Homemade Halloween Trail Mix

October is my favorite month of the year. I love Halloween and I love everything about fall -- the colors, the crisp air (well, it's sort of crisp in Texas), and the food.

This trail mix is one of my favorite fall recipes. To make it, you just need four ingredients: dried chopped dates, candy corn, dark chocolate chips, and peanuts.

Combine these ingredients and you're all set!

It tastes exactly like a Snickers bar, but it's a bit healthier. Give it a try for a great fall snack!

- Rachel

My Favorite Yoga Pairings

Lately, I've been thinking of yoga like a fine wine, something that is great on its own, but enhanced when paired with something else. Here are some of my favorite yoga pairings lately.

Yoga + candlelight. When I practice yoga at home, it helps me to turn off the lights so I can focus on my breath and not how much I need to dust. But doing yoga in a pitch black room isn't ideal, so lighting a candle or two is perfect. It sets the mood and helps me relax.

Yoga + spinning. I used to love taking group cycling classes and even taught them for a while, but it's hard to fit it in my schedule when I'm practicing yoga four times a week. My solution lately has been to follow up a 30-minute ride on my spin bike with a 30-minute yoga practice. I spend a little less time doing each, but it feels awesome. Some gyms offer dedicated yoga + spin classes, but if not, you can add your own yoga routine to the end of a traditional spin class.

Yoga + a friend. I'm a big fan of seeing friends and getting something done at the same time, and scheduling yoga classes with friends is a great way for me to do that. Sometimes I don't schedule enough time to slow down, breathe, and stretch, and knowing I can catch up with a friend either before or after 1. makes sure I get it done and 2. means I'll get even more out of the experience. It's also a great  way to introduce more people to yoga; if a friend is thinking of taking a class, inviting her to come along can be a good way for her to get started.

What is your favorite yoga pairing?

- Rachel 

Yoga at the Mall

The Dallas Business Journal is reporting that J.C. Penney is planning to offer in-store activities, including yoga, in the near future. The retailer's CEO Ron Johnson said, “We are here to transform J.C. Penney, not to improve J.C. Penney."

While I'm a fan of in-store yoga classes (Lululemon has been offering them for years), I am curious if these classes will be held during regular shopping hours. It sounds like that is the plan, and it's hard for me to imagine practicing in the middle of a store filled with shoppers. But hey, yoga is about being in the moment and not getting distracted, so maybe it would be a fun challenge. And I can imagine it would be a nice break from shopping stress come December!

Would you practice yoga in the middle of a department store like J.C. Penney? How about in the town square? Don't forget, we're hosting a free yoga class outside in the plaza at Sugar Land Town Center on Monday at 9:30 AM! See you there?

- Rachel

Is J.C. Penney your new yoga studio? [Dallas Business Journal]

Lululemon Trying to Patent Its Yoga Pants

The Lululemon "Astro" pant

Yoga apparel company Lululemon has developed quite a devoted following in the past few years, with many yoga enthusiasts swearing by their pants (though the $100 price tag and company's culture have raised a lot of eyebrows). Now the Vancouver-based company is making headlines because they are suing Calvin Klein, alleging that the other brand copied the waistband design of their "Astro" pant, along with two other design elements.

When I first heard about this lawsuit, I assumed they were trying to patent their pants' thick, stretchy, sweat-wicking material (which I am quite fond of, I must admit), which I assumed was created using some kind of fancy technology; I was surprised to hear that it's the waistband that they want to patent. Then again, the waistband is one of the reasons I like Lululemon's pants; it's keeps the pants in place during my practice and makes them extra flattering. It's one of the reasons I'm willing to spend more for these yoga pants, so don't blame the brand for wanting to protect the design.

While the lawsuit will probably have more far-reaching effects for the fashion industry than the yoga community, I'm still intrigued by it. This kind of competition seems somewhat anti-yoga; on the other hand though, Lululemon has a business to run. It will be interesting to see what happens in court.

Have you worn Lululemon's yoga pants? Do you think they are patent-worthy?

- Rachel 

 Lululemon patent claim highlights cutthroat yoga world [Chicago Tribune]

Monday Inspiration: Discover the Unknown

My inspiration this week comes from late astronomer Carl Sagan.

(source)

Last week, NASA's rover Curiosity made history when it landed on Mars. We have Curiosity because of people who saw incredible things waiting to be discovered and found a way to uncover them. It's the same reason we have the iPhone and Michelangelo's David. 

