophia says:

    honestly, Joanne. I don’t know how you do it. How do you run that much, be a medical student, AND blog all at the same time? You’re crazy.

    Can I borrow some of your crave? 😉

  67. Johanna GGG says:

    salad looks amazing – and your calves sound amazing – mine wouldn’t know what hit them if I treated them in that way 🙂

  68. Jessie says:

    Did you REALLY run another 7 miles after you did the half this weekend??? Joanne, I always knew you were crazy, but now you’re just adding fuel to my theory that you’re beyond crazy (and also a good friend to keep your pal company 🙂 ).

    Good thing you have a good support system, you crazy gal you! Friends and family are wonderful, aren’t they? I love that you carbo loaded with chickpeas and barley – nice one! People think carbo loading is all abut white bread and white pasta, but your version is infinitely healthier 😀

  69. sunny and coloured salad, love moroccan flavor
    bises from France
    Delphine

  70. Barbara says:

    Fabulous salad, Joanne. We don’t use barley nearly enough. (Saw Jamie Oliver using it last night!) The colors and flavors make your salad a great lunch for company too.

    I’m dieting….but actually did some posts in advance so I wouldn’t be nibbling. 🙂 And as far as workouts are concerned, I stick with a gym. That way, when bad weather comes, I can still work out. I give you great credit for hanging in there with all the bad weather NYC has been having!

  71. This is really a great and flavoursome salad!

  72. I love this recipe! I could devour a giant bowl of that stuff, thus defeating the idea of mindful eating. BUT I guess it would be better than eating a giant bowl of buttercream, which is currently where I am at now 😉

  73. Hannah says:

    Your marathon-running is quite the inspiration, but I could never do anything so physically active! 😉

    But, I could very happily eat this salad. You seem to know exactly the set of flavors and ingredients I enjoy most. This looks like another winner!

  74. I’m proud of you!

    Best,
    Bonnie

  75. I know, running is really addictive! Love this recipe, I have to try it someday!

    ?
    Camila F.

  76. You definitely need to eat well when you’re doing all that running about! This looks fantastic and healthy. I’m bookmarking it for my family

  77. Shannon says:

    this dish sounds incredible… i’ll have to push it to the top of the list 🙂

    thought of you this weekend, how’d it go? calves holding up alright?

  78. Dana says:

    You are an inspiration – always. I know everyone always marvels at how you can possibly get everything done, myself included. Take out those pesky scallions and I would inhale this dish. I love the addition of pistachios and apricots. I AM PROUD OF YOU.

  79. sra says:

    Attempting to lose 20 pounds while writing a food blog is exactly what I’m attempting to do – but then, I don’t post too many treats either! 🙂 I concocted a barley salad and thought it was really great, till at work my boss took one look at it and wrinkled his nose and moved away with an apologetic smile!
    Your salad looks really good!

  80. Am I ever IN on this recipe. OMGosh! I just reconstituted garbonzo beans (or chick peas) for the first time EVER last week and then cooked them. I cannot BELIEVE the difference. Absolutely NO comparison. I will never buy canned again – well, canned are still OK in humus, but nothing else. And, I have more control over my food when I do my own. This recipe looks ADDICTIVE.
    A marathon and a half is over kill. That is a sign of mental illness on the same weekend. Your friend needs HELP. Truly. My daughter runs marathons, so I know what you are going through and also can imagine how wonderful it feels when you finish the race. WHAT a triumph.
    Support systems are so important in EVERYTHING they do, aren’t they. Ironically, sometimes my most precious support in really hard times does NOT come from my closest friends. Family – definitely (thank goodness for your brother)… but, my closest friends tend to not be there when I am needy. I don’t really let me needs be known, but I still know they know. It is those that have walked the same path before that are such a support. So, I just “pay it forward” and don’t sweat it.
    Wonderful post!
    🙂
    Valerie

  81. You are so very motivational! I love reading your blog

  82. Lol you are too fun! How in the world does one break their pinky while running anyway?

    L

  83. Cara says:

    You are so blessed to have such a great support system, and you inspire me all the time with all that you do and accomplish. Looking forward to reading more in this series!

  84. Mary says:

    I am loving every single ingredient in this. I need to work more barley into our diet and this is a good place to start. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary

  85. Dimah says:

    What a beautiful salad! looks wonderful!

  86. I feel like I’ve made this before, except I haven’t. So I should! I know I’ll love it, because all the ingredients are ones I already know & love!

  87. vincent says:

    ello,

    We bumped into your blog and we really liked it – great recipes YUM YUM.
    We would like to add it to the Petitchef.com.

    We would be delighted if you could add your blog to Petitchef so that our users can, as us,
    enjoy your recipes.

    Petitchef is a french based Cooking recipes Portal. Several hundred Blogs are already members
    and benefit from their exposure on Petitchef.com.

