Years ago…when I was young..ish…I lived in Los Angeles, California.

There was Falafel!

If you don’t know falafel, it is basically a savory chickpea fritter ball, i.e. chickpeas, garlic, parsley and other spices ground together to a paste and then deep fried. In the middle east it is a popular street food. Also in West Los Angeles where I partook in the early 1990’s.

In Northwest Montana…not so much falafel. I tried some “health food store” add water mixes. Blech. Left it behind.

Recently, a trusted food blogger showed falafel and paved the way to this recipe: Tori Avey’s Falafel recipe

I jumped in the Jeep and went to town for garbanzo beans.

My falafel plate:

My own Pita, Tori’s falafel on hummus with tahini sauce (Tahini sauce) and Israeli Salad( Israeli Salad )

That salad. Tori calls it Israeli salad as her husband is from Israel … it is a mix that common in the Middle East and Mediterranean.

So simple but so flavorful.

Greek Feta.

REAL GREEK Feta. At my local Costco.

The “Israeli Salad” with feta and kalamata olives = one fantastic lunch.

Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food = healthy and delicious!

Etc., indeed.

On the home front, it got to 50F this afternoon with bits of sunshine.

Auggie loves THE CHAIR.

Bear has adjusted to being on dry ground, just north of Beardog Point…Beardog Point being a bit snowy/icy.

Falafel, etc.: a good day.