There are always stories waiting to be told and discoveries to be made. Someone has to get out there and find them, so why not me? This week, I'm going to try to go beyond the status quo at work, in my creative efforts, and at home, and discover something new. 

- Rachel 

Healthy Recipe: Crispy Fish Sandwich

If you're in need of a light and healthy dinner that won't require that you spend too much time over a hot stove, give these fish sandwiches a try!

Ingredients (serves two)

Two tilapia fillets, about four ounces each (I love frozen tilapia fillets for recipes like this one)

1/2 cup Panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

1/2 tbsp butter

1/2 tsp Old Bay seasoning

1/2 tbsp butter melted

Salt and pepper to taste

Whole-wheat hamburger buns, lettuce, tomato, and mayo

Directions

Melt half a tablespoon of butter over medium-low heat and add the breadcrumbs. Cook for about five minutes, stirring frequently, until golden brown. Then stir in the Old Bay. Transfer the crumbs to a plate. (You can make these the night before; just store at room temperature in an airtight container.)


Meanwhile, season the fish with salt and pepper and fire up the grill. Grill for about 8 minutes, turning once.

While the fish is grilling, toast the buns and top with mayo, lettuce, and tomato. When the fish is done brush each fillet on both sides with the remaining half-tablespoon of melted butter and then press the fish into the toasted breadcrumbs, getting it nice and coated. Fish flakes when it’s cooked, so it might fall apart a bit, but just scoop up the breadcrumbs and coat it as best you can. Serve on the hamburger buns.

This is a delicious dinner for a summer evening! Enjoy!

- Rachel 

Yoga & the Olympics

Have you been following the Olympics? While I'm not a huge sports fan, I love watching the summer games on TV. (And my family actually went to the '96 games in Atlanta!) I thought I'd share some ways I've seen yoga making its way into the Olympics this year.

First, US men's basketball player Deron snapped this photo of coach Mike Krzyzewski getting his child's pose on.

I can imagine that being a coach for Team USA gets pretty stressful and I can see why he'd take a moment to breathe!

In other news, have you heard that some people want to make yoga an Olympic sport? USAYoga is an international organization that is pushing for this; they put on the National Yoga Asana Championship back in March. According to CBS News:

Participants must do a series of seven yoga poses in three minutes. Five are compulsory — standing head-to-knee pose, standing bow-pulling pose, bow pose, rabbit pose, and stretching pose. The participants are allowed to pick the last two poses themselves.

Rajashree Choudhury, founder of USA Yoga, claims that the focus is on yoga postures. Still, a lot of people are questioning whether turning yoga into a competition goes against everything yoga is about. While I can see why those who love yoga would want to bring it to an international event like the Olympics, I am not really on board with this idea. I chose yoga specifically because it's not a competition; I'm not crazy about the idea of turning it into one.

Have you been following the Olympics? What do you think of the idea of yoga as an Olympic sport?

- Rachel 

Yoga poses as Olympic sport: Is that a stretch? [CBS News]

Thoughts on My 31-Day Yoga Challenge

Last month, I made a decision to do a 31-day yoga challenge at what seemed like the worst possible time: as my fiance and I prepared to close on and then move into our new house.

See, my motivation drops considerably in the summer, and with more important things to do (meet our Realtor at the house to sign documents, look for freelance work so I'd have some extra cash for the move) or more fun things to do (wander Lowe’s or look for decor inspiration on Pinterest for an hour with Eric), I knew things could quickly spiral out of control for me, and I'd find myself feeling sluggish, cranky, and out of shape. So for the first time in my life, I decided that rather than retreat to the couch with my carbs, I was going to try something new: run directly toward the challenge by taking on an additional challenge. So I took on a 31-day yoga challenge.

Yoga every day. That was my only goal. I didn't set a goal for minutes or types of classes or anything like that; I didn't expect any specific results. I just wanted to practice yoga every single day and the only thing I was hoping to achieve was “feel really good because I did something hard that I wasn’t sure if I could do.”

Well, the 31 days has now come and gone and I must say, I do feel pretty good because I did something hard that I wasn't sure if I could do!

I'll be honest: I missed a few days. It was probably actually a 26-day yoga challenge. But even though I didn't do yoga every single day, I really learned that making time to practice yoga daily is SO worth it. I sort of knew that already, but that doesn't mean I'd always make myself practice when I was feeling comfy on the couch. The challenge gave me the motivation I needed. Overall, I felt super energized and balanced despite everything going on in my life. I built strength by doing tons of chair poses and confidence as I tried new classes at the studio and tried yoga podcasts for the first time. Even if I only had it in me to do one pose (and I usually found myself doing more than that once I got going), I still felt refreshed and renewed afterward. Toward the end of the challenge, I was really busy and overwhelmed with all the stuff going on with the house, but I was still remembering to take the time to check in with my breath and my emotions each day. I haven't been to the studio in more than a week, but I feel like I won't struggle to bounce back because I've been keeping my hips loose and my shoulders strong.

Since giving myself this challenge, I've been reminded of how amazing and powerful yoga is and I feel re-committed to my yoga practice. I'll likely take on another challenge like this when I'm anticipating stressful times ahead and next time, I will probably commit to practicing more (and get more specific about classes, daily minutes, etc). But until then, I see myself continuing practicing yoga, even just for a few minutes here and there, nearly every day. It truly is amazing what a few poses can do for you.

Have you ever taken a yoga challenge like this? Would you ever try practicing yoga every day? 

- Rachel 

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Monday Inspiration: Stronger Trees

This Monday, after more than a week of storms in Houston and lots of storms in my personal life (my fiance and I were closing on a house last week and it was stressful!) my inspiration for this week comes from Dolly Parton.

(source)

If any more storms come my way this week, I'll be thinking of how strong my roots are getting!

- Rachel

The Yoga Teacher vs. Facebook

A yoga teacher hired by Facebook to teach a weekly class for their employees was fired this week because she chastised a student who was using her phone during the class.

"We are in the business of providing great customer service," said her termination notice from Plus One Health Management [the corporate fitness company that Facebook went through to employ her]. "Unless a client requires us to specifically say no to something, we prefer to say yes whenever possible."

While saying yes as often as possible seems like the yogic thing to do, I feel like this teacher was treated unfairly. A no cell phone policy is pretty standard for all yoga classes, out of respect for our fellow students and for our own safety (if we're paying more attention to our phones than the instructor, we could miss an important verbal or visual cue and hurt ourselves). I would think that Facebook chose to hold in-office yoga sessions precisely to help employees unplug. Even if the employee didn't feel the rule applied to her, I would expect the yoga instructor's boss to use this as a teaching moment for the Facebook execs who hired their company.

On the other hand, this reminds me of something that happened during a spin class I attended a few years ago. After the last tough song, as we slowed our legs and marveled at what a great workout we'd had, one woman in the class commented loudly something to the effect of, "YEAH, maybe some people should GET OFF THEIR CELL PHONES AND ACTUALLY GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE CLASS." Heads swiveled to the woman in the class who was, at that moment, on her Blackberry (and presumably had been throughout the class). The woman looked pretty affronted and fired back that this was the only way she could get away from her desk and get her workout in -- by still checking in from time to time. (Though she didn't say it quite so nicely.) Until that moment, I had never considered that people might not be checking their texts, but might just be on call, and it made me feel a bit more sympathetic to those who check their phones during class. They may not get as much out of their class, but they are getting something, which is better than nothing, so now I try my best to keep my eyes on my own mat and not let it distract me.

Regardless of whether or not the Facebook employee had a good reason for being on her phone, I think the instructor was just doing her job and shouldn't have been fired for this. It seems like a good opportunity to talk to her techie students about why it's important to unplug and it would be a real shame if Facebook did away with their in-office yoga sessions because of this conflict.


What do you think? Was the instructor right to tell the student to stop using her phone in class? Share your thoughts in the comments! 

- Rachel 

Yoga teacher fired over cell phone ban at Facebook [SFGate]

This Week's Inspiration: Do The Crazy Thing

Mondays have a reputation for being rough, but I've decided to turn that thinking on its head. Mondays have a lot of benefits. They are a fresh start. They are an opportunity to do work you care about and love. And after a couple days off, they can offer a welcome return to your routine.

Still, it can be hard to remember this on Sunday night when you're lamenting how fast the weekend went or on Monday morning when you're hitting the snooze and realizing you have nothing to wear. So I've decided that in order to get my week started on the right foot, I'm going to find something every Monday morning, whether it's a quote or a picture or a story or a song, to inspire the week ahead. I'm sure I'm not the only one who struggles with Mondays, so I thought it would be fun to start sharing my inspiration here!

Here is this week's inspiration:

(source)

This week, I am going to make it a point to do something that scares me. I'm not sure what it will be yet, but when the opportunity presents itself (and I'm sure it will!), I'm going to make it a point to give it a try because, as the picture says, "not trying is another kind of death."

Anyone care to join me?

- Rachel

Fabulous and Festive 4th of July Recipes

Are you ready for a little mid-week vacation? Me too! Whether you're heading to the beach or a BBQ or just hanging out at home and enjoying a much-needed day off, here are some recipes to make your Independence Day a little sweeter.

Stars and Stripes Pie [via Woman's Day]

Stuffed Strawberries [via LearnVest]

French Toast with Berry Butter [via The Pioneer Woman -- I made this last year and it was awesome!]

Blueberry, Strawberry & Jicama Salad [via Two Peas & Their Pod]

Homemade Hamburger Buns [via Eat, Live, Run]

Patriotic Ice Pops [via Pennies on a Platter]

Star S'mores [via Martha Stewart Living]

What is your favorite thing to eat on the 4th of July?

- Rachel

Having a Power (Yoga) Lunch

If you're around the studio at lunchtime, it's likely you've seen me there too. I love midday yoga sessions. A lot of people think they can't make this work with their schedules, so I'm here to give you some tips.

Planning for Work

When I know I'm heading to yoga midday, I pack a lunch to eat at my desk and I try to pick a lunch that doesn't involve a ton of prep work. I've realized that any lunch that requires me to go back to the microwave to stir it four times isn't a good lunch for these days. If I waste too much time running between my desk, the fridge, and the microwave, I don't feel like I'm really working through lunch.

I also wear as much of my workout gear as I can to work. I have a short drive to the studio, so the less time I spend changing, the better. My go-to outfit on workout days is ankle-length black workout leggings, a long black workout tank top, some sort of work-appropriate outer layer (like an oversized button-down or long cardigan or wrap), and riding boots. Depending on your office's dress code, you may only be able to wear part of your outfit (like your leggings under a dress), but that's a good start. Sometimes I throw a scarf on over everything too; I've found that the more layers I have going on, the less likely anyone is to notice that I'm wearing workout clothes at the core.

Planning for the Sweat Factor

I know it can seem gross to come back to your desk right after working out, and it is a little...but honestly, it's not unbearable.

The biggest concern for a lot of women is their hair, and, well, I get that. The best thing I've found is to just keep my hair down as much as possible during my practice. When I must put my hair up (like during inversions when it starts to fall in my face, or when I just get too hot), I just twist it up loosely with a scrunchie and then take it out as soon as that part of class ends. That way it doesn't get bends or bumps in it. Your roots might get a little sweaty, but they will dry. Figuring out what will work for your hair takes a little trial and error; some people find sweat bands help a lot while others prefer to quickly blow dry.

I always pack a second pair of underwear to change into after class, and I typically bring a second pair of leggings if there's a chance I'm going to get really sweaty. I also keep baby wipes and deodorant in my desk to use to freshen up a bit more.

I used to spend more time cleaning up when I got back to the office, touching up my makeup and trying to fix my hair, but I'm kinda over it at this point. I've become OK with just being slightly damp and I've realized that if I spend the second half of my day with less-than-perfect hair, it's fine. And usually I find that going to yoga midday gives me a healthy, natural glow that I love.

While grabbing lunch or gossiping with co-workers in the break room can be a nice break in the day, I find that getting my blood flowing on my mat is so much better for my body and mind. (It also frees up my night so I can spend time cooking, reading, or hanging out with my fiance.) Not only do I get a break from sitting all day, but I also find that I'm way more creative and relaxed once I get back to the office, which makes me a better employee.

Awakened Yoga's Midday Schedule

Monday: Gentle Hatha @ 12:00
Tuesday: Yoga-lates @ 12:00
Thursday: Power Lunch @ 12:00
Friday: Power Lunch @ 12:00

Do you ever practice yoga during your lunch break? We'd love to hear your tips for making it work! If not, would you try a lunchtime yoga class sometime?

- Rachel

Yoga Anywhere

Taking yoga outside of the studio seems like a hot topic lately! First, SHAPE magazine invited their readers to take pictures of themselves practicing yoga anywhere. The pictures of people practicing all over town (and the world) were pretty great.

Then yogis took over Times Square on June 20 to celebrate the summer solstice.

While I love my studio classes for so many reasons, I also think it's great to mix it up once in a while. Lately I've been practicing in a pretty unconventional place: my bathroom! I'm doing a 31-day yoga challenge and I need to do some at-home sessions to fit it all in. Unfortunately, my apartment is mostly carpet, which can make yoga practice difficult. The only room with a big enough hard surface for me to practice on is my bathroom, so I've been setting my laptop and mat up in there. By turning off the overhead light and lighting a few candles, I've been able to transform the bathroom into something a bit more Zen for some great home sessions.

Where do you practice yoga outside of the studio?

- Rachel

Join the Yoga Anywhere Revolution [SHAPE]
SHAPE Readers' Most Amazing Yoga Poses [SHAPE]
Yoga In Times Square: First Day Of Summer Celebrated In Times Square For Mind Over Madness (PHOTOS) [Huffington Post]

Class Act: Yoga-lates with Michelle

On Tuesday, I really wanted to practice yoga at the studio, but I wasn't sure how I felt about the classes that were at the times I could go. There were two yoga + pilates classes -- classes that always make me feel really nervous. I hadn't actually ever taken one...and I realized that day that I'd actually been avoiding them.

I was avoiding these classes because my abs are my "problem area," and not in the way that so many women's magazines use that term. I don't have a problem with how the area looks (not because I have great abs, but because I just don't care that much); it's a problem area because my abs are weak. I feel really self-conscious whenever I'm in any class that has an abs section because I tucker out so fast. Everyone seems to be doing fine with it while I'm struggling. I'm sure it's just a self-fulfilling prophecy. I feel like my abs are weak, so I hate working on them...so then I don't...so they stay weak. (I'm also convinced that everyone else is secretly doing hundreds of crunches every night before bed, even if they aren't doing anything else. How else would everyone have such strong abs?!?)


I actually considered going to another yoga studio just to avoid the abs, but then I realized I was being ridiculous. That was way too much work to go through to avoid working on my abs; I needed to get over it and give Yoga-lates a try. And you know what? I ended up loving the class. First of all, I love Michelle and haven't been to one of her classes in a while. Second, I had forgotten how much I actually like pilates. It's ab-centric, but I really don't dislike it at all. And turns out, the ab section in the Yoga-lates class wasn't that much longer than it is in any other yoga class, and I actually felt like I could keep up. It was a challenging class overall but I left feeling really, really good. I'm so glad I made myself go! 


Is there a class on the schedule you've been afraid to try? Will you give it a try this week?

- Rachel

The Best Part of Waking Up: Morning Yoga

Have you been making it to the early classes on Awakened's schedule? If not, you might want to give them a try this week!

Reasons to Try Morning Yoga This Week

1. You'll feel amazing all day. Not just because yoga makes you feel amazing, but because the sense of accomplishment is a huge confidence boost that will last through your entire day. 
2. It's a lovely way to start the day. Rather than hitting the snooze three times, scarfing a bowl of cereal, and then grumbling as you sit in traffic, you can start your day slowly and peacefully. 
3. You don't have to stress about getting to class later in the day or worry about last-minute things interfering with your plans. It's easy to find excuses; we've all made plans to take a yoga class in the evening and then missed it because our day threw us a curveball. Going to the studio first thing means you don't have to worry about that. 
4. It's summer! The fact that the sun is coming up earlier these days makes it much easier to get yourself out of bed at 5:30 AM. 

Even if you know about all the great benefits of a morning class, it can still be hard to actually get there.

Ways to Get Yourself to Morning Yoga

• A morning session really starts the night before. Make sure to adjust your bedtime to account for getting up earlier than you usually do. 
• Even if you only plan to go to morning yoga once or twice a week, try getting up earlier a couple additional times each week. The more an early wake-up time becomes part of your routine, the easier it will be. (And it can take a few days or weeks to get into the morning habit, so don't give up!)
• Lay your clothes out the night before so you don't have to do very much in the morning. (I've also heard of morning exercisers who just sleep in their workout clothes so they can roll out of bed and go.)
• Don't hit the snooze; just get up and go. (If you want an alarm that eases you into waking, try the Sleep Cycle app.)
• Give yourself a little something to look forward to for after class. Something as small as getting an iced coffee from your favorite cafe on your way home can be really motivating. 

Awakened Yoga's Morning Schedule

Monday: Iyengar @ 6 AM
Wednesday: Iyengar @ 6 AM
Friday: Iyengar @ 6 AM
Saturday: Vinyasa @ 8:15 AM
Sunday: Vinyasa @ 8:30 AM

(PS I love Iyengar as a morning class -- the slower pace makes it a great option for the morning!)

Do you like morning yoga classes? Would you try a morning class a try this week? Let us know in the comments!

- Rachel

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Lazy Sunday Links

Happy Sunday! I just got back from a lovely Vinyasa class at the studio with Helen. There were only a few of us there -- is everyone else out celebrating Father's Day?

If you have a second to check out some new reading material today, here are some great choices.

Celebrating Dad -- Are Daughters Like Their Fathers? [via Oprah.com]

The summer solstice is June 20 -- celebrate with Sun Salutation A! [via FitSugar]

Mindful Breathing: Round n' Round We Go [via Daily Cup of Yoga]

5 Ways Yoga Helps You Become a Better Person [via MindBodyGreen]

10 Feel-Good Thoughts for a Bad Day [via Mark and Angel Hack Life]

I'm off to get cleaned up and then head to the grocery store. Have a great evening!

- Rachel 

Do You Mind When Yoga Instructors Touch You?

I read an article last week about a high-tech tank top that would give you a "subtle nudge" when you are out of alignment during yoga. The Move by electricfoxy "includes 4 stretch and bend sensors located in the front, back and sides. Together, they read your body’s position and muscle movement, assess whether it is correct, and provide real-time feedback to correct it through haptic feedback components located in the hips and shoulders." Wow...crazy, right!?

While I'm not convinced this kind of athletic wear is going to become widely available any time soon, it did make me start thinking about receiving "subtle nudges" in yoga classes.

Personally, I love it when instructors adjust my body. While I love the feeling that I am doing a pose correctly (it makes me feel like I'm getting more experienced), I'm not insulted if they correct me. I'd always rather be doing the pose right. When an instructor touches me to help me to relax my neck, square my hips, or reposition my arms, I can then allow the muscles that are supposed to be working the chance do their job and get stronger. I also feel more confident that I'm not going to injure myself.

Beyond that, I find an instructor's touch can just feel really good; in so many cases, that touch helps me breathe deeper, sink lower, or stretch further, which feels great. Even if I can't do it on my own just yet, a few seconds of doing a pose more fully, with the support of someone I trust, helps me know what it can feel like, and I love that.

While I don't mind being touched or corrected in yoga classes, I know not everyone feels this way. Some people prefer not to be corrected or touched at all. Some people feel embarrassed by corrections, while others just don't like to be touched and feel that an instructor's touch can interfere with their sense of personal space and comfort levels.

So I'm curious: do you mind when instructors correct or touch you during class? Why or why not?

- Rachel

High-Tech Tank Top to Replace Teachers' Touch? [YogaDork]
Move [electricfoxy]

Lazy Sunday Links

How is your Sunday going? Mine has been busy, busy, busy! I'm hoping I'll get to have a little bit of a lazy Sunday this evening, but thus far, it's been all work and errands.

Hopefully you'll grab a moment for yourself today too! And if you do, here are some great articles worth checking out.

If beautiful yoga photos inspire you, you must check out the portfolio of these talented Vancouver photographers. [via Pure Souls]

Traveling this summer? Here are some great travel yoga mats. [via FitSugar]

If you're feeling stuck, read Five Ways to Re-Ignite Your Dwindling Yoga Practice. [via MindBodyGreen]

10 Signs You May Be Doing Too Much Yoga -- a hilarious read for those at the other end of the spectrum. [via Yoganonymous]

Have a great Sunday evening!

- Rachel

Healthy Recipes: Greek Chicken Meatballs

This is one of my favorite recipes ever! I made it on Sunday and was once again amazed by how delicious it is.

Ingredients

1 lb ground chicken
2 tbsp milk
2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
2 tbsp panko bread crumbs
dash of Greek seasoning
one 6-ounce container of Greek yogurt
crumbled feta cheese
red onion, lettuce, pita, cucumber, and hummus for serving

Preheat the oven to 375.

Combine chicken, milk, oregano, red pepper, panko, and Greek seasoning in a large bowl. Mix well with a fork and use your hands to form about 15 small meatballs.

Place on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until they are cooked through.

To serve, spread a pita with about tablespoon of Greek yogurt, a sprinkle of feta cheese, top with lettuce and red onion, and then put meatballs into the pita. Serve with veggies and hummus.

This recipe is fast, easy, and makes for a great lunch or light dinner!

- Rachel