    To add your site to the Petitchef family you can use http://en.petitchef.com/?obj=front&action=site_ajout_form or just go to Petitchef.com and click on “Add your site”

    Best regards,

    Vincent
    petitchef.com

  88. I LOVE chickpeas, and I’m on a new mission to use more inexpensive pantry foods like beans, rice, and grains. This looks wonderful, and I love the combination of spices. Thanks for a great recipe! I’ve clipped it and added it to the queue!

  89. Victoria says:

    Congrats, Joanne! *You’re* the all-star 🙂 This salad looks hearty and packed with awesome flavors! I’m glad it gave you the energy needed for the run! Let’s plan to do something mid to late next week! We can be healthy together, I don’t mind, haha.

  90. I am truly in awe of your running prowess. I’d like to be a runner but just the prospect of it makes me tired. I know, I’m a wimp. Maybe I need to eat more healthy, delicious meals like you? 🙂

  91. there is nothing crazy about losing 20 pounds and writing a food blog… i live this every day… as a chef i feel like im running up the escalator- go to the gym every morning at 4:30. this salad looks like it is packed with flavor, so it satisfies..
    chef louise

  92. Velva says:

    The Moroccan salad looks divine! It’s a perfect salad to keep your energy levels up while training.

    Stay focused. keep your friends and family close by and you will reach your goal.

    Velva

  93. sweetlife says:

    congrats I knew you would rock the hell out of that race, joanne..family and friends are the key, they alwasy know how to motivate, a perfect salad and chickpeas well they are nuggets of lovinn..

    sweetlife

  94. Congratulations on the race! It must have been an awesome experience.

    This dish sounds so delicious. And all the healthy nutrients are a great bonus!

  95. Reeni says:

    Congrats on the race(s)!! You rock – just like I knew you would! You’re motivating all of us to be healthier. I am loving your salad – packed with such wonderful flavors and super nutritious ingredients.

  96. Juliana says:

    Joanne, congratulations…what a great accomplishment…and the salad looks awesome…love the idea of chickpeas and barley…so healthy and nicely presented 🙂

  97. Kim says:

    I can’t even imagine how exciting and fun it would be to run a half in DisneyWorld. Talk about an adrenaline rush!

    Love the salad and the fact that you were organized enough to take it on the plan! You know how I feel about beans in general;-) Chickpeas are among my faves.

  98. grace says:

    what a terrific salad, joanne–it contains everything one might want! chewy? check. nutty? check. sweet? check. salty? check. really nice work indeed.

  99. That does look quite good. Congratulations on finishing your half, love!!

  100. marla says:

    Wow, sign me up for this chickpea salad – right up my alley for those good clean eats! xo

  101. Congrats on running the marathon. I can’t even imagine running 5 miles at this point, much less 26. You have my utmost respect, girl. So glad to hear that you have so many sources of support and now one more from Eat.Live.Be. I usually turn to my boyfriend, friends, and family. I only have a few that I’m very close with but I’m fine with quality over quantity.

  102. Natalie says:

    i’m stuffing my face with candy corn. i should probably be eating this instead. oops.

    i want to hear about your rocking run!!! and i hope you’re passing that kidney test with flying colors! 🙂

  103. Natalie says:

    oh and think i could use bulgur instead of barley???

  104. Hi Jo jo! What a crazy girl you are and I love it! Yep, I adore my bloggie friends who are all so supportive of me. I really look forward to all the comments and emails but also I have another community online for my interests in music and those folks have been with me for over 13 years cheering me on. I have a strong family and good friends as well as my girl scout moms, so I have a lot of support and I in turn support a lot of other folks! It is all a big circle of love! I am linking up my baby steps to a rockin-life because I am also doing what you are doing except doing it slower! I wish you all the best with your program and I know you will come through with flying colors! This recipe also looks stinkin delicious and thanks for sharing its chickpea barley goodness with the hearth and soul hop! 🙂 Keep on truckin! Alex

  105. Give Goofy a hug for me!
    Delicious salad, you are really bringing the power foods this year!

  106. Chris says:

    I miss having good training partners, it’s why I have slacked off with cycling. I hope to start back this summer.

    One of the things a support group means to me is that they DON’T accept me for who I am. A true support group needs to expect me to be the best me that I can be.

    I like this salad, it looks perfect for training food. Substantial without excess.

  107. Jen_from_NJ says:

    Congratulations on the awesome race! The salad looks so good but it was really hard to scroll down past the cookie dough truffles 🙂

  108. Marisa says:

    Gotta love those Moroccan flavours!

  109. Great job on the marathon and the half!!! Wow! (I know this was months ago but still.) And this salad, I must try it soon. I’m obsessed with the idea of dried fruit in grains right now.

  110. NANCY CARVEY says:

    Made this tonight and it is an explosion of flavor and spice – LOVED it! SO looking forward to leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch when the flavors all have had a chance to love each other. Thank you for this recipe!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *